A quick tip to start with. Not far from Nazaré you’ll find the laid-back surf town of Ericeira, known as Europe’s surfing mecca. If time allows, you should definitely work Ericeira into your Portugal trip. Nazaré sits on the Atlantic coast in the Oeste region. The town has three parts – Praia (by the beach), Sítio (on the cliff) and Pederneira (the historic core).
It was originally a quiet fishing village, but everything was changed by one wave – or more precisely by several enormous waves that started drawing surfers from all over the world. Today Nazaré combines a calm Portuguese town with a dramatic natural spectacle.
What to do in Nazaré
Nazaré is a small beach town made for a relaxed weekend or long-weekend break. Enjoy the sun on Praia da Nazaré and explore the amazing viewpoints on top of the cliff in the old part of town.
Viewpoints you won’t get tired of
Miradouro do Suberco gives you an amazing panoramic view of the beach, the sea, the cliffs and the red-roofed houses of Nazaré. Don’t forget the view from Balaoiço da Ladeira either, home to the famous Instagram swings with incredible views.
You can reach the viewpoints on foot or take the Nazaré funicular. It runs every 15 minutes and costs 4 € return.
Visit the old town of Sítio
Right behind the Miradouro do Suberco you’ll find the main square of Sítio, Nazaré’s charming old town. This is the historic part of town, and you’ll often enjoy it more than the touristy area by the beach.
Walk past the viewpoint and you’ll come out on the square, home to the beautiful Santuário de Nossa Senhora church. Around the square there are plenty of shops selling local produce and fish restaurants with ocean views. Local women in traditional dress sell typical Portuguese snacks on the square.
The best time to visit Sítio is before sunset. That way you can enjoy an amazing sunset view from the top of the cliffs. As mentioned, you can get to Sítio on foot or by funicular.
Watch the sunset by the lighthouse
When you’re up in Sítio on the Nazaré cliff and walk past the village, you’ll reach the Praia do Norte viewpoint. A path leads along the clifftop to the São Miguel Arcanjo fort with the Nazaré lighthouse. That’s the best place to watch the sunset, with an amazing view over the beach and the ocean.
Try Licor de Pastel de Nata
Yes, you read that right – there’s a Pastel de Nata liqueur. Pastel de Nata is the most iconic Portuguese dessert, puff pastry with a kind of custard filling. If you’ve never tried one, you’re definitely missing out. Every time I’ve had one it was like biting into heaven.
Nazaré was the first (and only) place where I saw a liqueur made from Pastel de Nata.
Take a walk along the seafront
Praia da Nazaré has a 1.5 km promenade with plenty of shops, boutiques, restaurants and beach bars along the way. To be honest, this was my least favourite part of the town. There were a lot of people and the shops seem to sell cheap, low-quality mass-produced stuff.
Watch the giant waves
If you visit Nazaré between October and March, you’ll be there during “big wave season” and you might be lucky enough to see the biggest waves you’ve ever seen in your life. Experienced surfers from all over the world come to take them on. In 2011 the Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara surfed a 23.8 m wave in Nazaré and set a world record.
Behind those enormous waves is the Nazaré Canyon – a deep underwater gorge that funnels ocean energy straight to the shore. When the conditions line up, they create waves so high they send a shiver down even the pros’ spines.
Garrett McNamara rode a wave over 30 metres high here in 2011 and put Nazaré into the Guinness Book of Records. Since then the best surfers, and crowds of spectators, have been heading here. The best spot to watch from is the viewpoint by the Farol da Nazaré lighthouse on the Sítio cliff.
The best time to visit Nazaré
If you want sunny weather and the beach, the best time to visit Nazaré is May to September. If you want to see the giant waves Nazaré is known for, you should travel between October and March. That window is even called “Big Wave Season”.
A small recommendation – if you can, try to avoid visiting Nazaré at weekends, because local families love spending their free time here.
Where to stay in Nazaré, Portugal
If you want to be close to the action, stay in Praia – you’ll have your morning coffee with an ocean view and can stroll the promenade in the evening. The Sítio neighbourhood offers quiet and panoramic views, while Pederneira has the traditional old-town atmosphere.
SEAING HOUSE – a gorgeous first-floor apartment with its own parking, 2 bedrooms, comfortable beds, washing machine, very well equipped. Quiet, with an incredible view of the sunsets over the ocean, 5 minutes by car from Nazaré and 10 minutes from supermarkets.
Apartamentos 7 Saias Marginal – a great location right on the beach, just a short walk from the Flixbus stop. The rooms are comfortable and well equipped. The shared terrace is a pleasant spot to catch an amazing sunset and chat with other guests. The shared kitchen is very well equipped and stocked with coffee.
I hope this guide to the best of Nazaré has at least helped you get a sense of how lovely it is here. It’s definitely worth a visit – either as a day trip or for 2-3 days.
How to get to Nazaré
Nazaré is about 2 hours south of Porto and 1.5 hours north of Lisbon (if you’re not sure how to book flights, read our guide to finding cheap fares). From both cities you can travel comfortably with Flixbus, which drops you right in the town centre near Nazaré beach. Nazaré is split into two areas, Praia and Sítio. Praia is the area around the beach and Sítio is the old village on top of the cliffs.
