Beachcombing Destination: Portugal

By Kristin Batista

Benagil, Portugal (Kristin Batista).

Can you find sea glass in Portugal? The answer is yes. From the southernmost beaches in the Algarve to the northern beaches of Porto, there is sea glass and pottery to be found. And, like anywhere else where you are planning to beachcomb, you just need to know where to look. Staying off of the popular touristy beaches, where the shores are groomed, and closer to the rocky edges of beaches where nobody swims is where you will find beautiful pottery, unique shapes, and all sorts of colors of glass.

I found my most beautiful piece in a cave of Benagil, where I expected to find nothing. I found beautiful shells and a handful of finished pieces of sea glass at almost every beach I went to. The colors of the sea glass of Portugal include unique blue and green shades as well as the more usual whites and browns. I found the most sea glass in the small coastal fishing villages north of Lisbon and south of Porto. A couple of times, I found a little nook, usually close to old fortress ruins, where there was an abundance of frosted pieces of white glass, a beautiful old marble with orange and blue streaks, and pottery in every color imaginable, so well finished and with stunning patterns that I made several pendants out of them. My favorite find was an antique key that was well worn and tarnished.

The key is to look everywhere you go and expect to find a handful of pieces here and there. With persistence, every now and then you will find a sweet cove full of pieces of glass and pottery. Look on rocky shores or at the ends of stretches of beaches where the sand meets the cliff wall. My tips are to go to small villages and focus on rocky shorelines, and remember that anywhere there is a fortress or a ruin along the shore is an excellent place to look. 

The beachcombing is rewarding; however, Portugal offers so much more. Though rich in culture, art, and history, its biggest resource is its people, who are friendly and engaging, and always so happy to help you out. The Portuguese people are by far the most welcoming and friendly of any place I have ever visited. And from the whitewashed houses to the beautiful handmade tiles, the architecture and charm of the cities as well as the small villages is just breathtaking. Everywhere you go there is beauty.

Grilled octopus (Joao Manita/Shutterstock.com).

The food throughout Portugal is second to none. Portuguese cuisine centers around genuine quality and traditional methods that incorporate fresh fruits and vegetables, olive oil, mountain cheeses, fish, port and table wine, and pastries as staples in their delightfully healthy, simple, and delicious cuisine. The traditional cuisine of Portuguese fish and seafood includes shellfish, shrimp, oysters, barnacles, clams, lobsters, octopus, cod, and anything else you can imagine from the sea. Enjoy farm to table eating with vegetables from local farms. Taste the amazing Portuguese olives. Don’t miss the convent desserts such as rice pudding, crème brulée, and flan, and most importantly do not miss the pastel de nata, which are the traditional Portuguese custard tarts, and the most delicious custard tarts in the world.

Pasteis de Belem bakery and cafe (Robert Coolen/Shutterstock.com). Pastels de nata (fotogruhl/Shutterstock.com).

Which brings me to pastries. An absolute must is the pastel de nata at Pastéis de Belém. This large and airy bakery and café on Rua de Belém in Lisbon was established in 1837 and began making the original Pastéis de Belém using an ancient recipe from the monks of Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. To this day, pastries are made by hand and legend has it that in order to keep the recipe top secret, only one person at a time knows the entire recipe. All bakery items are outstanding, but you cannot go to Pastéis de Belém without trying their pastels de nata. The best pastels I have ever had. I challenge you to eat just one.

I have traveled from the northern regions of Portugal all the way down to the southern Elgar region, as well as the mountains of interior Portugal. Following are some of my favorites. 

Porto

Porto (Kristin Batista).

My favorite city in Portugal. Maybe my favorite city anywhere. This coastal city in the north is the second largest in Portugal, but has a small village feel with a mystical quality that is difficult to explain but should be experienced by all. The charm of Porto is, as it is throughout Portugal, the generous and easygoing people. They are happy to share their heritage with you and point out their bridges, monuments, tiles, flowering balconies, and amazing views. Porto is probably best known for its namesake port wine whose origins were possible by the Douro River that runs through the city and is traversable by boat or by its stately bridges.

View from the Douro River (Kristin Batista). São Francisco Church (berni0004/Shutterstock.com). Porto sea glass (Kristin Batista).

The Riberio is the riverside district with narrow cobbled streets that wind past shops and cafés that are equally beautiful to explore during the day as they are by evening. And the Gaia side is where you will find my favorite place in the city, the port wine lodges, where you can sit and laze away the hours enjoying a taste of port and watching the boats glide by on the river. You can also take the chairlift, which follows this side of the river. There is so much to see. São Bento railway station has an atrium lined with tiles that should not be missed. São Francisco Church is a stunning must see with its lavish interior and ornate carvings. The mouth of the river is called the Foz and is a wonderful place to take a seaside stroll and enjoy the fresh salt air.

Lisbon

Belem Tower (Uldis Laganovskis).

Lisbon is Portugal’s hilly, coastal capital city, with winding cobblestone streets and a skyline including a medieval castle. But Lisbon’s charm is that its older sights line right up with its more modern vibe. You can enjoy the traditional fado music and be mesmerized by the signature tilework everywhere you look, and you can also enjoy fresh takes on traditional Portuguese cuisine and explore modern art galleries.

View of Lisbon skyline from São Jorge Castle (David-S/Shutterstock.com). Portuguese glazed ceramic tiles, National Museum of Tiles in Lisbon (Nigel Jarvis/Shutterstock.com).

See the 11th-century São Jorge Castle, a Moorish royal palace with a view over the famous pastel-colored buildings, and Belém Tower. Check out five hundred years of decorative ceramic tiles at the National Azulejo Museum. Or walk the beaches that spread from Cascais to Estoril. The city is very walkable but also has a tram for when you get tired.

Sintra

Pena Palace (Kristin Batista).

In Sintra, you can visit the castle known as the National Palace of Pena. Known as “The Jewel in the Crown of the Artist King,” the castle was completed in 1854 for Ferdinand II on the site of an 8th-century monastery. This stunning castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site with its 19th-century Romanticism style of architecture.

Pena Palace (Kristin Batista). Park of Pena Palace (Devalro/Shutterstock.com).

The National Palace of Pena is full of nooks and crannies and stunning views that are waiting to be explored. Learn about Sintra’s history rich with royalty, romance, and awe-inspiring architecture, and enjoy the 450-acre surrounding park, home to a member of the European Route of Historic Gardens. From the palace, you can admire the beauty of Sintra from the second highest hill in the region, and then end your tour with an exploration of the forests, grounds, and natural gardens of Pena Park.

Ericeira

Praia dos Pescadores, Ericeira (RudiErnst/Shutterstock.com).

Less than half an hour from Lisbon, for those who like a small village experience, Ericeira is a favorite—beautiful beaches, windswept cliffs, and a quaint village feel. Known for its surfing, it is the only world surf reserve and has outstanding consistent waves. The small village hosts clean beaches, charming restaurants, and an overall beach town feel, but also has a wonderful cultural scene, including an annual sea urchin festival and a charming historic center and international community. In 2024, Ericeira was named one of the Best Tourism Villages by the UN World Tourism Organization.

Peniche

Peniche Fortress and the Peniche shoreline (Kristin Batista).

Peniche, about an hour north of Ericeira, is a beautiful beach village with a historic center and many must-sees, including the São Pedro and Misericórdia Churches and the Peniche Fortress, built in the 16th century to defend the coast. Peniche’s beaches are much-loved by surfers and bodyboarders across the world. The Island of Berlengas, a natural sanctuary that makes a perfect dive and snorkeling location, is just a ferry ride away. Explore the beaches for sea glass where Peniche Fortress runs along the coast.

Nazaré

Surfer riding huge wave in Nazaré, Portugal (R.M. Nunes/Shutterstock.com).

Nazaré, about an hour and a half north of Lisbon, is a small coastal town known for its gigantic waves and breathtaking views, and gives a quieter coastal escape feel. Nazaré Canyon is a submarine geomorphological phenomenon that sets up the formation of perfect giant waves. Waves sometimes break at over 80 feet and are in peak season from October through March. In the past ten years, tourism has boomed in Nazaré due to the waves that draw professionals but also amateurs who want to test their skills. You can observe these professionals and amateurs alike from a platform so directly over the surf that you are likely to experience an abundance of sea spray.

Monsanto

Monsanto panorama (trabantos/Shutterstock.com).

The rock village of Monsanto is considered “the most Portuguese village of Portugal” due to its preserved character and culture. Located high up in the hills in Eastern Portugal in a tiny medieval village where cottages are built around gigantic boulder formations, the village has paths that wind through a charming village up to the hilltop fortress. The rock houses set between giant boulders, the magnificent views, the cobbled stone streets, the sunsets that create an orange glow over the rooftops, and the few but delicious restaurants that provide panoramic views of the valley make this day trip a must do.

Ancient stone gate, Monsanto (Altosvic/Shutterstock.com). Rock formations (Kristin Batista).

Don’t worry about its remote location—Monsanto is actually easy to get to, just a three-hour drive from Lisbon or a four-hour drive from Porto, but the trip requires a car as there are limited public transportation options. One day is plenty of time to explore; however enjoying the village both at sunrise and sunset is a truly magical experience.

Castelo de Óbidos

Medieval center village of Óbidos Castle (Sodel Vladyslav/Shutterstock.com).

Castelo de Óbidos is one of the best day trips of the north Lisbon region and is also considered one of the seven wonders of Portugal. This medieval castle perched atop a hill offers visitors a journey through time and brings you back to a traditional Portuguese village life with beautiful, whitewashed houses and narrow cobbled streets.

Narrow street in Óbidos Castle (trabantos/Shutterstock.com). Street stand Ginja de Óbidos (Andreia Veiga/Shutterstock.com).

As you wander the shops, taste the homemade Portuguese liquor, Ginjinha de Obidos, which is a sour cherry brandy that is preferably drunk from a small chocolate cup. A day trip is enough, or you can make it special and include an overnight stay in the castle.

The Algarve

The Algarve is Portugal’s most southern district and is wonderfully sunny all year round with very little rainfall, creating endless summers. The district is known for its sandy beaches with waters in every shade of blue, whitewashed fishing villages, golden cliffs with sandy coves, and authentic Portuguese cuisine. Use footpaths and cycle trails to help you explore the region, or better still, boat rides to help you explore the beautiful coast and cave formations that the area is known for. I recommend staying in a coastal village. Although you can stay in the nearest city,

Algarve coastline (Kristin Batista). Sea glass from the Algarve (Kristin Batista).

Lagoa, Benagil is a small fishing village that provides an opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture and oceanside life of the region. You can enjoy delicious authentic Portuguese dining experiences as well as guided tours of the most beautiful caves in the Algarve region, including the Benagil Cave, which is just around the corner from Benagil Beach. Strong swimmers can swim, but there are also pool noodle tours, kayak tours, and sailboat and motorboat tours of the cave and the nearby coast.

Dinner in the olive orchard at Morgado Do Quintão (Kristin Batista).

And, last but not least, is my favorite winery ever. Morgado Do Quintão is the Algarve’s landmark family-owned vineyard and farm stay experience. Founded in the 1800s by the Count of Silves, at Morgado Do Quintão the table is the heart of the experience. Gather under a 2,000-year-old olive tree that overlooks the vines to experience a wine tasting, or even better, choose to have dinner using generations old family recipes prepared from scratch and watch the sunset over the vineyard, fruit trees, and olive orchards.

Learn more about the best beaches and destinations for sea and beach glass, seashells, fossils, rocks, and more beach finds around the world. Articles ›

All photos courtesy of Kristin Batista except as marked.

This article appeared in Beachcombing Magazine Volume 45 November/December 2024.