Let's start with the beach itself. It's a long stretch of golden sand, although it's not particularly wide, especially at high tide, and it's surrounded by dramatic limestone cliffs and rock formations.

Watch the full video of Marinha Beach here 👇👇👇


The rock formations are one of Marinha's biggest attractions. Everyone seems to spot something different. Some see two elephants, others the letter "M", while from one particular viewpoint, the famous "M" rock and another cliff create a heart shape, making it one of the most photographed spots in the Algarve.

Credits: TPN; Author: Tereza Pedro;

If you're visiting in summer, it's worth arriving early. The car park often fills up before 10am in peak season. Not everyone is coming just for a day on the beach either. Marinha is also the starting point of the famous Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, which leads all the way to Praia de Vale Centeanes. Along the route, you'll enjoy spectacular Atlantic views and pass above the iconic Benagil Cave, one of the Algarve's biggest attractions.

There are plenty of reasons why Praia da Marinha stands out, which is why it continues to be recognised as one of the world's best beaches. CNN has repeatedly included it among the world's top beaches, and it has also appeared in several international rankings celebrating the planet's most spectacular stretches of coastline.