Nazaré is a charming and traditional town that lies along the beautiful Silver Coast (Costa de Prata).

The town was historically a centre for fishing, but today is world renowned for its big-wave surfing, where daredevil surfers come to ride the colossal 30-metre waves. This recent surfing fame now overshadows what originally made Nazaré a popular destination for day trips and holidays – its glorious beach and authentic Portuguese atmosphere.

The Praia da Nazare is one of the finest beaches of the region, while within the town are traditional cobbled streets and delightful former fishermen’s houses. Rising high above Nazaré is the Sítio headland, with its important Baroque church, stunning viewpoints, and the Miguel Arcanjo fort that clings to the top of the jagged cliffs.

Nazaré’s varied sights make it a popular day trip, and this includes from Lisbon (115km away), while in the summer it is a favourite holiday destination with the Portuguese.

For a holiday, there is a lot to love about Nazare, with its buzzing atmosphere, a multitude of family-run restaurants, magnificent beach and numerous day trips on offer, including Óbidos, Batalha and Tomar. If you are planning a touring holiday in Portugal, Nazare makes for a wonderful base from which to discover the Costa de Prata region.

Nazare is a fantastic tourist destination, and this guide will show you why you must visit and help you get the most from your time here.

The Praia da Nazare – The vast sandy beach that extends along the front of Nazare, which is sheltered from the powerful Atlantic winds and waves by the Sítio headland. This is the perfect location for a relaxing day on the beach or a stroll along the promenade that leads down to the fishing harbour.

The Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo – The 17th-century fort perched at the end of the Sítio headland, which is now dedicated to Nazare’s extreme surfing. Inside the fort you’ll find an impressive collection of surfboards, while the battlements provide fantastic views over the Praia do Norte beach.

The Sítio district – A charming district of Nazare that was historically an important pilgrimage destination, with pilgrims heading to the Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré church. Inside is a small, black wood and painted statue - known as Nossa Senhora da Nazaré - believed to be one of the earliest carved statues of Mary, which depicts her breastfeeding the Baby Jesus.

Nazaré’s waves and surfers – Nazaré is the setting for some of the world’s largest waves, which in winter can reach over 30 metres (100ft). Powerful Atlantic Ocean waves are channelled through Europe’s largest underwater canyon (the Nazaré Canyon) before being expelled at its head, creating waves that are taller than most houses. In the winter, fearless surfers come to take on these impressive waves, with events attracting over 100,000 spectators.

Insight: These huge swells occur infrequently, with only three or four events per winter - do not go to Nazaré expecting to see huge waves. Also, if you want to go surfing, Ericeira or Peniche are much better locations for regular surfing.

Nazare is a popular destination for a day trip, attracting visitors from all over the surrounding region as well as Lisbon.

Many of the summertime trippers come for the beach, but the many unique sights of the town can easily fill a day of sightseeing. A typical day trip to Nazaré lasts around four hours, with this time usually divided equally between the town and the Sítio headland, which includes visiting Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo.

Within the town are pretty, cobbled streets, traditional beach shops and a promenade leading down to the fishing harbour. The Sítio district is reached by a funicular that leads to the main square (the Largo de Nossa Senhora) and the Santuário de Nossa Senhora. From the Largo de Nossa Senhora it is a scenic 1km walk to the São Miguel Arcanjo fort and the Praia de Norte beach.

Insight: Organised tours to Nazare only provide a couple of hours to see the town, and often visit at lunchtime due to the wide selection of restaurants. This is not enough time to visit the Sítio headland or see the São Miguel Arcanjo fort.

There is good public transport to Nazare, but the 100km journey from Lisbon means it’s a bit too far to visit as a day trip when using public transport.

Below is an interactive map for a suggested day trip to Nazare. (Note: zoom in or out to see all of the points)

Sights of the day trip: 1) Barca Salva Vidas (fishing boats) 2) Seco fish market 3) Santo António church 4) Ascensor de Nazare (funicular) 5) Miradouro do Suberco (viewpoint) 6) Nossa Senhora da Nazaré church 7) Ermida da Memória chapel 8) Sao Miguel fort 9) Forno de Orca cave 10) Praia do Norte beach 11) Baloiço da Ladeira viewpoint 12) Nazaré market 13) Fishing harbour 14) Monte de São Bartolomeu

The Ascensor de Nazare connects the town with Sítio and has a 42 per cent gradient.

The Sítio headland on a calm summer’s day

If you are based in Lisbon, an organised tour is often the best way to discover Nazaré, even if it is only for a couple of hours.
We have worked with GetYourGuide.com over the last seven years, and some of their best tours that include Nazaré are:
• A popular tour of the Nazaré region from Lisbon
• A mini-van tour to Fátima, Nazaré, Óbidos and São Martinho
• A van tour of Nazare, Fatima, Batalha, and Obidos
• A private car tour of Nazaré, Obidos and Alcobaça

Nazaré is one of the best holiday destinations of the Silver Coast and a wonderful base from which to explore the surrounding region.

As a modern resort town, Nazaré boasts a wide selection of restaurants, bars and hotels, while retaining its traditional Portuguese character.

During the summer, the town has a lively atmosphere, attracting a mix of nationalities and ages. By day there is the beautiful beach to relax on, while at night there is delicious food and sociable bars to enjoy.

Insight: Nazaré is a great summer destination for families. The Sítio headland shelters the Praia da Nazare beach from the strong sea breezes and currents that buffer many of the other beaches within Costa de Prata region.

The town offers so much more than just a beach holiday, with a variety of activities to choose from in the area. There’s surfing on the Praia do Norte, as well as boat tours and dolphin-watching trips that depart from the harbour. The Grotto do Forno de Orca cave is well worth a visit, and if you enjoy hiking there is a scenic route that leads up to the Ermida de São Bartolomeu chapel.

From Nazaré you can also take day trips to the monasteries at Batalha and Alcobaça, the unique natural harbour at São Martinho do Porto, and the pilgrimage destination of Fatima. Slightly further out you will find the fishing port of Peniche, the pretty walled town of Obidos and the pristine lagoon at Foz do Arelho.
There is a lot to see and do within the Nazaré region, and you will enjoy your time spent here.
Related articles: Batalha - Fatima - São Martinho do Porto - Óbidos

Nazaré boasts a wide variety of accommodation, from budget-friendly hostels and characterful guesthouses through to modern hotel complexes.

The best area of Nazare to be based in is close to the beachfront and along the Avenda da Republica. The town extends far inland (and uphill!), and being further east of the N242 can feel distant from the buzz of the centre.

Hotels and guesthouses in Nazaré tend to be smaller in size, especially when compared to the mega-hotel complexes found in the Algarve.

The town offers over 50 accommodation options, but standards do vary, so always check reviews before booking. During the summer, the best options will sell out and should be booked well in advance.

Insight: Due to the ongoing housing issues in popular tourist areas throughout Portugal, we cannot recommend rental apartments in any residential areas of Nazare. The problem stems from investors purchasing houses and apartments for short-term rentals, which pushes up rents and makes house ownership unachievable for locals. If you are a tourist, please stay in a hotel, guesthouse or hostel.

The best 4-star hotel is the Hotel Praia with modern rooms, excellent facilities and a prime location overlooking the beach. For 3-star hotels there is the highly recommended Hotel Mar Bravo or the Hotel Mare, both idea for short stays. The Villamar Style Maison is slightly inland, but its high standard makes up for its location.

Often, the best accommodation in Portugal is found in family-run guest houses that are cherished and loved by their owners. The best examples of this in Nazare are the Nazaré Sweet Dreams, the Vila Farol and Guest House Pombinha.

For cheaper accommodation the Paz & Amor Guest House is highly recommended or for dorm rooms the Nazaré Hostel is the best option.

We have worked with Booking.com for the past seven years, and the map below displays the best hotels and accommodation in Nazare. If you adjust the dates to suit your holiday, it will display current prices and availability.

If the map does not load, the list of the best hotels can be seen here.

Insight: Many hotels offer free cancellation, and this can be a good tactic for securing a low-priced room, while allowing you to browse other options up until your holiday dates.

Traveling by car is always the easiest method of travel from Lisbon to Nazaré, especially if you are planning a day trip. The fastest route follows the A8 expressway, covering 120 km and taking approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. This route includes tolls on the A8, costing €7.80. In Nazaré, there is a large paid car park near the beach (GPS: 39.597, -9.070 - link to google maps).

For public transport, there are express bus services operated by Rede Expressos and FlixBus:
• Rede Expressos is the main inter-city bus company in Portugal, with over 15 daily services departing from the Sete Rios bus station in Lisbon.
• FlixBus is a low-cost bus operator offering cheaper tickets but fewer departures. FlixBus depart from the Oriente bus station in Lisbon.

The bus journey takes approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes. Both companies use dynamic pricing, with fares increasing with demand, single fares can be as low as €3.95, but expect peak season fares to range from €9 to €13.
For the latest timetables and to book tickets, please visit the Rede Expressos or FlixBus websites:
Rede Expressos - rede-expressos.pt
Flixbus - FlixBus

Insight: When booking public transport tickets, always book directly with the transport company and not through third-party websites. Buying directly will reduce booking fees and ensure each company is more accommodating if there are any issues.

In Nazare, the bus stop is on the Avenida do Município (GPS 39.596, -9.068) and is 300m from the beach.

It is not advisable to take the train from Lisbon to Nazaré as it is a slow regional service taking over 3 hours. Also the nearest train station to Nazare is in the village of Valado dos Frades, 5 km from the center of Nazaré.

The Rede Express bus at Nazaré bus stop

There are three massive beaches in Nazaré; the Praia do Sul, the Praia da Nazare and the Praia do Norte.

The Praia da Nazare is the main beach of Nazaré, extending for 1.5km south from the Sítio headland to the fishing harbour. This glorious, sandy beach is within walking distance of the town’s shops, restaurants and bars. During the summer, the beach is supervised by lifeguards. As the waves, currents and winds are less strong here, Praia da Nazare makes an ideal choice for families.

The massive Praia da Nazare

On the northern side of the Sítio headland, is the Praia do Norte beach. This beach is associated with Nazare’s extreme surfing, as the surfers launch from here. The Praia do Norte is another vast beach, surrounded by pristine pine forests, but is exposed to the region’s strong sea breezes.
Insight: These huge pine forests were originally planted in the 13th century to secure the coastal sand dunes.

The Praia do Norte on a calm day

To the south of Nazaré is the little-visited Praia do Sul (south beach). This beach lies between the harbour and the mouth of the Rio Alcobaça, and is always much quieter than the Praia da Nazare. South of the Rio Alcobaça is the deserted beach of Praia de São Gião, however a car is needed to travel here.

The average day time maximum and the nighttime minimum temperature for Nazaré

The average hours of sunshine per day and monthly rainfall (in mm)

Nazaré has hot summers, pleasant spring and autumns, while winters are mild but can be very wet.
The weather is suitable for the beach between June and September, however being on the Atlantic coastline, there is always the chance of strong breezes, fog or rain on either side of the hot summer months.

Between October and March, the wind direction alters from the summer’s north-westerly to a westerly direction, and blows in moister laden air from the ocean. These Atlantic winter winds create powerful waves that are challenged channeled up the Nazaré Canyon, and form the 30m+ surfing waves.
Insight: The summer’s wind direction means that there are no huge waves off the Sítio headland.

The village of Sítio da Nazare and the Sítio headland contain the prominent tourist attractions of Nazare, and is the area to explore on a day trip. Sítio da Nazare is located at the top of Monte Sítio and the village has a pretty historic centre along with wonderful views of the coastline.

At the centre of Sítio is the grand baroque Igreja Nossa Senhora da Nazare church, which houses an ancient statue of the Virgin Mary. This small statue is unique, as it is a Black Madonna feeding baby Jesus. The statue is believed to have been carved in Nazareth (Israel), and its arrival in Nazare (Portugal) gave the town its name.

At the western tip of the Sítio headland is the Farol da Nazare lighthouse and the Miguel Arcanjo Fort. This area is all about extreme surfing and the Praia do Norte waves. Inside the fort are informative exhibits about the surfing culture of the region, and including surfboards and pictures of the extreme surfing.

Classic Portuguese Baroque architecture on the Igreja Nossa Senhora da Nazare

The Nossa Senhora da Nazaré - a black statue of Mary in the Nossa Senhora da Nazare church

The Monte de São Bartolomeu is a rocky outcrop 1.5km inland from Nazare. From its summit (156m) you can take in stunning panoramic views over the entire region.

The route and stairway up to the summit pass through tranquil pine forests, with a visit here offering a pleasant way to escape the bustle of the summertime crowds. At the top of the hill is a small chapel and an interactive view is seen below:

There is nothing the Portuguese enjoy more during a long day on the beach, than a Bola de Berlim. This delicious custard filled doughnuts were traditionally sold by old women who would wander along the beach, while the sticky mess of sugar and custard from eating them could be washed off in the sea. The old women can no longer sell them (hygiene laws), but there are two shops on the beach promenade which sell them.

Discover more of central Portugal with our guides