Surf’s up!

Published on 17th January, 2024

Portugal is most famous for its temperate climate, excellent food and wines, and warm hospitality, but these shores are also blessed with miles of golden, sandy beaches. Stretching for more than 850km, the Portuguese coast is a gigantic surfing beach. No other coastal strip in the world can offer such a great number of spots in such a short distance, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced surfer - you can catch waves of all sizes every day of the year.

From late winter to early spring is the best time to catch wetsuit-clad surfers in the water. The summer’s waves are smaller and less exciting for more experienced surfers, but they may be better for surfing newbies looking to dip their toes in the water and get on a board for the first time.

You can surf in pretty much every region of Portugal – from south to the north: Algarve, Alentejo, Lisbon, Ericeira, Peniche, Beira and Porto, but the Silver Coast, about an hour north of Lisbon, is known as a surfer’s paradise!

One of the most famous spots for surfers is the small fishing town of Nazaré. Here there is a giant wave spot that was created by a 16,000-foot, deep underwater canyon – its colossal waves are just perfect for extreme surfers as the waves swell to the size of large buildings! The deadly waters were originally considered too dangerous for local surfers until an American named Garrett McNamara couldn’t resist the pull of the monster waves. In 2011, he set a world record by riding a wave that measured 78 feet. The record stood for seven years until, in May 2018, Brazilian Rodrigo Koxa surfed a wave that was officially measured at 80 feet.

Then in October 2020, German Sebastian Steudtner made surfing history. He surfed a wave in Nazaré that clocked in at 86 feet, securing him the Guinness World Record “Largest Wave (Male)” accolade.

Not just surfing - bodyboarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and paddle surfing are all on your doorstep! Contact our knowledgeable, local team at hello@PortugalProperty.com or call us on +351 308 800 878 or 0800 014 8201 free from the UK.

Download the latest edition of ‘At Home’ magazine here

Published in: Guide to Portugal / Miscellaneous / Portuguese Life