Portugal surf forecast

Surfing in Portugal

Portugal's mainland coast faces west into the open Atlantic for most of its length before turning east along the Algarve, so it catches swell from the north-west round to the south-west through much of the year. That exposure, combined with a mix of beach breaks, reefs and points, means there is surf somewhere on the coast for much of the year.

In the north, Matosinhos is Porto's main surf beach, reachable by metro, and its harbour wall gives it protection from northerly winds, which makes it a favourite with learners. Further south on the Silver Coast, Peniche's peninsula has beaches facing different directions, with Supertubos for experienced surfers and Baleal for schools, while Nazaré is known worldwide for the giant waves at Praia do Norte. Around Lisbon, Ericeira's reefs and points form a World Surfing Reserve, and Cascais, Carcavelos and Costa da Caparica give city surfers several choices within an hour. The Algarve completes the picture with an exposed west coast and a sheltered south coast that work in different conditions.

Autumn through spring is the main season, with the largest surf in winter. From June to September the northerly wind known as the nortada often builds in the afternoon on the west coast, so early sessions are usually cleaner, and the summer months are generally smaller and best for learning. The water is cool for southern Europe, so a full wetsuit is standard for most of the year.

Hazards vary from rips and shore break on the open beaches to shallow rock at the reefs, and crowds at the best known spots, especially in summer. Use the area pages below to compare each stretch of coast.