Portugal · Atlantic Europe
Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Praia do Guincho. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Not much swell but keen eyes will find something to ride. Short-period chop. The waves lack any real push. Strong offshore, clean but tough to paddle into.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Praia do Guincho is a wildly exposed, notoriously windy beach break situated near Cascais on the central Portuguese coastline. The seafloor relies entirely on mobile silica sandbanks, which are strongly influenced by the relentless, howling northerly winds that define the local microclimate. Operating optimally on a westerly Atlantic groundswell paired with an easterly offshore wind (a rare occurrence), the breaks offer structured, A-frame peaks providing both left and right-hand rides. While hollow sections exist, the waves frequently offer steep, highly punchy walls suitable for high-performance carving. This balance of power and extreme environmental exposure renders Guincho ideal for intermediate to advanced surfers. The sandy bottom is forgiving, but the incredibly fierce littoral rip currents, the blinding wind, and the shifting, heavy peaks require elite ocean awareness and disciplined paddle fitness. It serves as an immensely demanding, high-energy training ground for progressive surfing.
Heads up: jellyfish: peak season.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 66% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Noticeably cleaner air than a typical city. Good conditions for prolonged outdoor activity.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NO₂ 5, O₃ 3, PM10 2, SO₂ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 15:24
Moderate water clarity: ~4m visibility
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Praia do Guincho
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
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Create Profile →Partly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at Praia do Guincho is the week of 16 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
This guide was generated from conditions data. Know this spot? Submit your own tips below.
Praia do Guincho is a powerful, exposed beach break west of Cascais near Lisbon. It faces west into the full Atlantic and receives enormous swell. The beach is famous for strong winds (world windsurfing championships have been held here) which make surfing challenging but also shape quality banks. When the wind drops, Guincho produces powerful, hollow beach break waves. The Serra de Sintra mountains behind add dramatic backdrop.
Picks up any westerly Atlantic swell. A north-easterly wind is offshore but the prevailing Nortada (northerly) is side-offshore. Works on all tides. Consistent year-round. The 3-6ft range is most surfable. The wind is the determining factor more than the swell. Calm mornings in winter offer the best conditions.
Multiple peaks across the beach. The banks can be powerful and hollow. The northern end tends to have slightly more shelter from the prevailing wind. Watch for where the banks are most defined.
Powerful waves for a beach break. Strong currents. The wind can make conditions dangerous and unpredictable. Sand storms on the beach in strong northerlies. Not a spot for beginners when it is sizeable.
Large pay car park behind the beach. Direct access. Restaurants and cafes at the beach. Easy drive from Lisbon/Cascais (20 minutes from Cascais).
Moderate. The wind limits surfable days which concentrates people on the rare calm sessions. Windsurfers and kitesurfers dominate on windy days. On good surf days, 20-30 people. The proximity to Lisbon means it fills quickly on calm mornings.
Guincho is about catching the rare windless windows. Check forecasts obsessively and move fast when the wind drops. Early mornings in winter are your best bet. The restaurant Fortaleza do Guincho (in the fort on the cliff) is exceptional but expensive. Cascais nearby has excellent bars and restaurants for a more affordable option.
Surf at Praia do Guincho
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Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 30 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Praia do Guincho tend to be best between 07:00 to 10:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 35/100
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