Comporta, Portugal, is renowned for its wild, unspoilt natural landscapes, peaceful atmosphere and charming traditional villages. Its magnificent beaches, stretching over 60 km of coastline, are undoubtedly one of its main assets. Comporta’s beaches are covered in fine white sand, contrasting with the deep blue of the ocean and the vegetation-covered dunes.
In summer, on Comporta’s beaches, don’t miss the street vendors selling “bolas de berlim” (traditional cream-filled doughnuts). They’re so tasty, they’ll help you regain your strength!
Whichever beach you choose, there are no structures to mar the landscape. All you’ll find are a few wooden beach restaurants, which blend in perfectly with their surroundings.
The water temperature in Comporta varies between 14° and 20°C, with an annual average of 17°C. These temperatures may seem low, but they are refreshing on hot summer days.
Here are the most beautiful beaches in the Comporta region and their special features:
Discover the most beautiful beaches of Comporta / Praia da Comporta
Twenty minutes’ walk from the village, Praia da Comporta is not only the closest, it’s also one of Comporta’s best beaches. It offers a beautiful stretch of golden sand and sublime turquoise sea. The beach is fringed by rolling sand dunes dotted with plants and greenery, creating a magnificently wild scene. The dune offers perfect shelter from the gusting Atlantic breeze.
Two seaside restaurants – Comporta Café and Ilha do Arroz – are located in Praia da Comporta, each offering the relaxed atmosphere for which Comporta is renowned. A more rustic beach hut offers a selection of drinks and refreshments. Sun loungers and hammocks are also available for hire, each under its own white and blue wooden awning, sheltered from the sun’s rays.
Tróia Galé beach and Tróia beach / Praia Tróia Galé and Praia Tróia
The beaches of the Troia peninsula are particularly recommended for children. They’re the only beaches where the waves are small, so youngsters can enjoy swimming in complete peace and quiet. There are plenty of places to eat and buy ice creams and drinks, both at the marina and in the surrounding area.
Tróia marina is also the starting point for boat trips to observe the birds and dolphins of the Sado reserve. You can also enjoy a variety of water sports and sailing.
Access to these beaches is very easy, as the Tróia marina has both underground and outdoor parking. If you’re coming from Lisbon, you can take the ferry directly to the Tróia peninsula.
Torre Beach, a stroll through the rice fields / Praia da Torre
Nestled just a few minutes’ walk west of the village of Torre, this beach is a hidden gem. To reach it, take the Estrada Regional 2611 exit to the west of the village and continue on foot from there, as vehicle access is not permitted. As you head towards the beach, admire the picturesque view of the sprawling rice paddies that stretch as far as the eye can see on either side of the dirt road, for a distance of about half a kilometer. After a leisurely stroll, you’ll reach the dunes that lead to the wild, unspoilt beach, giving you the chance to escape off the beaten track. The only restaurant nearby is Dona Bia, offering a menu focused on fresh, local ingredients, especially fish, shellfish and rice. It has a warm, welcoming atmosphere in a rustic beach setting.
Carvalhal beach and dune / Praia do Carvalhal
Fifteen minutes south of the village of Comporta, you’ll arrive at Praia do Carvalhal, another spectacular beach with an enormous mass of fine, soft sand. This dune is bordered by the ocean, which stretches as far as the eye can see. Because of its location outside the city, this beach tends to be a little quieter than Praia da Comporta (which itself isn’t exactly crowded). More than likely, once you’ve found your own spot among the dunes, you’ll feel like you’ve got the whole place to yourself. Here again, two seaside restaurants offer fresh seafood and cocktails. Settle into your deckchair under a straw parasol. Your vacation can begin!
Pego Beach / Praia do Pego
Home to the famous Restaurante Sal, Praia do Pego is not only one of the region’s most popular beaches, but also one of its most beautiful. With such a vast expanse of sand, it still manages to offer a wild and peaceful beach experience. Restaurante Sal was the first seaside restaurant to open in the area. With its fresh seafood and eclectic nautical-themed interiors, it remains a favorite among vacationers.
Pinheirinho Beach / Praia do Pinheirinho
Hidden away on the other side of a former private housing estate that was never completed, Praia do Pinheirinho remains unknown to most visitors to Comporta. Which means there’s a good chance you’ll have the whole beach to yourself. It’s a bit tricky to get to – you have to drive through the old estate and walk for about ten minutes in the sand. But the feeling of having discovered your own piece of paradise is well worth it.
This beach also offers a much more spectacular setting than those near the village, with its roadside cliffs, unspoilt sand and swarms of seagulls. To reach the beach, leave the main N261 road and take the old entrance to Spatia. The road then turns into small cobblestones, which you should continue to follow until you reach a traffic circle and the end of the road. Unless you have a four-wheel drive vehicle, it’s best to park here and walk the rest of the way up the hill. Continue straight on until you come down to the beach.
