Praia da Adiça

Think about the opposite of crowded. That’s Praia da Adiça. You’ll find nude people here and there. You’ll also see people in their bathing suits since nudity is optional, small groups taking walks with their feet on the wet sand, and people walking or jogging alone, in  groups or with their pets. There’s room for everyone. In truth, at Praia da Adiça,  there’s barely anyone, even during summer, which is a chaotic season in most beaches to the north, closer to Fonte da Telha, Costa da Caparica and Lisbon.

There’s a public toilet, a sort of hippie wood shed, at an NGO called Associação Arroz de Polvo. Besides that, the only public toilets are 600 feet away, at Bambu Bar and nearby restaurants, bars or even surf schools. 
Officially, Praia da Adiça is around half a mile long. It starts around 160 feet before  the end of the dirt road that leads to it, and ends around 0.40 miles after the end of  the same dirt road. The further down you go, the less people you’ll see and the more  privacy you’ll get. I know it’s tempting to keep walking — the landscape is immersive  — but don’t forget you’ll have to walk all the way back to civilization. 

To the north, you can enjoy a lovely coastline, but less natural and more urban, since you’ll be able to spot buildings and concrete at Costa da Caparica. Even so, further north, you’ll notice the silhouette of Serra de Sintra. To the south, you can admire a seemingly endless view until Cabo Espichel, a majestic promontory. To the west, towards the oceanside, if sunny, you can enjoy the blue Atlantic Ocean and, if cloudy, a mix of blue and fifty shades of grey. Sometimes shining like a still lake,  sometimes rough with waves that paint it white due to the foam, the Atlantic Ocean is just one of the many beauties of Praia da Adiça. To the east, towards the landside, you’re surrounded by the impressive Fossil Cliff Protected Landscape, with  its sedimentary rocks and dense vegetation and even freshwater streams that offer  a breathtaking view for swimming, sunbathing, walking — basically, for enjoying life. It might be windy, but deep indentations carved on these cliffs will make you feel like you’re sunbathing on a peaceful deserted island. 

Again, if you’re not into crowds, you’ll love Praia da Adiça. Going to a beach — near  Lisbon, the capital city! — with so few people is such a privilege. Also, the vibe is cool. No one stares at anyone, whether they’re naked or fully clothed. You’re more likely to cross paths with someone who greets you kindly than with someone who is  intrusive. At Praia da Adiça, it’s just you and nature: no vendors, no restaurants, no  hotels, no urban life. 

Since it’s an unmonitored beach, less protected by natural or man-built pontoons, I only have one suggestion: be careful with deep waters, rip currents and waves,  especially when the ocean’s bigger. If you happen not to feel safe, don’t worry: a  couple of miles to the north, you’ll find Praia da Bela Vista, an official nude beach that is patrolled by lifeguards. You’ll also find Praia 19, but it’s an unofficial nude beach and it’s not monitored. These two beaches are located at the center of Fonte da Telha, which means they’re closer to accommodation, restaurants and bars. 

Half a mile away or so, there are food options like Rocks Café, Rampa Beach Club and Areias da Telha, where you can sit on an esplanade, admiring the Portuguese coastline, from Cabo Espichel to  Costa da Caparica.  

As for weather, there is no specific and up-to-date information about Praia da Adiça online, but there’s a really cool Portuguese website that contains updated information on weather and ocean conditions regarding Fonte da Telha, close to Praia da Adiça. It’s called MEO Beachcam. You can check air and water temperature, daily forecasts and information on wind, ocean and tides, as well as live video footage of a beach that is near Praia da Adiça, which can give you a clue  of how the weather and the ocean look like at a given moment. 

High season usually coincides with the bathing season, i.e. when there are lifeguards working at surveilled beaches from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. Bathing season usually starts on May 1 and finishes on October 31, which means that,  during these months, the weather is sunnier and warmer, water temperature rises  from around 15ºC (59ºF) to around 21ºC (69.8ºF), and so does the amount of  people at Portuguese beaches. Still, from my experience, Praia da Adiça is an exception, even during the peak of the high season. During the winter, because it’s  colder, you’ll mostly see people taking walks on the sand. But you’ll spot some beach-goers sunbathing very discreetly, closer to the cliffs. 

So, if you want to feel a deep connection with nature at an official nude beach in Portugal, away from everything and everyone, and only surrounded by salt water,  fossil cliffs, vegetation and sand, Praia da Adiça is where you belong.

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