Nazaré, Portugal
Nazare, Portugal: Surfing, Scenic Beauty, and Seaside Splendor on the Silver Coast
by Celeste Lipford and Terry Lipford - last updated on 10/28/2024
This was a stop we made on our drive from the Delfim Douro Hotel to Lisbon. We had read about the giant waves that take place here and since we wanted to breakup the drive, we decided to stop here and explore.
Praia do Norte, Nazaré's North Beach, is famous for hosting some of the world's most colossal surf. These monstrous waves, reaching heights of over 100 feet, attract daredevil surfers from across the globe who come to challenge nature's giants. The town's annual big wave contest is a spectacle not to be missed.
Click above Image to view larger Google Map
How did we get to Praia do Norte?
As shown in the Google Map image above, we had been in the Douro River Valley and so we drove down the IP3 (this is a toll road - so you will need to have your toll transponder in your vehicle) and then IC1 through the Casal do Areal. Although we had a hard copy Portugal map, we used Google Maps the entire way and had no problems.
As you approach Nazaré on the IC9, follow the signs for the town center. The roads here are narrow and winding, typical of coastal Portuguese towns, so drive carefully. Once in Nazaré, follow the local signs directing you to Praia do Norte. The beach is located north of the town, known for its towering waves and iconic lighthouse (Farol de Nazaré). The route will take you through the scenic cliffs overlooking the Atlantic.
Be sure to follow the signs pointing in the direction of the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo. There is a parking lot right before you reach the Praia do Norte beach.
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Click the above video poster image to explore our "Portugal Reasons to Visit and Travel" Vlog - In this Portugal vacation travel video guide we'll provide reasons to visit and information about how to spend a week in Portugal. Portugal is a beautiful country directly on the Atlantic Ocean that offers a lot of value for your money and it has a fascinating history and culture. From the Douro River Valley to Nazare surf beach to the scenic and historic Lisbon and then south to the incredibly picturesque beaches of the Algarve Portugal has a lot to offer.
Praia do Norte, Portugal
After departing the Delfim Douro Hotel, we drove to the Atlantic Ocean coast (273 kilometers from the Hotel but still 133 kilometers north of Lisbon), and we stopped at the beach just north of Nazaré at the Praia do Norte, Nazaré. This is where the largest waves ever surfed took place, if you doubt this fact, please take a look at this video to see for yourself. There is an HBO Documentary named "100 Foot Wave" that documents the first American surfer to surf the big waves here.
Video is the property of Monster Experience via YouTube.
If you watch that video, you can see the building that stands on the cliff (Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo) in our image and that gives you a much better idea of just how high that wave was! The Fort is approximately 50 meters above sea level.
The large waves here form due to the presence of the underwater Nazaré Canyon. As the canyon creates
constructive interference between the incoming swell waves, it makes their heights much larger
on this stretch of coast than elsewhere. The canyon is the largest submarine canyon in Europe, reaching depths of about
5,000 metres (16,000 ft) deep and a length of about 230 kilometres.
Click here to read the Wikipedia
Article about the canyon and how it produces Guiness Book of Records wave heights.
In image # 1, that cliff where the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo is located, is named "Promontório do Sítio" and it is 110 meters above the beach. The lighthouse of Nazaré stands on top of the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo. The fort is open all year round from 10 AM to 5:30 PM and for a small entrance fee of € 2, you can visit inside to view the Big wave tour of Nazaré.
More Info for Praia do Norte
- Google Reviews for Praia do Norte
- Praia do Norte Wikipedia Article: Click here to go to the Wikipedia Page.
- Praia do Norte Website: Click here to go to the Website.
- Praia do Norte Map: Click here to go to view a Google Map.
- Praia do Norte Google Images Set: Click here to view the Google Images.
Image Credits
- First image is the property of Otávio Nogueira via Wikimedia Commons using the CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
- All other images are the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC unless otherwise noted.
Praia do Norte Surf
Even on a calm day, the surf at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal, produces a powerful and distinctive roar, echoing through the cliffs and surrounding beaches. Known for some of the world’s largest waves, the sound of crashing surf is amplified by the deep underwater Nazaré Canyon, which channels and intensifies ocean swells. The combination of strong Atlantic currents and unique coastal geography results in constant, thunderous surf, which can be heard from a significant distance, creating an atmosphere of awe even when the sea appears relatively calm.
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Click the above video poster image to watch our "Praia do Norte Surf" video. While driving from Northern Portugal to Lisbon, we stopped by Praia do Norte just to see the famous beach - which due to its giant white breaking waves is famed for its surfing conditions. Nazaré's waves were listed on the Guinness Book of Records for the biggest waves ever surfed.
Playa del Norte Beach
Nazaré Portugal
Wind Turbines above Nazaré Beach
Fort of São Miguel ArcanjoThe village of Nazaré is on the other side of the cliff from where we were at Praia do Norte. As you can see in image # 1, it resides next to a pretty beach and a very nice marina. This is a very popular beach area and the beach will be filled with visitors when the weather is sunny.
The inlet in the distance is the entrance to the Nazaré Marina (in image # 1), to view this area on a Google Map click here to view a Google Map. This map will provide you with an overhead view of the entire area, where you can more easily see where we were north of Nazaré at the Praia do Norte.
Because we had to meet our VRBO apartment rental agent at a specific time, we departed on the Portugal A8 freeway and drove to Belém (130 kilometers). Traffic was light until we arrived in the Lisbon area, and then it got quickly crowded.
NOTE: The first image above (left side) is the property of 'Mister No' via Wikimedia Commons using the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. All other images are the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC unless otherwise noted.
Some Useful Links for Nazaré & Praia do Norte
NOTE: Below are some useful links where you can find even more information about what we have described on this page. There are of course, many other useful websites & pages, so for something specific, we would suggest using Google Search.
- Just Traveling Thru European Travel Tips
- Just Traveling Thru Travel Planning Tips
- Google Search Results list for "restaurants in Nazaré"
- Google Search Results list for "accommodations in Nazaré"
- Nazaré article on the "Crazy Tourist" Site
- Watch the Nazaré big waves on the "Discover Portugal" Site
- YouTube Results List for "Nazaré Waves"
- Visit our Youtube Channel
- Our Nazaré Image Gallery
- Nazaré Wikipedia Page
- Nazaré Google Map
- Nazaré Google Images Set
- From Lisbon: Full Day tour of Nazaré from the "Get Your Guide" site
- Google Reviews: for Nazaré Portugal
- Google Search Results list for accommodations in/near Praia do Norte
- Google Search Results list for places to eat near Praia do Norte
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. So we would appreciate any click throughs, if you are inclined.
Note: All images on this page are the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC unless otherwise noted.
Note: If you are interested, click here to view our European Travel Tips & Warnings. Or to take a look at our methods for planning, click here to view our Trip Planning Page..
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