Location
Portugal
Status
Officially Designated
Suitable for
Adults only
Terrain
Sand
Best season
June to September
About Praia da Bela Vista
Praia da Bela Vista is Portugal's oldest official naturist beach, on the Costa da Caparica coast in the municipality of Almada, south of Lisbon. Almada's municipal assembly approved it on 21 February 1995. It lies on the long sandy strand that runs from Caparica towards Fonte da Telha, below the protected fossil cliffs, and is widely known as "Dezanove" (19), after the old numbered stops of the beach train that used to run along this coast. The naturist zone begins about 400 metres from the Casa da Praia restaurant, which serves traditional Portuguese food and snacks near the beach. The beach is open sand facing the Atlantic, part of a strand that runs for many kilometres. It is one of the best-known gay beaches in Europe and has a large gay male crowd, alongside straight naturists and couples; cruising goes on in the dunes and woods behind the beach, which some visitors will want to know about before choosing where to sit. The naturist association Alma Naturista occasionally holds nude yoga sessions here.
Getting there
By car, take the A2 and then the IC20 towards Costa da Caparica, turn left at the traffic lights onto the beach road and follow the dirt track to the last car park before the climb; from there walk down to the sand and along to the naturist zone, about 400 m beyond the Casa da Praia restaurant. The seasonal Transpraia beach train that once served this coast was not running at the time of the Time Out guide. Parking is informal; there is no step-free access to the naturist zone.
Amenities
Legal context
Designated an official naturist beach by the Assembleia Municipal de Almada on 21 February 1995, the first in Portugal, and listed by the Federação Portuguesa de Naturismo among the country's nine official naturist beaches. Naturism is legal within the designated zone; sexual activity in public, including in the dunes, is not.
Naturism at Praia da Bela Vista sits under Portugal's rules for officially designated nude beaches — explicit protection inside the marked area.
Full country law: Portugal public nudity guide.
Naturist status confirmed against an official source on 24 October 2026.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 38.5902, -9.2058
Visitor tips
- 1 Official designation: nudity is protected inside the marked area.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
More in Portugal
Frequently asked questions
Is nudity legal at Praia da Bela Vista?
Yes. It became Portugal's first official naturist beach in 1995, approved by Almada's municipal assembly.
Where is the nude section?
The naturist zone starts about 400 metres from the Casa da Praia restaurant.
Why is it called Dezanove?
The name refers to the number of the old beach-train stop that served this stretch of the Caparica coast.
Is it family-friendly?
It is mainly an adult and gay beach with cruising in the dunes behind, so families usually prefer quieter naturist beaches such as Adiça or Meco.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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