July 26, 2026, 4:25 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Can I set up my own beach umbrella in front of a paid beach hut or not? This very question is currently sparking discussions in Portugal. New beach maps are intended to show tourists which areas are freely accessible and where special rules apply.
At many Portuguese beaches, tourists assumed that the area in front of managed beach huts was fee-based and that they were not allowed to set up their own umbrellas there. In fact, there were previously no established guidelines for setting up private umbrellas.
What applies at Portugal’s beaches
The debate was triggered by the president of the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), José Pimenta Machado. In the newspaper “Diário de Notícias,” he described the beach areas with paid umbrellas as “abuse.” According to Machado, managed areas “must never exceed 30 percent of the usable beach area” or “50 percent of the promenade.”
Environment Minister Maria da Graça Carvalho also defended the setting up of private umbrellas in front of paid beach huts. According to the Minister for Environment and Energy, “the beaches are public, have always been, and will remain so.” She affirmed that beachgoers are allowed to set up umbrellas even in front of paid beach sections.
Disagreements among beachgoers and operators
Not everyone sees it that way. Tourists who pay for an umbrella or a beach hut express some frustration. “While we pay a lot here, those with their umbrellas pay nothing,” complained a beach hut renter to SRF. Additionally, the view of the sea is obstructed by the additional umbrellas. Another beachgoer is considering simply bringing her own umbrella next time to save the money for the beach hut.
Operators of paid beach areas also have concerns. They point out that they finance licenses and contribute to the costs of lifeguards. In the south of the Algarve, there have already been confrontations, according to media reports, where the police had to intervene.
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What do the Portuguese mayors say?
The mayor of Nazaré, Serafim Silva, finds the discussion about umbrellas overheated: “In Nazaré, we have long beaches with plenty of space,” he explained to SRF. In Nazaré, the situation is much more relaxed than in other regions of Portugal, as the beach areas are already clearly marked.
At a meeting of mayors from the Algarve, including those from Vila Real de Santo António, Castro Marim, Faro, Lagos, and Vila do Bispo, as well as from Alentejo’s Grândola, it was decided to install zoning maps at beach entrances in the future.
When the beach maps will be visible
The maps are to divide the beaches into four zones: concession areas, passage areas, safety zones, and free areas for private umbrellas. The specific division is determined by the respective municipalities. However, approval from the Maritime Authority and the Environment Agency APA is also required.
When the new maps will be visible on the beaches is still open. According to the minister, however, they should be installed as soon as possible so that beachgoers and operators can more easily recognize where they have to pay for umbrellas and where they can bring their own.