Surf spots in Nazaré
Famous for the giant waves of Praia do Norte, with gentler beaches nearby when it is small. 3 spots within 7 km of Nazaré: 3 beach breaks.
Live forecasts for every spot →
Best spots today in Nazaré
A quiet day: no spot here rates Fair or better today.
Forecast updated 20 Oct, 12:50 UTC.
The spots
- Praia do Norte · beach break, advanced, best on WNW/W/NW swell with E/ESE/SE wind, mid tide. Canyon-focused beach break that magnifies swell; heavy, hollow shore-pound on normal days and world-record big waves in winter. Experts only.
- Praia da Nazaré · beach break, intermediate, best on W/NW/WSW swell with E/SE/NE wind, low to mid tide. The town beach of Nazaré, south of the headland and sheltered from the canyon swells that hit Praia do Norte. Sandbanks give fast, sometimes hollow lefts and rights…
- Paredes da Vitória · beach break, intermediate, best on W/WNW/NW swell with E/ESE/SE wind, mid to high tide. An exposed, uncrowded beach break about 11 km north of Nazaré, with sandbank peaks breaking both ways. Most people stay near the beach bar at the access point, so a…
When to surf in Nazaré
Good days per month for intermediate surfers; tap a month for where else to surf then.
Best months for intermediate surfers: March to April, September to December. For beginners: October to December. The water goes from about 14 °C in February (5/4 mm hooded) to 19 °C in July (3/2 mm fullsuit). Best-known spots: Praia do Norte.
| Month | Rideable days | Good days | Beginner days | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | 1 | 2 | 15 °C |
| Feb | 5 | 1 | 1 | 14 °C |
| Mar | 12 | 2 | 2 | 15 °C |
| Apr | 14 | 2 | 2 | 16 °C |
| May | 11 | 1 | 1 | 17 °C |
| Jun | 8 | 0 | 0 | 18 °C |
| Jul | 4 | 0 | 1 | 19 °C |
| Aug | 5 | 0 | 1 | 19 °C |
| Sep | 15 | 1 | 2 | 17 °C |
| Oct | 14 | 2 | 4 | 18 °C |
| Nov | 14 | 3 | 4 | 17 °C |
| Dec | 14 | 5 | 4 | 15 °C |
Days per month at the best third of the 3 spots for each level, from three years of wave and wind model data.
Lessons and boards in Nazaré
Several surf schools, boards easy to rent. Established names include Zulla Surf School Nazaré. Lessons: about €25 for a 1.5-hour group lesson with board and wetsuit; about €90 for a private lesson. Beginners learn on the sheltered main beach in front of town, where licensed schools have set zones and lesson times follow the tide; Praia do Norte is for experienced surfers only and dangerous in winter swells.
Prices change; check with the school. Sources: Zulla Surf School Nazaré – CheckYeti, Nazaré – Wikivoyage, Living in Nazaré – Portugalist.
Staying in Nazaré
- Car
- Not needed: The lower town (Praia) is flat and walkable, and the funicular (about €2.50 one way) climbs to Sítio, from where Praia do Norte is a walk down; buses link Alcobaça, Leiria and Caldas da Rainha, while a car helps for São Martinho do Porto and other nearby breaks.
- Remote work
- OK: Home broadband and beachfront café wifi are reliable, but coworking in town is limited and few cafés are set up for laptops; many remote workers rent an apartment and work from home.
- Travelling solo
- A safe, easy town for solo travellers; the UK notes that attacks in Portugal are rare and advises watching drinks and belongings in nightlife spots, and Praia do Norte is signed as dangerous for swimming, so obey beach flags.
- Vibe
- Working fishing town turned beach resort, packed with Portuguese holidaymakers in summer and drawing crowds of wave-watchers to the Fort when the giant Praia do Norte swells hit in winter; the main town beach is sheltered and family-friendly.
- Where to stay
- Stay in Praia, the flat lower town by the main beach, for restaurants, surf schools and the bus station; Sítio on the clifftop has views and is closest to Praia do Norte but involves the funicular or a steep climb.
- Getting there
- Lisbon airport (LIS) is about 120 km south: FlixBus from Oriente or Rede Expressos from Sete Rios take about 1.5–2 hours to Nazaré's bus terminal; there is no station in town (nearest is Valado, about 6 km).
- Budget
- $$ (mid-range)
- Busy and quiet months
- July–August is crowded and priciest, with long-term rentals hard to find; the big-wave season at Praia do Norte runs about October–March, when the town is quieter and some places close.
From travel guides, government travel advice and nomad sites (Nazaré – Wikivoyage, Living in Nazaré – Portugalist, Lisbon to Nazaré buses – CheckMyBus, Portugal travel advice: safety and security – GOV.UK). Check current conditions before you travel.
Questions
What are the best surf spots in Nazaré?
The best-known are Praia do Norte, Praia da Nazaré, Paredes da Vitória. In all, 3 spots lie within 7 km: 3 beach breaks.
Where can beginners surf in Nazaré?
Nazaré is mostly for intermediate and advanced surfers: reefs, points or powerful beach breaks. Beginners should take a lesson and stay on the smallest days.
When is the best time to surf in Nazaré?
For intermediate surfers March to April, September to December. For beginners October to December.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Nazaré?
The sea goes from about 14 °C in February (5/4 mm hooded) to 19 °C in July (3/2 mm fullsuit).
Do I need a car to surf in Nazaré?
No. The lower town (Praia) is flat and walkable, and the funicular (about €2.50 one way) climbs to Sítio, from where Praia do Norte is a walk down; buses link Alcobaça, Leiria and Caldas da Rainha, while a car helps for São Martinho do Porto and other nearby breaks.
Can I work remotely from Nazaré?
Home broadband and beachfront café wifi are reliable, but coworking in town is limited and few cafés are set up for laptops; many remote workers rent an apartment and work from home.
Are there surf schools and board rental in Nazaré?
Several surf schools, boards easy to rent. Lessons: about €25 for a 1.5-hour group lesson with board and wetsuit; about €90 for a private lesson.