The Tróia Peninsula, 25 miles south of Lisbon, is one of Europe’s most exclusive corners and a top destination for locals, boasting endless white-sand beaches and charming fishing villages.

Stretching for almost 40 miles along the Atlantic coast in Portugal, the Tróia Peninsula has earned nicknames like “the Hamptons of Portugal” or the “Malibu of Europe”.

Behind the towering sand dunes and turquoise blue waters lie a plethora of luxurious villas and gated resorts, owned by the likes of Jose Mourinho, George Clooney and Madonna.

It has also come on the radar of several royals, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly set to follow in the footsteps of Princess Eugenie in buying a holiday home in this trendy sunshine hotspot.

Stretching from Tróia to Sines, this is the longest uninterrupted stretch of sand in Europe, according to The Telegraph. However, it does not hold the title of the “longest beach” as it is technically made up of multiple separate “praias” (beaches) linked together.

Portuguese resident and travel expert, Mary Lussiana, explained to The Telegraph that this coveted region – which many compare to St Tropez or Ibiza before they became overcrowded – is so unspoilt because, until recently, much of the land was owned by the Espirito Santo banking family.

“They invited friends to stay like Princess Caroline of Monaco: all the great and the good. It was where European aristocrats could be incognito. Then the bank crashed in 2014, amid allegations of fraud, and the state seized their assets and started selling off land. Now there’s a big rush and the hotels have started coming in.”

Slowly, the region is opening up to ordinary tourists. Spain’s richest woman, Sandra Ortega Mera, unveiled plans for a resort last year – Na Praia, set for completion in 2026 – which is set include a deluxe 45-room hotel along with 77 homes.

In July, temperatures hover around 27 to 30C with very little rain, making for the perfect weather for a long day at the beach.

When your Vitamin D quota has been reached, head for the Roman ruins of Tróia on the left bank of the River Sad, opposite Setubal. Here, you can see the remains of first to sixth-century thermal baths, houses with two floors and a necropolis of various graves.

The beach-front bar of Comporta Café, Restaurante e Beach Club serves mouthwatering seafood dishes in a open-air setting of rattan furniture with ambient jazz music in the background, while an ice cream shack offers the perfect dessert.

In the Marina of Troia, visitors can board a boat and watch the bottlenose dolphins in the area. In the summer, they can also dive and swim with these animals.

The town of Comporta, meanwhile is filled with lowrise buildings painted a bright white colour with deep blue tiles whose roofs are often guarded by white storks.

Recent visitors to the Tróia Peninsula have shared their thoughts on Tripadvisor: “This is one of the most beautiful coastlines you will ever see with it’s pristine sands, crystal clear waters and pine forested sand dunes,” wrote one.

Another said: “We stayed here in the Troia Design hotel, which is a walk away from one of the best location beaches we have ever been on before in all our travels… It’s clean, peaceful as you want it and it feels a bit like your own private beach.”