There is no better escape from the hassle and stress of life in the city than taking a vacation on one of the stunning beaches in the world. The luxury of feeling the warmth of the sun shining on your body, giving you that tanned and sun kissed look. More than perfecting a tan is the feeling of serenity, calming fresh air and the soothing and relaxing water hitting your feet. These simple pleasures are enough reasons to plan a vacation to one of the most popular beaches in the world. Aside from this, you can also feel the fresh breeze coming off the ocean, a great way to combat the heat. Walking on the sand is one of the many things I enjoy while “beaching”. We are fortunate to have access to some of the most breathtaking beaches known to mankind. You can find some really beautiful beaches in our world to fascinate you. In this article, I will share with you some of the famous beaches you can visit in Spain and Portugal.
Spain oh Spain!
How I love your journey of beaches! Spain is surrounded by water on three sides and therefore the country has many beautiful beaches, which are known to be the best in the world. Since there are so many beaches to choose from, visitors are often confused on where to go. Below describes some of the most popular picks of Spain’s beaches.
Playa Concha in San Sebastian –
La Concha beach is considered as one of the best beaches of the European beach cities. It is located in the city of San Sebastian, which is a popular tourist destination in Spain. The city is credited with originating tapas or appetizers, which you will find served in abundance here of the hot and cold variety. The La Concha beach is known for providing visitors with a lot of water sports such as kayaking, canoeing and windsurfing.
Playa de Estorde – This beach is located about 80 km southwest of La Coruna, in Galicia. Playa de Estorde is a very long beach, which stretches of about 500 km, and is pure white sand and amazing aquamarine water. A truly amazing way to spend a romantic vacation, honeymoon or adventure!
Costa Del Sol –
Consider the most popular series of beaches in Spain, Costa del Sol is particularly well-known for being the venues of the party-going crowd. Located on the southern coast of Spain, these beaches tend to be very crowded. Brits and Germans regularly spend holidays in Costa del Sol and many own vacation homes here. But if you want, you can go off track to find some calm beaches.
Second would be the country of Portugal which claims as its main attraction their famous and beautiful beaches. Portugal beaches are certified by FEE as blue flag beaches making it ideal for families. Safe for all and environmentally aware, Portugal’s 800 kilometers of coastline is a great way to spend your vacation any time of the year!
Algarve –
One of the most famous beaches in this area is the 6 km long Praia de Falesia or “beach town”. Especially popular with German and British tourists are the resorts of Albufeira and Vilamoura. Praia de Falesia is a paradise for lovers of sun and is located in a quiet setting along the southern coast of Portugal. Other popular beaches in the Algarve region are: Praia da Gale, Albufeira and Meia Praia in Lagos. Meia Praia would be the choice for families and those seeking calmer waters, as it is protected by a large bay near Alvor Praia Praia da Rocha / Portimao.
Alentejo –
Stretching from the Algarve to the Sado Estuary this rugged coastline is also graced with many small beaches. Most of them are secluded in coves along the coast which require transportation by car from the airport or inland area. Vila Nova de Milfontes is an exception since it can be accessed by bus from Lisbon. Other beaches that should not be missed are Gale Melides, Santo André, Porto Covo, and Almograve Zambujeira do Mar. Alentejo is becoming a retreat for Northern Europeans looking to escape their overcrowded countries.
Lisbon or Sintra Coast –
The popular resort of Lisbon is mainly occupied by Costa da Caparica a large sandy beach which is very busy and very popular especially during the summer in Portugal. It is popular for sunbathing, enjoying the cafes and bars and surfing as well. The Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is one of the 13 Natural Parks of Portugal. Other beaches to visit along the coastal region are the beaches of Sesimbra and Portinho da Arrábida beach. These beautiful beaches are relatively quiet and extremely popular among divers.
