River beaches in Portugal: discover our favorite ones to visit with children
From North to South of Portugal, there are many river beach options to cool off this summer. Find out the best ones to visit with the little ones!
We’re big fans of river beaches, and this passion started after discovering some of them here in Portugal. With warmer waters and top-notch infrastructure, these beaches are becoming an increasingly popular alternative for cooling off and having fun with the kids during summer.
Want to know our favorites from the North to the South of Portugal? Then come along with us and... splash!
River Beaches in the Southern Region of Portugal
Monsaraz River Beach, Alentejo
📍Location: Monsaraz Nautical Center
❤️ Why do we love this beach?
We visited this beach in August 2024, and the kids absolutely loved it! With the intense summer heat in the Alentejo region, we barely left the water — it was a treat!
Monsaraz River Beach is located right in the heart of the Alqueva reservoir and offers excellent facilities, providing everything families need to enjoy a comfortable day — from grassy areas to sandy spots perfect for sunbathing.
There’s also plenty of fun to be had in the water, with a range of aquatic activities available: boat and sailboat tours, water skiing and wakeboarding, paddleboarding, towable inflatables, canoeing, and pedal boats.
🏖️ Facilities at Monsaraz River Beach:
Supervised beach with lifeguard
Floating pool
Medical station
Picnic tables
Free car parking
Bar / Restaurant
Toilets and showers
Children’s playground
👉🏽 Other things to do in the area:
Stargazing at the Alqueva Lake Observatory — a beautiful and unforgettable activity for all ages.
Take a boat tour on Lake Alqueva, departing from Monsaraz River Beach.
Admire the views of the region from the Monsaraz Castle.
🏡 Where to stay in the area:
Casas da Minh’Alma – Perfect little houses for families, with a compact kitchen and private bathroom. The best part? The amazing pool right out front!
Tapada Grande River Beach, Lower Alentejo
📍Location: Mina de São Domingos, Mértola
❤️ Why do we love this beach?
Tapada Grande was one of those pleasant surprises that stays with you. The setting is beautiful — a calm lagoon surrounded by nature — and best of all: warm water, perfect for those who aren’t fans of that icy shock when getting in! It’s the kind of place that invites you to spend the whole day, without rushing.
And if you feel like doing something different, there are kayaks, pedal boats, and even open-air cinema sessions on summer nights. It’s a simple yet special experience — perfect for slowing down.
🏖️ Facilities at Tapada Grande River Beach:
Supervised beach with lifeguard (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Sandy area and grassy zones with natural shade
Free straw parasols
Toilets, showers, and accessibility for people with reduced mobility
Medical station
Bar with terrace
Children’s playground
Picnic tables and barbecue grills
Free parking
Free Wi-Fi
Amphibious chair and access ramps
👉🏽 Other things to do in the area:
Go birdwatching at the Guadiana Valley Natural Park
Explore the historic center of Mértola, with its castle, museums, and charming white houses
🏡 Where to stay in the area:
Hotel Museu – Offers a charming outdoor pool with stunning views of the Guadiana River, perfect for relaxing after exploring the historic town center.
River Beaches in the Central Region of Portugal:
Nossa Senhora da Piedade River Beach
📍Location: Ribeira de São João, Lousã Mountains
❤️ Why do we love this beach?
The first thing we loved? This natural pool has a view of Lousã Castle — amazing! Nossa Senhora da Piedade River Beach is fed by the Arouce River and surrounded by lush greenery, creating a postcard-worthy setting.
With crystal-clear waters and facilities that include a bar, restrooms, and leisure areas, it’s perfect for a relaxing day in nature. For the brave ones, there’s even a diving board into the deeper end of the pool!
🏖️ Facilities at Nossa Senhora da Piedade:
Shallow natural pool
Accessible for people with reduced mobility
Bar with outdoor terrace
Changing rooms with showers
Toilets
Lifeguard on duty
First-aid station
👉🏽 Other things to do in the area:
Visit the village of Talasnal, one of the most beautiful schist villages in the Lousã Mountains, and fall in love with its stone houses, narrow lanes, local delicacies, and rustic charm.
Take a 4x4 jeep tour through the Lousã Mountains and Schist Villages.
🏡 Where to stay in the area:
Talasnal Casas da Urze – Cozy, rustic accommodation in the schist village of Talasnal, with mountain views, an outdoor pool, and all the comforts you need.
Fragas de São Simão River Beach
📍Location: Casal de São Simão, Figueiró dos Vinhos
❤️ Why do we love this beach?
This beach features a stream with crystal-clear waters surrounded by lush greenery. It’s one of the most forest-like beaches we’ve ever visited. Plus, it has good support infrastructure and some interesting attractions nearby.
Since the riverbed is quite rocky, we recommend wearing special water shoes to protect your feet.
🏖️ Facilities at Fragas de São Simão River Beach:
Easy access with ramps for people with reduced mobility
Lifeguard on duty during the bathing season (July 1 to September 15)
Toilets with showers
Picnic area with barbecue grills
Small playground
Bar / terrace
Drinking water fountain
Nearby parking (300 meters above the beach) with reserved spots for people with reduced mobility
👉🏽 Other things to do in the area:
Fragas de São Simão Trail: An outdoor wooden boardwalk connecting the Fragas de São Simão viewpoint to the village of Casal de São Simão, crossing the bottom of the gorge along the Ribeira de Alge, taking you through various landscapes and times. The full trail is 1.7 km long and usually takes about 45 minutes to complete. Medium difficulty (includes some stairs).
Village of Casal de São Simão: One of the 27 Portuguese schist villages, considered by many as a peaceful mountain refuge. It features charming narrow streets and a cozy shop/restaurant. Absolutely adorable.
🏡 Where to stay in the area:
Casa da Oliveira – A super comfortable and charming bed and breakfast.
Aldeia do Mato River Beach
📍Location: Aldeia do Mato, Abrantes
❤️ Why do we love this beach?
Aldeia do Mato River Beach, located by the Castelo de Bode reservoir (Abrantes municipality), is an excellent destination for families with children. It offers everything a family looks for: clean, certified water, full accessibility support, safe zones for little ones, a variety of water and adventure activities, and even options to stay overnight in bungalows. The floating pools in the river waters were a total hit here!
🏖️ Facilities at Aldeia do Mato River Beach:
Quality certifications: Blue Flag and “Gold Quality” awards ensure excellent water quality.
Supervised floating pools: separate areas for adults and kids with lifeguards guarantee a safe environment.
Water sports: kayak, pedal boats, sailing, windsurfing, and canoe rentals to explore the river.
Full support facilities: changing rooms, showers, toilets (including accessibility), and first aid station.
Easy access: ramps, boardwalks, and docking piers allow easy water entry and access for people with reduced mobility.
Picnic area and parking: picnic tables, bar with outdoor seating and prime views of the beach, free parking with reserved spots for disabled visitors.
👉🏽 Other things to do in the area:
Take a boat tour on the reservoir — a guided tourist circuit to explore the water and local flora and fauna.
Visit the Aldeia do Mato Viewpoint: just 190 meters above the beach at Largo do Cruzeiro, offering magnificent views over the Castelo de Bode dam lagoon.
Explore the Centro Ciência Viva de Constância, dedicated to astronomy with a planetarium and interactive exhibitions, about 10 km southeast (around a 15-minute drive). A fantastic outing for kids!
🏡 Where to stay in the area:
Casa João Chagas Guest House – Two historic 19th-century buildings offering great comfort for guests. Only 20 minutes from the river beach!
Cardigos Riverside Beach
📍 Location: Vergancinho Dam
❤️ Why we like this beach?
It’s hard to believe that this river beach/pool is free to access! It’s located in the village of Cardigos, in the municipality of Mação, Santarém district, and is fed by the Eiras stream. The main pool is deep and great for swimming, but there is also a smaller, shallow pool made especially for young children. The area is well maintained, with a bar, playground, barbecue grills, and plenty of natural shade — a true oasis in the interior of Portugal!
🏖️ Facilities at Cardigos Riverside Beach
Gold Quality certified river beach
River pools for adults and children with depths ranging from 0.75 m to 2.5 m
Covered picnic area with tables and barbecue grills
Support café/bar
Picnic tables with shade
Camping area
Grassy lawn areas beside the pool and surrounding space
Showers
Public restrooms
Sunshades
Sandy beach area
Small waterfalls
Walking trails
Parking lot
👉🏽 Other things to do in the area:
Visit the Roman Bridge of Mação, a historical heritage site likely dating between the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. The bridge features two arches (one reinforced in Gothic style) and offers a beautiful immersion in the Roman heritage of the region, along with a great opportunity for walking tours and photography.
🏡 Where to stay in the area:
Casa dos Cardigos — Comfortable lodging with a great pool!
River Beaches in the Northern Region of Portugal:
Alqueirão Riverside Beach
📍 Location: Vilar de Veiga, Gerês
❤️ Why we like this beach?
Alqueirão Riverside Beach, in Terras de Bouro, was one of our favorites in Gerês! Our kids simply didn’t want to leave the inflatable water park — guaranteed fun from start to finish. With easy access, a wide area to relax, and a breathtaking sunset, it’s the perfect place to spend the day.
🏖️ Facilities at Alqueirão Riverside Beach
Accessible beach for everyone
Gold Quality certified beach
Large sandy area
Water temperature around 25ºC in summer
Free parking (limited to about 65 spots)
No lifeguard on duty — caution advised!
Snark Bar Beira Rio café
Encosta do Rio restaurant
👉🏽 Other things to do in the area:
In Gerês, we also recommend Barragem Beach and Barca Riverside Beach — you can learn more about these beaches in our “3-Day Gerês Itinerary with Kids.”
🏡 Where to stay in the region:
Hotel Eco Salvador — Comfortable hotel with a great outdoor pool.
Adaúfe River Beach
📍 Location: Braga
❤️ Why we like this beach?
A beautiful beach full of attractions for kids. We love the small islets that form near the shore, one of which has ruins of an old mill. This beach features an inflatable water park inside the river, plus kayak and pedal boat rentals. There’s plenty of greenery, shade, and space to sit on the grass.
🏖️ Facilities at Adaúfe River Beach:
Calm and safe natural pool: shallow, tranquil waters ideal for little ones, with sandy and grassy areas to relax.
Water sports: kayak and pedal boat rentals.
Fitness area: outdoor exercise circuit.
Award-winning quality: Blue Flag since 2016 and Accessible Beach for All, guaranteeing clean water, safety, and accessibility.
Large grassy area: perfect for picnics, barbecues, and resting under natural shade.
Complete amenities: picnic tables and barbecue grills, changing rooms, showers, adapted restrooms, bar/café, drinking fountains, and first aid post.
Full accessibility: parking with reserved spaces 20m from the entrance, ramps, walkways, amphibious chair, and bike rack.
Water safety: lifeguard present from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM (season: June 8–September 15).
👉🏽 Other things to do in the area:
Visit the beautiful city of Braga with its charming historic center.
Admire the breathtaking view from the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte and take a funicular ride.
Have fun on a tuk-tuk tour around Braga — kids love exploring the city this way.
🏡 Where to stay in the area:
Quinta da Devesa — Playground, swimming pool, beautiful views, and lots of comfort.
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Enjoy your trips and see you in the next edition!
Caren and Cris, from Portugal com Miúdos
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In the next newsletter edition, we’ll suggest a 3-day itinerary in Porto with kids.
🤗 Want more ideas on where to stay with kids in Portugal?
Be sure to check out the best family-friendly hotels in the Algarve, Alentejo, Cascais, Lisbon, Porto, and Sintra.