Portrush has two beaches, separated by the town's headland.
East Strand is the longer of the two, running east from the town toward Dunluce and Bushmills. The dunes at its far end form the fairways of Royal Portrush Golf Club. The beach is wide and sandy, sheltered enough for families, and has lifeguard cover in summer.
West Strand faces west and northwest, taking the full force of Atlantic swells. It is the better beach for surfing — west-facing, with consistent swell from the open ocean. Surf schools operate from the beach in summer.
The water is cold by most standards: 13–16°C in summer. Some people swim in it anyway. Portrush has a strong outdoor swimming culture, and the small tidal pools on the rocky west side of the headland are popular with regular cold-water swimmers year-round.