I visited Praia de São Martinho do Porto at the end of April and was truly charmed by its peaceful atmosphere and stunning natural beauty. The bay is calm and perfect for relaxing walks along the shore. Even though the water was still a bit chilly, the fresh sea air and surrounding scenery made the experience unforgettable. A lovely place to unwind and enjoy the gentle rhythm of coastal life.

I recently spent a sunny afternoon in São Martinho do Porto and was deeply impressed by the unique charm of this seaside town. Nestled along a stunning horseshoe‑shaped bay, the beach is sheltered by a natural headland that keeps the water calm and shallow, making it perfect for swimming and family. Walking the soft golden sand with gentle waves lapping always felt soothing, and the overall atmosphere reminded me of a peaceful, small‑scale resort that locals clearly value highly. The town is historically rooted in fishing and shipbuilding, having served as the maritime port of the nearby Alcobaça monastery in the Middle Ages. It became a popular summer retreat for nobility by the late 19th century, earning affectionate nicknames for its elegant and serene ambiance. Today, the beachfront promenade lined with cafés, seafood restaurants and terrace seating creates a friendly local vibe, perfect for leisurely meals with fresh fish or ice‑cold drinks at fair prices. One of my favorite parts was strolling along the promenade and exploring the wooden walkways that link the town to the dunes and beaches beyond, including the nearby Salir do Porto area. These boardwalk trails offer scenic views and peaceful nature, ideal for morning or sunset walks. Although the beach gets busy during Portuguese summer holidays, the town remains gracious and spacious enough that even peak crowds felt manageable. The best part is that São Martinho do Porto feels authentic and affordable: entry to the beach is free, local restaurants offer good value, and the calmer water makes it safe and enjoyable for all ages. For anyone seeking a calm beach day paired with authentic local culture and gentle coastal scenery, this destination is truly a standout on Portugal’s Silver Coast.

São Martinho do Porto: A Coastal Gem Where History Meets Paradise. This beach stands as one of Portugal's most enchanting coastal destinations, where centuries of maritime history blend seamlessly with modern beach resort amenities. This remarkable town has embodied the resilience of a community that adapts without losing its soul, transforming from the birthplace of caravels that once carried Portuguese explorers to distant lands into one of the country's most protected and beloved seaside retreats. The gradual silting of its historic bay, built with timber from Leiria's pine forests, proved to be a blessing in disguise, creating the perfectly sheltered lagoon that families cherish today. The northern section of the beach proudly holds Blue Flag recognition, a testament to its exceptional water quality through regular microbiological testing of both water and sand. This pristine stretch offers everything a beach lover could desire: numerous concessioned cabins providing shade and refreshments, expansive open areas perfect for umbrellas and sunbathing, and dedicated jumping zones where children can safely play. The water features delightful inflatable slides for kids, while pedal boats are available for rental, creating endless entertainment options for families. Professional lifeguards ensure safety, while clean toilet facilities and refreshing showers add to the comfort. Beyond the beach, a scenic boardwalk trail invites leisurely strolls along the bay's perimeter, leading to one of the area's most spectacular features: a tunnel carved through the hill at the northern tip that opens to a breathtaking area overlooking the vast Atlantic Ocean. This walkable town maintains an authentically Portuguese atmosphere despite welcoming international tourists, with traditional fishing boats like the "barco do candil" still plying these calm waters alongside modern pleasure craft. Accessibility couldn't be easier, with regular bus services from Rodoviária do Oeste and Rede Expressos connecting the town to major cities, while the compact size makes exploration on foot a pleasure. The evenings here are particularly magical, making an overnight stay essential to witness the stunning sunsets that paint the sheltered bay in golden hues. The conveniently located caravan and camping park right next to the beach offers the perfect opportunity to fall asleep to the gentle sound of waves and wake up to this coastal paradise, where past and present flow together like the very tides that shaped its extraordinary destiny.

São Martinho do Porto beach was a pleasant surprise. Calm waters with barely any waves, ideal for a relaxing day. It felt authentic and not overly touristy. The sand was clean, and the sunset through the natural cove opening was really nice. Farol restaurant was very good with pleasant service and tasty food.

Beautiful Beach, we just came on a windy day with cooler temperatures. Cabana rental enforcement may come and ask €10 for a day rental. Be ready with cash if they do.

A magical place. Felt like a Caribbean island on the beach area!!

A stunning beach and surrounding area. Make sure you check out the far left side along the dunes!!!

This place isn’t just a beach — it’s Mother Nature’s opera, with waves that sing in bold capital letters. We visited in May and were pleasantly surprised: getting there is a piece of cake, and parking? Free, easy, and close enough to hear the sea before you even open the car door. It’s the kind of place where your dog becomes a poet – ours trotted along like he owned the coastline, tail high, ears flapping in the breeze. Yes, it’s dog friendly, and yes, your dog will thank you in licks. Swimming? Not really – unless you’re part dolphin. The waves here are wild and proud. But for walking, reflecting, or pretending you’re in a dramatic perfume commercial – it’s perfection. Wide, open, cinematic. Bonus points: clean restrooms open until 7pm (a rare treasure on beach days). No showers – but who needs them when you’re salty, happy, and maybe just a little windswept? We’ll be back – same dog, same wind, more snacks.

This is a superb beach. Two things to note. One, unlike Praia Nazare where there is a cool breeze, here there was none so extremely hot when we went yesterday. Two, no lifeguards on duty. Again, be aware there are large waves here and a strong undercurrent.

Great beach to be naked like it should be. A nice warm october day, the water is even warm but rough but im the only one here going into the water ( not far). Parking is good. For naturist side turn right side on the beach

A stunning beach with very few people there and the ideal place to Paraglide and Paramotor!

Plenty of space on this beach which is only a little off the beaten track. Great to watch the huge waves crashing onto the beach, even on a still day. Beware wandering too far or you may encounter the nudes!

What a stunning place, it's very quiet as the car park can only take about 40 cars so everyone could have 50sq meters of sand. There is a restaurant but I have no idea what it's like.

My daughter and I visited this great little beach that Is much quieter than the main beach next to Nazare. Parking can get challenging if you leave your arrival to later in the day. There Is a restaurant next to the beach where you can get meals, drinks or ice cream.

Food is good but the service and location are the stars of the show. We live not far from here and come often when the weather is nice. The restaurant has a wonderful view of the water. The service is friendly and attentive and English is spoken if you need it. The food is good, not spectacular. We took friends visiting from out of the country and they enjoyed it as well.

Great experience, great food, excellent service! We were craving for a hearty, honest Portuguese dinner, and we were more than happy with our evening at the O Farol. We ordered the tamboril stew for two, a delicious sangria, and we topped that with one of the most delicious bolo de bolacha (top 3, cross my heart ☺️)! Definitely a come-bqck-er 🥰🤗

Everything was fantastic. Especially crab and shrimps with garlic. View is amazing, staff is very friendly.

O Farol in São Martinho do Porto exceeded expectations. Given its prime beachfront location, I expected typical tourist fare, but the food was genuinely good. Fresh, well-prepared, and flavorful. The sunset view from the restaurant was absolutely stunning, framed perfectly by the bay. Overall, great value for quality and atmosphere.

Great food, beautiful view. Seafood is very fresh. Very traditional Portuguese menu. View couldn’t be better.

We love this understated place - often quiet ( think people too lazy to walk few extra yards along the front!). Great views of the beach, sunset. Had lunch & dinner here several times over the 28 days I recently spent in Sao Martinho. Hosted various friends & family and took them all to O Farel Lovely staff, consistently good quality food and not expensive for the quality.

The food is good and also location over the beach with sea view. I had sapateira recheada which was great and after picanha. Picanha wasn't tender, quite stiff. Desert was great. The staff is nice but service was slow. It's a good place but not great.

Wonderful place with spectacular views of the bay. The chapel was restored three years ago. It is recommended to take a walk to the chapel in the afternoon

This is a lovely place to walk to from sao martinho do porto with lovely views and english information board

Stunning! Powerful!

Good walk, around 45 min. from S. Martinho do Porto ... Beautiful view...

Nice walk upto this old ruins but what makes it is the views once you get up there. Seriously beautiful!!

It is possible to drive up to within a 6 minutes walk of the chapel. But don’t follow Google’s directions. It led me to a dirt bike trail near the sand dunes that was too narrow for my car. Instead, follow the road signs for “miradouro”, then follow wooden signs for “Capela de Santa Ana”

It was a wonderful experience visting the chapela de Santa ana.. the view here is also quite beautiful .

I wanna say it sucks so less people would go there but it's stunning it's so beautiful ❤️

Beautiful views, and with the bes, restored boardwalk even my mother in law, who walks with a frame, has easy access.

Beutiful beach with soft white sand. If you are driving to it, can be difficult to park.

Beautiful, but get there early, or you will search for parking for a while

It's a nice place for a walk, but there is some damage to the footpath. Just be aware of that.

In principal a beautiful place however we were probably unlucky as there was a lot of seaweed, which had started to smell. Also no showers anywhere!

Beautiful clear landscapes and a wonderful place to enjoy nature and relaxation

Very secluded. Not crowded at all. Very private for “naturalist”. Very steep road to drive your car down and very little parking area. Dangerous water so not recommended for families with children. The coarse sand is hard on your feet. I only go there to look for sea glass.

Awesome beach!! Very few people! No restaurants, no umbrellas, no children screaming, no people with music... just few people, the beach and you. Strongly recommend it!

Beautiful beach, quiet with a fantastic setting... Not alot of shade!

Wonderful beach, but not for swimming

Fascinating, beautiful, wild!

Stunningly beautiful beach. The sand particles are large and a bit like tiny stones. Very nice to walk on with bare feet. We parked at the top and walked down. The last bit of road is steep and with a two wheel drive I did not want to risk problems coming back up. The waves are wonderful. Be careful to go in the waves when the tide is coming in. Yes the water is cold, as it is the Atlantic, so we used wetsuits and were in the water body surfing for over an hour.

Great place to go if you want some quiet time. The beach is massive and there's barely people there. The only bad things about it are the accessibility, the sand hurts your feet if you're barefoot, the waters are kind of dangerous and there's some old people that think since nobody goes there, that it's a nudist beach.