Meco Beach(Praia de Meco)

Located to the south of the city of Costa da Caparica, Meco Beach – also called Praia do Meco, Moinho de Baixo Beach, and Praia do Moinho de Baixo – is a popular large and white four-kilometer-long beach with coarse golden sand and nearby sand dunes and cliffs.  This beach is located near the municipality of Sesimbra and near the village of Meco Sesimbra.  Conde Nast Traveller magazine listed this beach as one of “the best beaches in and around Lisbon” and Time Out magazine also listed this beach as one of the best beaches around Lisbon.  This beach has been awarded a Blue Flag for its cleanliness. 

The southern part of Meco Beach is also sometimes used as a popular nude and clothing-optional beach area—it became one of Portugal’s first official nude beaches in 1985. The northern part of the beach is family-friendly

Meco Beach has lifeguards in the summers, usually between June and September.  In addition to lifeguards, this beach also has many other amenities including rental facilities for beach chairs and sun loungers, volleyball courts, a boardwalk, and nearby restrooms and showers. 

Dogs are allowed here.

Meco Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, swimming, surfing, paddleboarding, bodysurfing, boogie boarding, boating, jet-skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, water-skiing, kayaking, canoeing, surf-skiing, and wildlife watching. 

This beach is ideal for less-experienced swimmers because the water here is known to have gentle waves, particularly during the summer.  This beach in Portugal can also get occasionally windy, making it ideal for kitesurfers and windsurfers.  In addition, the water here offers good surfing waves on very rare occasions.  You can check the online Beach Cam Meco Beach to see the waves here.  If you are planning to swim, snorkel, kayak, or surf here, we recommend being careful because the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents, steep depths, cold temperatures, and dangerous waves.  

The cliffs around the beach are a part of a nature reserve named Arriba Fóssil da Costa da Caparica – these cliffs have pine forests and offer a unique insight into southern Portugal’s geological history and biodiversity.

Meco Beach does not offer wheelchair access to visitors with disabilities.

Getting to Meco Beach is easy – the main paid parking lots for the beach are located near the end of a road named M561 – some of the parking lots – that are located far from the beach – charge a fee of €1, while the other lots – that are closer to the beach - charge a fee of €2.

We recommend visiting Meco Beach early because the parking lots can fill up quickly, especially on summer weekends.

The nudist part of this beach hosts a fun nude race named Legua Nudista.  Other popular events that are organized here are an annual frisbee competition and the Super Bock Super Rock, which is organized in July every year.  In addition, the beach’s alternate name – Moinho de Baixo – literally means “Lower Windmill” in the Portuguese language.  However, it is unknown how this beach received this name.

There are many attractions near Meco Beach within a 25-minute-drive.  Lighthouse Cabo Espichel – also called Cape Espichel Lighthouse – is a 32-meter-tall lighthouse that was built in the late 18th century.  This lighthouse is open to the public once a week on Wednesday for tours – it offers an insight into local maritime navigation.  Castelo de Sesimbra is a castle initially built in the 9th century.  This interesting monument has historic exhibits, an interpretation center, a church, and an old cemetery – it also offers amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Sesimbra shoreline.  Santuario do Cabo Espichel is a church that was built between 1701 and 1707 and it has a wide variety of beautiful Christian artworks and it also hosts interesting festivals.  Espaco Interpretativo da Lagoa Pequena is an interpretive area that is set around a lagoon named Lagona Pequena – this interpretive area has a vibrant biodiversity and is a popular bird watching site.  It also has boardwalks and walking trails.  If you are looking for another attraction near the beach, Parque Augusto Polvora is a recreational park that offers many amenities including a playground, picnic areas, barbecue areas, drinking water facilities, a skate park, biking trails, and bike washing station.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Meco Beach within a 20-minute-drive.  Restaurante Onda Azul is an oceanfront restaurant that offers excellent seafood.  O Lagoeiro is another popular restaurant that serves outstanding local seafood dishes including caldeirada and arroz de marisco – it also serves other dishes including meat dishes and pasta.  Restaurante Acacio is known for serving great seafood and it also serves amazing local Portuguese dishes including cataplana, masada, and rice dishes.  Bar Tropical do Meco is a restaurant and bar that offers many great dishes including seafood, local cuisine, chicken dishes, veal chops, beef dishes, and salad.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Ponto M offers amazing dishes for breakfast and lunch including crepes, toast, salads, and burgers – it also offers refreshing beverages.  Another great restaurant near the beach is Bar do Peixe which is known for serving excellent seafood.

If you are looking for a hotel near Meco Beach, there are many great nearby options within a 25-minute-drive.  The 5-Star Sesimbra Oceanfront Hotel offers many amenities including a spa, multiple pools, a piano lounge, a gift shop, play areas, a restaurant, and a gym.  The 4-Star SANA Sesimbra is another upscale hotel that offers many amenities including a terrace, a restaurant, a bar, a pool, a hot tub, a sauna, car rental facilities, and a gym.  Another upscale hotel is the 4-Star Hotel Do Mar which offers many amenities including multiple restaurants and bars, multiple pools, a sauna, a steam room, a gym, and complimentary breakfast.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Casal Do Frade offers many amenities including a pool, a lawn, and a lounge.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, the 3-Star Quinta dos Amarelos offers many amenities including a garden, a pool, a pond, a barbecue area, a lounge, and a fitness room.  Another great accommodation option is staying at a nearby rental Meco Beach House – one of the nearby guest houses is the Quinta do Meco – Beach & Nature.