Praia de Salir do Porto

São Martinho do Porto, Portugal, Portugal

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Praia de Salir do Porto is a river beach in the village of Salir do Porto, in the parish of São Martinho do Porto, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, where the Rio Tornada (also called Rio Salir) flows into the sheltered shell-shaped bay of São Martinho do Porto in the Atlantic, and it is best known for the massive 50-meter-high dune next to it, the highest dune in Portugal and once considered the largest in continental Europe.

The beach itself has two distinct parts: one accessible directly from the village and another on the opposite bank of the river near São Martinho and the dunes, with loose, fine sand and a mix of freshwater and brackish water, making it ideal for swimming, paddleboarding, and canoeing in calm, gentle waters. The dune is a natural “pearl” made partly of granite, formed over about 100,000 years, and the surrounding area invites walking and exploration, with nearby rocky beaches called Quebradas and the ruins of the old Alfândega de Salir, where caravels were built in the 15th century under Kings Afonso V and João II.

While Salir do Porto’s river beach is peaceful and scenic, right next to it the famous shell-shaped bay of São Martinho do Porto offers long white-sand stretches, calm seas, and family-friendly water sports like windsurfing, sailing, and canoeing, with Blue Flag certification, lifeguard service, showers, parking, a bar, and accessible facilities.