Location
Portugal
Status
Informal / Traditional
Suitable for
Families and adults
Terrain
Mixed
Best season
June to September
About Praia das Cabanas Velhas
Praia das Cabanas Velhas (also called Praia de Almádena) is a cliff-backed cove on the western Algarve coast, a short drive west of Burgau in Vila do Bispo municipality, inside the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park. The beach runs for a few hundred metres below tall ochre cliffs, with light sand mixed with pebbles and a rocky seabed that leaves small rock pools at both ends at low tide. Its south-facing position on the Algarve's sheltered south coast means water that is warmer and calmer than on the Atlantic-facing west coast. The Portuguese Naturist Federation (FPN) includes Cabanas Velhas in its list of tolerated beaches, where naturists customarily bathe alongside clothed visitors, and other naturist guides list it too; it is not an officially designated naturist beach. There is a beach restaurant behind the sand and, in summer, umbrella and lounger rental, so the central part of the beach is mixed and fairly sociable; nude bathers tend to spread out toward the ends, away from the restaurant. The FPN warns that the cliffs invite scrambling but a fall would be serious, so keep an eye on children near the rocks. Crowds stay modest even in July and August compared with the resort beaches around Lagos.
Getting there
From the N125 between Lagos and Vila do Bispo, turn toward Burgau (via Budens or the M537-1) and follow signs for Cabanas Velhas or the Cabanas beach restaurant; the last stretch is a potholed dirt track. There is a free parking area for around 100 cars above the beach, supervised in summer; one guide puts the walk at about six minutes, while the FPN describes parking almost at the sand. There is no direct bus to the beach, so a car or taxi is the practical option. Access to the sand is over uneven ground and is not suitable for wheelchairs.
Amenities
Legal context
Portugal's naturism law (Lei 29/94, revised in 2010) allows nudity only where a municipality has designated a naturist area, and this beach is not one of the nine official naturist beaches listed by the FPN in 2026. It is on the FPN's list of 'tolerated' beaches where naturists customarily share the sand with clothed bathers; we found no reports of enforcement, but nudity here is customary rather than authorised.
Naturism at Praia das Cabanas Velhas sits under Portugal's rules for traditional tolerance — custom more than statute.
Full country law: Portugal public nudity guide.
Naturist status confirmed against an official source on 24 October 2026.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 37.0656, -8.7951
Visitor tips
- 1 Informal / tolerated site — be discreet and leave no drama.
- 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 Praia das Cabanas Velhas an official nudist beach?
No. The Portuguese Naturist Federation lists it as a tolerated beach where nude and clothed bathers customarily mix, but it is not one of Portugal's nine officially designated naturist beaches.
Where do nudists sit?
The middle of the beach near the restaurant is mostly clothed; naturists usually settle toward the ends, away from the facilities.
Is there parking?
Yes, a free parking area for about 100 cars above the beach, reached by a rough dirt track.
Are there facilities?
There is a beach restaurant and, in summer, umbrella and lounger rental. Sources disagree on toilets, showers and lifeguard cover, so do not count on them.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
Members’ reviews
Write a review →Loading member reviews…