Praia do Magoito Beach (Portugal)

Located in Sintra-Cascais National Park, Praia do Magoito is one of the most impressive Portugal beaches.
The dark cliff of Magoito beach is well completed by the rocks, the waves and the solidified sand dune.
A pleasure for those in love with wild landscapes, beaches and geology.
Below is my guide to help you plan your visit with map, tips and photos.

Table of Contents

Why visit Magoito Beach in Portugal?

Planning tips + Map - Praia do Magoito, Portugal (Sintra-Cascais)

The beach of Magoito - viewpoint

Beach access and solidified sand dune (fossil dune)

Walking and swimming at Praia do Magoito - pictures

Cliffs of Magoito & Cabo da Roca

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Why visit Magoito Beach in Portugal?

Magoito is a magnificent beach with wonderful features and contrasts:

the golden sand contrasts
the tall dark cliffs sculpted by the sea
the waves,
the fossil dune...

It is one of the most impressive beaches in Portugal (see my list).
Plus, it offers easy access to a viewpoint from above!
A picture is better than words...

Praia do Magoito

Video

Before we continue with photos from the beach itself, here is a short video to see the beach come alive with the waves:

More photos after the planning tips.

Planning tips + Map - Praia do Magoito, Portugal (Sintra-Cascais)

Where is Praia do Magoito in Portugal? Map and location

West coast
In the Sintra Cascais National Park, North West of Lisbon
Near the town of Magoito
Lisbon to Magoito = 1 h drive (40km)
Sintra to Magoito = 20min drive
Below is a map to help you get oriented:

Map - Praia do Magoito in Portugal

This location with its GPS coordinates and planning info is included in my eBooks to help you easily plan your itinerary around Portugal:

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120+ pre-selected locations
Useful planning tips
200+ large photos
GPS coordinates direct to carparks

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8 easy-to-plan maps
65+ pre-selected locations
Useful planning tips
110+ large photos
GPS coordinates direct to carparks

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How to get to Magoito beach

You need a car to easily access this beach
Tours normally don't go there
Easy drive to a medium-sized carpark

Need to rent a car in Portugal?
My tips:

Compare car rental prices on Discovercars.com - one of the best customer-rated comparison sites!
Choose the car and company you prefer
Consider their full coverage option - I always take it for peace of mind!
Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
See all my 36 tips in my Portugal car rental article.

Visit tips

Facilities and restaurants
Easy access via ramp
Carpark gets full quickly in Summer - arrive early!
Good for surf and bodyboarding
Paradise for photographers

Magoito beach access & restaurants

Where to stay near Magoito beach?

You can stay in Sintra to explore the region - Check out the best rated accommodations in Sintra
Or you can stay closer to the beach - Check out the options in the area

Where to stay in Portugal?
My tips:

In Lisbon, to explore the vibrant city - see best rated accommodations
In Sintra, to visit as many palaces as possible - see best rated accommodations
In Porto, to feel the history - see best rated accommodations
In Obidos, to walk on the medieval walls at sunset - see best rated accommodations
In the Douro valley, if you love wine - see best rated accommodations
In the Algarve, my favorite town is Lagos - see best rated accommodations
In the Algarve, Portimao is practical to visit all the best beaches - see best rated accommodations

Find more inspiration in my article about where to stay in Portugal

The beach of Magoito - viewpoint

The carpark of Magoito Beach is located on top of the cliffs. This is why you can get splendid views of the long stretch of sand from above.

This is the best place to admire the impressive dark wall straight up from the beach. It presents a succession of horizontal layers, showing the formation over millions of years.

It is facing the Atlantic Ocean. This cliff leads the eye all the way to Cabo da Roca.

Beach access and solidified sand dune (fossil dune)

Compared to many beaches in the Algarve with hundreds of stairs to reach the beaches (e.g. Camilo or Ponta da Piedade), there is a well-maintained ramp to access the sand. This is very practical!

Access ramp to Magoito beach

Plus, the access (at the North end of the beach), goes down along a geological particularity. At that location, the sand dune has solidified. It is also called a 'consolidated sand dune'.

This is quite fascinating to see:

Magoito fossil sand dune

The sand dune was formed by the accumulation of sand from the action of the sea and wind. According to the Portuguese Wikipedia Page, it is evaluated that it formed 10,000 years ago.

According to New World encyclopedia, it is called Lithified dunes. It is created when it becomes compacted and hardened.

Walking and swimming at Praia do Magoito - pictures

Once on the golden sand, the beach remains as impressive.

For those wanting to swim, it is a mix of sand and stones to reach the water depending on the tide. Ocean water can be cold.
Because of the rocks, small pools form at lower tide which are great for the kids.

It is considered one of the European beaches with the highest iodine concentration.

Praia do magoito Sintra 4Praia do magoito Sintra 4

Cliffs of Magoito & Cabo da Roca

To the North of Praia do Magoito you can continue walking on the cliffs and admire the waves crashing under you.

As you can see with the photo below and the zoom after that, the view stretches all the way to Cabo da Roca, the most Western point of Mainland Europe.
You can see its lighthouse, if you look in the detail at the back of the picture below.