20 mins to Nazare, famous for surfing, vibrant nightlife, and sandy shores
Nazare is a charming coastal town brimming with beaches, seafood restaurants and lookouts with superb ocean views.
Before it became a tourist destination, the town relied mostly on fishing. Even today, you can still see local women selling dried fish along the waterfront and boats resting in the sand.
Summer brings the crowds of sunbathers, but for most of the year, Nazaré is a surfers paradise. Its huge waves keep making headlines, with surfers riding waves of nearly 30 metres at Praia do Norte.These days, Nazaré’s major attractions are the waves and surfing, thanks to the “Nazaré Canyon”, a submarine geomorphological phenomenon that allows the formation of perfect giant waves. It is the largest underwater canyon in Europe, about 170 kilometres along the coast, reaching a depth of 5,000 metres.
When visiting Nazaré, you must stop by the beach. There are two main beaches in Nazaré: Praia da Nazaré and Praia do Norte. Praia da Nazaré is a long sandy stretch in the centre, lined with shops and seafood restaurants. Its golden sands attract many locals and tourists, who come here for a swim or to practise watersports like surf or bodyboard. As you walk around the beach, you’ll stumble upon traditional fishing boats and ladies selling dried fish assembled on racks.
Further north is the Praia do Norte, a meeting spot for surfers. Unlike Praia da Nazaré, this isn’t a supervised beach, and there are few businesses around, so it feels a bit more secluded. The beach is mostly famous for its giant waves which draw brave surfers from all over the world. It was here that Sebastian Steudtner surfed one of the largest waves in the world. The size of the waves is a result of an underwater ravine in Nazaré combined with strong winds and currents. The waves are smaller in the summer, but the wind makes it hard to relax here. For that, it’s best to head to Praia da Nazaré.
Nazaré is the land of surf, so there’s no better place to learn this watersport than here. Unless you’re an expert surfer, you won’t be catching the massive waves at Praia do Norte, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t surf here. There are other beaches with smaller waves that provide many surfing opportunities for beginners. The Nazaré Surf School offers private and group lessons that range from €30 to €70 per person. You can even book packages with 5 or 10 lessons or a mini surf trip with lunch included.
