Monthly notes

Beach in Algarve

Praia de Benagil

Small (80 m) beach next to Benagil cave and the launch point for kayak and boat tours; lifeguards 1 Jun–30 Sep 2026, WC and restaurant, not step-free (guiadepraias.pt). Parking is the bottleneck.

Address
Praia de Benagil, Benagil, 8400 Lagoa
Hours
Open access. Lifeguards during the 2026 bathing season, 1 Jun–30 Sep (guiadepraias.pt, APA-based registry).
Open in Google Maps

OK with kids

Small, busy beach with lifeguards in season, toilets and a restaurant; not certified accessible (guiadepraias.pt, Jun 2026). Swimming to the cave is banned (Edital 019/2024). Research, not first-hand.

The notes

What the sources say (research)

  • Qualified as a bathing beach for 2026 (season 1 June–30 September) and listed as a “praia de uso limitado” (limited-use beach); the regulation gives no reason per beach. [Portaria 204-A/2026/1, anexo I, 4 Oct 2026]
  • 80 m beach between cliffs, fine sand; the departure point for kayak and boat tours to the Algar de Benagil, which can only be reached from the water. [guiadepraias.pt, 4 Oct 2026]
  • Lifeguards during the 2026 bathing season, 1 June–30 September; WC, showers, parking, restaurant; not certified accessible; water quality “Boa” (good) in 2025. [guiadepraias.pt, 4 Oct 2026]
  • Swimming into the cave and landing on its inner beach are banned since 13 Aug 2024. [Edital 019/2024, 4 Oct 2026]
  • A July 2025 report says the Lagoa volunteer firefighters took over the car park by the beach. Its price and hours may have changed; check the current parking terms before you go. [Algarve Marafado, checked 14 Oct 2026]

See our guide: Benagil cave — how to visit legally and safely.

NearbyBeaches
Schematic map with 2 numbered places around Praia de Benagil; the numbered list next to it has the same places.12Praia de Benagil0.5 kmN
  1. 1Praia da Marinha
  2. 2Praia do Carvalho

Further afield: Praia de Vale Centeanes (3 km), Praia da Senhora da Rocha (4 km), Praia de Carvoeiro (4 km), Praia de Armação de Pêra (6 km), Praia Grande (Ferragudo) (9 km), Praia da Rocha (10 km), Praia dos Três Irmãos (Alvor) (14 km), Praia de Alvor (15 km), Praia da Falésia (25 km), Praia do Burgau (31 km), Praia do Amado (43 km), Praia da Bordeira (44 km), Praia da Arrifana (45 km), Praia de Monte Clérigo (47 km), Praia da Amoreira (47 km), Ilha Deserta (Praia da Barreta) (50 km), Praia de Odeceixe (51 km). Straight-line distances from the centre point, not driving times.

Schematic: positions from each place's coordinates, no roads or coastline. Not for navigation.

Beach

Ilha Deserta (Praia da Barreta)

Uninhabited Ria Formosa barrier island, boat only from Faro (CM Faro); Praia da Barreta: Blue Flag 2026 (ABAE), lifeguards 1 Jun–30 Sep 2026 (Portaria); one restaurant, boardwalk, naturist zone (CM).

  • Seasonal
Researched

last checked

Beach

Praia da Falésia

Long sand under red clay cliffs east of Olhos de Água (>3 km, CM Albufeira, undated); Blue Flag 2026 at Açoteias and Alfamar (ABAE); lifeguards 15 May–15 Oct 2026 (Portaria); stairs or ramp (CM).

  • OK with kids
  • Seasonal
Researched

last checked

Beach

Praia da Marinha

Limestone-cliff cove near Carvoeiro; lifeguards 1 Jun–30 Sep 2026 and “praia de uso limitado” (Portaria; CM Lagoa: rockfall risk strips at high tide); Blue Flag 2026 conflicts between sources.

  • Seasonal
Researched

last checked

Beach

Praia da Rocha

Portimão’s urban resort beach: >1 km of sand, 2.4 km boardwalk, playground, toilets, medical post (CM Portimão 2022); Blue Flag 2026 (ABAE); lifeguards 1 Jun–30 Sep 2026 (Portaria); accessible 2024.

  • OK with kids
  • Seasonal
Researched

last checked