A wide variety of beaches, each shaped by the Atlantic — all within about an hour of Lisbon, and all part of your
trip.
The West Coast is home to beaches of every mood — some open and
powerful, others calmer and more sheltered, all constantly changing with the Atlantic. Use the interactive map
to explore some of our favourite spots, then scroll down to get to know each one.
Nazaré is a name that hits different. This is the town that turned winter swells into a global spectacle,
thanks to Praia do Norte and the famous underwater Nazaré Canyon, which focuses Atlantic energy into truly
massive waves. When conditions line up, the ocean becomes a big-wave arena — and home to the WSL TUDOR
Nazaré Big Wave Challenge.
02Baleal
Baleal Beach //
Same partner as Supertubos: PKSC. Baleal is the gentler side of
the same peninsula — Supertubos is the wave people photograph, this is the one people learn on, and
most first lessons end up somewhere along this stretch.
Because the peninsula has beaches facing opposite ways, the morning call is which
side the wind is treating well rather than which one was on the plan. PKSC rent boards and wetsuits as
well as teaching, so you don't have to arrive carrying anything.
Signed up for the intensive week long course for beginners. It was amazing! The coaches were great especially the two Miguel's! The main organiser was Rodrigo and was super nice and very relaxed which made the learning process enjoyable.
I stayed at the Surf House in a room with two single beds. A little more expensive but worth it for the privacy. The bathroom and kitchen are shared with other occupants. In the surf house you can get a room with it's own bathroom. The cleaner came round pretty frequently to clean the shared areas.
I do have to mention that groups change quite frequently along with your surfboards depending on availability. There isn't a linear path to what you learn. Knowledge is shared depending on what the instructors feel like covering but questions are welcomed and answered well by the instructors. Sometimes beginners join during the week but the instructors are good at giving a streamlined version of the introduction to just them.
You feel very safe during the lessons and you are kept in a group as you surf. You can be as independent as you want to be as long as you stick close to the instructors. They will give you feedback if they spot any mistakes.
You also get lots of photos and videos taken of you surfing which is a bonus. Does it really count if it isn't photographed 😝
Personally I wouldn't do two lessons a day again. It's pretty demanding and takes a lot out of you. If I were to do it again I would just stick to one and then build up to two later on. Or the other way round depending on how you learn. Pictures are normally taken in the morning sessions.
Photo analysis is done as well and very useful for seeing where you can improve!
We rented equipment here and were absolutely satisfied. Great service and very friendly staff! The place is also extremely cozy. The beach is not overcrowded, there's plenty of space for surfing, and it feels very safe. There's also a restaurant right next door, perfect for grabbing something to eat or drink after your surf session. Highly recommend this place!
The surf camp with PKSC was the most beautiful, exciting and fun experience of my life! when I arrived I was a little intimidated by the waves, I had never surfed before. the instructors (Bea, Rodrigo, Miguel, Pedro) were all super welcoming and helpful, patient, fun! immediately after entering the water for the first time, fear gave way to enthusiasm. The place is nothing short of beautiful, you feel at home. the boards, the wetsuit, everything we needed was at our disposal and in the best way for everyone. there is a relaxed, light, serene, cheerful atmosphere. the emotion of not feeling alone but rather encouraged and motivated. we also really appreciated the bar and the possibility of eating and drinking an iced beer with the view of the ocean. it's impossible to summarize all the beautiful emotions I felt during this week with them, I only know that they were the most beautiful of my life and I miss them all a lot! I can't wait to come back to PKSC again! And Bea is unquestionably the best surf instructor in the whole ocean!!
I came to PKSC for one week camp with my brother and it was the best time of our summer! We never surfed before but we had a lot of fun and learned basics of surfing in just a few days. He’s only 15 but he was already able to catch some waves and surf till the shore. I don’t do sports daily so I was worried if I’ll manage but teachers are really good here and they helped me a lot. Classes were tailored to our skill level each day which I think is a great thing. It gave me confidence to keep trying and it made me want to come back next year! :) It’s a beautiful place to spend summer and learn surfing, I absolutely recommend it
Had a fantastic experience with private lessons. Andre was a great coach. Booked through Stay Low but seemed to be run by PKSC. All positive and great instruction. We will be back.
Baleal brings a more laid-back, surf-every-day magic. A small peninsula joined to the mainland by a narrow
strip of sand, it has beaches facing different directions — so you can pick a spot to match the wind and
swell. Great variety in a compact area, with a relaxed vibe and a deep surf culture.
03Peniche
Supertubos //
Our partner in Peniche is PKSC — Peniche Kite & Surf Camp,
teaching here since 2003, with their own camp a few steps from the sand since 2005. The school sits
right in front of the peak, so the walk from the board rack to the water is measured in metres.
They keep it to five students per coach and film the sessions, which is the
quickest way to understand what your own surfing actually looks like. Between the lessons there is
surfskate and yoga, and on a peninsula this shape there is almost always a side of it with the wind
blowing the right way.
Signed up for the intensive week long course for beginners. It was amazing! The coaches were great especially the two Miguel's! The main organiser was Rodrigo and was super nice and very relaxed which made the learning process enjoyable.
I stayed at the Surf House in a room with two single beds. A little more expensive but worth it for the privacy. The bathroom and kitchen are shared with other occupants. In the surf house you can get a room with it's own bathroom. The cleaner came round pretty frequently to clean the shared areas.
I do have to mention that groups change quite frequently along with your surfboards depending on availability. There isn't a linear path to what you learn. Knowledge is shared depending on what the instructors feel like covering but questions are welcomed and answered well by the instructors. Sometimes beginners join during the week but the instructors are good at giving a streamlined version of the introduction to just them.
You feel very safe during the lessons and you are kept in a group as you surf. You can be as independent as you want to be as long as you stick close to the instructors. They will give you feedback if they spot any mistakes.
You also get lots of photos and videos taken of you surfing which is a bonus. Does it really count if it isn't photographed 😝
Personally I wouldn't do two lessons a day again. It's pretty demanding and takes a lot out of you. If I were to do it again I would just stick to one and then build up to two later on. Or the other way round depending on how you learn. Pictures are normally taken in the morning sessions.
Photo analysis is done as well and very useful for seeing where you can improve!
We rented equipment here and were absolutely satisfied. Great service and very friendly staff! The place is also extremely cozy. The beach is not overcrowded, there's plenty of space for surfing, and it feels very safe. There's also a restaurant right next door, perfect for grabbing something to eat or drink after your surf session. Highly recommend this place!
The surf camp with PKSC was the most beautiful, exciting and fun experience of my life! when I arrived I was a little intimidated by the waves, I had never surfed before. the instructors (Bea, Rodrigo, Miguel, Pedro) were all super welcoming and helpful, patient, fun! immediately after entering the water for the first time, fear gave way to enthusiasm. The place is nothing short of beautiful, you feel at home. the boards, the wetsuit, everything we needed was at our disposal and in the best way for everyone. there is a relaxed, light, serene, cheerful atmosphere. the emotion of not feeling alone but rather encouraged and motivated. we also really appreciated the bar and the possibility of eating and drinking an iced beer with the view of the ocean. it's impossible to summarize all the beautiful emotions I felt during this week with them, I only know that they were the most beautiful of my life and I miss them all a lot! I can't wait to come back to PKSC again! And Bea is unquestionably the best surf instructor in the whole ocean!!
I came to PKSC for one week camp with my brother and it was the best time of our summer! We never surfed before but we had a lot of fun and learned basics of surfing in just a few days. He’s only 15 but he was already able to catch some waves and surf till the shore. I don’t do sports daily so I was worried if I’ll manage but teachers are really good here and they helped me a lot. Classes were tailored to our skill level each day which I think is a great thing. It gave me confidence to keep trying and it made me want to come back next year! :) It’s a beautiful place to spend summer and learn surfing, I absolutely recommend it
Had a fantastic experience with private lessons. Andre was a great coach. Booked through Stay Low but seemed to be run by PKSC. All positive and great instruction. We will be back.
Peniche is pure surf geography. Being a peninsula, you can almost always find a spot with the right wind —
mellow beach breaks for progression, or something fast and hollow. And Supertubos is the headline act: a
powerful sand-bottom wave that throws heavy, perfectly formed barrels, long a stage for world-tour
competition.
04Lourinhã · our home
Areia Branca //The Surf Academy
This one is our own beach, so the partner had to be someone who knows it better
than we do. The Surf Academy is Pedro Fernandes, born and raised on this sand — first
surf at thirteen, teaching by eighteen, and a Level II coach with the Portuguese Surfing Federation.
He started the school in 2022 and works the twelve kilometres of coast either side
of us, which is what makes it possible to keep finding a wave that suits the day and the level. Lessons
run at three levels — initiation, evolution, performance — with boards, wetsuits and insurance
included.
An incredible experience, go for it with your eyes closed! 🏄♂️✨
I spent an amazing week taking lessons at The Surf Academy and honestly, it was the absolute best.
A huge thank you to Pedro and his entire team who are incredibly kind, welcoming, positive, and amazing teachers.
What I loved most is how the school truly adapts to every single student whether you’re a man, a woman, a teen, or an adult, this is the perfect place to progress and genuinely enjoy surfing.
Special shoutout to Pedro: he’s not only an outstanding surf coach, but he also teaches you real life lessons, and I can't thank him enough for that. If you want to love surfing and see real improvement at the same time, this is the place to be. Thank you so much, The Surf Academy, for passing on the pure joy of this sport to me! See you soon! 🌊 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
An amazing experience with The Surf Academy. I spent 4 days with them and honestly, I already want to come back! From the very beginning, the whole team was incredibly friendly, attentive and dedicated. They genuinely care about your experience and are always there to help.
The lessons are very well structured and adapted to all levels of experience, whether you are a complete beginner or already have some surfing experience. The groups are small, which allows for much closer and more personalized feedback, always in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
The equipment is also excellent, with good-quality surfboards and wetsuits, all in perfect condition. Everything is very well organized and taken care of.
I really enjoyed every single day and couldn’t recommend The Surf Academy more. I would come back without hesitation and recommend them with my eyes closed. And a special mention to Duarte, an absolute legend and an amazing instructor 🤙🏼
We had an absolutely amazing experience at Pedro’s Surf Academy!
Pedro and Duarte are not only outstanding surf instructors but also genuinely kind, warm-hearted people. From the very first moment, my daughter and I felt incredibly welcome and comfortable – almost as if we were spending time with friends, even though we had just met.
The equipment is first-class. The wetsuits are modern, in excellent condition, and perfect for the cool Atlantic water. The surfboards are top quality as well, making the whole experience even better.
You can really feel how passionate Pedro and Duarte are about surfing and how much they enjoy sharing that passion with others. They create a relaxed, fun, and encouraging atmosphere that makes learning easy and enjoyable.
We recommend Pedro’s Surf Academy with all our hearts. If we return to Portugal, we will definitely book with them again.
Thank you, Pedro and Duarte, for an unforgettable experience!
10/10 – Highly recommended!
My family and I had an amazing time learning how to surf with The Surf Academy at Praia da Areia Branca. Pedro and Duarte were welcoming, easygoing and patient. They gave helpful feedback after every wave and dropped some great insights in between, which is why we all managed to stand up on the board fairly quickly…some of us more quickly than others, but quick enough to get us hooked 😉. Every session taught us something new — not just about surfing, sometimes about life too, it seemed — and we enjoyed every one of them, nosedives included. Spending time in the ocean chasing waves is a wonderful experience in itself, and knowing you're in good hands makes it even better.🤙
Thank you so much Pedro & Duarte🔥
Pedro is an amazing coach. Enthusiastic, teaching with passion and super friendly. You won't find a better guide who will ensure your progress and same time have a safe experience. I can't thank enough Pedro and Viri for the lessons i get the last year. Absolutely recommended. p.s. Areia Branca is a beautiful place, where you don't have crowds
The feel-good base of the West Coast — and where LOBA is based. A wide sandy beach with playful peaks and
shifting sandbanks, there's almost always some wave to ride, whether it's your first or your thousandth.
Minutes after your session you're on a seafront lined with restaurants and beach bars, just over an hour
from Lisbon.
05Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz //
Our surf partner here is Tsunami Surf School — started by two
surfers from Santa Cruz who teach every level, beginners included. They read the coast the way we do:
when Santa Cruz isn't working, the lesson moves to a beach that is. They also run yoga at the same
spot, which is a good way to spend the afternoon after a morning in the water.
Tiago and his team made this place very special to me. I took my first wave here a year ago and I came back this year to continue the trainings - every lesson is a pleasure with tons of laughs and the feeling of pure happiness after. Thank you for that, I can’t wait to be back!
I’ve surfed only occasionally over the past 4 or 5 years, but this was the best experience I’ve had so far.
Great spot and great instruction. I was nervous at first because of the strength of the waves, but the instructor kept me at ease the whole time.
Highly recommend it to anyone looking to improve.
My three siblings and I each got a 10-pack of surf lessons, and it was the best experience ever!
I’m so glad we did it— I’ll ever regret it. I learned so much, and the lessons made learning to surf incredibly fun. They have great surfboards that are perfect for beginners, and the instructors are amazing. They’re so friendly, patient, encouraging, and always willing to help. They explain everything clearly, give helpful tips that really make a difference, and make sure everyone feels comfortable and included, no matter their skill level. They create such a positive and fun atmosphere that you actually look forward to every lesson.
I would definitely recommend these surf lessons to anyone who wants to learn to surf or improve their skills. Thank you for such an unforgettable experience!
My partner and I highly recommend Tsunami surf school! He took a private lesson with Riccardo and the session was amazing, Riccardo gave him lots of good advises, helped him in the green waves and was very friendly. He enjoyed a lot. Chatting with Tiago, he was very friendly, flexible and gave us good tips about the area. The price-quality ratio is excellent and we will come back to Tsunami surf school next time we come to the area!
My boys had wonderful experience with the coach and owner Tiago. He was very informative and paid so much attention to details. We will be back for sure…
Santa Cruz offers a different rhythm — raw Atlantic energy along a scenic, relaxed coastline. A long
shoreline with consistent waves and a variety of peaks shaped by sandbanks, from mellow waves perfect for
learning to more powerful sections when the swell picks up, all framed by dramatic cliffs.
06Ericeira
Ribeira d'Ilhas
Europe's first and only World Surfing Reserve: seven world-class waves packed into just 4 km of coastline,
with Ribeira d'Ilhas as the crown jewel. A long, peeling right-hander that can run for over 200 metres —
mellow enough for intermediates on smaller days, powerful enough to test anyone when the swell fills in.
Where history & nature meet
A region to explore
Between sessions, the West Coast opens up to some of Portugal's most
special places — all an easy day trip, and all close to Lisbon.
Sintra
Fairytale palaces and misty green hills — a UNESCO wonderland just up the coast.
Óbidos
A whitewashed medieval town inside ancient walls — cobbled streets and cherry liqueur.
Berlengas
A wild island nature reserve off Peniche — crystal water and a clifftop fort.
