Whether you are planning an engagement photoshoot or a family photoshoot in Portugal, one of Portugal beaches will always be among my location suggestions for your photoshoot: almost never crowded, bathed in beautiful light Atlantic coastline is a perfect choice for your photoshoot in Portugal.
Here’s a guide to some of the best beaches for a photoshoot in Portugal:
from the golden Algarve coast in the South to the dramatic cliffs of Sintra and windy surfers' shores.
1. Praia da Ursa
Nestled near the picturesque town of Sintra, Praia da Ursa is a hidden gem that offers a breathtaking setting for a romantic photoshoot. Known for its striking rock formations and rugged cliffs, this beach is perfect for an elopement or an engagement photoshoot. The Ursa beach, although situated near one of the most popular tourist spots in Portugal - the famous lighthouse of Cabo da Roca, or Roca Cape, known as the most Western Point of Europe - is still pretty secluded. Getting there requires a short hike, but your efforts will definetely pay off. Sunset hour is the best time to capture your romantic portraits in the golden light filtering through the iconic rocks.
Just a short drive from Lisbon, Praia da Adraga is my personal favourite choice for both couples and families, who want to have a beach photoshoot in Central Portugal: easy to acces, with a parking right near the beach it still looks like a secluded paradise with golden sands, dramatic cliffs, and crashing waves. The light is absolutely dreamy here at sunset with golden hues hazed by the ocean mist. The beach is very vast offering many different spots and backdrops for your photoshoot. Besides, located on the picturesque Sintra coast it is just a few minutes drive from a couple of stunning panoramic view points, and such unique places as the town of Azenhas do Mar or Sintra palaces.
Baleal, around one hour drive to the North from Lisbon, is not just a surf heaven and the town where I live, but also an excellent photoshoot destination. The beach offers a mix of rocky outcrops and sandy stretches, typical Portugues houses and fisherman boats providing diverse backdrops in one location. Baleal is perfect for individual portrait or romantic couple photoshoots, with its beautiful small harbors and rocky cliffs. It is also a very comfortable location for a family photoshoot: easy to access, protected from the wind, yet offering very vast and safe spaces for your kids to run around and enjoy the photoshoot time.
Famed for its turqouise waters and unique rock formations, Marinha beach, around 30 minutes drive from the town of Albufeira, is a stunning beach located in the Algarve region. Praia da Marinha is often listed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and it’s not hard to see why! The dramatic cliffs and hidden coves provide an awe-inspiring backdrop for both family photoshoots and romantic engagement photoshoots.
Located in Lagos, Ponta da Piedade stands as a symbol of the Algarve's stunning coastline. It is not one beach but rather a small peninsula with tiny harbors and beaches around it, walking distance one from another. This area is famous for its unique cliffs, caves and vibrant crystal waters. Consider organizing a shoot at sunrise or sunset when the landscape is bathed in golden light.
If you are planning to have a photoshoot in Portugal, whether it is an engagement shoot, family photos and a portrait session, and Portugal coastline is what you are looking for, I’d be happy to help you choose the best location for your photoshoot in Portugal.
