Surf within 30 minutes of the city: Carcavelos by train, Guincho by car, Costa da Caparica across the river. 15 spots within 25 km of Lisbon: 11 beach breaks, 1 reef break, 3 point breaks. 3 suit beginners.
Intermediate: Costa da Caparica (Good, 1.3 m, cross-onshore around 08:00), Praia da Mata (Good, 1.3 m, cross-shore around 08:00), Carcavelos (Good, 1.3 m, cross-offshore around 08:00)
Advanced: Carcavelos (Fair, 1.3 m, cross-offshore around 08:00), Guincho (Fair, 1.8 m, cross-shore around 08:00)
Forecast updated 20 Oct, 01:03 UTC.
The spots
Parede · point break, intermediate, best on SSW/SW/WSW swell with NNE/NE/ENE wind, low tide. A right-hand point on the Cascais line that is works around low tide on southwest swell with a northeast wind. Often crowded.
Carcavelos · beach break, intermediate, best on W/WNW/SW swell with N/NNE/NE wind, mid tide. Lisbon's famous urban beach break, a train ride from the city. Hollow lefts by the fort and rights mid-beach on a decent W–SW swell with north wind; always packed.
São Pedro do Estoril · point break, intermediate, best on SW/WSW/W swell with N/NNE/NE wind, low tide. Sheltered right-hand reef/point on the Cascais line (Bica/São Pedro). Needs a big NW or a SW swell plus northerly wind; mellow and longboard-friendly, crowded when on.
Santo Amaro · point break, advanced, best on SSW/SW/WSW swell with NNW/N/NNE wind, high tide. A point in Oeiras that is works around high tide on southwest swell and a north wind. Pollution and rocks are the hazards.
Azarujinha · reef break, advanced, best on SSW/SW/WSW swell with NNW/N/NNE wind, mid tide. A reef near Parede and Carcavelos that gives a left at mid tide on southwest swell with a north wind. Urchins and rocks, and a regular crowd of locals.
Costa da Caparica · beach break, beginner, best on W/WNW/NW/SW swell with E/NE/SE wind, mid tide. Town-centre stretch with defined peaks shaped by rock jetties. Consistent, with lefts and rights; best mid tide with E wind. Fine for learners when small, competitive…
Cresmina · beach break, intermediate, best on W/WNW/NW swell with ESE/SE/SSE wind, all tides. Beach next to Guincho on the Cascais coast, picking up west-northwest swell with a southeast wind. A bit more sheltered than Guincho but still very exposed.
Guincho · beach break, intermediate, best on WNW/W/NW swell with E/ENE wind, all tides. Lisbon's swell magnet: a wide, exposed bay that catches every NW swell. Superb on rare easterly days, but the north wind often wrecks it; heavy with big rips in winter.
Praia da Mata · beach break, beginner, best on W/WNW/NW swell with E/ENE/NE wind, all tides. Open sandy beach break south of Caparica town with spread-out, shifting peaks and room for everyone. Best on W–NW swell with an early easterly; gentle when small…
Praia Grande · beach break, intermediate, best on NW/W/WNW swell with E wind, all tides. Long, consistent and powerful Sintra beach break; low tide can throw barrels, high tide suits bodyboarders. Best with NW swell and E wind; intermediates and up.
Praia Pequena · beach break, intermediate, best on W/WNW/NW swell with ESE/SE/SSE wind, all tides. A small beach on the Sintra coast, next to Praia Grande, that works on west-northwest swell with a southeast wind. Tiny, so it fills up with only a few people in the…
Praia das Maçãs · beach break, intermediate, best on NW/W/WNW swell with E/ESE wind, all tides. Consistent, punchy beach break below Sintra that picks up most NW–W swell. Best with E–ESE wind; weekends crowd up and the locals can be territorial.
Fonte da Telha · beach break, beginner, best on W/WSW/SW swell with E/ENE/SE wind, low to mid tide. Long cliff-backed beach break at the south end of Caparica with many peaks. Often smaller and mellower than further north; long walls and the odd tube when sandbanks…
Magoito · beach break, intermediate, best on W/SW/WNW swell with E/ESE/SE wind, all tides. Cliff-backed Sintra beach with peaks over sand and rock. Fun on W–SW swell with an easterly wind, but clean offshore days are fairly rare. Gets busy on weekends.
Lagoa de Albufeira · beach break, intermediate, best on W/WSW/SW/NW swell with E/NE/SE wind, all tides. Quiet beach break by the lagoon mouth with punchy A-frames, mostly lefts on S swell. Sandbanks depend on the lagoon outlet; strong rips. Few people on weekdays.
When to surf in Lisbon
Best months for intermediate surfers: February to April, September to December. For beginners: March, September to December. The water goes from about 15 °C in February (4/3 mm fullsuit) to 18 °C in August (3/2 mm fullsuit). Best-known spots: Guincho, Costa da Caparica, Carcavelos, São Pedro do Estoril. 3 of the 15 spots suit beginners, such as Costa da Caparica, Praia da Mata, Fonte da Telha.
Days per month at the best third of the 15 spots for each level, from three years of wave and wind model data.
Questions
What are the best surf spots in Lisbon?
The best-known are Guincho, Costa da Caparica, Carcavelos, São Pedro do Estoril. In all, 15 spots lie within 25 km: 11 beach breaks, 1 reef break, 3 point breaks.
Where can beginners surf in Lisbon?
Costa da Caparica, Praia da Mata, Fonte da Telha: sandy, more forgiving spots. Surf them on small days, ideally with a lesson or near the lifeguards.
When is the best time to surf in Lisbon?
For intermediate surfers February to April, September to December. For beginners March, September to December.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Lisbon?
The sea goes from about 15 °C in February (4/3 mm fullsuit) to 18 °C in August (3/2 mm fullsuit).