Spain vs Portugal: Who Has the Best Beaches?

This is one of the best urban beaches in Spain, possibly Europe, and is located on the doorstep of the Basque city of San Sebastián. The beautiful La Concha beach – concha meaning ‘shell’ in reference to its curved shape – stretches some 1,350 metres across and is greatly affected by the tides. While the scenery is not as wild as with other beaches, the urban backdrop coupled with the sharp hills of San Sebastián give it a certain charm.

Great for:

Enjoying the best of both the city and the beach
Food – San Sebastián is one of the food capitals of Europe

Located just a couple of hour’s drive south from the capital Lisbon, Comporta is a popular weekend hangout for those looking to escape the city in the warmer months. It has a cool, cosmopolitan vibe and its white sand is enough to make you think you were on the Med – until you test the water and realise the Atlantic tends to be a little cooler. On the plus side, it is much calmer and less commercially developed than its Spanish counterparts, and the few beach bars which are there feel both trendy and authentic.

Great for:

White sand beaches
Something a little more under the radar

One of the most southwestern points of Europe, Sagres is a small fishing village and surfer’s paradise located on the Atlantic coast. There are two faces to the coastline here, one to the west and one to the south, meaning that there’s usually always somewhere for good surf whichever way the current is going. The village is wonderfully sleepy except for when the fish market takes place in the local harbour and restaurateurs gather to bid for the freshest catch.

Great for:

Surfing
Natural, undeveloped beaches
Fresh seafood

Deciding which country has the best beaches for you really depends on what you’re looking for. Whereas Spain is graced by the warmer waters of the Mediterranean and the chilled-out beach life that comes with it, Portugal benefits from the lively waters of the Atlantic and some truly epic scenery.