Best time to surf in Portugal
March to April, September to December for intermediate surfers, May, September to December for beginners, and February for the biggest waves. Month by month below, from 2 years of hourly wave and wind model data at 160 spots. Updated 3 November 2026.
| Month | Good days (intermediate) | Beginner days | Good days (advanced) | Typical waves | Water | Best region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3 | 6 | 4 | 1.2–1.8 m | 16 °C | Madeira |
| February | 4 | 5 | 7 | 1.3–1.9 m | 15 °C | Madeira |
| March | 6 | 8 | 6 | 1.2–1.8 m | 15 °C | Norte |
| April | 4 | 9 | 4 | 1.1–1.7 m | 16 °C | Norte |
| May | 2 | 10 | 1 | 1–1.4 m | 17 °C | Norte |
| June | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1–1.4 m | 18 °C | Lisbon |
| July | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0.9–1.3 m | 19 °C | Algarve |
| August | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1–1.6 m | 20 °C | Centro |
| September | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1–1.6 m | 18 °C | Norte |
| October | 4 | 12 | 3 | 1–1.6 m | 19 °C | Norte |
| November | 4 | 11 | 4 | 1.1–1.7 m | 18 °C | Centro |
| December | 8 | 12 | 5 | 1.1–1.7 m | 17 °C | Norte |
Days per month at the best third of the spots for each level, rated the way the app rates them. Model data, not observations. Method.
By region
| Region | Intermediate | Beginners | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norte | March to April, September, November to December | April to June, September to October, December | 13–18 °C |
| Centro | March to April, September to December | April to May, September to December | 14–18 °C |
| Lisboa | February to April, September to December | September to December | 15–19 °C |
| Alentejo | February to April, September to December | October to December | 15–19 °C |
| Algarve | March to April, September to October, December | April to May, September to December | 15–19 °C |
| Madeira | January to February | February, November | 18–24 °C |
| Azores | February, April, October to December | December | 16–24 °C |
| Aveiro | March to April, September to December | November to December | 13–20 °C |
| Lisbon | March to April, October to December | April, October to February | 15–19 °C |
Questions
What is the best month to surf in Portugal?
December, with about 8 good days for an intermediate surfer at the best spots. The best run of months is March to April, September to December.
When is the best time to surf in Portugal for beginners?
May, September to December, when the beginner spots have the most days of small, clean waves.
When are the biggest waves in Portugal?
February has the biggest typical surf (about 1.3–1.9 m at the spots we follow). That is the season for experienced surfers.
Can you surf in Portugal in summer?
Mostly small: June to August bring almost no good days for intermediate surfers; it is the season for learning, not for good waves.
How warm is the water in Portugal?
About 15 °C in February (4/3 mm fullsuit) to 20 °C in August (3/2 mm fullsuit).
More: all surf spots in Portugal · best spots for beginners · this week's forecast · wetsuit by month · why the swell period matters.