Praia do Guincho is the other face of Cascais: nine kilometres from the polished bay, the coast turns wild — a broad band of pale sand backed by dunes inside the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, with Cabo da Roca's cliffs to the north and the green ridge of Sintra behind.
The summer nortada wind that funnels down this coast makes Guincho one of Europe's most consistent spots for windsurfing and kitesurfing — it has hosted world championship events — while surfers take the beach breaks year-round. Swimmers should respect the waves and currents; lifeguards watch the marked area in season.
Even for non-surfers it is a superb late afternoon: dunes, Atlantic light and a handful of seafood restaurants above the sand, famous for arroz de marisco and grilled fish. The drive out along the Estrada do Guincho is one of the region's most scenic.
Highlights
- Dune-backed Atlantic beach in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park
- World-class windsurfing and kitesurfing in the summer nortada
- Surf breaks year-round, lifeguards in season
- Seafood restaurants famous for arroz de marisco
- Nine scenic kilometres from the centre of Cascais
History & context
Guincho's dunes and the coast to Cabo da Roca were folded into the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park in 1994, keeping the shore wild; its winds made it a windsurfing world-championship venue and a fixture of international wave sports since the 1980s.
🗓️ Best time to visit
Afternoons for the wind sports spectacle; mornings and out of season for calm walks; sunset year-round.
⏱️ Duration
Half a day
♿ Accessibility
Boardwalks from the car parks over the dunes; soft sand beyond.
Frequently asked questions
Is Guincho good for swimming?
The water is cold and the waves and currents strong; swim only in the supervised area in season. It is above all a surf, wind and walking beach.
How do I get there from Cascais?
About nine kilometres along the Estrada do Guincho — ten minutes by car or taxi, or a flat ride on the coastal cycle path.