Praia das Maçãs is located west of Sintra and is one of the most accessible and touristic beaches in the area. It is a small bay open to the ocean, and it receives tourists throughout the year but specially in summer. Praia das Maçãs and its small town has long been (and still is) a recreational hub, rather than a surf hotspot.
Description of Praia das Maçãs
Praia das Maçãs Beach is a narrow and sandy bay with a few peaks appearing everywhere, depending on the movement of the sandbanks. Its proximity to Lisbon and the area of Sintra makes it especially popular with day-trippers and visiting surfers — especially beginners, who go to the surf school located there — looking for an easy, no-fuss session.
Praia das Maçãs is a classic beach break, offering lefts and rights. On small to medium swells, the waves are generally friendly and manageable, making it suitable for beginners and intermediates.
The spot works best on mid to high tide.
Advanced surfers may find the waves inconsistent at times, but on the right day, Praia das Maçãs can deliver surprisingly fun and punchy beach break sessions.
Crowds
Praia das Maçãs is often crowded, especially on weekends, holidays, and during the summer months. Its easy access and town-side location make it a favorite for beginners, surf schools, crews, and casual surfers.
Since the bay is really tiny — only about 200 meters wide — it gets easily packed with surfers, even if it’s only a few of them.
Access and services
Access to Praia das Maçãs is very easy — there’s a main road leading directly into the town from Sintra — and there’s parking spots available everywhere. The beach is just a short walk from most parking areas.
If you don’t have a car, you can also arrive to Praia das Maçãs by public transport, since there are bus lines arriving from the city of Sintra, and during the weekends the beautiful and original Sintra historical tram takes you there from Sintra downtown.
Since Praia das Maçãs is a tourist hotspot, you can find cafés, restaurants, surf school and board rental service on the beach, and all the services nearby.
