Maçãs beach

Although the most famous beaches in Portugal are in the Algarve region, in the southern portion of its territory, the coast of Sintra, close to Lisbon, also offers incredible natural landscapes, with paradisiacal beaches, lush vegetation and, as always, a very rich history. it’s interesting. Maçãs beach is one of the most famous in the region, with large cliffs, brightly colored sea and sand, big waves just the way surfers like it and a whole local gastronomic culture that attracts tourists from all over the world.

If you are in Lisbon and want to get to know the surroundings a little, going to Sintra to spend the day at Maçãs beach is one of the best things you can do. In addition to enjoying a sunny day at the beach, you can visit the historic center of Sintra, visit local wineries, enjoy the rich Portuguese cuisine or maybe even take a surf lesson!

A bit of Sintra’s history

Sintra today is a remarkably historic village, with centuries-old tiles decorating its streets and museums everywhere. The Historic Center is made up of several buildings of great importance, such as the Palace of Quinta da Regaleira, the Moorish Castle or the National Palace of Sintra. It turns out that, even though it is one of the most populous municipalities in Portugal, Sintra still refuses to be named a city, maintaining itself as a village, precisely as a way of resisting any kind of architectural and structural change in the city.

When you arrive in Sintra for the first time, it’s hard to believe that a picturesque and quirky place like this is less than 30 kilometers from the national capital. The 19th century houses and buildings in the romantic style alongside the castles that rise on the hills form unique landscapes and give a whole special atmosphere to the village. For this very reason, since 1995, Sintra has been considered a UNESCO cultural heritage site.

Like other territories in Portugal, Sintra is also home to archaeological finds that point to the fact that humans have most likely inhabited the region since the Bronze Age. Turbulent times of conquests and reconquests followed until the 18th century, and what we see in the city today is a large collection of objects and artifacts that tell the story of our ancestors.

The village of Sintra is located at the top of the mountain, in the middle of the Pena National Park, a large area of natural preservation. To go to Praia das Maçãs, the trip is quick, taking approximately 20 minutes to go down the mountain.

When to go to Maçãs beach?

During most of the year, temperatures are pleasant throughout the Maçãs beach region. Of course, during the summer months, the temperature rises and so does the movement, with hotels often reaching full capacity.

The same goes for Sintra, which tends to have a pleasant temperature throughout the year, even though it is in a mountainous region and is a little colder than Maçãs beach. Anyway, it’s always worth having a coat on hand, as some days of the year can be quite windy and cause some discomfort for those who are not used to strong winds.

How to get to Maçãs beach?

Leaving Lisbon, you should drive towards Sintra, which should take around 20 minutes. After arriving in Sintra, follow the signs towards Praia das Maçãs and you will go down the mountain, which is just over 10 kilometers long.

But if you prefer to travel without a car, spending less and having fewer headaches during the trip, trains (trains) to Sintra are available every 15 minutes from the center of Lisbon. Arriving in Sintra you will have to take another transport to go to Praia das Maçãs, spending a total of less than 5 euros on these two routes.

To get around Sintra and Maçãs beach, being on foot shouldn’t be a problem. The places are small, and the journeys can be done without problems. However, taxis and buses are also available within the village, allowing for more comfortable forms of transport.

What to do at Maçãs beach

Once you’re there, most likely you should listen to the story about the origin of the name of the beach, which says that apples arrived all the time in the waters of the Colares stream, dragged from some apple tree that was in the way. With beautiful fields full of flowers, a wide and beautiful stretch of sand, and an exuberant blue sea, Maçãs beach is a painting for the eyes of those who see it for the first time.

There is no shortage of options for what to do around here:

Enjoying the beach: Whether sunbathing, playing football or surfing the great waves at Maçãs beach, this is one of the favorite places for the Portuguese to spend the day enjoying the beach. On cloudy or rainy days, don’t worry, you can still order something delicious to eat at the bars and restaurants on the beach.

Visit Wineries: The wineries in the Colares region are world famous and their wines are highly respected among the sommelier community. This is mainly due to the fact that in the late 19th century, the vines from this region were among the rare vines that survived an epidemic that wiped out most of Europe’s grape fields. Therefore, Colares vines have their own genetics that until today have not been mixed with any other.

Walk to Azenhas do Mar: Walking in a straight line along the cliffs of Maçãs beach, in less than an hour you will arrive at Azenhas do Mar, a peaceful village located on top of a cliff, facing the sea. If Sintra is already a village that seems to have come out of a Lord of the Rings book, Azenha do Mar is even more curious. It goes without saying that the local cuisine is simply amazing, right?!
Take a surf lesson: Seriously! Surfing culture is very present at Maçãs beach, with at least 3 specialist schools in the sport.

Bars and Restaurants close by

Barmacia Gastro Bar

Located right in front of Praia das Maçãs, the Barmacia Gastro Bar offers elaborate traditional Portuguese, Mediterranean and European cuisine in general, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Among the options, we see everything from soups and appetizers to sophisticated dishes and seafood stews. Cold cuts boards and hot drinks are among the favorites of older patrons.

cod in the village

Despite being located in Sintra (and not in Praia das Maçãs), Bacalhau na Vila is one of the most traditional restaurants in the region, making it impossible to leave it out. As the name suggests, its specialty is the various cod recipes in the house, in addition to offering vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Neptune Restaurant

Neptuno is the perfect place for those looking to eat fresh seafood of the highest quality, prepared using traditional Portuguese and European recipes. The place serves lunch and dinner and its flagship is the house-style grilled fish.

Praia das Maçãs hotels

Meraki Hostel

Located 50 meters from the shore of Praia das Maçãs, the Meraki Hostel is a perfect option for those looking to save on accommodation costs and take the opportunity to meet new people, with the option of single or shared rooms. The place has a shared bathroom and kitchen, as well as free Wi-Fi throughout the property.

ocean hotel

A great option for those traveling on a tight budget, but don’t want to give up comfort. The luxury is due to the stunning view that some rooms have of Praia das Maçãs. If you didn’t stay in a room with the best view, the hotel’s common areas also allow you to enjoy the scenery.

Sintra cliffs

A perfect three-star hotel with modern decor and an innovative concept. With a simplistic yet ultra-elegant design, Arribas Sintra faces Praia das Maçãs, with a huge swimming pool with bar, individual rooms equipped with air conditioning, television and balcony.

Quinta da Vigia

A cozy space with simple but functional small apartments. Enough so that anyone can feel at ease while taking the opportunity to discover new places. It is by the sea, right in front of Praia das Maçãs.