Praia 19 Gay Beach

Tourist Guide to Lisbon's Gay Beach

Praia 19, Gay Beach

Beach 19 is said to be Europe's largest gay beach

With dunes rising up from the sea to sandstone cliffs in the distance, this is largely considered Europe’s most beautiful (and largest) gay beach.

Praia 19, Gay Beach

Beach 19 is an official nude beach

It’s been known as a “gay beach” since the 1990s, but it’s been attracting gay men since the 1980s, when this stretch of the Caparica coast became a secluded beach where nude sunbathing was tolerated (it was declared an official nude beach in 1995).

Praia 19, Gay Beach

Dunes and protected sandstone cliffs face the beach

The seclusion has a price -- there are no facilities of any kind -- for bathrooms and places to eat you have to walk for about 10-to-20 minutes to the north or south. This is a protected area, so development is restricted, meaning you shouldn’t expect to ever find a Mykonos-type club or hotels.

Praia 19, Gay Beach

This is a deserted beach -- for facilities you have to walk to the neighboring beach of Fonte da Telha

The name derives from the number signposted by the train tracks behind it, indicating the stop of the tourist train that connects the beaches of Costa da Caparica from June to September.

Praia 19, Gay Beach

19 is arguably Europe's most beautiful gay beach

The crowds are quite cosmopolitan, with men of all ages from different parts of the world cruising around the dunes.

Praia 19, Gay Beach

The sign of stop 19 of the tourist train

How to Get to Gay Beach 19


Most people arrive by car (crossing 25 de Abril Bridge from Lisbon and then following the signs to Caparica or “Praias”), but if you’re relying on public transportation, there are buses from Lisbon and Cacilhas to Costa da Caparica, where you can hop on the Transpraia tourist train (your stop is, as indicated above, number 19).
Alternatively, take a bus from Cacilhas to the beach of Fonte da Telha, and walk north from there (to the right when facing the sea; you reach beach 19 about fifteen minutes later -- you know you’ve arrived by the number of men in their birthday suits).
The quickest way, however, is taking the bus from Lisbon to Costa da Caparica, and then an Uber to Fonte de Telha, followed by the short walk to Praia 19.
For complete details, see the guide to how to go from Lisbon to Costa da Caparica by bus.
Yet another alternative is booking a transportation service/tour: Day Trip to Lisbon Gay Beach 19


Hotels by Gay Beach 19


Aroeira Sea & Golf Resort

The closest hotel to Praia 19 is Aroeira Sea & Golf Resort, which offers a free shuttle to Fonte da Telha, from where you can easily walk to Praia 19. If you don’t mind walking, it takes about 30 minutes from the hotel to Fonte da Telha, heading straight down the road towards the coast. It’s a highly-rated 4-star hotel, with spacious rooms with terraces or balconies, an outdoor pool, and a restaurant.
The alternatives are the hotels in the center of Costa da Caparica, from where you can take the tourist train or an Uber to Praia 19. The most recommended is Tryp Lisboa Caparica Mar, but you may take a look at other options on the Costa da Caparica beaches guide.


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