Since adopting our dog, a Portuguese Podengo called Santino 2 years ago from the fires in Leiria, we began to “city-ify” the dog. He was afraid of anything that was modern; cars, bikes, buses, even all buildings freaked him out. Imagine being born in the woods, that suddenly go on fire and all your early memories are of hell on earth. Then you are brought to the big city by two strangers. That’s a big change right? Luckily, now that he is a city dog who travels everywhere by metro we wanted to take him to the next level, Dog-friendly beaches in Portugal!
Dog-Friendly Beaches in Portugal
This summer has been pretty mild but we have had days at 36 C (96F). We had some users ask us in our forum about bring their Portuguese puppy to the beach so we decided to do a write up on it. We did some research online and found the best beaches to take your dog in Portugal.
Rules For Dog-Friendly Beaches in Portugal
Before bringing your dog to the beach there are some legal rules in place governing access to the beaches for your canine.
- You must register your dog.
- Your dog must be up-to-date on all vaccines.
- Dogs must be leashed and muzzled if they are a “dangerous” breed or are human aggressive, (looking at you chihuahua owners).
- You are responsible if your dog gets out of hand with other people at the beach. So don’t let him/her bother people.
- You must maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the beach aka, PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOG! I repeat – YOU, who thinks their dogs shit is natural, and can’t spend two seconds to pick up the poop with a plastic bag, YOU SUCK!
- Finally…Rules at specific beaches must be abided by. Entry could be denied to your dog.
Those are easy enough rules to follow. Most beaches with bathers won’t allow dogs between May 31st and September 15th of the year. It is the same for those beaches with an attached restaurant (concession beaches). The fee is supposedly up to €2500, but I’ve yet to meet someone who has received this fine.
I have seen dogs at those beaches during those time periods, so it depends on the lifeguard or local police. Some don’t care, others will tell you it’s not allowed, rarely will they give you a ticket – but it can happen. For the most part, they are usually very nice about it. So usually no drama.
Things you should bring with you when going to Dog Friendly Beaches In Portugal
- Your dog’s health certificate (it’s a small booklet). I have taken pictures of each page and keep mine on my cell phone for convenience.
- Towels, your dog will get wet and it will lead to your car getting wet.
- Bottled water, your dog will sometimes drink seawater so he will get sick. Plus you can use this to wash off the saltwater from the dog.
- A small broom, because your car will get full of sand.
- A Ball, or Toy to play catch. Your puppy will love it.
- Poop baggies.
- And SUNSCREEN, because you don’t want to prematurely age yourself with the rays of the sun. Also, CANCER!
A List of Dog-Friendly Beaches in Portugal
Dog-Friendly Beaches Near Lisbon
Dog-Friendly Beaches in Oeiras
Praia dos Pescadores
- Small sandy beach
- Also known as Praia do Peixe
- Dogs allowed as of June 27 of 2020
- Near the Club Desportivo de Paco de Arcos
- Yes, there will be fishermen there.
Praia dos Pescadores is located at Paço de Arcos
Dog-Friendly Beaches in Almada
Pro-tip: You can reach most of the beaches in Caparica via the Transpraia train.
Praia da Cova do Vapor
- Small sandy beach
- About 15 minutes from Lisbon by car
- Dogs allowed as of June 27 of 2020
- Adjacent to São João da Caparica Beach
- To get there, take the ferry from Belém to Trafaria (1.35€ each way). It is a 35 minute walk from there.
- There is a restaurant called Albatroz there so you can get a bite.
Praia da Adiça
- Large sandy beach – 1.5k in long
- About 30 minutes from Lisbon by car
- Adjacent to Fonte da Telha
- Allows both dogs and nudists 😉
- Offers views of the Cape of Espichel
- There are no bars, restaurants, or facilities
- Not the easiest to get to since you have to climb down from the cliffs
Fonte da Telha – Costa de Caparica
- Large sandy beach loved by surfers
- About 30 minutes from Lisbon by car
- Last stop on the Transpraia train
- You can take the 3012 bus from Cacilhas which will take about an hour
- Has a lifeguard
- Allows both dogs and nudists 😉
- Handicap accessible
- Has a restaurant
- Easy to access
Dog-Friendly Beaches in Colares
Praia Pequena
- Good sized sandy beach (called the Small beach because it is next to Praia Grande)
- Not the easiest to reach on foot, so if you have mobility issues, this may not be the beach for you
- The cliffs offer a great view
- Free Parking
- Dogs allowed as of 2017
Dog-Friendly Beaches In Setubal
Dog-Friendly Beaches in Comenda
Praia da Comenda
- Mix of sand and rocks
- This beach is only reachable during low tide
- To get there you can take bus number 4423
- Great views of Troia and the Sado River
- Near Palacio da Comenda and old Roman villages
- Secluded
- It is incredibly hard to get to since the only access is by the sea, so if you have a boat, you can enjoy this beach.
- Confirmed by the
GAPC – Gabinete da Participação Cidadã
Dog-Friendly Beaches In Sintra
Praia da Ursa
- Sandy beach surrounded by cliffs
- Also not the easiest to reach on foot, so if you have mobility issues, this may not be the beach for you
- The cliffs offer a great view
- Near Cabo de Roca
- Secluded
- Free Parking
- Allows nudists, do don’t be surprised if you see some skin
- Dogs allowed as of 2017
Dog-Friendly Beaches In Mafra
Dog-Friendly Beaches in Ericeira
Praia de São Sebastião
- Sandy, long narrow beach
- Named after a chapel nearby
- Beach is accessed by a long set of stone stairs
- It is known for its waves, so not the best for swimming
Dog-Friendly Beaches In Leiria
Dog-Friendly Beaches in Peniche
Praia do Porto da Areia Norte
- Small sandy beach
- Also known as Para do Porting
- Dogs allowed as of June of 2016
Dog-Friendly Beaches Near Porto
Dog-Friendly Beaches in Esposende
Praia da Ramalha Sul
- Small sandy beach
- Has a cafeteria and restrooms
- Dogs allowed as of July 2018
- Located in next to the city of Apúlia and fairly close to Braga
Praia Suave Mar
- Large sandy beach
- Has a cafeteria and restrooms as well as showers
- Dogs allowed as of July 2018
- Near the fort of São João Batista and the estuary of Cávado.
Dog-Friendly Beaches In Viana do Castelo
Dog-Friendly Beaches in Monserrate
Praia do Coral
- Large sandy beach
- Also known as Praia do Aquario
- Near the Forte Santiago da Barra
- Dogs allowed as of June 2017
- Between two pontoons which keep the water calm
These are the main beaches which we know “legally” are dog-friendly. I will be updating this article since there are more now than when I first wrote the article.
I have seen dogs outside of the May – September ban period at:
- Caparica.
- Carcavelos.
- Meco.
- Guincho.
Is this legal? I don’t know. But I have seen dogs their playing in front of policemen and lifeguards without even a comment. That’s Portugal for you, very laid back. Most people don’t want to make a fuss over something so trivial as a family trying to enjoy a day out at the beach.
Remember these few things before taking your dog to the beach
- If the beach says no access to dogs and you bring your dog you can get a fine from 100 -2500 Euros.
- Atlantic Ocean waves can be strong so chose non-breezy days and areas where the water is calm.
- Keep your pet hydrated and under an umbrella. Remember they can get dehydrated from the sun and it gets hot in Portugal.
- Bring doggie bags because some places will not have public ones. And you MUST pick up!
- Wash your dog in the shower or hose when your home to get the saltwater off there fur and skin. It is an irritant and just like humans will hurt your pet.
- Wear sunscreen. You’re looking old! How much older do you want to look like? A Raisin?
L.s,
are there only 5 dog friendly beaches in the whole of Portugal ?
Officially dog-friendly, yes. People still sneak their dogs to the beach, but it’s a risk. I think this will begin to change soon though.