Library on the Beach 2026 – Costa de Santo André
Until 28 August 2026, Costa de Santo André beach hosts the Library on the Beach, with books, newspapers, magazines and workshops by the sea. A free initiative by the Municipality of Santiago do Cacém, open on weekdays throughout the bathing season.
Costa de Santo André beach, in the municipality of Santiago do Cacém, once again hosts the Library on the Beach in 2026, one of the most beloved summer initiatives on the Alentejo coast. From 1 July to 28 August, anyone laying down a towel on this long stretch of sand between the ocean and the Santo André Lagoon can add a good book, a newspaper or a magazine to their beach day, borrowed free of charge right by the sea.
It works simply: from Monday to Friday, between 10:00 and 13:00 and 14:00 and 18:00, the library structure set up on the beach offers a varied collection of books for adults and children, daily press and magazines. Beyond reading, the programme includes recreational and educational activities such as workshops and storytelling sessions, designed above all for families holidaying at Costa de Santo André.
The Library on the Beach is organised by the Municipality of Santiago do Cacém and is part of the Blue Flag project, with a strong environmental component: many of the activities aim to raise awareness among children and adults about nature conservation, on a beach bordering the Lagoas de Santo André e da Sancha Natural Reserve, one of Portugal's most important coastal ecosystems.
For visitors, this is a different way to experience one of the most beautiful and unspoilt beaches on the Alentejo coast. Costa de Santo André, regularly distinguished for its water quality, is known for its wide sands, dunes and proximity to the lagoon, where you can watch birds and try water sports. The library adds a relaxed atmosphere of reading and community, perfect for the long days of August.
Participation is free, with no registration needed to borrow reading material on site. One-off activities, such as workshops and storytelling sessions, are announced throughout the summer via the Municipality of Santiago do Cacém's channels. If you are holidaying on the Alentejo coast — between Sines, Santiago do Cacém and Vila Nova de Santo André — it is well worth setting aside a morning or afternoon to discover this initiative that brings together sea, books and environmental awareness in one place.
