Figueira da Foz sits where the Mondego River meets the Atlantic, a Portuguese beach town with one of the widest sand beaches in Europe. The beach stretches for kilometres, backed by a promenade, a casino, and the kind of mid-century resort architecture that gives the town a pleasantly old-fashioned air.
The town has been a popular summer destination for Portuguese families since the 19th century, and it fills up in July and August. Outside peak season, it is quiet and affordable, with good seafood restaurants along the waterfront and in the old town. The Forte de Santa Catarina, a small 16th-century fortress overlooking the river mouth, offers views along the coast.
Figueira da Foz is a short drive from Coimbra, Portugal's historic university city, making it a natural beach excursion or an alternative base for exploring central Portugal. Surfers know the coast here for its consistent waves, particularly at Buarcos to the north.