Vila Franca beach

Vila Franca did not arise on the island itself, but near it, in the open ocean. This beach is not only convenient for swimming (especially for kids), but also amazingly picturesque. Due to the shallow depth of the lagoon, the water in it is warmer than on neighboring beaches. Almost all of the bottom is rocky, but there is also a small sandy area. There are no waves here. There is not much space for sunbathing on this beach, and no space closer to the water. You can sit on your towels right on the rocks. There is almost no natural shadow on Vila Franca, areas that are under the few trees are occupied by the first come first served principle. Lifeguards work on the beach, toilets are installed.

You can get here only by boat, which regularly departs from the port of Vila Franca. It is better to take care of the ticket in advance, as the beach can receive no more than 400 tourists a day. You can pay for the fare (there and back) at the box office of the port and do it as soon as possible, usually, there are no more seats by noon.

When is it better to go

The beach season in Portugal lasts from the beginning of June until September, when the air temperature reaches +30°C and the water temperature - +19°C. It should be remembered that the Atlantic Ocean does not warm up well and cools quickly, lovers of a more comfortable temperature can swim in natural stone pools, which are quite numerous on the coast.