Cascais, Lisbon, June 16, 2025 (Lusa) - The minister for the environment assured on Monday in Carcavelos that beaches “in Portugal are public” and that the authorities will inspect whether “the law is being complied with” in the coastal area of Grândola, in the south-western Alentejo region.
“Beaches in Portugal are public, therefore access to beaches cannot be restricted under any circumstances,” said Maria da Graça Carvalho, after marking the official start of the bathing season at Carcavelos Beach, in the district of Cascais.
The minister said that, in view of reports of “some problems with access to beaches” in south-western Alentejo, “the APA [Portuguese Environment Agency], together with the Maritime Authority and other entities, will carry out an inspection to see if everything is being done legally” and if “all laws are being complied with”.
“On the other hand, we are working with the Grândola town council to ensure that there are more access points to the beach on the coast of the district,” added Graça Carvalho, acknowledging that “there is a stretch there that is difficult to access, which does not yet have open access” and that the intention is to “make it easier to access the beach”.
When asked whether the licensing of the property developments themselves should not ensure some space for parking and free access to the beaches, the Minister for the Environment and Energy replied that it should, but that it is also the responsibility of the official authorities “to monitor this and, if it is not working well, to take action to remedy the situation”.
In her speech to mark the official start of the bathing season, Maria da Graça Carvalho said that “there are no private beaches in Portugal and any attempt to limit or hinder public access to beaches will be identified” and countered.
The APA’s enforcement action, in conjunction with the Maritime Authority and other entities, will take place “on the beaches of south-western Alentejo” and the minister noted that “the beaches belong to everyone” and “are for everyone” and that it is up to the Government, national authorities and local authorities to ensure that people enjoy these spaces “safely” and “without obstacles”.
Access to the beaches in the district of Grândola has been hampered by various tourist developments under construction or already completed, mainly in the Comporta and Tróia areas, with the placement of barriers at access points and restrictions on parking areas.
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