The best sun loungers in Cascais for sunbathing

There are no loungers on the coast quite like the ones at La Plage, on Carcavelos Beach – the perfect match for the restaurant’s elegant yet relaxed vibe, where Portuguese food gets a French twist. Two loungers and a parasol will set you back €25 for the day.

These days, you can’t just pop into the Sheraton Cascais Resort pool (and loungers) unless you’re a hotel guest – but there are several packages open to the public that include dips and sunbathing. There’s the Sunday pool brunch, which brings a late breakfast to the poolside (€85 for adults, €42.50 for kids aged 4–12); the sip & soak experience, with a light, fresh lunch included (€75 for adults, €37.50 for children); the relaxing summer & spa package, complete with a massage and pool access (€79 for adults, €39.50 for kids aged 4–12); or the summer & fitness deal, which includes an outdoor Pilates class and a healthy brunch (€79 per person). Another option is the family pool package, available Monday to Friday, which includes lunch and is designed for two adults and two children (up to 12 years old) – all in for €190.

For those brave enough to face the gusty winds of Guincho from a sun lounger – or the lucky ones who catch those miracle days when the breeze takes a break – the go-to spot is Bar do Guincho. The space and menu were recently refreshed, with grilled fish and snacky bites stealing the spotlight. Here, a pair of sun loungers will set you back €35, but there’s also a family package for €40, which includes an extra-large chair and a windbreak.

At Tricana, the beach bar menu is as wide-ranging as it is varied: from poké bowls to burgers, wraps, toasties, açaí, salads, Portuguese and international snacks, and meat dishes – the idea is to have something for everyone. And guess what? They actually do. You can sample it all from the comfort of a sun lounger, which costs €25 (for a pair, including an umbrella) until 7pm. After that, and up until 11pm, if you fancy hanging out and unwinding even without the sun, the price drops to €20.

If you’re dreaming of a pool day rather than a beach lounger, Arriba Guincho might be just the ticket. Entry is free for little ones up to two years old; kids up to 12 pay €12. On weekdays, adults pay €21, with the price going up to €24 on weekends and public holidays. This is an oceanfront saltwater pool, cleverly sheltered from the strong winds typical of Guincho. From the café, expect salads, toasties, bowls and sharing snacks to keep you fuelled between dips.

It might be one of the smallest stretches of sand along the Cascais coast, but Praia das Moitas – also known as Praia da Rata to locals – still has room for a handful of sun loungers. They belong to Glória, a restaurant with a Portuguese menu that flirts with contemporary and international twists, right on the seafront promenade linking Estoril to Cascais. A full day in the sun will set you back €35 – or €25 if you turn up after 2pm.

São Pedro beach is not only home to the Esplanada de São Pedro concession. Mar d'Sal, right next door, offers slightly higher prices, with yellow sun loungers under striped parasols costing €20 per day. The difference is that here you can try sushi, ceviches, poke bowls, some Italian dishes and Portuguese specialities.

Part of Estalagem Muchaxo and nestled into the ruins of a 17th-century fortress, this ocean pool with direct sea views is made for long, salty swims. A full day of sun and dips costs €22 (or €14 for children aged 2 to 12); on weekends and public holidays, prices go up to €25 (€16 for kids). Reduced rates are available for shorter stays. The pool bar is open daily, serving light bites, toasties, pizzas and salads.

One of the most popular spots on the wide stretch of Carcavelos Beach is Windsurf Café, known for its wraps, toasties, salads and snacks – and also for its daily catch. On this bit of sand, a pair of sun loungers and a parasol will set you back €25 for a full day of seaside lounging.

Praia da Conceição, just a few steps from the centre of Cascais, is where you’ll find the sun loungers managed by restaurant EMMA – a spot that serves everything from classic Portuguese dishes to easygoing petiscos. A full day at the beach, with two loungers included, costs €40. A great alternative to the non-concessioned stretch, especially on busy summer days.

In Carcavelos, one of the main sunbed spots is at Fizz Beach Bar, part of the Sana Group. A full-day package with a sunshade and two loungers costs €37.50 – or €40 if you fancy a welcome drink with it. If you’d rather just spend half the day at the beach, from 2pm onwards, the price drops to €16.

Before you reach Guincho and the fortress (heading towards the Sintra mountains), you’ll find Praia Pequena do Guincho – officially named Praia da Crismina, though almost everyone calls it Cresmina. This is where you can spend a sunny day on the loungers at Cresmina Beach Bar, which cost €32 for two people and include a handy windbreaker for those famously breezy days.

Carcavelos Beach is the largest in the municipality, which explains the abundance of sunbed concessions. At Grande Onda, you can tuck into petiscos, Portuguese dishes, salads and pizzas while soaking up the sun. Three chairs and a straw parasol will only set you back €10 – but if you’d rather lounge properly, two sunbeds for a full day at the beach cost €30.