Where to swim in freshwater in Portugal?

Valhelhas River Beach is a river swimming area located in the mountains of the Guarda region. Natural pools have formed here, shaped by water flowing over the rock over many years. You can swim in the clear water and enjoy the mountain surroundings. The river flows gently through the area and creates several deep spots suitable for swimming.

The Pateira de Fermentelos is a large freshwater area formed by marshes in the Aveiro region and stands among Portugal's most notable freshwater destinations. This place offers natural swimming spots and paths for observing aquatic wildlife. The wetland spreads across a wide area and invites visitors to swim and explore the natural surroundings.

The Meimao River Beach in Penamacor provides modern facilities including changing rooms, bathrooms, and picnic areas. Waters are supervised during summer months, and the swimming area is marked by safety buoys. This location offers a good option for freshwater swimming as part of Portugal's range of natural and managed swimming sites.

Montargil Lake is an artificial reservoir in the Alentejo region, featuring sandy beaches and swimming facilities. Pine and eucalyptus trees surround the water, creating a natural setting. The area includes camping sites and restaurants, making it a practical destination for swimming and water activities in Portugal's freshwater areas.

Vilarinho das Furnas Lake is a mountain lake located in Peneda-Gerês National Park and represents one of Portugal's notable freshwater areas. The water is cool and clear, perfect for swimming. Hiking trails lead to the lake, and picnic areas near the shore make it a pleasant spot to spend time in nature.

The Monsaraz River Beach is a designated swimming area on the shores of the artificial Alqueva lake. Located in the Alentejo region, it is accessible from the fortified village of Monsaraz. This site is part of a collection of freshwater swimming areas across Portugal, ranging from natural lakes to artificial reservoirs, spanning from the northern mountains to the Alentejo regions and the volcanic formations of the Azores.

Óbidos Lagoon is a coastal lagoon with brackish water in Portugal, suitable for swimming and birdwatching. The lagoon is bordered by sand dunes and maritime pine forests and is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow channel. This body of water is among Portugal's notable freshwater areas and offers a variety of water sports opportunities.

Azibo Lake is a freshwater reservoir created by a dam in Macedo de Cavaleiros within a regional natural park. The lake is surrounded by walking paths and recreational spaces where visitors can swim, enjoy water sports, and observe birds. It represents one of Portugal's notable freshwater swimming destinations, ranging from mountain lakes in the North to artificial reservoirs across the mainland and Azores islands.

Santo André Lagoon is a freshwater lake separated from the ocean by a sand bar and situated within a nature reserve. It serves as an important site for water birds and offers swimming and birdwatching opportunities as part of Portugal's range of freshwater swimming areas.

Lagoa da Vela near Figueira da Foz is an artificial freshwater body created by damming an old quarry. This lake offers swimming and water sports including kayaking and dinghy sailing, making it one of Portugal's notable freshwater destinations for recreation and water activities.

Cardigos River Beach is a freshwater swimming site in Portugal where the river flows around rocky outcrops and has carved natural pools through erosion over time. This location offers a place to swim and enjoy water activities among the river landscape, making it part of Portugal's collection of natural freshwater areas.

Sete Cidades Lagoon is a twin lake sitting inside a volcanic crater on São Miguel island. The two basins have different colors: one blue, one green. This lagoon belongs to the notable freshwater areas of the Azores and offers opportunities for swimming and birdwatching within a volcanic landscape.

The Lagoa do Fogo is a volcanic lake set in a crater on São Miguel island, surrounded by dense vegetation and accessible by hiking trails. This freshwater site represents the volcanic formations found across the Azores and offers swimming and water activities within a natural setting shaped by volcanic activity. It showcases the variety of notable freshwater areas found in Portugal's island regions.

The Loriga River Beach is a freshwater swimming area formed naturally by the river in a mountain setting. Surrounded by granite rocks and mountain plants, this site offers swimmers a place to cool off in the heights of Serra da Estrela. It is one of Portugal's notable freshwater destinations, presenting visitors with a refreshing experience in nature.

The Ponte de São João is a natural pool formed by the Coura river and fed by a waterfall. Granite rock formations and quartz caves surround this swimming area. This location offers freshwater swimming in Northern Portugal as part of the country's diverse water sites, from mountain pools to reservoirs.

Fonte Grande is a developed freshwater spring in Alte, Algarve, where you can swim outdoors. Stone pools sit along walking paths that lead you through the area. Local people come here often, especially on warm summer days, to cool off in the water. This spring fits naturally into the collection of freshwater swimming places across Portugal, offering a different kind of experience from lakes and reservoirs.

Pego Fundo River Beach is a natural swimming space on the banks of the Guadiana river in Alcoutim. This spot offers a refreshing place to swim in the freshwaters of the Alentejo region and is part of Portugal's collection of notable freshwater swimming areas. Located near the Spanish border, it combines river bathing with the chance to explore the eastern Alentejo landscape.

Peneda River Beach is a freshwater swimming spot in the central mountainous region of Portugal. It sits among rock formations and dense vegetation. This site is part of Portugal's variety of freshwater areas that offer swimming and opportunities to experience natural landscapes.

The Aveiro Lagoon is a coastal brackish water area formed by the mouths of several rivers in northern Portugal. You can swim and enjoy water sports while exploring the navigable canals that cross the lagoon. Salt marshes and protected wetlands surround the water, providing habitat for many bird species. This site is part of Portugal's collection of freshwater and brackish swimming destinations.

Canário Lagoon is a mountain lake with cool water located in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, accessible by hiking trails through the forest. This lake stands among Portugal's notable freshwater areas, offering swimming opportunities and birdwatching in a natural setting that ranges from the northern mountains to the Alentejo regions.

Caldas de Sangemil River Beach is a freshwater swimming area in Portugal fed by natural hot springs, with water temperatures that are warmer than typical rivers. This spot fits well within Portugal's variety of freshwater sites, ranging from mountain streams in the North to volcanic formations in the Azores, offering swimming and water activities for visitors.

The Caldeirão Lagoon is a crater lake with green water located on Corvo Island in the Azores. The lake formed through volcanic activity and is surrounded by steep cliffs. Endemic plants grow around the water, found nowhere else in the world. This lagoon is one of the most notable freshwater areas of Portugal, offering a swimming spot set within volcanic landscapes.

The Bravura Dam is an artificial reservoir located in a valley of western Algarve, fed by the Bravura stream. The water is surrounded by hills covered with eucalyptus and cork oak trees. This site offers swimming and water sports opportunities as part of Portugal's freshwater destinations.

Alqueva Lake in the Alentejo region is a large freshwater reservoir created by a dam on the Guadiana river. This location features several equipped beaches with supervised swimming areas and opportunities to rent water sports equipment. It ranks among Portugal's most notable freshwater swimming destinations and offers activities ranging from swimming to various water sports.

Poço Azul is a natural geological formation that creates a freshwater pool with blue reflections, accessible for swimming in a preserved rocky environment. It is among the most notable freshwater areas of Portugal, offering swimming opportunities in a natural mountain setting.

Ponte de Soeira River Beach is an equipped swimming area along a watercourse in the Trás-os-Montes region, offering a natural place to swim in this collection of freshwater locations across Portugal. The beach features picnic tables and green areas where visitors can relax by the water.

Covão dos Conchos is a mountain lake in Serra da Estrela with a distinctive circular spillway. It offers a cool swimming spot amid the mountain landscape and is part of Portugal's natural freshwater areas suitable for swimming and exploration.

Campilhas Reservoir is an artificial lake in Portugal created for water supply. The reservoir offers monitored swimming zones and facilities for family water activities. It is one of the freshwater areas of Portugal where visitors can swim and enjoy water sports.

Lagoa do Negro is a natural high-altitude lake in Portugal's mountains and a swimming destination for those seeking to swim in an elevated setting. The water appears dark, and rocky shores give the lake a wild character. This site fits well within the collection of freshwater areas where you can swim throughout Portugal, from mountain regions to other landscapes.

Burgães River Beach is a river swimming site for visitors exploring freshwater areas across Portugal. The beach offers changing rooms, restrooms, and a parking area, with lifeguards watching over swimmers during the summer months.

Lagoinha de Vale Fundo is a freshwater area set in a narrow valley, surrounded by thick vegetation and reached by hiking trails. This spot is among Portugal's notable freshwater sites, offering places to swim, water sports, and birdwatching opportunities. The area ranges from the northern mountains to the Alentejo regions and includes the volcanic formations of the Azores.

The Lomba River Beach is an equipped freshwater swimming site in Portugal. Located in Gondomar, this site is part of the notable freshwater areas where visitors can enjoy swimming and water activities. The river beach features designated swimming areas and facilities for guests. It sits in the northern region of the country, offering access to freshwater swimming among natural surroundings.

Foz D'Égua River Beach is a swimming spot along a river in the mountain region of Serra do Açor. The water forms natural pools perfect for swimming. This location fits into Portugal's range of freshwater areas, from natural lakes to artificial reservoirs, offering visitors a refreshing place to swim in the northern mountains.

The Caneiro de Côja River Beach sits along the Alva river and offers shaded resting areas and easy access for families seeking places to swim in freshwater. Water depth ranges from 50 centimeters to 1.5 meters depending on the zone. This location is part of Portugal's selection of freshwater swimming areas, spanning from natural lakes to man-made reservoirs across the mainland and islands.

Located on the Tagus river banks, the Bostelim River Beach offers a swimming spot in freshwater with practical amenities for visitors. Free parking and walking trails allow you to explore the surrounding landscape at your own pace. The water stays cool throughout the year, providing natural refreshment even on warm days.

Lagoa das Furnas is a volcanic crater lake in the Azores with warm thermal waters. The lake sits surrounded by thick vegetation and hot springs that locals use for cooking food. As one of the notable freshwater swimming areas in the Azores, this place lets you experience the islands' volcanic formations while enjoying the water's natural warmth.

Cascalheira River Beach sits along a section of the Ceira river and offers safe swimming conditions with a sandy bottom. At this location in the collection of Portugal's freshwater swimming areas, you will find a bar-restaurant, sports fields, and facilities accessible for people with reduced mobility.

Agroal River Beach is a natural swimming area in Ourém fed by a warm spring. The water maintains a temperature between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius throughout the year, creating a comfortable swimming basin. This location fits well within the exploration of Portugal's freshwater areas, where visitors can swim and enjoy outdoor recreation.

The Cerveira Lakes are a group of artificial lakes in the Minho region and part of Portugal's collection of freshwater swimming areas. Lake Alvito, the largest of these lakes, offers spaces for swimming in fresh water. These lakes are part of a wider range of natural lakes and reservoirs found across mainland Portugal and the Azores, suitable for swimming, water sports, and birdwatching.

The Avô River Beach is a riverside swimming area near Oliveira do Hospital. This site is part of Portugal's freshwater swimming destinations, where visitors can swim and enjoy water sports. The banks are landscaped with resting areas for those who want to relax.

The Cinco Reis River Park is a municipal recreation complex near Beja with a supervised swimming area, picnic zones, and sports facilities. This park provides a good spot for freshwater swimming in the Alentejo region and complements the variety of bathing sites across Portugal's freshwater areas.