Monte Gordo
A busy beach resort near the Spanish border, with a long, gently sloping beach and calm, warm water in summer.
Monte Gordo is a beach resort west of Vila Real de Santo António that grew from a fishing village. Its long, wide beach shelves gently into the sea, and the water here is among the warmest on mainland Portugal's coast, which makes it popular with families. At low tide children can wade a long way out.
Behind the seafront, pine woods and dunes have trails for walking and cycling. The town has a casino, plenty of holiday accommodation and a lively summer season, while in winter it draws visitors from northern Europe and sports teams training nearby.