More than 400 Portuguese beaches have a blue flag this year: find out where they are

 

For the first time, the municipalities of Cuba and Alcanena nominated their beaches, which were awarded

More than 400 Portuguese beaches have a blue flag this year, six more than last year, with the beaches of Sintra being highlighted as receiving the award, the Blue Flag Association for the Environment and Education (ABAAE) announced today.

The distinction of good quality was awarded to 404 beaches – of which 354 are coastal and 50 are inland beaches -, 18 marinas and 22 ecotourism vessels, in a total of 444 awards given to Portugal by the international jury in 2025.

According to the president of ABAAE, José Archer, all Portuguese coastal municipalities have award-winning beaches this year.

The beaches of Sintra, which had not participated in the program for ten years, were also distinguished, allowing “the entire coast to be covered with a blue flag, from north to south and in the autonomous regions”, highlighted José Archer.

For the first time, the municipalities of Cuba and Alcanena nominated their beaches, which were awarded.

The 404 beaches are distributed among 105 promoters.

The North, with five fewer in the overall count, and the Algarve, with one fewer, were the regions that lost blue flag beaches in total this year compared to last year.

In total, the North has 75 award-winning coastal beaches (last year it had 79) and nine inland beaches (one less than in 2024).

The beaches of Árvore (Vila do Conde), Frente Azul, Seca and Silvalde (all in Espinho), Vila Praia de Ancora (Caminha) and the river beach of Merelim São Paio (Braga) no longer have a blue flag in the North. On the other hand, a new beach, Cavadinho (river beach), in Braga, has been added to the list.

The Algarve has 85 distinguished coastal beaches, having lost, compared to last year, the blue flag of Batata beach (Lagos).

In the Center, a total of 33 coastal beaches (one more than in 2024) and 16 inland beaches have been awarded.

New to the Center’s list are the river beaches of Ançã, Olhos de Fervença and Sete Fontes (Cantanhede) and Cornicovo (Penacova) and the coastal beaches of Barra do Sul (Aveiro) and Costa Nova Sul (Ílhavo).

In the Center, São Pedro da Maceda (Ovar) and the river beaches of Côja (Arganil), Louçainha (Penela), Mâmoa (Santa Maria da Feira) and Bogueira (Lousã) no longer have a blue flag.

In the Tagus river basin, 66 coastal beaches have been awarded (five more than last year) and 15 river beaches (one more).

According to EBAAE, the Olhos d’Água do Alviela river beach (Alcanena) has a blue flag for the first time in this hydrographic region and the Alvares river beach (Góis) has been reinstated.

The coastal beaches of Adraga, Grande, Maçãs and Magoito, in Sintra, and São Julião, in the municipality of Mafra, also re-entered.

The river beach of Sesmo, in the municipality of Castelo Branco, has lost its blue flag in this region.

In Alentejo, there are 31 award-winning coastal beaches (two more) and 10 inland beaches (one more).

The river beaches of Albergaria dos Fusos (Cuba) and the coastal beaches of Monte Velho and Porto das Carretas/Albarquel, in Santiago do Cacém, are new beaches with a blue flag.

In the Azores, 46 coastal beaches have been awarded, one more than the previous year, Calheta dos Lagadores beach, on Terceira Island.

In Madeira there are 18 coastal beaches with a blue flag, including Prainha, in Caniçal, Machico.

The official ceremony of raising the first blue flag on a coastal beach will take place this year in Santa Cruz da Graciosa, in the Azores, on June 3rd.

The first blue flag on a river beach will take place at the Quinta do Barco river beach, in Sever do Vouga, on June 15th.

The first marina to fly the blue flag will be Vilamoura, on June 20th.

23 Blue Centers (information structures and environmental education activities located near beaches) distributed throughout all regions were also recognized.

Portugal ranks sixth among the 51 countries that develop the Blue Flag Program, taking into account the awarded locations.

The announcement of the Blue Flag Association was made today at the Vasco da Gama Aquarium, in Dafundo, Oeiras, district of Lisbon.