Praia da Nazaré, the town beach

What it is

Praia da Nazaré is the town beach: a wide crescent of sand in front of the houses and the seafront, protected to the north by the headland of the Sítio, which cuts the wind and the swell from the north. It is the calm face of Nazaré. On the other side of the cape is Praia do Norte, home of the giant waves; here, in summer, the sea is usually calm and the sand fills with families. It has a Blue Flag and has won an award as an accessible beach.

Getting there and parking

The beach is right by the centre: you come down from any street in the Praia district and you are on the sand. If you arrive by car, the centre is overloaded in summer; leave the car in the car parks at the entrance to the town and walk. From the north end of the beach leaves the funicular to the Sítio, which takes you up to the cliff viewpoint in a couple of minutes.

Bathing season and lifeguards

The official 2026 bathing season ran from 20 June to 15 September. During those dates there are lifeguards, marked swimming zones and beach services. The municipality has also maintained supervision the rest of the year since 2017, under a protocol with the local lifeguard association; even so, outside summer swim only when the sea is calm and close to the supervised area.

In the summer of 2025 the beach was closed to swimming several times because of occasional water-quality problems. Before you swim, check the flag and the notices from the council or the Maritime Authority.

What to do besides swimming

• Walk along the sand to the foot of the Sítio and take the funicular up to see the whole beach from above.
• Look out for the town's fishing tradition: the boats drawn up on the sand, fish drying in the sun and the women in their many-layered skirts, still seen on the promenade.
• Between October and March, on big-sea days, cross to the Sítio and go down to the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo to see the giant waves of Praia do Norte.

When to go

For swimming, from mid-June to mid-September. The Atlantic water here is cold for many people even in August. July and August are the busiest months; first thing in the morning and after six in the evening is better. In winter it is a long, flat walk, with the Sítio and the waves in the background.

With children

It is Nazaré's beach for small children: wide sand, a calmer sea than the rest of the coast and lifeguards in season. Even so, the Atlantic has an undertow: swim with them in the supervised area and respect the flags. Take a parasol, because there is no natural shade.