Portugal is a popular destination for surfers, with a long Atlantic coastline and a number of world-class surfing spots. The country is known for its consistent year-round surf, with waves ranging from beginner-friendly to challenging breaks for experienced surfers.
Some of the best surfing spots in Portugal include:
Index | Surf Spot | Location | Waves |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Peniche | West Coast | World-class surf spots, including Supertubos |
2 | Ericeira | North of Lisbon | Beginner-friendly breaks and more challenging waves |
3 | Sagres | South Coast | Powerful waves, suitable for experienced surfers |
4 | Algarve | South Coast | Surf spots suitable for all levels, including Lagos and Carrapateira |
5 | Nazaré | West Coast | Massive waves, popular for big wave surfers |
6 | Viana do Castelo | Northwest Coast | Beach breaks in Moledo and point breaks in Ofir |
7 | Porto | Northwest Coast | Beach breaks in Matosinhos and point breaks in Espinho |
8 | Costa da Caparica | South of Lisbon | Beginner-friendly beach breaks and more challenging waves |
9 | Carcavelos | South of Lisbon | Powerful beach break, suitable for experienced surfers |
10 | Guincho | West of Lisbon | Powerful beach break, suitable for experienced surfers |
11 | Praia Grande | South of Lisbon | Beginner-friendly beach break with a long, sandy bottom |
12 | Figueira da Foz | Central Coast | Beach breaks suitable for all levels |
13 | Madeira | Madeira Island | Surf spots suitable for all levels, including Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar |
14 | Azores | Azores Islands | Surf spots suitable for all levels, including Santa Barbara and Praia da Vitoria |
Ericeira
Ericeira is a popular surf destination located just north of Lisbon, Portugal. The town is known for its consistent surf and is home to a number of beginner-friendly breaks, as well as more challenging waves for experienced surfers.
Some of the popular surf spots in Ericeira include:
Ribeira d’Ilhas
Ribeira d’Ilhas: Located just outside of Ericeira, Ribeira d’Ilhas is known for its long, powerful left-hand break and is a popular spot for experienced surfers.
São Lourenço
São Lourenço: Located on the north end of Ericeira, São Lourenço is a beginner-friendly beach break with a long, sandy bottom.
Coxos
Coxos: Located just south of Ericeira, Coxos is a powerful right-hand point break that is suitable for experienced surfers.
Pedra Branca
Pedra Branca: Located on the south end of Ericeira, Pedra Branca is a long, powerful left-hand point break that is suitable for experienced surfers.
Matadouro
Matadouro: Located just outside of Ericeira, Matadouro is a powerful right-hand break that is suitable for experienced surfers.
Ericeira is a year-round surf destination, with waves ranging from waist-high to overhead. It’s a good idea to check the local surf forecasts and conditions before you go to ensure you’ll find suitable waves. It’s also important to respect the local surf etiquette and be aware of any potential hazards, such as rip currents and rocks.
Peniche
Peniche is a popular surf destination located on the west coast of Portugal. The town is home to a number of world-class surf spots, including Supertubos, one of the most famous waves in Europe.
Some of the popular surf spots in Peniche include:
Supertubos
Supertubos: Located just outside of Peniche, Supertubos is a powerful left-hand barrel that is suitable for experienced surfers.
Baleal
Baleal: Located on the north end of Peniche, Baleal is a beginner-friendly beach break with a long, sandy bottom.
Molho Leste
Molho Leste: Located on the south end of Peniche, Molho Leste is a powerful right-hand point break that is suitable for experienced surfers.
Coxos
Coxos: Located just south of Peniche, Coxos is a powerful right-hand point break that is suitable for experienced surfers.
Pedra Branca
Pedra Branca: Located on the south end of Peniche, Pedra Branca is a long, powerful left-hand point break that is suitable for experienced surfers.
Peniche is a year-round surf destination, with waves ranging from waist-high to overhead. It’s a good idea to check the local surf forecasts and conditions before you go to ensure you’ll find suitable waves. It’s also important to respect the local surf etiquette and be aware of any potential hazards, such as rip currents and rocks.
Sagres, Algarve
Sagres, in The Algarve is a popular surf destination located on the south coast of Portugal. It offers a variety of surf spots suitable for all levels, including beach breaks and point breaks. Sagres is a town located on the Algarve west coast, in the south of Portugal. It is known for its beautiful beaches and excellent surf spots, with a variety of waves suitable for surfers of all skill levels. Here are some of the top surf spots in Sagres:
Mareta Beach
Mareta Beach: Located in the center of Sagres, Mareta Beach is a popular surf spot known for its beach breaks. The spot is suitable for beginner to intermediate surfers and is a great spot for shortboarding and longboarding.
Beliche Beach
Beliche Beach: Located just outside of Sagres, Beliche Beach is a popular surf spot known for its beach breaks. The spot is suitable for beginner to intermediate surfers and is a great spot for shortboarding and longboarding.
Martinhal Beach
Martinhal Beach: Located just outside of Sagres, Martinhal Beach is a popular surf spot known for its beach breaks. The spot is suitable for beginner to intermediate surfers and is a great spot for shortboarding and longboarding.
Tonel Beach
Tonel Beach: Located just outside of Sagres, Tonel Beach is a popular surf spot known for its beach breaks. The spot is suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers and is a great spot for shortboarding and longboarding.
Zavial Beach
Zavial Beach: Located just outside of Sagres, Zavial Beach is a popular surf spot known for its beach breaks. The spot is suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers and is a great spot for shortboarding and longboarding.
Amado Beach
Amado Beach: Located just outside of Sagres, Amado Beach is a popular surf spot known for its beach breaks. The spot is suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers and is a great spot for shortboarding and longboarding.
Ingrina Beach
Ingrina Beach: Located just outside of Sagres, Ingrina Beach is a popular surf spot known for its beach breaks. The spot is suitable for beginner to intermediate surfers and is a great spot for shortboarding and longboarding.
Cordoama Beach
Cordoama Beach: Located just outside of Sagres, Cordoama Beach is a popular surf spot known for its beach breaks. The spot is suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers and is a great spot for shortboarding and longboarding.
Ponta de Sagres
Ponta de Sagres: Located just outside of Sagres, Ponta de Sagres is a popular surf spot known for its beach breaks. The spot is suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers and is a great spot for shortboarding and longboarding.
Salema Beach
Salema Beach: Located just outside of Sagres, Salema Beach is a popular surf spot known for its beach breaks. The spot is suitable for beginner to intermediate surfers and is a great spot for shortboarding and longboarding.
Carrapateira
Carrapateira: Located on the west coast of the Algarve, Carrapateira is a beginner-friendly beach break with a long, sandy bottom.
Arrifana
Arrifana: Located on the west coast of the Algarve, Arrifana is a powerful beach break suitable for experienced surfers.
The Algarve is a year-round surf destination, with waves ranging from waist-high to overhead. It’s a good idea to check the local surf forecasts and conditions before you go to ensure you’ll find suitable waves. It’s also important to respect the local surf etiquette and be aware of any potential hazards, such as rip currents and rocks.
If you’re planning a surfing trip to Portugal, it’s a good idea to check the local surf forecasts and conditions before you go to ensure you’ll find suitable waves. It’s also important to respect the local surf etiquette and be aware of any potential hazards, such as rip currents and rocks.
Nazaré
Nazaré is a popular surf destination located on the west coast of Portugal. It is known for its massive waves, which can reach heights of up to 100 feet (30 meters). These waves are popular with big wave surfers, who come from all over the world to surf the challenging breaks at Praia do Norte, the main surf spot in Nazaré.
Praia do Norte is a reef break located just outside the harbor of Nazaré. It is known for its powerful waves, which are caused by a unique combination of factors, including the shape of the seabed, the Atlantic currents, and the prevailing winds. The waves at Praia do Norte break over a shallow reef, creating a steep and fast wave that is suitable for experienced surfers only.
Surfing at Nazaré can be dangerous due to the size and power of the waves. It is important to respect the local surf etiquette and be aware of any potential hazards, such as rip currents and rocks. It is also a good idea to check the local surf forecasts and conditions before you go to ensure you’ll find suitable waves.
In addition to Praia do Norte, Nazaré also offers a variety of other surf spots, including beach breaks and point breaks suitable for all levels. Some of the other popular surf spots in the Nazaré area include São Miguel do Norte, Pedra do Guilhim, and Praia da Areia Branca.
Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo is a coastal city located in the northwest of Portugal. It offers a variety of surf spots, including beach breaks and point breaks suitable for all levels.
Some of the popular surf spots in the Viana do Castelo area include:
Moledo
Moledo: Located on the west coast of Viana do Castelo, Moledo is a beginner-friendly beach break with a long, sandy bottom.
Ofir
Ofir: Located on the west coast of Viana do Castelo, Ofir is a point break with a right-hand wave. It is suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers.
Afife
Afife: Located on the west coast of Viana do Castelo, Afife is a point break with a right-hand wave. It is suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers.
Esposende
Esposende: Located on the west coast of Viana do Castelo, Esposende is a beginner-friendly beach break with a long, sandy bottom.
Viana do Castelo is a year-round surf destination, with waves ranging from waist-high to overhead. It’s a good idea to check the local surf forecasts and conditions before you go to ensure you’ll find suitable waves. It’s also important to respect the local surf etiquette and be aware of any potential hazards, such as rip currents and rocks.