Every August the press asks what a bola de berlim costs on the beach, and every August the answer is one reporter, one beach, one anecdote. No public body records this price, so there has never been a series. This page builds one. Log what you paid and it joins the list below, beach by beach.
The idea was @_miguelferreira's, who asked in public for a national database tracking this price over the years.
Indicative: our 2026 figure is a crowd-sourced median, the 2025 base is a press survey of 14 beaches. Different instruments, so read the direction rather than the decimal.
The price over time
1.35
1.20
1.50
1.20
1.50
1.70
1.80
2.00
2.00
2.50
2012201420182019202020222023202420252026
Median price of a bola de berlim on the beach, euros, 2012 to 2026
Journalism up to 2025, reader submissions from 2026. 5 years with no published beach price are left out of the chart; they are shown as gaps in the full list below.
The 2026 season is closed
This series stopped taking prices in September 2026 and reopens for the 2027 bathing season. Everything below is the 2026 record as it stands.
Showing prices paid on the sand, from a roaming seller or a beach bar. That is the question this tracker was set. 4 off-beach prices are being left out.
2.50 €
Median on the beach · 262 submissions
1.50 - 4.50 €
Range
2.00 - 2.50 €
Middle half
Read this as a crowd-sourced sample, not an official statistic.
Beach by beach
The gap between beaches is the finding, and there are two ways to read it. The map shows where. The index shows how much, and on what evidence: the same beaches, row by row, on one fixed scale.
How to read a row
Hollow ring on an empty rail: one price. An observation, not a median. 50 beaches.
Two caps and a dotted rail: 2 to 4 prices, lowest to highest. No box, because quartiles from three numbers are arithmetic rather than observations. 53 beaches.
Solid rail and a grey box: the middle half of the prices, drawn only from 5 prices up. 10 beaches.
Black tick: the median.
Pale band and pale line behind the rows: the national middle half, 2.00 to 2.50 €, and the national median, 2.50 €.
The sections are the map's colour bands, most expensive first, and the axis breaks are the same prices.
B Blue Flag · F licensed beach facility · × not on the map
2 beaches fall outside the mainland frame. They are in the index, marked ×, with their prices.
Beach by beach index113 beaches · 262 prices
Sort: median, then n, then nameScale: 1.50 to 3.50 €NAT 2.50 €IQR 2.00 to 2.50 €
NBEACHMIN · MED · MAX, €PRICE €
1.502.002.503.003.50
3.00 € or more
9 beaches · 26 prices · 4 on a single report
Galapinhos, Setúbal. One price logged: 3.50 euros. An observation, not a median.
···GalapinhosSetúbal1
3.50
Comporta, Grândola. Median 3.00 euros, from 6 prices, between 2.00 and 3.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·ComportaGrândola6
3.00
Atlântica, Grândola. Median 3.00 euros, from 5 prices, between 2.50 and 3.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·AtlânticaGrândola5
3.00
Cabedelo, Figueira da Foz. Median 3.00 euros, from 4 prices, between 2.50 and 3.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·CabedeloFigueira da Foz4
3.00
Carvalhal, Grândola. Median 3.00 euros, from 4 prices, between 3.00 and 3.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·CarvalhalGrândola4
3.00
Tróia - Mar, Grândola. Median 3.00 euros, from 3 prices, between 3.00 and 3.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Tróia - MarGrândola3
3.00
Aterro, Matosinhos. One price logged: 3.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·AterroMatosinhos1
3.00
Figueirinha, Setúbal. One price logged: 3.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·FigueirinhaSetúbal1
3.00
Meia Praia Poente, Lagos. One price logged: 3.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Meia Praia PoenteLagos1
3.00
2.50 to 2.99 €
50 beaches · 116 prices · 24 on a single report
Tróia - Bico das Lulas, Grândola. Median 2.75 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.50 and 3.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Tróia - Bico das LulasGrândola2
2.75
Portinho da Arrábida, Setúbal. Median 2.63 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.50 and 2.75 euros. Licensed beach facility.
·F·Portinho da ArrábidaSetúbal2
2.63
Praia da Riviera, Praia da Vitória. Median 2.55 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.50 and 2.60 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility. Not drawn on the map.
BF×Praia da RivieraPraia da Vitória2
2.55
Barra, Ílhavo. Median 2.50 euros, from 9 prices, between 2.20 and 4.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·BarraÍlhavo9
2.50
Rocha, Portimão. Median 2.50 euros, from 9 prices, between 2.00 and 3.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·RochaPortimão9
2.50
Praia S. João da Caparica, Almada. Median 2.50 euros, from 8 prices, between 2.50 and 3.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Praia S. João da CaparicaAlmada8
2.50
Galé - Oeste, Albufeira. Median 2.50 euros, from 7 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Galé - OesteAlbufeira7
2.50
Falésia Alfamar, Albufeira. Median 2.50 euros, from 4 prices, between 2.00 and 3.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Falésia AlfamarAlbufeira4
2.50
Fonte da Telha Centro, Almada. Median 2.50 euros, from 4 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros. Licensed beach facility.
·F·Fonte da Telha CentroAlmada4
2.50
Meia Praia, Lagos. Median 2.50 euros, from 4 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Meia PraiaLagos4
2.50
Buarcos, Figueira da Foz. Median 2.50 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.50 and 3.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·BuarcosFigueira da Foz3
2.50
Carcavelos Nascente, Cascais. Median 2.50 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.00 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Carcavelos NascenteCascais3
2.50
Falésia Açoteias, Albufeira. Median 2.50 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Falésia AçoteiasAlbufeira3
2.50
Fonte da Telha Norte, Almada. Median 2.50 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.00 and 2.50 euros. Licensed beach facility.
·F·Fonte da Telha NorteAlmada3
2.50
Franquia, Odemira. Median 2.50 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.00 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·FranquiaOdemira3
2.50
Lagoa de Albufeira, Sesimbra. Median 2.50 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros.
···Lagoa de AlbufeiraSesimbra3
2.50
Moinho de Baixo-Meco, Sesimbra. Median 2.50 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Moinho de Baixo-MecoSesimbra3
2.50
Porto de Mós, Lagos. Median 2.50 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Porto de MósLagos3
2.50
Três Irmãos, Portimão. Median 2.50 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Três IrmãosPortimão3
2.50
Baleal Sul, Peniche. Median 2.50 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Baleal SulPeniche2
2.50
Fonte da Telha Sul, Almada. Median 2.50 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros. Licensed beach facility.
·F·Fonte da Telha SulAlmada2
2.50
Grande de Porto Covo, Sines. Median 2.50 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Grande de Porto CovoSines2
2.50
Rainha (Almada), Almada. Median 2.50 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Rainha (Almada)Almada2
2.50
Rei, Almada. Median 2.50 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros. Licensed beach facility.
·F·ReiAlmada2
2.50
Salema, Vila do Bispo. Median 2.50 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·SalemaVila do Bispo2
2.50
São Torpes, Sines. Median 2.50 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.50 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·São TorpesSines2
2.50
Alvor - Poente, Portimão. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Alvor - PoentePortimão1
2.50
Arrifana, Aljezur. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag.
B··ArrifanaAljezur1
2.50
Canide Norte, Vila Nova de Gaia. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Canide NorteVila Nova de Gaia1
2.50
Carvalhal (Odemira), Odemira. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Carvalhal (Odemira)Odemira1
2.50
Dragão Vermelho, Almada. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Dragão VermelhoAlmada1
2.50
Furnas Mar, Odemira. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Furnas MarOdemira1
2.50
Galé - Leste, Albufeira. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Galé - LesteAlbufeira1
2.50
Ilha do Farol - Mar Poente, Faro. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Ilha do Farol - Mar PoenteFaro1
2.50
Infante, Almada. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·InfanteAlmada1
2.50
Mareta, Vila do Bispo. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·MaretaVila do Bispo1
2.50
Melides, Grândola. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·MelidesGrândola1
2.50
Monte Clérigo, Aljezur. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Monte ClérigoAljezur1
2.50
Morena, Almada. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Licensed beach facility.
·F·MorenaAlmada1
2.50
Peniche de Cima, Peniche. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Licensed beach facility.
·F·Peniche de CimaPeniche1
2.50
Praia Azul (Vila do Conde), Vila do Conde. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Praia Azul (Vila do Conde)Vila do Conde1
2.50
Santa Eulália, Albufeira. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Santa EuláliaAlbufeira1
2.50
Saúde, Almada. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Licensed beach facility.
·F·SaúdeAlmada1
2.50
Sereia, Almada. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·SereiaAlmada1
2.50
Tarquinio-Paraíso, Almada. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Tarquinio-ParaísoAlmada1
2.50
Torre, Oeiras. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·TorreOeiras1
2.50
Vale do Olival, Lagoa. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Vale do OlivalLagoa1
2.50
Vau, Portimão. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·VauPortimão1
2.50
Vila Praia de Âncora, Caminha. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Vila Praia de ÂncoraCaminha1
2.50
Zambujeira do Mar, Odemira. One price logged: 2.50 euros. An observation, not a median.
···Zambujeira do MarOdemira1
2.50
2.00 to 2.49 €
46 beaches · 107 prices · 17 on a single report
São Pedro de Maceda, Ovar. Median 2.35 euros, from 2 prices, between 1.70 and 3.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·São Pedro de MacedaOvar2
2.35
Matosinhos (Sul), Matosinhos. Median 2.25 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.00 and 2.50 euros. Licensed beach facility.
·F·Matosinhos (Sul)Matosinhos2
2.25
Praia Verde, Castro Marim. Median 2.20 euros, from 4 prices, between 2.20 and 2.20 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Praia VerdeCastro Marim4
2.20
Física-Santa Cruz, Torres Vedras. One price logged: 2.20 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Física-Santa CruzTorres Vedras1
2.20
Foz do Lizandro-Mar, Mafra. One price logged: 2.20 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Foz do Lizandro-MarMafra1
2.20
Navio, Torres Vedras. One price logged: 2.20 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·NavioTorres Vedras1
2.20
Canide Sul, Vila Nova de Gaia. Median 2.15 euros, from 2 prices, between 1.80 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Canide SulVila Nova de Gaia2
2.15
Santo António, Vila Real de Santo António. Median 2.10 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.00 and 2.20 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Santo AntónioVila Real de Santo António2
2.10
Matosinhos (Centro), Matosinhos. One price logged: 2.06 euros. An observation, not a median. Licensed beach facility.
·F·Matosinhos (Centro)Matosinhos1
2.06
Fábrica - Mar, Vila Real de Santo António. Median 2.05 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.00 and 2.10 euros.
···Fábrica - MarVila Real de Santo António2
2.05
Alagoa - Altura, Castro Marim. Median 2.00 euros, from 8 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Alagoa - AlturaCastro Marim8
2.00
Armação de Pêra, Silves. Median 2.00 euros, from 7 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Armação de PêraSilves7
2.00
Monte Gordo, Vila Real de Santo António. Median 2.00 euros, from 7 prices, between 2.00 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Monte GordoVila Real de Santo António7
2.00
Califórnia, Sesimbra. Median 2.00 euros, from 5 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·CalifórniaSesimbra5
2.00
Cabeço, Castro Marim. Median 2.00 euros, from 4 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·CabeçoCastro Marim4
2.00
Ouro, Sesimbra. Median 2.00 euros, from 4 prices, between 2.00 and 2.20 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·OuroSesimbra4
2.00
Ancão, Loulé. Median 2.00 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·AncãoLoulé3
2.00
Fuseta - Mar, Olhão. Median 2.00 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Fuseta - MarOlhão3
2.00
Manta Rota, Vila Real de Santo António. Median 2.00 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Manta RotaVila Real de Santo António3
2.00
Quarteira Central, Loulé. Median 2.00 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.00 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Quarteira CentralLoulé3
2.00
S. Martinho do Porto Sul, Alcobaça. Median 2.00 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.00 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·S. Martinho do Porto SulAlcobaça3
2.00
Santo Amaro, Oeiras. Median 2.00 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.00 and 2.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Santo AmaroOeiras3
2.00
Vilamoura, Loulé. Median 2.00 euros, from 3 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·VilamouraLoulé3
2.00
Fuseta - Ria, Olhão. Median 2.00 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Fuseta - RiaOlhão2
2.00
Ilha de Tavira - Mar, Tavira. Median 2.00 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Ilha de Tavira - MarTavira2
2.00
Inatel - Albufeira, Albufeira. Median 2.00 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Inatel - AlbufeiraAlbufeira2
2.00
Lota, Vila Real de Santo António. Median 2.00 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·LotaVila Real de Santo António2
2.00
Maria Luísa, Albufeira. Median 2.00 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Maria LuísaAlbufeira2
2.00
Mindelo, Vila do Conde. Median 2.00 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·MindeloVila do Conde2
2.00
Pescadores, Albufeira. Median 2.00 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·PescadoresAlbufeira2
2.00
Rocha Baixinha - Nascente, Albufeira. Median 2.00 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Rocha Baixinha - NascenteAlbufeira2
2.00
S. Martinho do Porto Norte, Alcobaça. Median 2.00 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·S. Martinho do Porto NorteAlcobaça2
2.00
Vale do Lobo, Loulé. Median 2.00 euros, from 2 prices, between 2.00 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag.
B··Vale do LoboLoulé2
2.00
Alemães, Albufeira. One price logged: 2.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·AlemãesAlbufeira1
2.00
Burgau, Vila do Bispo. One price logged: 2.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·BurgauVila do Bispo1
2.00
Calheta, Calheta. One price logged: 2.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility. Not drawn on the map.
BF×CalhetaCalheta1
2.00
Castelo (Albufeira), Albufeira. One price logged: 2.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Castelo (Albufeira)Albufeira1
2.00
Cepães, Esposende. One price logged: 2.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·CepãesEsposende1
2.00
Foz do Arelho-Lagoa, Caldas da Rainha. One price logged: 2.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Foz do Arelho-LagoaCaldas da Rainha1
2.00
Garrão - Poente, Loulé. One price logged: 2.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Garrão - PoenteLoulé1
2.00
Ofir, Esposende. One price logged: 2.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·OfirEsposende1
2.00
Paço d'Arcos, Oeiras. One price logged: 2.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Licensed beach facility.
·F·Paço d'ArcosOeiras1
2.00
Quebrada, Matosinhos. One price logged: 2.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·QuebradaMatosinhos1
2.00
Rocha Baixinha, Albufeira. One price logged: 2.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Rocha BaixinhaAlbufeira1
2.00
S. Lourenço, Mafra. One price logged: 2.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·S. LourençoMafra1
2.00
Torreira, Murtosa. One price logged: 2.00 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·TorreiraMurtosa1
2.00
under 2.00 €
8 beaches · 13 prices · 5 on a single report
Cabanas - Mar, Tavira. Median 1.90 euros, from 4 prices, between 1.80 and 2.00 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·Cabanas - MarTavira4
1.90
Conceição, Cascais. One price logged: 1.90 euros. An observation, not a median. Licensed beach facility.
·F·ConceiçãoCascais1
1.90
S. Pedro do Estoril, Cascais. One price logged: 1.90 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·S. Pedro do EstorilCascais1
1.90
Barril, Tavira. One price logged: 1.80 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·BarrilTavira1
1.80
Salgueiros, Vila Nova de Gaia. Median 1.65 euros, from 2 prices, between 1.50 and 1.80 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·SalgueirosVila Nova de Gaia2
1.65
Francelos, Vila Nova de Gaia. Median 1.50 euros, from 2 prices, between 1.50 and 1.50 euros. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·FrancelosVila Nova de Gaia2
1.50
Francemar, Vila Nova de Gaia. One price logged: 1.50 euros. An observation, not a median. Blue Flag. Licensed beach facility.
BF·FrancemarVila Nova de Gaia1
1.50
Furadouro Sul, Ovar. One price logged: 1.50 euros. An observation, not a median.
···Furadouro SulOvar1
1.50
50 of the 113 beaches rest on a single price. Those rows show an observation, not a median, and they say so three times over: a hollow ring on an empty rail, a boxed 1, and a dotted line under the figure.
Only 10 beaches have five prices or more, which is where a middle half starts describing a shape rather than restating the two numbers already drawn at the ends. The edges of that box can still fall between two reported prices.
Only 18 distinct medians exist across the whole country, so the column forms plateaus rather than a ranking: this price moves in round steps. Inside a plateau, rows are ordered by how many prices are behind them.
One list, from 2012 to 2026, with the source marked on every row. Everything up to 2025 is journalism, because there was nothing else; from there on it is what readers send. Only one year was ever a real survey, and 5 years have no published beach price at all.
The grade D rows above come from one Reddit thread. They sit in the series but never set a year: the Monte Gordo report matches the reporting for that summer exactly, while the 2022 report of 1,20 contradicts the 1,70 CNN reported for the Algarve. Both are shown. First-hand purchaser reports, with no photograph of the price. We could not confirm the quotes ourselves: Reddit blocks automated reads. The thread is linked so anyone can check.
Ena minha infância, cada bola de Berlim custava 1€ A childhood recollection, with no year and no beach. Grade E is excluded from the series by definition.
A bakery counter, November 2017: 0,80 euros. This is the figure the viral claim quotes as a 2018 beach price. On the sand that summer it was already 1 to 2 euros. Photo: mapa mundi, CC BY-SA 2.0.
The claim going round is that a bola de berlim cost 80 cents in 2018 and costs 2 euros today. False: The 80 cents was the price over a bakery counter, never on the sand: on the beach in 2018 it already cost between 1 and 2 euros.
In 2025 the same product ran from 1.50 euros in Quarteira to 3.50 in Pego, Grândola, in the same month. The spread across beaches is a bigger story than the drift across years.
Who is allowed to sell, and at what price
This explains the prices better than inflation does. Selling on the sand needs a municipal licence, councils issue a fixed and often tiny number per beach, and where that number is one the holder has a lawful monopoly. On a concessioned beach the concessionaire can go further and write the shelf price into the contract.
100 - 320 €
What a licence costs a vendor per year
1
Licences issued at Burgau, Vila do Bispo
3.50 €
Price a concession wrote into the contract
The 15,000 euro condition
A beach concession asked a vendor for 15,000 euros for the right to sell there, on one condition: the bola had to be priced at 3.50 euros. The highest price in the country was not set by a vendor. It was a contract term.
Numa concessão nessa praia, pediram-lhe 15 mil euros para poder vender naquele local e com uma condição: a bola tinha de estar a 3,5 euros.
Beaches where the council issues exactly one licence
At Burgau (Vila do Bispo) the council issues a single licence, for about 100 euros a year. One vendor, no competition, and a price of 2,00 to 2,50 euros.
André Carmo tem o monopólio naquela praia, onde a Câmara de Vila do Bispo só atribui uma licença para a venda (que lhe custa à volta de 100 euros por ano).
Prices agreed between vendors, not competed
Alagoa-Alturacusta 1,80 euros, por decisão conjunta dos vendedores
Monte Gordoem Monte Gordo está nos 2 euros, porque a maioria dos vendedores na praia ou fabricantes assim o decidiu
Geralnuma praia onde se vende a 2 euros, se alguém vender a 1,80 euros por unidade, os concorrentes caem-lhe em cima
Licence counts councils do publish
Marinha Grandesorteio de 7 licenças especificamente para venda de bolas de berlim nas praias do concelho, por exemplo 2 na Praia Velha
Vagosprocedimento próprio para bolas de berlim, com 3 licenças para as praias do concelho
Almadaedital de venda no areal com um número máximo de licenças por zona (Cova do Vapor a São João, Costa da Caparica, Fonte da Telha)
Figueira da Fozedital com os lugares disponíveis por praia (Buarcos, Cabo Mondego, Costa de Lavos, Cova-Gala, Cabedelo)
Gondomaredital para venda ambulante de saco às costas na praia do concelho, atribuída por sorteio
What is not published
No Portuguese municipality publishes, as open data or as a systematic annual document, a register of who holds a street-vending licence on each beach. What is published are regulations and notices giving the number of places and the rules of the draw, never the list of holders. That is why prices cannot currently be joined to the people licensed to charge them.
2026-08-16Armação de Pêra, Silvesoff the beach1.00 €
2026-08-16Armação de Pêra, Silves2.00 €counted
2026-08-11Rocha, Portimão2.50 €counted
2026-08-16Barra, Ílhavo2.50 €counted
2026-08-16Praia Verde, Castro Marim2.20 €counted
2026-08-16Galé - Oeste, Albufeira2.50 €counted
2026-08-08Buarcos, Figueira da Foz2.50 €counted
2026-08-05Califórnia, Sesimbra2.00 €counted
2026-08-16Lagoa de Albufeira, Sesimbra2.50 €counted
2026-08-16Cabanas - Mar, Tavira2.00 €counted
2026-08-10Figueirinha, Setúbal3.00 €counted
2026-08-16Praia S. João da Caparica, Almada2.50 €counted
2026-08-16Fonte da Telha Sul, Almada2.50 €counted
2026-08-16Conceição, Cascais1.90 €counted
2026-08-12São Pedro de Maceda, Ovar3.00 €counted
2026-08-14Zambujeira do Mar, Odemira2.50 €counted
2026-08-16Barra, Ílhavo2.50 €counted
2026-08-16Cabanas - Mar, Tavira2.00 €counted
2026-08-09Ouro, Sesimbra2.00 €counted
2026-08-16Rainha (Almada), Almada2.50 €counted
2026-08-16Santo António, Vila Real de Santo António2.00 €counted
2026-08-16Fuseta - Mar, Olhão2.00 €counted
2026-08-16Fonte da Telha Norte, Almada2.50 €counted
2026-08-12Vilamoura, Loulé2.00 €counted
2026-08-15Cepães, Esposende2.00 €counted
2026-08-15S. Martinho do Porto Sul, Alcobaça2.00 €counted
2026-08-16Moinho de Baixo-Meco, Sesimbra2.50 €counted
2026-08-15Cabanas - Mar, Tavira1.80 €counted
2026-08-14Carvalhal, Grândola3.00 €counted
2026-08-15Comporta, Grândola4.00 €excluded: over one sender's daily limit
2026-08-15Comporta, Grândola3.50 €counted
2026-08-15Comporta, Grândola3.00 €counted
2026-08-14Foz do Arelho-Lagoa, Caldas da Rainha2.00 €counted
2026-08-14Santo Amaro, Oeiras2.50 €counted
2026-08-12Grande de Porto Covo, Sines2.50 €counted
2026-08-14Praia da Riviera, Praia da Vitória2.60 €counted
2026-08-14Ouro, Sesimbra2.00 €counted
2026-08-14Ilha de Tavira - Mar, Tavira2.00 €counted
2026-08-14Praia Verde, Castro Marim2.20 €counted
Where this data comes from
The beach list is official.
Every beach in the form comes from APA's national registry of identified bathing waters (InfoPraia / SNIRH), published on dados.gov.pt under CC BY 4.0: 755 beaches across mainland Portugal, the Azores and Madeira, from the 2024 bathing season. That registry is also where the Blue Flag and beach-concession flags on this page come from. It is the fixed baseline: we did not invent or edit the list.
The prices are not official, because no official price exists.
Nobody records it. INE's price index tracks a pastry category, never one product. ASAE inspects hygiene. APA licenses who may trade on a beach, not what they charge. So every price here was typed in by a member of the public: a crowd-sourced sample, not a statistic.
Sources and method
Prices come from the public and are not verified one by one. Three filters sit on top. Anything outside 0.20 to 15 euros is refused. Between 1 and 5 euros nothing is ever set aside, because real beach prices genuinely range that widely: the 2025 survey found 1,50 in Quarteira and 3,50 at Pego in the same month. Outside that band, a price far from the distribution is kept but left out of the published figures. And one sender can add at most two prices per beach per day, enforced with an anonymous identifier that changes daily: not an address, not reversible, useless for linking anyone across two days. We publish the median, so even a joke that slips through cannot move the headline. Prices dated more than 60 days back are marked as recalled from memory. No address, name or email is stored.
