Pier at Rata Beach, Pontoon in Estoril, Portugal
The Pontão da Praia da Rata is a small pontoon on the coast of Estoril, Portugal, sitting at the edge of a narrow sandy beach. It is built along a promenade that runs between Cascais and Monte Estoril, with calm water on one side and a rocky shoreline nearby.
The beach near this pontoon got its name from the rats that once gathered around old sewer outlets in the area. Those outlets are long gone, but the name remained and is still used today.
The name 'Praia da Rata' means 'Rat Beach' in Portuguese, which often raises a smile among first-time visitors. The name has stuck and is used casually by locals, who treat it as a familiar part of the coastline between Cascais and Monte Estoril.
The pontoon is in a pedestrian area and is best reached on foot or by bicycle, as parking nearby is very limited. The Monte Estoril train station is close by and makes it easy to arrive without a car.
The pontoon serves a practical purpose that most visitors do not notice: it helps hold sand in place along the shore, which is what makes the small beach area possible. Without it, the current would carry much of the sand away.
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