Praia da Salema, located in the municipality of Vila do Bispo, in the Algarve, was chosen by the American magazine Travel + Leisure as one of the best secret beaches in the world. Located roughly halfway between Sagres and Lagos, the beach maintained for a long time a strong connection to fishing activity, a tradition that can still be observed today, with fishermen working at their craft during the morning.
The village retains characteristics of a small Algarve town, with white houses, narrow streets and vessels along the sand. Despite its reputation as a secret beach, Salema is not an isolated beach, having lifeguard coverage during the bathing season, Blue Flag status, parking, showers, sunbed rentals, bars and restaurants, and is also classified as an accessible beach. The average water temperature in summer ranges between 19 and 21°C.
The beach also hides a unique feature: fossilized dinosaur footprints can be seen on the rocky slabs near the sand, a geological testament millions of years old. At the ends of the beach there are also very old limestone cliffs, making Salema interesting for those seeking something beyond the usual beach landscape.
A guide updated in 2026 describes Salema as one of the Algarve fishing villages that best managed to escape the mass tourism development of other coastal areas, which helps explain why it continues to appear in international guides for its quieter, more traditional atmosphere.
