Surfing in Portugal - our hotspots

Surfing gives you an incredible feeling of liveliness and freedom. Even more, surfing is a philosophy of life that unites all surfers worldwide - and Portugal is a true surfer's paradise. Blue lagoons, high mountains, wild nature, beautiful historic cities and incredibly open-minded people. When you're sitting on a cliff looking at the sunset over the ocean you will fall in love.

Definitely! Portugal is absolutely predestined for a surf trip. But why is Portugal Europe's number one surf destination?

There are 1,800 km of Atlantic coastline full of world-class surf spots. You'll find great surfing conditions and consistent waves all year round. No matter what time of year you come to Portugal there's always a wave to catch on some part of the coast. It doesn't matter whether youwant to learn surfing or just admire the surfers in Nazaré. Portugal is a gorgeous destination and also much cheaper compared to France.

Portugal is also perfect for a surfing holiday in your camper. Put your surfboard in the boot and off you go! During the day you can even park directly at the cliffs with a view of the surf spots without any problems. Important: The rules for wild camping in Portugal have become stricter in recent years! Especially on the coasts there are controls which is why you should not set up camp directly at the most beautiful sunset spot. You can find all the relevant information in our blog article ´Wild camping in Portugal`.

Whether you're a professional or a beginner, in Portugal you'll find the best surfing conditions in Europe for every level. Especially advantageous for surf beginners is that many of Portugal's beaches have a sandy coastline. This means that many waves meet a beach break. Here, the risk of injury is lower and the waves are not that big. Of course, there are also reef breaks for advanced surfers. The Algarve is particularly suitable for learning how to surf.

Portugal can be roughly divided into three surfing regions: the north around Porto is rather rough and the weather can sometimes be a bit uncomfortable and windy, especially in winter. In the centre, around Peniche, Ericeira and Lisbon, you'll find a variety of surf spots. The Algarve in the south offers plenty of sun and constant conditions for learning how to surf, even in winter.

Fabulous cliffs and green mountainsides, crystal clear bays, underwater caves and kilometres of white beaches with gentle to gigantic big Atlantic waves - the Algarve is an absolute paradise for surfers of all levels.

The Sagres region is located on the western tip of the sunny Algarve coast and is a real natural beauty. Within half an hour's drive you can reach over 50 different surfing spots. Praia do Tonel is particularly fun for beginners while at Praia do Telheiro you can feel the power of the Atlantic Ocean. The best waves can be caught in spring and autumn. In winter, between November and May, the best surfing conditions are at Praia da Luz. You can also travel through the area in your campervan and discover remote places. The Algarve is worth a visit for everyone who mainly travels for surfing and nature.

Located about 30 minutes from Lisbon on the west coast, Ericeira is arguably the hippest surf town in Portugal and the only surf reserve in Europe. With its typical Portuguese charm, Ericeira is considered one of the most beautiful surf spots. The town with its narrow streets and blue-white wall tiles is located above the coast and scores with a beautiful view over the sea and very good reef breaks. Therefore, advanced and experienced surfers are more likely to be have fun here. Sao Lorenco and Coxos are popular beaches for big and long waves. But even beginners will get their money's worth at the beaches of Foz do Lisandro and Sao Juliao. You can even reach some of the first-class surf sports from Ericeira's centre on foot.

Along with Ericeira, Costa Caparica is one of the most famous surfing hotspots around Lisbon and even made it into the top 10 most popular beaches in Europe on Instagram in 2019. Lisbon city centre and Costa Caparica are separated by one of the country's beautiful bridges and about a 20 minutes' drive. Here you'll find 30 kilometres of sandy beach, some with cool beach bars, some still completely natural. The house beach offers ideal waves for beginners and advanced surfers. Lisbon is a great place for a short trip! This beautiful city combines a relaxed surfer lifestyle with urban flair and is perfect for anyone who wants to combine surfing with a city trip.

The town is the birthplace of Portuguese surf culture and has become one of the most important surf resorts on the European mainland coast. The beaches north of Baleal are a good alternative to escape the crowds. Baleal is great for beginners but can also have good peaks. Especially in autumn, the beautiful Praja do Medao is the venue for international surfing world championships where all the pros show off their skills. In the region around Peniche, it is advantageous to have a camper or any kind of vehicle. This drastically increases your surfing area. In addition, you can always adapt to the changing surf conditions, your own skills and, above all, your personal favourite spots and enjoy the whole variety of the coast.

Enjoy the waves in the north near Porto. You can expect empty line-ups, beautiful beaches and numerous good beach breaks. The cute fishing village of Esmoriz is located 25 km away from Porto. Here you'll find a good selection of surf camps and surf schools that can show you how to elegantly hold your board in the water. Esmoriz is also known for its consistent waves. Whether it's an open beach break or a sheltered breakwater, surfers of all levels can enjoy their time here.

Watch out! Surfing at Praja do Norte is not suitable for beginners but a must for every surf lover! Sit in one of the surrounding cafés and bars and watch the bravest surfers take to the water and catch big waves at this spot of the Atlantic. The giant wave of Nazaré is one of the most powerful waves in the world which is internationally known! The waves can reach heights of over 30 metres. The world record is held by Rodrigo Koxa with his 2018 ride on a 24.38 metre high wave.

All year round! In spring and autumn the line-up is not quite as busy but the temperature outside is still pleasantly warm. In the water, however, you should wear a wetsuit at all times of the year as the Atlantic is quite cold. For surf beginners summer is often worthwhile and for surf cracks we recommend winter time.

The good thing about surfing is that the wave always brings you back to the beach. Surfing is probably the least dangerous of all "fun sports". Drowning is practically impossible when learning how to surf.

But especially as a beginner you should familiarise yourself with a few things beforehand. Familiarise yourself with your surroundings. Talk to other surfers about possible currents, rocks or reefs in the water. Choose the right surfboard and check the weather conditions.

The advantage: The better you know the dangers and risks at a surf spot and the better you're prepared to react to them the safer and more confident you'll feel when surfing.

Rent a camper! Look for the perfect surf spot and hit the waves! Portugal is an absolute must for all ambitious holiday surfers. From gentle beach breaks to intense point breaks you'll find almost everything your surfing heart desires in Portugal - except warm water!