The Complete Guide to Surfing in Portugal for Beginners
With over 600 miles of coastline, Portugal has something to offer surfers of all levels, from beginners just starting their surf journey to seasoned big wave surfers chasing 100 foot waves in the town of Nazaré.
If you’re a beginner looking to surf in Portugal and need some guidance, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve surfed along Portugal’s west coast and in the Algarve in southern Portugal and can help you plan your next surf adventure.
Looking for the best places to surf for beginners in Portugal? Let’s dive in.
Best Time to Surf for Beginners in Portugal
If you’re a beginner, the best time to surf in Portugal is generally from May to September when the waves are smaller and swells are more gentle. During this time, you’ll also be able to take advantage of warmer weather, although sunny summer days often come with crowds.
Experienced surfers head to Portugal from late September to April for big waves and powerful swells. Although it can be fun to watch these surfers take on massive waves (I’d recommend stopping by Nazare during big wave season), they’re not ideal for surf beginners.
Regardless of what time of year you go, you’ll be wearing a wetsuit – the Atlantic Ocean is cold!
Best Places to Surf for Beginners in Portugal
When choosing where to surf in Portugal, I’d recommend beginners look at surf camps and lessons in two areas: the western coast of Portugal (north of Lisbon) and the Algarve in the south.
These are popular surfing areas with vibrant surf cultures, great beginner beaches, and lots of surf camps and surf schools to pick from.
West Coast of Portugal: Cascais, Ericeira, and Peniche
Want to find world-class waves and a hyperfocus on the art of surfing?
Head north of Lisbon along the western coast of Portugal to beach towns and surf havens like Cascais, Ericeira, and Peniche (Baleal).
Here’s the rundown on each of them (in order of proximity to Lisbon).
Cascais
Cascais is a charming seaside town about 30 minutes drive from Lisbon. Along with good surfing for beginners, there’s also arts and culture, lovely open air restaurants, and some fun nightlife here. Cascais’ proximity to Lisbon means it can get more crowded, but it’s popular for a reason.
The beginner beaches near Cascais include Guincho and Carcavelos. These can vary based on water conditions and the surf season. As always, I recommend going with a surf camp or local instructor who knows the beach and wave conditions.
Here are a few surfing camps in Cascais worth checking out:
- Salty Pelican Cascais ($$-$$$)
- The Lowdown: Charming surf and yoga camp in a large villa near central Cascais with lots of social and athletic activities
- Pros: Lots of activities (hiking, yoga, tapas nights, SUP, etc.), centrally located, packages include a massage and daily buffet breakfast
- Cons: A number of activities cost extra, not as focused on only surfing, no kitchen available and meals there can be pricey
- Surf Cascais ($-$$)
- The Lowdown: Laidback surf camp and school with diverse accommodation options and fun communal activities
- Pros: Varied accommodation options (from dorms to an apartment), packages include surf lessons, yoga, and organized social activities (family dinner, BBQs), located close to Guincho beach, breakfast is included and there’s a kitchen
- Cons: Surf camp is in Murches (~10 min drive from Cascais), various offered accommodations aren’t super close to one another
Ericeira
Ericeira is a small, charming fishing village and premier surfing location along the western coast of Portugal (it was declared a World Surfing Reserve in 2011). With plenty of surf schools and places to rent a board, it’s a great place to learn to surf and enjoy the good vibes of a laid back beach (and surf!) town with cute restaurants, cafes, and shops.
For beginner beaches around Ericeira, head south to Foz do Lizandro and Praia do Sul (with an instructor or surf camp).
Here are a few surfing camps in Ericeira worth checking out:
- Salty Pelican Ericeira ($$-$$$)
- The Lowdown: Lovely and fairly chic surf and yoga camp with lots of activities and a social vibes in central Ericeira
- Pros: Located in Ericeira with an easy walk to the center of town and beaches, lots of activities (hiking, yoga, tapas nights, SUP, etc.), packages include a massage and daily buffet breakfast
- Cons: A number of activities cost extra, not as focused on only surfing, no kitchen available and meals there can be pricey
- Magikvanilla Surf Camp ($$)
- The Lowdown: Located in a traditional Portuguese villa, this welcoming, low key surf camp offers week-long packages with surfing, yoga, and aerial yoga
- Pros: Good student-to-instructor ratio (5:1), central location near Ericeira and beaches, surf package includes video and photo analysis, breakfast is included (and there’s a kitchen available), diverse accommodation options
- Cons: Sometimes caters to large groups, less flexible bookings (their week-long packages run from Saturday to Saturday)
Peniche
You may have heard of Peniche, a small industrial fishing town built amongst craggy rock cliffs that’s another yet world-renowned surfing location along Portugal’s coast. The town is perhaps most famous for its nearby Supertubos beach break, where pro surfers come to take on large, powerful barrel waves.
Although it’s fun to check out the supertubos, I recommend that beginners head north to Baleal, a laidback and charming island-village located a couple miles from Peniche. Baleal’s beaches are more protected than the ones near Peniche – there are some great surf spots for those starting to learn to catch waves.
Surf breaks and beaches for beginners in this area include Cantinho da Baía, Prainha, and Lagide.
- Baleal Surf Camp ($$)
- The Lowdown: Popular family-run surf camp that’s been around for 30 years and knows how to balance learning to surf with communal vibes and activities
- Pros: Good surf to instructor ratio (8 students for 1 surf instructor and 1 surf assistant), close to beginner surf beaches and town of Baleal, different planned activities (i.e., group dinners, surfboard factory visit), hostel or private apartments available, offers some video analysis
- Cons: Fixed surf camp schedule (runs Sat – Sun), no meals included (but kitchen available)
- Salty Pelican Peniche ($$-$$$)
- The Lowdown: As the latest addition to the Salty Pelican surf and yoga camps in Portugal, this resort-style camp in Baleal offers more of the same with lots of activities, chic accomodation, and social vibes
- Pros: Close to beginner surf beaches and town of Baleal, lots of activities (hiking, yoga, tapas nights, SUP, etc.), packages include a massage and daily buffet breakfast
- Cons: A number of activities cost extra, not as focused on only surfing, no kitchen available and meals there can be pricey
- Alex Surf Hostel ($$)
- The Lowdown: Run by Alex, a local surfer, this welcoming, no-frills surf camp is all about helping you learn to catch waves (and meeting some cool people in the process)
- Pros: Good student to instructor ratio (5:1), short walk to the beginner beaches and town of Baleal, focused on surfing, video analysis upon request
- Cons: No meals included (but kitchen available), not many camp organized social activities (other than surfing)
The Algarve: Lagos and Sagres
The southernmost part of Portugal, called the Algarve, is a popular summer tourist destination known for its white washed buildings and stunning beaches surrounded by rocky golden cliffs. It also has some decent surf spots, although the waves can sometimes be inconsistent.
Most surfing is concentrated in the westernmost part of the Algarve near towns like Lagos and Sagres.
Some popular beaches for beginner surfers in the Algarve area along the west coast include Bordeira, Amoreira, Arrifana, and Amado.
Lagos
Lagos is a cute tourist town with gorgeous nearby beaches and plenty of restaurants and bars. It’s a bit of a party town, but also offers activities like nearby hiking and kayaking. If you’re in Lagos, I recommend checking out Ponta da Piedade with walking paths amongst spectacular golden rock formations overlooking the blue ocean.
For surfing, you have to head out of Lagos to beaches along the southern or western coasts. I took surf lessons through a surf school, Surf Experience, and we consistently went to the same beach, Bordeira, which was about a 40 minute drive west. To be honest, this wasn’t my favorite surf beach – it was pretty foggy and chilly while I was there and the waves weren’t great. There was a lot of white water for beginner surfers, but it was also pretty crowded – it seemed like every surf school in the Algarve was there.
If you’re looking to get some surfing in while also enjoying beach time and partying in the Algarve, Lagos might be the place for you.
Here are some surf camps and schools to consider in and around Lagos:
- Tiny Whale Surf Lodge ($$-$$$)
- The Lowdown: Lovely and popular but pricier surf camp with chill vibes offering weeklong, nearly all-inclusive surf retreats in a villa near Lagos
- Pros: Good student-instructor ratio, mostly all inclusive with great accommodation, amenities, and food, provides video analysis and surf theory
- Cons: Only offers set week-long packages, limited space available, a little far from central Lagos, pricey
- Surf Experience ($-$$)
- The Lowdown: No frills, super sociable surf school in the heart of Lagos offering limited accommodation and daily lessons
- Pros: Offers two sessions per class, centrally located in Lagos, provides a cooked lunch for surf outings, does a good job of organizing social activities outside of surfing classes
- Cons: Beginner lessons are taught in big groups (high student to instructor ratio), instructor quality varies, limited spaces available in their surf house
Sagres
Sagres is a tiny surf town with great vibes that is home to the most southwesternmost point in Europe.
In full transparency, I visited Sagres, but I didn’t stay at a surf camp there. Still, I loved the vibe of this little surf town surrounded by dramatic landscapes and beaches at what feels like the ends of the earth. I’d probably opt to stay here instead of Lagos on my next surf trip to the Algarve.
Along with the previously-mentioned beginner beaches along the west coast, Sagres is also close to beginner-friendly beaches along the southern coast like Mareta, Martinhal, and Zavial.
I didn’t try out any of the surf camps in Sagres, but here are a couple popular ones to consider:
- The Lowdown: Low key surf house and hostel offering week-long packages (5 days of surfing) and a communal atmosphere
- Pros: Centrally located in Sagres, caters well to beginners, package includes breakfast and lunch (on surf days), varied accommodation options
- Cons: Both a hostel and surf camp
Wavy Surf Camp Portugal ($-$$)
- The Lowdown: This surf camp and school offers a unique combination of glamping and surf instruction in a natural (and very social) environment
- Pros: Unique accommodation, lots of activities (yoga, parties, surf skate, etc.), almost all meals included in their package
- Cons: Accommodation is shared (or costs extra for private glamping tent), a number of activities cost extra, closer proximity to nature than a standard hostel/camp
Whether you head north or south, Portugal offers some great options for beginner surfers looking to catch some waves in the cold swells of the Atlantic Ocean. Get ready to marvel at gorgeous beaches, soak in the ubiquitous surfer culture, and level up your skills on your surf trip to Portugal.
Have a surf adventure booked and feeling underprepared? Read my recommendations for the essentials to pack on your surfing trip and my tips for sun protection while surfing.
