Praia de Areia Branca
Lourinhã, Lisboa · Lisboa e Vale do Tejo
About the Beach
Praia de Areia Branca is the main beach of Lourinhã, known internationally for the dinosaur footprints found in its cliffs — the region holds one of the world's richest dinosaur fossil records. The beach offers good conditions for surf and bathing, and the surrounding clay and limestone cliffs create a fascinating geological landscape. The Lourinhã Museum is a reference for palaeontology enthusiasts.
Length: 1.5 km
Amenities and Services
Amenities from the official APA beach registry (SNIAmb), for the bathing season. Bathing Water Profile (APA)
Water Quality
Beach conditions
Measured at the IPMA station in Santa Cruz (Aeródromo), 16.1 km from here, at 01:00.
Water temperature is not measured at this beach. Value modelled by Open-Meteo for 03:30.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Praia de Areia Branca have a lifeguard?
Yes — Praia de Areia Branca has a lifeguard station during the bathing season.
Does Praia de Areia Branca hold a Blue Flag?
Yes — Praia de Areia Branca holds the Blue Flag (2026), the certification that guarantees water quality, safety and environmental management.
Is there parking at Praia de Areia Branca?
Yes, there is parking near Praia de Areia Branca.
When is the bathing season at Praia de Areia Branca?
The bathing season at Praia de Areia Branca runs officially from 20 June to 13 September 2026, as set by the annual bathing season decree. During this period the support facilities are operational and the lifeguard is on duty. Outside this period, access is free but unsupervised.
Are there restaurants near Praia de Areia Branca?
Yes — Praia de Areia Branca has food and drink on the beach or nearby — beach bars, restaurants and snack bars open during the bathing season.
Can I bring my dog to Praia de Areia Branca?
We have no confirmed information for Praia de Areia Branca specifically. As a general rule, dogs are not allowed on Portuguese beaches during the bathing season, which at this beach runs from 20 June to 13 September 2026, except where a dedicated dog area exists; outside that period the rules are considerably more relaxed. Each municipality decides by local bylaw, so check with the Lourinhã town council or the signs on site.
Information
Sources
Last updated: 2026-06-01
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