These are Portugal’s 20 highest-rated beaches, according to Google Maps

Portugal‘s best beaches for the summer of 2026 have been revealed in a new ranking based on thousands of Google Maps reviews, with the Algarve dominating the list despite Sintra’s Praia da Adraga taking first place.

The beach received a 4.8-star rating from 2,847 reviews, edging out Praia de Cacela Velha in the eastern Algarve and Praia da Ursa, also in Sintra,  which received the same rating but with a lower number of reviews.

The ranking, compiled by holiday rental platform Holidu, is dominated by the Algarve, with 10 of Portugal’s top 20 beaches located in the region.

Portugal’s top 20 beaches for summer 2026

According to Google Maps ratings analysed by Holidu

Praia da Adraga (Sintra) – ⭐ 4.8/5 (2,847 reviews)

Praia de Cacela Velha (Algarve) – ⭐ 4.8/5 (2,219 reviews)

Praia da Ursa (Sintra) – ⭐ 4.8/5 (1,948 reviews)

Praia da Bordeira (Algarve) – ⭐ 4.8/5 (1,880 reviews)

Praia de Odeceixe (Algarve) – ⭐ 4.8/5 (1,607 reviews)

Praia da Prainha (Algarve) – ⭐ 4.8/5 (1,597 reviews)

Praia da Cordoama (Algarve) – ⭐ 4.8/5 (1,456 reviews)

Praia do Castelejo (Algarve) – ⭐ 4.8/5 (1,302 reviews)

Praia da Amália (Algarve) – ⭐ 4.8/5 (1,199 reviews)

Praia da Falésia (Algarve) – ⭐ 4.7/5 (15,395 reviews)

Praia da Marinha (Algarve) – ⭐ 4.7/5 (11,647 reviews)

Praia do Guincho (Cascais) – ⭐ 4.7/5 (4,843 reviews)

Praia do Carvalho (Algarve) – ⭐ 4.7/5 (4,240 reviews)

Praia dos Galapinhos (Sesimbra) – ⭐ 4.7/5 (3,300 reviews)

Praia da Ribeira do Cavalo (Sesimbra) – ⭐ 4.7/5 (3,131 reviews)

Praia de Galapos (Setúbal) – ⭐ 4.7/5 (2,987 reviews)

Praia da Samoqueira (Alentejo) – ⭐ 4.7/5 (2,712 reviews)

Praia da Arrifana (Algarve) – ⭐ 4.7/5 (2,706 reviews)

Praia da Figueirinha (Setúbal) – ⭐ 4.7/5 (2,619 reviews)

Praia de Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz) – ⭐ 4.7/5 (2,592 reviews)

The results highlight the Algarve’s remarkable depth of quality, with beaches stretching from Cacela Velha in the east to Arrifana on the west coast making the list. While Praia da Falésia and Praia da Marinha narrowly missed out on the top 10 due to their 4.7-star ratings, they stand out for attracting by far the largest number of reviews – more than 15,000 and 11,600, respectively – making them among Portugal’s most visited and widely acclaimed beaches.

Among Europe’s best

Portugal also performed strongly in Holidu’s wider European ranking, placing 10 beaches in the continent’s top 25.

Praia da Adraga secured 10th place overall, marking the highest position ever achieved by a Portuguese beach in the study. Overall, Portugal was the second most represented country in the European top 25, behind only the United Kingdom.

How the ranking was compiled

Holidu analysed more than 9,500 Google Maps results for beaches across Portugal, excluding locations with fewer than 100 user reviews to ensure the ratings were representative.

Where beaches received the same average score, those with the highest number of reviews were ranked higher.

Michael Bruxo

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.