Santo André Skate Plaza

The skatepark in Vila Nova de Santo André, in the Santiago do Cacém municipality on the Alentejo coast, was a long time coming. The first public tender for the job attracted no bidders at all, the council had to start again, and building finally began at the end of 2016. The builders finished in a little over two months. The park opened to the public on 18 January 2017 and was officially inaugurated on 25 March 2017 by the Câmara Municipal de Santiago do Cacém and the Junta de Freguesia (parish council) of Santo André.

The mayor at the time credited the architect, Luís Fortes, with designing “one of the best, if not the best” skateparks in Portugal. Locals call it the Santo André Skate Plaza, and it has a local star to point to: Rúben Gamito, a national skateboarding champion, comes from the town.

The Skate Plaza is poured concrete throughout, built by Wasteland Skateparks according to the Trucks and Fins directory. Most of it is a big open street plaza, the style that copies city squares with benches, steps and handrails, rather than a set of ramps in a row. The directory lists quarter pipes, a funbox, a manual pad, a kicker, handrails, flat rails, ledges, banks, stairs, curbs and a gap to jump. At one side is a mid-sized bowl, a smooth curved pool for riding round and up the walls.

Because it’s spread out, there’s usually room for a beginner to practise away from the older riders. Skaters who have reviewed it on the directory describe it as spacious, with plenty of beginner-friendly obstacles, and a welcoming local crew who are good with children.

What a young beginner can do here

A child of five or six on a first board or scooter can spend a whole session on the flat plaza: rolling, turning, stopping, then trying the gentle banks. The curbs and low ledges come next. The bowl, stairs, rails and gap are for experienced riders. Younger children need an adult watching and a bit of coaching about waiting their turn and not stopping in the middle of someone else’s line.

Skateboard School Alentejo, based in Vila Nova de Milfontes, counts Santo André as one of its local parks and teaches here.

Private lessons last 1.5 hours and can be booked for one to six people. When checked in September 2026 they cost €50 for one to three people, €60 for four or five and €70 for six, and the price includes the instructor’s travel to Santo André, Sines or Odemira. For a first try, the school also runs open lessons every two weeks at Odemira, Sines or Santo André, for five to eight children at a time.

Children aged 6 and over can join the regular group courses: eight weekly sessions of 1.5 hours, grouped by level rather than age, with separate sessions for over-12s. The autumn 2026 course cost €90 for the eight lessons. The school provides boards and protective gear for every lesson. The school’s autumn 2026 programme ends with a Go Skateboarding Day at Santo André on 7 November.

• It’s free and open to the public.
• There is no published rule on helmets and pads. A helmet, wrist guards and knee pads are sensible for children on concrete.
• The Junta de Freguesia built a new footpath to the park from Rua da Maré Cheia, by the EB n.º 2 school, so you can walk in off the street.
• We could not confirm toilets, drinking water or lighting from the sources we checked.
• There is little shade on a concrete plaza. On summer days go in the morning or early evening, take plenty of water, and remember that concrete and metal rails heat up in the sun.
• The park celebrates its birthday every year around 25 March, with a day of skating and music.

Badoca Safari Park is in the same municipality, so a morning with the animals and a cooler evening session at the skatepark works well. The Centro Ciência Viva do Lousal, in an old mining village, is another good pairing on a hot day. There are more small skateparks nearby at Sines and Cercal do Alentejo.

Is the Santo André skatepark free?

Yes. It’s a public skatepark run by the local councils and there’s no charge.

Is it suitable for beginners and young children?

Yes, with an adult watching. It’s large and has plenty of easy obstacles on the flat, so beginners can practise away from the bowl and rails.

Can my child have a skateboard lesson there?

Yes. Skateboard School Alentejo gives private and open lessons at Santo André, with boards and protective gear provided. Group courses are for ages 6 and up.

Are scooters and BMX allowed?

The sources we checked do not publish rules for the park, and none of them say scooters or BMX bikes are banned. Share the space with skaters and take turns.

Is there shade at the skatepark?

Very little. Avoid the middle of the day in summer.