Babacashee
A town with a very long history
Lourinhã is about an hour from Lisbon, and it is a real Portuguese town before it is a tourist spot. The history goes back a long way. The town has 14th-century Gothic churches. It also sits on the Lourinhã Formation, a fossil site where dinosaur bones, footprints, eggs and even embryos have been found. You can see both sides of this history in one afternoon.
The beaches and the fossil cliffs
This is the part that matters most for dogs, and the answer is yes. The beach area is 5 minutes from the town centre by car, or a 40-minute walk through fields. In July and August you have to avoid lifeguard hours, so go early in the morning or late in the evening. Before and after those two months, the crowds disappear and dogs can run freely. The beach bars and restaurants also stay open through the winter.
Your dog will meet some other dogs, but not a lot of them. If your dog is shy or reactive, the beaches are almost empty early in the morning. At low tide, one beach turns into three. You can explore the rocks, walk over to Peralta Beach, or go the other way to a couple of small bays. Look at the cliffs too. Paleontologists often search them for new fossils.
Dinopark, weather, day trips and shops
You can bring your dog into the Dinopark. It is fun at any age and worth a visit. One of us has been at least 10 times and still isn't bored of it. The weather is mild most of the year and you often get sun well into winter. January and February are the wettest months. On our winter trips, though, we saw several rainbows almost every day.
Lourinhã is a good base for day trips. Óbidos and Buddha Eden are both within an hour. Lisbon is an hour away by car or by bus, so you can manage without a rental car. The town has what you need day to day. There are several pet shops and several vets. We recommend a local pet shop called Villa Pet.
Where we eat
Nobody paid us for these picks. They come from our own meals. Pregos is the one place you shouldn't skip. For breakfast, brunch or an easy lunch, check out the spot called Sigona in the video. There is lots of room for a dog, and a small park nearby for a walk afterwards. Ben's favourite is Terra a Terra. It has a short menu and every dish is excellent.
Almost all the bars and restaurants at the beach welcome dogs. There are two exceptions: the pizzeria at the beach and Salty. They don't allow dogs, not even on their outdoor terraces in the off-season. They probably have their reasons. Still, it felt a bit unnecessary and unwelcoming to us, so they get a thumbs down from us.
Birds, sea creatures and a T-Rex
We keep coming back for the mix of beaches, small-town life and day trips. If you like birds, you will often find one of us on a field path nearby. The coast changes from day to day. Rocks get buried in sand, and pieces of the Lourinhã Formation show up for a few days. So far we have rescued a seahorse, a small fish and an octopus. There is also a T-Rex in front of the city hall.
Good to know
- In July and August, take your dog to the beach early in the morning or late in the evening so you stay clear of lifeguard hours.
- Go at low tide. You can then explore the rocks and walk to Peralta Beach.
- Don't take your dog to the pizzeria at the beach or to Salty. Neither lets dogs in, not even on the terrace.
- You don't need a car. Lisbon is an hour away by bus.
Lourinhã with a dog: questions
When can dogs go on the beaches at Lourinhã?
In July and August you have to work around the lifeguard hours at the beaches near Lourinhã, so go early in the morning or late in the evening. Before and after those two busy months, the crowds are gone and your dog can run freely on the beaches near Lourinhã.
Are the beaches at Lourinhã good for a shy or reactive dog?
You will meet some other dogs on the beaches near Lourinhã. It's not a lot, and it depends on the weather and the time of day. If your dog is shy or reactive, the beaches near Lourinhã are very empty in the early morning.
Can I bring my dog to the Dinopark in Lourinhã?
Yes. You can bring your dog to the Dinopark in Lourinhã. We think the Dinopark is genuinely worth a visit, and one of us has been at least 10 times.
Where can we eat with a dog in Lourinhã?
For breakfast, brunch or lunch in Lourinhã we like Sigona. Sigona has plenty of room for a dog, and there's a small park nearby for a walk afterwards. Down at the beach, almost all the bars and restaurants are dog friendly, but Pizzeria da Praia and Salty don't allow dogs, not even on their outside terraces.
Are there pet stores and vets in Lourinhã?
Yes. Lourinhã has several pet stores and several vets. We can recommend a local pet store called Villa Pet.