Portugal Tells Luxury Resorts: The Beach Belongs to Everyone

Portugal’s Coastline Stays Open to All, Government Warns Resorts. A summer pledge launched in Carcavelos

Standing on the wide expanse of Praia de Carcavelos outside Lisbon, Environment and Energy Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho kicked off the 2025 bathing season with a clear pledge: every stretch of sand in Portugal, from the Algarve to the windswept north, remains part of the public domain. Carvalho said national inspectors would head south in the coming days to confirm that new luxury resorts in the municipality of Grândola are not fencing off dunes, closing car parks or charging entry fees.

Why the southwest Alentejo suddenly matters

The Alentejo coastline between Tróia and Sines has become Europe’s latest holiday property hotspot, drawing investors from Paris, London and São Paulo to once-quiet farming villages such as Comporta. The boom has accelerated since 2022, with golf courses, boutique hotels and private villas marketed as secluded escapes for high-net-worth buyers. Residents, surfers and environmental groups, however, complain that temporary roadblocks, private security guards and shrinking parking zones are making it harder to reach long-cherished surf breaks and family coves.

No legal room for “private” beaches

Under Portugal’s Constitution and the 2005 Water Law, everything seaward of the high-tide line is public maritime territory. Municipalities can lease concessions for cafés, umbrellas or water-sports businesses, but they cannot restrict a person’s right to stroll down to the shoreline. Carvalho stressed that the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), the National Maritime Authority and local police would “restore legality” wherever developers have overstepped. The minister is also negotiating with the Grândola council to open fresh footpaths and expand public car parks before August’s tourism peak.

What international residents and travellers should expect

For newcomers settling in Lisbon’s tech corridor or retirees buying homes around Setúbal, the promise is simple: you may lay your towel anywhere on Portugal’s coast without paying a fee, provided you respect protected dunes and lifeguard rules. If you encounter barriers on the road to the beach, authorities advise noting the location and calling the national environment hotline at 808 200 520. A separate “Praia Acessível” program lists more than 200 beaches with boardwalks, amphibious chairs and trained staff for visitors with reduced mobility; the 2025 list is available in English on the APA website.

The season ahead

Tourism officials expect another record summer—Portugal welcomed 33 million visitors last year—and the country’s reputation for easy, open seaside access is part of the draw. By ordering on-site checks in the Alentejo, the government aims to reassure both locals and the international community that the Atlantic edge remains, in Carvalho’s words, “a shared asset that must stay obstacle-free.” For now, travellers planning a beach weekend can pack as usual: sunscreen, water, and the confidence that the sand beyond the high-tide mark is theirs to enjoy, no matter how exclusive the nearest resort might appear.