The 'world's most beautiful beach' just four hours from UK with no crowds

Pop icon hailed one easy-to-reach for having "the most beautiful beach in the world".

The 66-year-old pop star recently performed on the white sands of Rio de Janeiro's to the biggest audience of her career. It's estimated that the crowd was made up of 1.6 million people watching the performance in awe.

However, after a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, the singer made a quick pit stop in an unsuspected holiday destination along the European coast. Madonna gave herself some much-needed respite in , and on her travels visited the charming Praia da Comporta.

The beach is widely considered one of the most elegant beaches of the European coast and sits quietly in the Alentejo region. In order to get there, tourists can take a mere hour-and-a-half trip after exploring the city of Lisbon. A flight from London to the Portuguese capital takes just less than three hours - so it's feasible to reach the beach within four.

Madonna took to Instagram to share photos of her time there and wrote: "A trip to my favourite dentist in Lisbon, Miguel Stanley, means I get to see my musical family and friends and visit the most beautiful beach in the world: Comporta."

While everyone tends to go to Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve, Comporta is still a relatively off-the-radar sunshine escape. Fans and globe trotters alike are left wondering, what is so special about this lesser-known sunbathing spot?

The beach

The beach itself forms part of the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, meaning it continues to be well preserved with the original dune vegetation and adjoining forest. Vast in space, the breathtaking beach is occupied far less by tourists than other Portuguese hot spots.

Situated just south of Lisbon, on the tip of the Tróia Peninsula, it's tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Portugal's thriving resorts. One TripAdvisor claimed: "Honestly one of the nicest and most beautiful beaches I have visited.

"Not crowded at all. Partly because we visited in the off season and partly because the beach is so long that you can find an empty corner if you walk a little bit further."

The town

The beautiful beach is found in the tiny coastal town of Comporta, with less than 1,500 full-time residents and just over 50 square miles, made up mostly of its serene beaches.

Many refer to the village as the "Hamptons of Portugal" because, much like the American seaside destination, it has seen its fair share of wealthy visitors. The area is thought to carry a sense of exclusivity with its luxury villages and sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere.

Flamingos

Yes, you've read that right; the coastal area of Comporta is home to many majestic flamingos. When you explore the adjoining 'animal paradise', you can behold the sight of a flock of pink flamingos in their natural habitat.

is a much-loved area for the glorious birds, who gently dip their beaks into the natural waters. But they're not alone; the area is thought to be home to more than 250 bird species.

Temperatures

Like most spots in Portugal, Comporta experiences a true Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and very mild winters. Temperatures throughout the summer tend to reach as high as 30C, while the winter months have an average of around 10C.

Its proximity to the coast helps to alleviate extreme weather conditions, which makes it the perfect place for agriculture to thrive. Because of this, the area is known for its rice fields and untouched forests.