Praia do Meco

Portugal, Portugal

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Praia do Meco (officially called Praia do Moinho de Baixo) is an expansive 4-kilometer wild beach near the village of Aldeia do Meco, about 40 km south of Lisbon in the Sesimbra municipality on Portugal’s west coast.

Surrounded by protected sand dunes, fossil-rich cliffs, and a pine forest within the Arriba Fóssil nature preserve, it’s Portugal’s first official nude beach (since 1995, though popular since the 1980s), with the designated naturist area located at the southern end beyond a large dune, while the northern section is family-friendly.

The beach faces the powerful Atlantic Ocean and has often rough seas with huge waves, strong currents, and a rapid drop-off, making it better for sunbathing on its fine golden sand than for swimming, especially with young children, though lifeguards patrol during summer months (June–September).

It’s become one of the trendiest beaches on the Lisbon coast, attracting Lisbon’s bohemians to the popular Bar do Peixe restaurant that faces the sea, and it offers ample parking, bathrooms, and a tranquil, unspoiled natural setting a 45–50 minute drive from Lisbon with no convenient public transportation.