Costa da Caparica

The main town beaches along the seafront, the heart of the resort with its restaurants, surf schools and lively promenade. Like most supervised Portuguese beaches, they ban dogs in high summer, so save the wilder southern praias or off-peak hours for them.

The long ochre fossil cliff that towers over the coast, protected as a natural landscape for its geological strata and flora. The clifftop paths can be walked on leash and give sweeping views over the Atlantic, away from the crowded beaches.

The coastal pine forest of Mata dos Medos, a botanical reserve planted in the 18th century to stabilise the dunes, where old stone pines and junipers survive. Its shaded tracks suit leashed walks, a welcome cool refuge when the beaches heat up.

The beach hamlet at the southern end of the dune strip, below the fossil cliff, wilder and less regulated than the northern seafront. Away from the supervised zones, these long beaches more often tolerate leashed dogs, especially out of season and early in the morning.

The wild headland at the south of the peninsula, crowned by the baroque sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Cabo and ringed by ocean-battered cliffs. The site is visited in the open air and on leash, between the sanctuary esplanade, the lighthouse and the dinosaur tracks visible on the rock.

The old centre grown up around fishing, with its low lanes, fish stalls and terraces of grilled specialities. It is easy to walk on leash and, in fine weather, lets you dine on a terrace with your dog at your feet.