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Tourism Nazare

Want to see the BIG waves of Nazaré live?

Tourists watching giant waves in Nazare
Tourists watching giant waves in Nazare Portugal
Nazare lighthouse view

The latest attraction of Nazaré, Portugal - the giant waves - is both unique and uncertain.
Well, the big waves are not always there, they depend on the storms on the high seas that bring the big swells.

The Nazaré big waves frequency it's very different from the Niagara Falls (e.g.), another spectacular place to observe Nature but where it can be observed daily for much of the year.

When to go and for how long to see the Nazaré biggest waves?

The Big Waves season in Nazaré - Portugal, is between October and March (winter season in Portugal, but September and April also work in some years). So that is the best time to see the Nazaré big waves.

- For those who need to book the trip in advance, a stay of at least 2 weeks in the region is recommended to ensure that you catch at least one day of giant waves; a three week stay increases the chances of catching big waves days.
In the months described, there’s usually between 1 and 6 large big swells. For more statistics see previous years news history . Even so, there is no guarantee that you will get a good day, but the probability is good.

- Another option for those who have more availability is to travel as soon as there is a good forecast. The forecasts only anticipate at most one week, and the longer the forecast range is the less certain it is. You can check the forecasts here.
For big wave the forecast should indicate a wave size higher than 3 meters, a wave period greater than 13 seconds and a bit offshore and north wind.

Usually, the Nazare North Canyon - big waves generator greatly amplifies the predicted size of the waves, generating waves up to 100 feet (30 meters) high!

How to get Nazaré big waves alerts?

Subscribe to our Big Waves Alerts by Email on the home page.
The website nazarewaves.com notifies you when there are good forecasts, follow it often.

Also follow our Facebook page where we publish alerts too.

Check current big waves alerts here >>

For those who are closer to the zone you can check the state of the sea in real time via webcams footage and forecast - because the forecasts are not 100% reliable, there are many variables such as wind and wave direction (ex.), which influence and can vary on the hour and spoil a day with a perfect forecast. Nazare is a magical place with a lot of surprises...

There may also be large waves in September and April but the peak of winter is closest to December, with more severe sea storms that can generate larger swells. View the publication history since 2015 to see when more large waves occurred.

The Place to Watch the Giant Waves at Nazaré

The giant waves take place on Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal. The best place to observe is on sítio da Nazaré, next to the lighthouse - Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo, on the north side of Nazaré. It is possible to visit the interior of the Forte de S. Miguel Arcanjo throughout the all the year from 10AM to 6PM (cost 2€, last entrance 30 min before close time).
You can also go down to the sand on the beach Praia do Norte for another perspective, via a dirt road, but be very careful by the sea as it is dangerous! Don't get too close. Several tourists drowned in the past, carried away by waves.

Usually there are always surfers present, and more and more, coming from all over the world. Many already spend the season of great waves in Nazaré, so if there are good waves (small to giant) they will surf, which is also good for tourists because it gives a better idea of the size of the waves.

How to get to Nazaré?

The nearest airport to Nazaré is Lisbon Airport in Portugal.


See below for how to go from Lisbon to Nazaré.

One way: Duration ~1h30; Cost ~25€ in 2023

  1. Take the highway A8 in Lisbon towards Leiria
  2. Take the Exit 22 (Nazaré / Alcobaça / Valado dos Frades)
  3. Take the road IC9, towards Nazaré
  4. At the end of IC9, at the roundabout, head to Nazaré Norte
  5. At the next roundabout take the National 242 and two roundabouts after then head to Sítio/Farol da Nazaré, at 25 de Abril Street
  6. On April 25th Street, take Rua das Figueiras, then Rua dos Tanques, then Rua Teófilo Braga, then Rua Dom Fuas Roupinho, then Largo de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré and finally turn right towards Estrada do Farol
  7. At Rua Dom Fuas Roupinho street, on the right, there is a car park and you can go to the Lighthouse on foot or using a Tuk Tuk

One way: Duration ~1h45; Cost ~12€ in 2023

Take the Express Bus at Sete Rios Station in Lisbon towards Nazaré

One way: Duration ~2h40; Cost ~12€ in 2023

  1. Take the train in Lisbon ("Oriente" or "Sete Rios" Station) towards "Famalicão da Nazaré"
  2. Leave at "Famalicão da Nazaré" station
  3. Take but to Nazaré (arrive in ~10 min.)

One way: Duration ~2h20; Cost ~43€ in 2023

  1. Take the A1 highway towards Lisbon
  2. Take the Exit 16 (Aveiro / Viseu) to take the A25 highway
  3. On A25, do not leave to Aveiro, continue on the A17 (at Marinha Grande the A17 becomes A8)
  4. On the A8 take the Exit 22 (Nazaré / Alcobaça / Valado dos Frades)
  5. Take the IC9, towards Nazaré
  6. At the end of IC9, at the roundabout, head to Nazaré Norte
  7. At the next roundabout take the National 242 and two roundabouts after then head to Sítio/Farol da Nazaré, at 25 de Abril Street
  8. On April 25th Street, take Rua das Figueiras, then Rua dos Tanques, then Rua Teófilo Braga, then Rua Dom Fuas Roupinho, then Largo de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré and finally turn right towards Estrada do Farol
  9. At Rua Dom Fuas Roupinho street, on the right, there is a car park and you can go to the Lighthouse on foot or using Tuk Tuk

One way: Duration ~3h; Cost ~17€ in 2023

Take the Express Bus at "Campo 24 de Agosto" Station in Porto, towards Nazaré

One way: Duration ~20min; Cost ~2.5€ in 2023

  1. Take the Nazaré Funicular/Lift towards "Sítio da Nazaré" (highest zone)
  2. Walk to the Nazaré Lighthouse (near the sea, 13 min, 1Km), or alternatively catch a Tuk Tuk

Annual big wave surfing event
WSL Nazaré Big Wave Challenge - World Surf League - Big Wave Tour

The next "Nazaré Big Wave Challenge" surfing competition is expected to return during the winter season in Portugal: 2024/2025 (1 November to 31 March).

Last Surf event "Tudor Nazaré Big Wave Challenge" FINISHED on Monday, January 22, 2024. See the report of the event.

Follow the nazarewaves.com website for more information in the future and subscribe to email alerts to be the first to know the date of the event.

Check out the video summary of the last edition of the big wave competition (7th edition on 22/Jan/2024):

📖 More information about the Nazaré Big Wave Challenge (click to expand):

This big wave surfing competition does not have a fixed date, depending on the swell forecasts during the winter in Portugal. The event date 📅 is scheduled based on forecasts for favourable conditions.
The World Surf League (WSL) prioritizes waves of at least 8 meters high, also considering factors such as wind, tide, and fog.

The WSL issues a "Big Wave Yellow Alert" up to 72 hours (3 days) before a potential event if a big swell with favourable weather conditions approaches the event location.
If conditions remain favourable, a "Big Wave Green Alert" is issued, indicating that the competition will occur in the next 24 hours.
(This short notice period is the best possible with current forecast technology, ensuring ideal conditions with the biggest waves. At this time, surfers, journalists, and tourists from around the world will come.)

Typically, the competition lasts only one day. If it's impossible to complete the competition in a day, due to lack of sea conditions or other reasons, it may continue the next day.

The competition takes place at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal and is part of the WSL Big Wave Tour. It is open to the public, both in the lighthouse area and at Praia do Norte in Nazaré.

The event is expected to continue attracting global interest and more spectators in the coming years.

More information can be found on the official WSL website.

WSL Nazare Challenge explained
Check WSL video explaining the event
(press to view)
wsl nazare challenge - big wave tour 2018-2019
Sample poster of Nazaré Challenge
in previous years

History of big wave surfing competitions in Nazaré

The last edition of the WSL Nazaré Big Wave Challenge took place on January 22, 2024, see event report here.

📖 More historical information 🕒 about the Nazaré Big Wave Challenge (click to expand):

The 2019/2020 season saw changes in the big wave circuit, the "Nazaré Challenge" competition was renamed "Nazaré Tow Challenge". After 2020, surfers started to catch waves with the help of jet-skis instead of paddling. The aim of this change is to try to break big wave surfing records during this event, as the biggest waves are not possible to catch without the use of a jet ski. There have been years when it was necessary to postpone the competition day due to the size of the waves being too big!

More information about Nazaré

Nazaré is increasingly sought after by surfers, photographers and tourists from around the world. As for tourists, whether to see the surf or just to see the incredible strength of the sea, it is always an incredible experience, especially for nature/sea lovers or surfers. This is where the Atlantic Ocean shows all its strength! A unique site, due to the giant Nazare North Canyon - big waves generator , one of the biggest in the world (and there are few). It seems to be the best spot in the world to watch the giant waves from just a few feet away. You're sure to love watching the giant waves of Nazaré live.
If you have any questions, please ask the locals or us through Contact.

In this website we focused more on information for tourists who want to see the giant waves on the place, but there is also the most traditional tourism, which has been around for many years in Nazaré. In summer there is always a flood of tourists coming to the beach, on the southern side, on the main beach of Nazaré, the village beach. It is a nice place with great traditions and good food.

beach summer at Nazare
Nazare Portugal traditions
dry fish in Nazare

Praia do Norte beach at Nazaré, Portugal, is very versatile, has giant waves in the winter and "normal" waves during the rest of the year, sometimes with waves of world-class surfing and bodyboarding!

For pro surfers who want to surf the giant waves and need a support team with jet skis contact us for more information.

Also follow our Facebook page for other updates. See more information on nazarewaves.com and weekly forecasts. We wish you good luck on your trip and you can catch a day of giant waves in Nazaré.

Please share the site nazarewaves.com to your friends to help us improve the site.

Watch these Nazare promotional videos with the whole scenario:



Best things to do in Nazaré:

Things to do at Nazare

Discover the best tourism activities to do in Nazaré and its surroundings, besides seeing big waves. With our partner GetYourGuide, you can book tickets and activities online with the best price guarantee. Also, read reviews about the top tours and attractions in the region.
Take the opportunity to participate in aquatic activities and other exciting adventures, as well as guided tours to the most interesting places in Nazaré and nearby cities such as Alcobaça, Batalha, and Fátima.
If you click on the affiliate link/banner above and buy, we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you, and in this way you support our project.


Where to stay in Nazare Portugal?

Looking for accommodation in Nazaré? See the availability in hotels or houses using our partner booking.com:
If you click on the affiliate link/banner bellow and buy, we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you, and in this way you support our project.

booking hotels map nazare

Conclusion / Summary to visit Nazaré

Useful information for tourists

  1. The largest waves in the world reach the coast at Nazaré in Portugal between October and March (not every day).
  2. It is not possible to know more than a week in advance the forecast of the waves and the forecast may fail.
  3. To increase the likelihood of seeing giant waves, you should stay for at least 2 to 3 weeks in the zone during the period referred to in 1) and check the live webcams before going.
  4. The best place to watch the waves is by the Nazaré Lighthouse at Praia do Norte.
  5. Lisbon Airport in Portugal is the closest to Nazaré, you can reach Nazaré by car, bus or train.
  6. The annual WSL Nazaré Big Wave Challenge surf event takes place on 1 November to 31 March, the day of the event is confirmed only 1 to 3 days in advance.
  7. There are other attractions in Nazaré besides the Big Waves.