Costa Caparica Lisbon: white, unspoilt beaches & Beach 19, Portugal’s most popular gay beach
If you want to escape the hassle and the heat of Lisbon on a hot summer day, why not try the beaches of Costa da Caparica, just across the Tejo river. The locals swarm to the village of Caparica, that looks a lot like Brighton in England or Benidorm in Spain, but just away from the village, past the vast camping sites tens of kilometres of white, unspoilt beaches are at your disposal!
Costa da Caparica beach in summertime. The boulevard of the village itself is undergoing major reconstruction. A huge boardwalk is being built, where half of Lisbon is parading on a warm summer day.
Take the little train (in season) at the end of the boardwalk (€ 5 return) and it will take you 8 kilometres south to the quiet stretches of sand. The train has 21 stops (the first three are under the new boardwalk now, so it starts at stop (paragem) number 4 (September 2008).
The best ones are Morena and Sereia, surrounded by dunes and with good bars. At almost every stop there’s a beachclub and the further south you go, the more you have the place to yourself.
The ‘Trans-Praia’ train.
Stop (paragem) 19, also known as Beach 19 or Praia de Bela Vista, is where the nudist beach starts, also world famous for being Portugal’s most popular gay beach. Gay clubs and parties in Lisbon
As everywhere in the world: where the nudist beach ends, the gay cruising begins and this is the largest in Portugal. In the vast bushes behind the railway track, guys from all over Europe and beyond, meet for some fun and relaxation.
Beach 19, September 2008
From Lisbon to Costa da Caparica: by car, go South to Caparica and south again all the way to the last access to the beaches. When the road goes uphill, you have just passed the access you want to go! Go past Praia do Rei until the parking at the end of the dust road. Upon Bela Vista, walk south, to the left of the restaurant. It’s some 2 miles of white sand beach and dunes! A taxi will take you there from downtown Lisbon for a little over € 20.
By bus: from Praça de Espanha take bus 153 to Costa de Caparica busstation. Walk five minutes south along the boulevard and you’ll see the little train, that leaves every half hour (until end of September). The 161 bus from Praca de Areeiro will also take you to Caparica. An alternative route includes a mini-cruise on the ferry from Cais do Sodré across the river to Cacilhas. Get on bus 138 (directo) to Costa da Caparica (bus 124 via Almada will provide you with a long detour past 1960 highrise architecture, that’s better avoided).
By train: cross the Tagus river to Pragal railway station and take bus 196 to Caparica. The train may be a good alternative on weekends, it’ll help you avoid the traffic jams on the 25th of April Bridge.
At stop (paragem) 21 at the end of the line where the train turns, there’s the village of Fonte da Telha (’Fountain of the roof’). This little fishermen’s village is perfect for that holiday feeling. This is the real Portugal, with some trendy beach cafés added to it. Fonta da Telha can also be reached by bus from Cacilhas harbour. Beach 19 is just a short walk from the centre of Fonte da Telha. A taxi there from Lisbon will put you back a little over € 25.
Even further south, about 10 kilometres from Fonte da Telha: Meco Beach, a real mecca for nudists & surfers
Hello mrs Kuijs,
nice to see your site. excellent information. I-am exited to visit your appartement in august 2009 – I look forward to go to this exiting city called ‘Lisboa’ , etc
greetings from Rene-Henk
[...] The river Tejo, Cais do Sodré , Lisbon’s major bus, metro, trainstation and ferry terminal to Cacilhas, Seixal, Montijo and ferries to Trafaria and Porto Brandão (near the white and unspoilt beaches of Caparica). [...]
Great resource! I’ve been trying to look up information on the Caparica beaches and your information has been the most helpful. Do you know if changeroom / locker facilities are offered at most of the beaches?
[...] Owner Pedro Silva will welcome you with a fine bottle of Portuguese wine. The house is located 8 km from Lisbon’s airport, near a narrowed maze of streets full of fado houses and restaurants, passing up the hill at São Jorge castle with its viewpoints over Lisbon downtown. Nearby Sintra, Estoril, Cascais and beaches of Costa da Caparica. [...]
[...] is 3 min. lopen. Castelo de São Jorge ligt op loop afstand. Sintra, Estoril, Cascais en de stranden van Costa da Caparica zijn makkelijk bereikbaar. De legendarische 16e-eeuwse uitgaanswijk Bairro Alto is ca. 15 min. [...]
[...] Direct from Dutch owner, 120 years old, nicely renovated. Near São Jorge‘ castle with its beautiful viewpoints. 3 minutes walk from starting point 28 antique tourist tram, metro and buses, square Martim Moniz. The supermarket is 5 minutes away. From the airport (8 km), a taxi will take you (about € 10-12 ) in 15 minutes to our apartment. Nearby Sintra, Estoril, Cascais and beaches of Costa da Caparica. [...]
[...] en metrostation Santa Apolonia en de rivier de Taag. Sintra, Estoril, Cascais en de stranden van Costa da Caparica, zijn makkelijk bereikbaar; het openbaar vervoer in Portugal is uitstekend, per boot, bus, metro, [...]
Costa da Caparica is really, really nice!!!
I have been to Lisbon few times and am completely in love with that city:) You can do anything there and people are very friendly..
Last time we rent a cozy apartment in the city center through http://www.lisbonoasis.com. The owner of the place is a very friendly guy
Thank you, sweet Ulrik, we are coming back for sure!
[...] Beach 19, Portugal’s most famous and popular gay beach & how to get there [...]
June 2010:
Yes, this beach is very nice,
Yes, there is serious cruising going on here…
But !!!!!
Be ready to walk until there, or try to hitchhike,
Because in 2010, they stopped the operation of the little train.
How sad…
(it took me +/- 1hr30 to get there walking onthe beachfront… Under a very strong sun. But i managed to find 2 friendly Lisbonians to bring me back to the city at the end of the day)
[...] Portugal’s most popular gay beach Beach 19 Lisbon more information & how to get there [...]