TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN COSTA DA CAPARICA
Costa da Caparica is a quaint beach area that is extremely popular with Lisboetas during the summer. As Costa da Caparica is close to Lisbon (just on the other side of the famous 25 de abril bridge) and is easily reached by public transportation, it’s the perfect day trip or short side trip to take while visiting Lisbon.
Costa da Caparica is well-known for its surf schools and vibrant restaurants/nightclubs right along the boardwalk. There are many beaches separated by small jetties so pick the beach that you like best to set down your towel and don’t forget sunscreen! The Portuguese sun can be intense especially during the summer.
This blog post is about the top 10 things to do in Costa da Caparica and includes where to eat, where to stay, when to go and fun paid experiences in Costa da Caparica.
Hot Tip: While it’s not absolutely necessary to have a car to get around Costa da Caparica, it’s extremely handy to have one. It makes it much easier to visit the wooden walking trails and Fonte da Telha. We always use Discover Cars to rent vehicles and have been really happy with their services. Here’s the link if you’d like to rent a car: DISCOVER CARS
WHAT TO DO IN COSTA DA CAPARICA – TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN COSTA DA CAPARICA
Take a surfing class – there are numerous surfing schools all along the boardwalk at Costa da Caparica. They offer classes for all age levels and skill levels. Since there are many jetties, the surf doesn’t seem as aggressive as other beaches in Portugal so this is a good area for kids to learn how to surf. Click HERE for the experience.
Walk along the boardwalk – we like to start near Trafaria where the Tejo river meets the Atlantic ocean and walk all the way south until the boardwalk ends. This walk takes an hour, or more, depending on how often you stop to enjoy the views.
Lay down your towel and spend the day at the beach – we like to take our soccer ball and paddles/ball to play some sports on the beach. When we get too hot, we go into the frigid ocean to cool down. It’s wise to bring a beach umbrella or some sort of shade to prevent sunburn.
Check out the adorable little town square – the main tourist street is Rua dos Pescadores. If you take the bus from Lisbon to Costa da Caparica, you will disembark near this street and then walk this street until you reach the beach. You’ll find many tourist shops and restaurants in this area.
vegan paradise – top 10 things to do in costa da caparica
Eat at one of the 3 fully vegan restaurants – Costa da Caparica is super fortunate to have 3 100% vegan restaurants! My favorite is Bone Free, especially their tacos, but the other two are also quite good. You could spend all day at the beach and eat at Xexexe for lunch and Bone Free for dinner.
Check out the sunset and then party at one of the beachside nightclubs. If you are staying in town, you must catch the beautiful sunset with the vibrant pink and orange tones. And after the sun has set, you’re walking distance to any of the nightclubs on the beach.
what to do near costa da caparica
Convento Dos Capuchos – with a view from the cliff tops of Costa da Caparica, this former convent is a fantastic place to visit and relish the view. Currently, this monument functions as an event space and an exhibition gallery. It’s easiest to reach this location by vehicle.
Fonte da Telha – if you have a car, it’s much easier to reach Fonte da Telha, but it is possible to reach via bus and walking. As it’s more difficult to reach, the beaches are less crowded and have a more local feel. Like the Costa da Caparica beaches, Fonte da Telha has large, wide beaches with soft golden sand and has a plethora of restaurants and cafes to enjoy the view. If it’s a windy day, this is the perfect location to watch the brave windsurfers.
Check out the village of Trafaria – this is a quaint little village filled with narrow streets and alleyways on the bank of the Tejo river, almost where the river meets the Atlantic ocean. It makes for an interesting couple of hours to learn about the history of the village and walk along the riverbank.
Paisagem Protegida da Arriba Fóssil da Costa da Caparica – if you’re looking for stunning views of the beach, this is the perfect place to go for a hike. This is a protected landscape of coastal plains and fossil cliffs with heavenly-smelling pine forest trails and magnificent sunset views.
WHERE TO EAT IN COSTA DA CAPARICA
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Bone Free – this is my favorite vegan restaurant in Costa da Caparica. The Mexican-inspired 100% vegan food is flavorful and super creative.
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Xexexe – this restaurant is located closest to the center of Costa da Caparica and offers delicious vegan-fare with some ultra-healthy options.
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Mr. Vegan – this vegan restaurant is a bit farther away from the beaches, but has a delicious daily menu special.
WHERE TO STAY IN COSTA DA CAPARICA
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5th Element Beach House – perfect location and interesting decor, Click HERE for reservations
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Blue Point – super comfy 2 bedroom apartment near the beach, Click HERE
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Paradise – highly rated 1 bedroom apartment with fantastic ocean views, Click HERE
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TRYP by Wyndham – perfect location + beach view on a budget, Click HERE
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Lisbon Ocean Apartments – spacious one-bedroom apartment right downtown, Click HERE
FUN PAID EXPERIENCES
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Surf School – take surfing classes from certified professionals – SURFING CLASS
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Surfing + Yoga – a delightful day of yoga and surfing with a beautiful setting
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Costa da Caparica Bodyboarding experience – how fun is this?? Click HERE
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Kitesurfing experience – try your hand at this exhilarating sport, HERE
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Airport transfer in private vehicle from Lisbon to Costa da Caparica, click HERE
WHEN TO GO TO COSTA DA CAPARICA
It’s always a good time to go to Costa da Caparica. Any time the sun is out, Costa da Caparica warrants a visit! The high season is June-September and it’s also the highest temps at that time. If you go during the summer, definitely try to arrive early as the beaches get very crowded. Hot tip: many locals prefer to go to the beach after lunch around 3:00 p.m. so if you arrive earlier in the day, it will be less crowded.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend items that we truly love!
THE 5 ITEMS WE WERE SO HAPPY TO HAVE FOR ALL OF OUR TRIPS:
- Merrell women’s light hiking shoes – these are amazing because they are lightweight, but are extra grippy and helpful! I also have this pair that I always get compliments on: Merrell Rainbow shoes. Fernando loves his Asics trail runners which are also grippy and perfect for hikes.
- Thermoflask water bottle – like a Hydroflask, but more affordable! We don’t go anywhere without these water bottles full of purified water.
- North Face Aphrodite 2.0 capris – Seriously, I wear these pants every.single.day! I couldn’t live without these ultra-comfy, lightweight pants that dry so quickly. They are 100% worth the money!
- Osprey Day Pack – this is an awesome lightweight backpack that we can easily put the belongings we need at hand for traveling around the city and on public transportation.
- Vegan Sunscreen – don’t forget to put on your vegan, all-natural sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun’s rays
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ITEMS:
The best credit card – we use the Chase Sapphire rewards credit card for all of our purchases and it definitely helps save money on travel. If you sign up with our link, you and I will both get extra points as a reward. Click here for more info.
SURFSHARK VPN – truly the best for our VPN needs!
This blog post is about the top 10 things to do in Costa da Caparica and includes where to eat, where to stay, when to go and fun paid experiences in Costa da Caparica. Have you been here? What did you think?
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