Top Spots for Sun Tanning in Lisbon

Top Spots for Sun Tanning in Lisbon

Catching a tan in Lisbon is actually a lot more of a curated outing than you may originally have expected. I recall my first visit to this city, armed with three or four bathing suits and blissfully unaware of how few places there actually are to tan.

Almost nobody in Lisbon has backyards or private spaces where sunbathing can take place. In addition to this, the Tagus coastline has small patches of communal beaches but they aren’t really the kinds of places where people hangout in full beach getup. The Tagus coastline is more for watching the sunset, picnicking or even meeting a Tinder date.

by Ali Morshedlou – Unsplash

Suitable tanning spots in the Portuguese capital require a bit more of an effort, and sometimes even a small fee. Here are a few of my personal ones.

Cascais near Lisbon

Everyone likes to moan and groan upon hearing this, but the 40 minute train ride out to Cascais really is the most ideal option for someone looking to bronze their skin.

Cascais is Lisbon’s beach village situated far up the west coast. Trains leave every 20 minutes from the Cais do Sodre station in the south of the city center. A roundtrip between the beaches and the city is just €5 per person. 

There are actually a few beaches en route to Cascais located away from the main village. You can use any of these for your tanning by simply jumping off at one of the earlier stops.

Cascais – by Vitor Oliveira – Wikimedia Commons

Cascais is vibrant little town, you can count on it to be packed with travelers if the weather is good. Don’t be surprised if you land up standing for the duration of the train ride either; getting to the platform early can help reduce these odds.

The beach town is also filled with great restaurants and cafes to refresh following your bathing session. The last train back to Lisbon departs at 9pm, be sure to get on it or you’ll need to look for accommodation in Cascais for the night!

Oceanic Pool Oeiras in Lisbon

To try and cater to the demand for more outdoor recreational facilities, the city of Lisbon constructed the Oceanic Pool Oeiras in the far southwest of the city center.

The pool is quite far from the Alfama and Chiado, it’s even further than Belem — which is generally the furthest visitors to Lisbon will go during their trip .

Oceanic Pool Oeiras – by Oceanic Pool Oeiras – Sourced from their Facebook

The olympic sized pool is built on the Tagus edge and offers a kids pool as well. It is called an oceanic pool as the water used to fill it comes from the Atlantic Ocean. Bare in mind this ocean isn’t known for its warm or pleasant temperatures, it’s quite cold and a stark contrast to the Portuguese heat.

There is a small entrance fee for adults and children to enter the facilities. Once inside you’ll find the two pools and the communal area featuring a bar service and ample place to tan. It’s a wonderful place to spend the day.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday to Sunday – 10am to 7pm

ADDRESS: Passeio Marítimo de Oeiras, Oeiras, Portugal

Metro STATION: Santo Amaro

Miradouro das Portas do Sol in Lisbon

The Miradouro das Portas do Sol is the famous viewpoint in Lisbon’s Alfama that is usually see on any postcard or generic advert used to promote Lisbon tourism.

The view looks over the city below and the hundreds of terra-cotta rooftops that piece together until they reach the water. This is a standard landmark for all free guided walking tours through the Alfama.

Miradouro das Portas do Sol – by ho visto nina volare – Wikimedia Commons

You’ll find the viewpoint has many levels to it. There are some corners where streets artists and buskers are performing for change, some areas where small markets have been set up, even parts where you can receive a massage while overlooking the city.

There is a small open terrace on the Miradouro as well where a lot of tourists come to sun bathe. Bring along something to lay on and you’re good to go.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday to Sunday – Open 24 Hours

ADDRESS: Largo Portas do Sol, 1100-411 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Terreiro do Paço

Park of Necessidades in Lisbon

In Lisbon there are no restrictions for what you can and can’t wear in the public parks, so suntanning is absolutely doable in any of them.

There are many parks around the city. My favorite for tanning would be the Park of Necessidades toward the west of the center. I like the vastness of the grounds and that you can find sufficient privacy especially if you’ll be tanning alone.

Park of Necessidades – by GualdimG – Wikimedia Commons

Access to the park is absolutely free. Take alone whatever you’ll need to keep you comfortable and refreshed throughout the day.

A good combination of activities would be to visit the park in the heat of the day and then head down to the Lx Factory just a few blocks away. You’ll be able to refresh at the many restaurants and bars on offer at the abandoned factory grounds, as well as explore one of the most recommended attractions in Lisbon — a tan and an outing, two birds with one stone.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday to Sunday – 8am to 7pm

ADDRESS: Calçada Necessidades, Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Alcantara-Terra

Hotel Pools in Lisbon

Finally, the real obvious winner of them all: hotel pools.

I wouldn’t say that there are a lot of hotels in Lisbon with pools on their property, but there are definitely a handful in each major district. Many of these will be luxury hotels that will charge a ridiculous fee for non-guests to make use of facilities, or simply restrict access altogether.

Pool at NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade – by NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade – Uploaded by them

Other hotels and hostels in Lisbon have open door policies, welcoming outsiders to make use of their swimming and tanning facilities in exchange for either a small fee or a purchase minimum at their restaurant or bar.