Praia da Areia Branca

Praia da Areia Branca (White Sand Beach) is the beach most people mean when they talk about going to the seaside in Lourinhã. Visit Lourinhã, the council’s tourism site, calls it a landmark of tourism in the region, with everything you need for a long, lazy day: minigolf, surf and bodyboard lessons, restaurants, bars and terraces.

The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) treats it as two bathing waters. The central beach, Areia Branca, is the long sandy beach in front of the village. The APA notes that it used to be much wider and that the sand has been shrinking over the years. South of it is Areia Branca - Foz, a long sandy stretch where the Rio Grande flows out, with beach facilities along its whole length.

For families, the southern stretch, Areia Branca - Foz, is the one to head for. In the APA’s 2026 data, it’s the part with lifeguards, beach support services, a first-aid post, parking, an accessible route and an amphibious chair, and it flew the Blue Flag in 2026. The APA’s data for the central beach lists toilets and showers but not lifeguards, although the Bandeira Azul list includes it too. Look for the lifeguard post and flags when you arrive, and set up near them.

This is an open Atlantic beach. The APA marks both stretches as having “waves of special value”, which is its way of flagging surf, so small children should stay at the water’s edge with an adult, and everyone should swim between the flags.

The river is the interesting part for children. The APA says the Rio Grande reaches the beach at Areia Branca - Foz but usually has no connection to the sea in the summer season. Ask children what might be stopping it: it’s a good chance to talk about how small rivers and the sea push against each other, and how a beach changes shape between winter and summer.

The APA also explains that the river is the main possible source of pollution, after heavy rain, and that any such episode shouldn’t last more than a day or two. There were no days when bathing was advised against at either stretch in 2025.

Lourinhã’s 2026 bathing season ran from 20 June to 13 September, a week later than some neighbouring councils. The APA rates the water at both stretches “excellent”, and the last analyses of the 2026 season, on 19 August, were rated suitable.

Visit Lourinhã highlights minigolf and surf and bodyboard lessons at Areia Branca, alongside restaurants, bars and terraces. That mix makes it an easy beach for families with children who get bored of sand. Book surf lessons with a licensed school and ask about minimum ages.

Areia Branca - Foz is listed by the APA as an accessible beach with an amphibious chair. Just to the north, Visit Lourinhã says Areal Sul also holds the Blue Flag and the Praia Acessível award, and that its long sand stays peaceful even in high season.

The central beach has lost a lot of its sand over the years, according to the APA. This is a surf coast, not a calm bay. There’s no natural shade on the sand.

The obvious pairing is Dino Parque Lourinhã, Portugal’s biggest open-air dinosaur park, with more than 200 life-size models along woodland trails. Do the park in the morning and the beach in the afternoon. Lourinhã also has a skate park and, at Marteleira, the Piscina da Marteleira for swimming lessons. Further south, the rock pools of Santa Cruz are worth the drive at low tide.

Is Praia da Areia Branca good for kids?

It’s a busy family beach with minigolf, surf lessons and places to eat. For swimming, head to the southern stretch, Areia Branca - Foz, which had lifeguards in 2026, and keep small children at the water’s edge because of the surf.

Is there a lifeguard?

The APA’s 2026 data lists lifeguards at Areia Branca - Foz during the bathing season, 20 June to 13 September. Check the flags on arrival.

Is it wheelchair accessible?

Areia Branca - Foz is listed as an accessible beach with an amphibious chair.

How far is it from Dino Parque?

Both are in the municipality of Lourinhã, and it’s easy to do both in a day by car.

Why is the river cut off from the sea?

The APA says the Rio Grande usually has no connection to the sea in summer. Small rivers carry little water in the dry months, and sand washed up by the waves can close off their mouths.