Praia Fluvial do Agroal

The Praia Fluvial do Agroal is on the River Nabão in the municipality of Ourém, on the border with Tomar, whose parish of Sabacheira is on the opposite bank. The APA (Portuguese Environment Agency) describes it as taking in the biggest spring of the Nabão, a river that flows south to Tomar. Its profile adds that the water has a long reputation for medicinal properties, and that the beach sits in woodland with good walking nearby.

Ourém council calls the Agroal the pride of the municipality, and says thousands of people visit every year. For children, the spring itself is the story: water that has travelled underground comes out here and becomes a river.

The bathing area is built around a pool on the river. In 2023 Ourém council approved a set of improvements after concerns that the existing pool was too deep for small children, hard for people with reduced mobility to get into and difficult to drain for cleaning. The plan included a new children’s pool next to the existing one, with a shallow access area 40 cm deep, a stainless-steel walkway around the pool and a new composite deck.

The children’s pool opened on Ourém’s municipal day in June 2025. The mayor said at the time that more sunshades and a bigger sunbathing area would follow. For families with toddlers, that shallow pool makes Agroal a much easier choice than it used to be.

The main pool and the river are deeper, so children who can’t swim should stay in the children’s pool with an adult close by.

The official 2026 bathing season at Agroal ran from 1 July to 15 September, longer than most river beaches in the area, with lifeguards. There’s a first-aid post.

On 10 July 2026 Agroal raised four flags: the Blue Flag (Bandeira Azul) for the 10th year in a row, the Praia Acessível flag, the Quercus Gold Quality flag for the 7th year running, and, for the first time, the ColorADD flag. ColorADD is a colour code that helps colour-blind people read colour-based information.

The APA classes Agroal’s water as Excellent. Its profile is honest about the risks: it says faecal contamination can occur, with causes not fully understood, possibly sanitation problems upstream or unlicensed discharges. If there’s a problem, a warning is put up advising against bathing, so check the notice board when you arrive or the APA’s InfoÁgua website before you go.

In June 2026 Ourém council approved non-motorised water sports at Agroal for the season, over a longer stretch of the Nabão than before. The plan covered canoes and kayaks, pedal boats, paddleboards and waterballing (rolling across the water inside a giant inflatable ball). On 3 August 2026 the council awarded the concession to RIVERSportevents, which offered kayaks and paddleboards on the Lagoa do Agroal. Ask on site about prices and minimum ages.

The APA’s 2026 data lists lifeguards, a first-aid post, toilets, a beach bar and parking, and marks the beach as accessible. Ourém council’s improvements added the accessible walkway around the pool and a shallow access area. The APA also flagged works in progress during the 2026 season, so some areas may have looked unfinished.

Agroal is in the countryside between Ourém and Tomar. Most families drive. In 2024 the council ran a free weekend shuttle from car parks at Formigais, and the bus company added weekday links from Fátima and Ourém, but we couldn’t find confirmation that either ran in 2026, so check with Ourém council before relying on it.

• It’s popular and gets busy on summer weekends.
• The APA warns that the water can occasionally be affected by contamination.
• The main pool and the river are deep, so non-swimmers need the children’s pool.
• There were works in progress in 2026.

Agroal is close to several other days out around Fátima. The dinosaur footprints at the Serra de Aire are in the same municipality, and the Grutas da Moeda show the limestone water world underground. Funpark Fátima is there for energetic children, and in Tomar the Pegões aqueduct is a short drive away. If the weather turns, the Piscinas Municipais de Ourém are indoors.

Is Agroal good for toddlers?

Yes, since the children’s pool opened in 2025. It was planned with a shallow area 40 cm deep. Stay with toddlers in the water.

Is there a lifeguard?

Yes, during the 2026 season from 1 July to 15 September.

Can you hire kayaks?

From August 2026 a concession offered kayaks and paddleboards on the Lagoa do Agroal. Check on arrival.

Is the water cold?

It comes straight from a spring, so expect it to feel fresh even in August.

Is it accessible?

It held the Praia Acessível flag in 2026, and the council built an accessible walkway around the pool.