The town of Comporta, just south of Lisbon, is home to one of Europe’s best and emptiest beaches.
The aptly named Praia da Comporta, or Comporta Beach, offers an 11-mile stretch of almost-white sand dotted with restaurants.
Visitors familiar with Costa da Caparica near the Portuguese capital will likely love Praia da Comporta, as it has a similar feel minus the throngs of tourists.
Why not enjoy a long lunch at Comporta Café or head to the Sublime Beach Club for a drink and a look out over the Atlantic?
According to Conde Naste, the name Comporta roughly translates to ‘a gate that holds back water’ or ‘a lock’.
The prevalence of canals in Comporta suggests the town’s name is appropriate. The area is known for its rice paddies, the largest in Portugal.
Despite the baking hot weather in the summer months, Comporta remains one of the few areas in the country that remains naturally green and lush.
One visitor, reviewing the Comporta Beach, wrote on Tripadvisor: “Honestly one of the nicest and most beautiful beaches I have visited. Not crowded at all. Partly because we visited in the off season, and partly because the beach is so long that you can find an empty corner if you walk a little bit further. Water is cold, but nothing is perfect.”
Another said: “Spent the day at Comporta. We arrived around 11:30am and paid the €5 for shaded parking close to the board walk. There was plenty of space even on a Sunday.”
A third chimed in: “Such a stunning stretch of (fine) sand and dunes! Not too busy and quite a few amazing (yet quite expensive) beach restaurants around. The rice paddies on the other side of the dunes make it even more special. Love this area!”
