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 Nazaré. 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).
Next to nothing in the water. Check back tomorrow. Short-period chop. The waves lack any real push. Onshore wind making a mess of the surface. Best conditions early morning before the sea breeze arrives. Not enough swell to get this spot firing properly.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Nazar-, specifically the break at Praia do Norte, is globally recognised as hosting the largest surfable waves on the planet. The bathymetry is defined by the Nazar- Canyon, a colossal submarine trench extending thousands of metres deep that points directly at the beach. This geological anomaly prevents the attenuation of wave energy across the continental shelf, funnelling and actively amplifying massive north-westerly winter groundswells. When this concentrated energy hits the sudden shallow sandbanks near the shoreline, it erupts into towering, monstrous A-frame peaks that frequently exceed twenty metres in height. An easterly offshore wind is necessary to hold the immense faces. Due to the unfathomable, lethal hydraulic weight, the chaotic converging wave peaks, and the inescapable inside impact zone, Nazar- is strictly the domain of professional big-wave surfers utilising jet-ski tow-in techniques. It represents the absolute pinnacle of high-consequence, heavy-water surfing, requiring military-grade safety operations and unparalleled physical conditioning.
Heads up: jellyfish: peak season, and rip risk elevated.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 63% 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 09:12
Good water clarity: ~11m visibility
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Nazaré
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
Create a free profile and let employers in Nazaré find you.
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 Nazaré 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.
Nazare is famous worldwide for its giant wave at Praia do Norte, a deep-water canyon that focuses massive Atlantic swells into record-breaking walls of water (rides over 20m have been recorded). However, the main town beach (Praia da Nazare) is a regular beach break that works in normal conditions. The two are entirely different propositions. The town beach produces fun, accessible surf; Praia do Norte is an extreme big-wave venue.
The town beach works on any north-westerly Atlantic swell, all tides, year-round. The 3-6ft range is ideal. Praia do Norte needs XXL swells (15ft+ open ocean) from the northwest. The canyon amplifies the swell, producing 30-80ft faces. The big-wave season is October through March.
Town beach: multiple peaks across the sandy bottom. Choose your section based on where the banks are best defined. Praia do Norte: only accessible by jet ski. Not a paddle-in spot for the big waves.
Town beach: standard beach break hazards (rips on bigger days). Generally safe. Praia do Norte: one of the world's most dangerous waves. The currents, the power, and the rocks make it lethal for anyone not part of the professional big-wave community.
Town beach: park in Nazare town, walk to the beach. Full tourist facilities. Praia do Norte: viewing from the Sitio cliff top (lighthouse viewpoint). No public access to the water during big-wave events.
Town beach: busy in summer, moderate otherwise. Standard Portuguese beach break crowd. Praia do Norte: a handful of the world's best big-wave surfers with support teams. The cliff top viewing attracts thousands of spectators on big days.
Do not confuse the two breaks. The town beach is fun, accessible surf. Praia do Norte is an extreme sport venue. Watching big-wave sessions from the lighthouse cliff is one of surfing's great spectacles. The town has excellent fish restaurants and a traditional Portuguese character. If the town beach is flat, drive south to Peniche (20 minutes) for more consistency.
Surf at Nazaré
Your score
Forecast feel
Score this window against what you actually found.
No scored surf reviews in the last 24 hours.
No recent check-ins. Be the first to report.
Log a day
Add Nazaré to your private Companion record without GPS.
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
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
View Best Time to Go →