A trip with my dog to Praia das Bicas beach (Sesimbra, Portugal)

This May, I took a trip with my dog to Praia das Bicas beach in Sesimbra, Portugal. It is a popular beach for surfers and bodyboarders due to its large waves.

While I would not recommend this beach for swimming, it is a great place to enjoy a walk with your dog, both along the cliffs at the top as well as along the sand at the bottom of the beach.

I did this visit while on a trip with my dog to Setúbal. The beach is only around 45 mins away from there by car, so it makes for a nice day or even half-day trip. If you are looking to spend some time in the Setúbal area, don’t miss this article on where to stay with your dog in Setúbal.

WHEN TO VISIT AS PRAIA DAS BICAS WITH YOUR DOG

Please note: According to the signs dogs are not allowed on the beach, however I was assured by locals that this only applies during the main bathing season (as is the case in France and Germany too).

From my understanding, that season runs from July through September, but as this beach is unguarded I think the best rule of thumb is to take your pup on a day where the beach is not busy and make sure not to bother other patrons.

I came in the beginning of May and the weather was already perfect for going to the beach. Warm enough that you can sunbathe and step into the water, but not so hot that you are lost without shade and cannot enjoy a walk along the beach.

During my visit, there were a few people on the beach but it was very quiet.

After walking a few meters from the bottom of the stairs, the whole beach was empty in front of us. The beach is both wide and long, so you can walk next to the sea for quite a while.

Perfect for bringing your dog along!

HOW TO VISIT AS PRAIA DAS BICAS WITH YOUR DOG

The best and perhaps only way to reach Praia das Bicas is by car. Parking spots are available right next to stairs that lead down the beach itself. On a weekday in May, it was no problem to get a spot here, but on weekends or in the high season it may be busier. Some overflow parking is also available at a nearby camp site, but please make sure to only park on designated spots and not block any road access.

This beach is unguarded and there are no facilities or rentals available, which means that you need to bring any beach chairs or umbrellas along that you might want to use.

There are two main ways to explore this beach with your pup: You can take a walk along the trails at the top of the cliffs, or you can head down the staircase and enjoy the beach itself. We did both, and both are very recommended.

The walk along the cliffs affords you some beautiful views, and my dog very much enjoyed sniffing all the plants growing alongside the trails.

Going down to the beach was then a different kind of highlight. After we left the stretch with sunbathers behind, it was just wide open sand and waves to frolic around in. Do be a bit careful though: The waves are quite strong, so I really would not encourage swimming at this beach as you could get drawn out.

If you’re hungry or thirsty after exploring the beach, there is a restaurant called Hangar do Peixe (Insta) at the top of the cliff right next to the parking. This is a good spot to get drinks, snacks and proper meals as well as cakes. Of course, they also have restroom facilities and dogs are allowed on the terrace. The terrace has a very nice view of the beach from above, so it’s the perfect place to end a beautiful day before heading home.

HOW LONG IT TAKES AND WHO IT’S FOR

In total, we probably spent around 4 hours here. Between walking the cliffs, going down to the beach, enjoying the sun and having some drinks in the restaurant, you can easily spend half a day here. If you enjoy sunbathing and don’t mind not having facilities on the beach, it can even be good for a full day of beach fun.

Do you have less time? No problem either. Even one hour is good for a quick walk along the cliffs and a dip down to the beach! So really, you can spend as little or as much time here as you want!

Walking along the cliffs is relatively flat for a good portion, but the trails are quite narrow so it would not work well for prams or wheelchairs.

There is no significant fitness required though, so most people can do it without problems.

To get down to the beach, there are quite a number of steps to take.

If stairs are an issue you might prefer to stay at the top and just enjoy the view from there.

THE BOTTOM LINE

We enjoyed the visit to Praia das Bicas beach. It is a good place to have your dog enjoy the sand and the waves, but it offers nice views from above too. We liked that it was quiet, next to convenient parking and with a restaurant nearby. Nice spot to take your pup in the offseason!