Surf guide
Surfing in Portugal
Europe's most complete wave, on your doorstep
- Surf spots45
- Areas11
- Best seasonSep-Apr
- Flights from$35
- Daily budget from$25/day
Why Portugal
From Europe's only World Surfing Reserve at Ericeira to the warm points of the Algarve, the capital's urban beach breaks, the wild north, and two volcanic island detours at Madeira and the Azores: Portugal's full Atlantic coast, mapped.
Surf zones & spots
Ericeira
Europe's only World Surfing Reserve · Best: Sep-Apr
- Ribeira d'Ilhas & Coxos — The world-class points that put Ericeira on the map
- Ericeira Town & South — Town-front reefs and the easy beginner beach
The Algarve
Warm points and sheltered bays at Europe's south-west corner · Best: Oct-Apr
- Costa Vicentina — Exposed, powerful points and beach breaks
- Sagres & Lagos — Sheltered bays and the easiest beginner beaches
Lisbon Coast
Surf the capital, from Carcavelos to windswept Guincho · Best: Oct-Apr
- Cascais & Estoril — The urban beach break and Portugal's windiest big wave
- Costa da Caparica — Lisbon's long beach-town escape across the river
Porto & the North
Consistent, uncrowded and cold, Portugal's wilder coast · Best: Sep-Apr
- Porto Coast — City-close beach breaks at Matosinhos and Espinho
- Viana do Castelo — Quiet, uncrowded waves near the Spanish border
Madeira
Europe's big-wave island, deep water hard against volcanic cliffs · Best: Nov-Mar
- West Madeira — Europe's classic big-wave left points
Azores
A 360-degree swell window on nine volcanic islands, mid-Atlantic · Best: Oct-Mar
- São Miguel — The largest, most populated Azorean island
- Terceira — History, hidden reefs and a serious offshore bombora
When to go
One strange surf spot a week
The Lineup: hippos that surf in Gabon, waves under smoking volcanoes in Kamchatka, one weird break in a weird place every week. No spam, always free.