If you’re looking for a special place, then it is the perfect location for you. The route is simple: fly to Lisbon, rent a car at the airport and in less than an hour, you’ll find yourself at one of the most unique spots on our planet and best beach in Portugal: Praia do Guincho. The best beach in Portugal is just 38 kilometers from Lisbon, making it the ideal spot for those who want to combine the vibrant city life with a peaceful morning by the coast. And for those who want to enjoy the finest breakfast with an incredible view of the Atlantic Ocean. When I first discovered this beach, I didn’t have a good camera with me and only took a few photos with my phone. But today, I brought my Sony to show you my favorite hotel, Fortaleza do Guincho, on the Portuguese coast.

Fortaleza do Guincho is a former 17th-century fortress located right by the sea, transformed into a stylish five-star hotel where the atmosphere of past times has been fully preserved. Our room was simply beautiful – featuring vaulted red brick ceilings and a whirlpool. I was especially surprised when I found a bottle of champagne with birthday greetings from the hotel staff in our room. We had arrived at the hotel on my birthday and obviously the staff had checked the dates and prepared this sweet surprise for me. So thoughtful! It’s details like these are what it makes the difference between a good five-star hotel and a five-star hotel with class. Overall the hotel staff were not only very professional but also incredibly attentive and genuinely kind. I’ve stayed at many five-star hotels and the staff are always professional. But such warmth and friendliness as I found here are truly rare.

What I love most about staying in hotels is the breakfasts! I’ve traveled a lot and seen quite a bit, but a breakfast like the one at Fortaleza do Guincho I’ve never experienced anywhere else! The selection was huge and I simply couldn’t decide what to eat so I started trying everything. This took several hours and the ambiance was so lovely that I didn’t want to leave. The hotel staff began preparing everything for lunch, changing tablecloths and even vacuuming, but I was still sitting at my table by the large window overlooking the Atlantic, probably ordering my twenty-fifth cup of tea. The hotel staff were incredibly nice; they didn’t clear the breakfast buffet even though I stayed there until the afternoon and no one else was still having breakfast. I just couldn’t leave since everything was so delicious and the view from the window was pure magic.

Even the dinner at the hotel was no less impressive. The Fortaleza do Guincho restaurant is one of the most famous in Portugal, even awarded a Michelin star. The dishes were incredibly tasty – a combination of refined French and traditional Portuguese cuisine. So, no matter what I had planned during the day, I made sure to be back at the hotel in time for dinner! It’s worth flying to Lisbon just for this dinner and breakfast at Fortaleza do Guincho.

MY PERSONAL PARADISE ON THE ATLANTIC COAST

If I were to search for my personal paradise, it wouldn’t be a tropical landscape with bright colors, but the rugged coast and strong winds at Praia do Guincho – the best beach in Portugal. My paradise is here, on the Atlantic Ocean’s coast. The waves are loud, but as soon as I’m in the hotel, I can’t hear the storm anymore. The windows are perfectly sealed against the Atlantic wind, the atmosphere is calm, and the service is impeccable. I always come here during the colder seasons – in late October and January. The winter in Portugal is very mild and provides a stark contrast to the windy and damp winter in Munich. The special thing here is that you can get a tan at the beach any time of year. I even managed it in February!

THE BEST BEACH IN PORTUGAL: PRAIA DO GUINCHO

The beach near the hotel is incredibly beautiful – Praia do Guincho in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. Due to its beauty and light yellow dunes, this beach was even chosen for filming the movie “James Bond 007 On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” Kitesurfers also love this beach, and in the summer, beach and chillout parties are held here. I’ll definitely try to come here in the summer to experience it all. But even in autumn and winter, this beach is absolutely magical, as it’s very warm and mild here and simply perfect for walks.

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