Praia de São Julião — Attraction in Sintra

Great Praia area for typical beach time and quality waves (on this day, a little over head high with both side breaks). There were some quality surfers present at the second breaks as the lower skilled learners should stay closer to the shore breaks. Also, it was low tide during our visit and the beach was free of rocks and fairly level for very good skim boarding, especially where the river empties to the sea.

There is hiking either the lower side to the north (Search - Estacionamento Capela de São Julião) or you can park in the unpaved lot on the south side against the mountain. The best hike on the south side is from the middle of the parking lot there is a fairly slow increase in path elevation to the top, nothing too steep. The top then levels out and you can hike for a while south, with amazing views in both directions along the coast from an almost airplane height.

There are also a restaurant on the northern side for...

Really tricky review. Should be 5 stars, just one thing dragged my score down.

Firstly, great beach full of surfers, surf school on site. Powerful waves, strong current, you can really feel it when you are stood in the sea. Need to be confident in sea waters.

Lovely sand, great for kids to play in. Cafe at top of beach, you can also get food at otherside where surf school is. Plenty of free parking. Life guards on this beach.

When we arrived at 11.45am, there were a few dogs. Bizarrely, there was some dog mess placed on two piles of stones. What is going on there!!?? That was the only downside...

Praia de S. Julião or Saint Julian's Beach is a very nice and calm beach for Summer and an amazing place to walk during short, sunny days in Winter - if you go there during the morning period you will find almost no one around and the landscape is stunning, you have cliffs all around and if it is low tide, a long beach to walk on… It is one of my favorite in this area of Sintra. Please note, towards the end of the beach is a more wild and not supervised area and it is used by many as a naturist beach and nude area. But still worth seeing...