The little beach town Sagres only has a population of about 2000 people. A famous surf spot known for it’s beautiful beaches, this little fishing village surrounded by rugged cliffs, sandy beaches and stunning lookouts is now a popular tourist spots. See all about surfing in Sagres. Relaxing on a beautiful beach is one of the top things to do in Sagres.
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Beaches in Sagres town
There are five beaches within walking distance from the center of Sagres town; Tonel beach the main surf beach, Mareta Beach a long beach great for swimming in the center of Sagres town, Beliche beach a sheltered beach with nice waves, the sheltered Praia de Baleeira next to the fishing harbor and Praia do Martinhal with its beautiful limestone islets and great windsurfing, snorkeling and Scuba diving.
Blue flag beaches – Four of the beaches in Sagres town have received the iconic blue flag award, they meet international blue flag standard regarding safety, water quality, facilities and environmental management.
Water temperature – The water in the Algarve is on the cold side. Water temperature varies between 15C and 20C irrespective of season. When it is hot in summer it is nice for bathing, for water sports, like surfing you need a wetsuit to stay in the water for a long time.
The Town Sagres
Sagres is a small town surrounded by nature and very popular among surfers and tourists with campervans. The village has all the essentials; supermarkets, restaurants, gas station, bars, accommodation, camping and a lot of surf shops. Sagres is the most southwestern point of continental Europe. The most popular tourist attractions in town is Cape St.Vincent (Cabo de São Vicente) and Sagres Fortress (Fortaleza de Sagres). Hiking enthusiasts love the Fishermen’s Trail, a stunning 230 km hiking trail that pass through Sagres.
Tonel Beach (Praia do Tonel)
- Main surf beach in Lagos.
- Currents and waves not relaxed swimming beach.
- 500 m walk from the town center (7 minutes)
Praia do Tonel is a stunning large beach with soft golden sand and is well known for surfing. It feels wild and isolated even though it is a quick walk from the town center. Not the best beach for swimming. The beach is backed by steep cliffs of red sandstone and hard rock and is only 10 minutes walk from the center of the town Sagres in the Algarve.
- Beach – 400m sandy beach
- Blue Flag beach
- Lifeguards: yes
- Sunbeds: no
- Parking: yes
- Restaurant: yes
- Surfboard Rental: yes
Getting to Tonel Beach
Drive towards the fortress of Sagres on the N268 turn right at a sign indicating Praia do Tonel. There is a car parking and a steep walk down to the beach. Go to Sagres Tonel Parking with your GPS.
Mareta Beach (Praia da Mareta)
- Fantastic beach for swimming and sunbathing.
- Great location in the middle of town with plenty easy parking.
- 300 m walk from the town center (3 minutes)
The beautiful Mareta Beach (Praia da Mareta) located right in the middle of town is the largest beach in Sagres. Easy to reach with soft sand, plenty of parking and protected from wind and swell, the location and conditions make this the perfect family friendly beach.
- Beach – 700m sandy beach
- Blue Flag beach
- Toilets: yes
- Lifeguards: yes
- Sunbeds: yes
- Umbrellas: yes
- Parking: yes
- Restaurants: yes
Getting to Mareta Beach
Drive towards the fortress of Sagres on the N268 turn left at the final circle, there is a big parking area overlooking Mareta Beach. With your GPS drive to Caffe Espresso Sagres across the road from the Mareta Beach Parking.
Martinhal Beach (Praia do Martinhal)
- Sheltered, quiet beach.
- Limestone islets with underwater caves just off-shore.
- Great for sunbathing, windsurfing, snorkeling, Scuba diving
- 2.5 km walk from the town center (25 minutes)
Praia do Martinhal is a beautiful sheltered beach with calm water famous for limestone islets just off-shore. Located outside Sagres, Martinhal Beach hardly ever gets busy. Located in a bay, the water here is mostly calm, clear and good for swimming. The bay can however be very windy and is popular with windsurfers. The calm, clear water and caves around the islets off shore make this bay a nice spot for scuba diving and snorkeling. The upmarket Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort is a well known 5 star resort overlooking Martinhal beach.
- Beach – 600m sandy beach
- Blue Flag beach
- Toilets: yes
- Lifeguards: yes
- Sunbeds: yes
- Umbrellas: yes
- Parking: yes
- Restaurants: yes
Getting to Martinhal Beach
Drive towards Lagos from Sagres town on the N268 for 900m and turn right to Praia do Martinhal it is well marked. With your GPS drive to Martinhal Beach Parking.
Beliche Beach (Praia do Beliche)
- Stunning, isolated, sheltered beach, usually not very busy.
- Nice family beach.
- Popular surf spot.
- 3 km m walk from the town center (30 minutes)
Beliche beach is a small, sheltered beach facing south west located three kilometers from the center of Sagres town. From the parking area it is a steep walk down about 100 steps to this stunning little beach surrounded by 40 meter high cliffs. Praia do Beliche with its soft golden sand is an excellent surf spot. A fantastic beach for families to spend the day; protected from the wind, nice facilities and usually not too busy.
- Beach – sheltered sandy beach
- Blue Flag beach
- Toilets: yes (at the restaurant)
- Lifeguards: yes
- Sunbeds: yes
- Umbrellas: yes
- Parking: yes
- Restaurants: yes (open in season)
Getting to Beliche Beach
The parking area for Praia do Beliche is located on the EN268 road, which goes from Sagres to Cabo Sao Vicente. Terra restaurant is across the road from the parking area to Beliche Beach. The beach is 3 km from the center of Sagres (5 min drive or 35 min walk) Google Maps Pin Praia do Beliche.