39.61° N · 9.09° W · Nazaré
Off Praia do Norte, an underwater canyon concentrates the Atlantic swell and, in autumn and winter, raises some of the biggest waves ever surfed. You can watch them free from the headland of the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo and the surrounding cliffs. The season runs from October to March, and the tow-in championship is called only if the sea allows it between 1 November and 31 March.
Part of Nazaré
Step by step
The Nazaré Big Waves website publishes the forecast and warns of big days. The championship has a yellow alert up to 72 hours before and a green alert when it is to be held within the next 24 hours.
By funicular or on foot from the beach. From the Sítio square, a path leads down to the lighthouse.
The Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, with the lighthouse on top, is the balcony over Praia do Norte. Arrive early on championship days: in December 2025 thousands of people gathered.
If the headland is full, the hillside above Praia do Norte has more room to move and gives the best view of the waves, always behind the barriers.
There are no giant waves every day, or even every week. They arrive with storms in the North Atlantic, and when they do, the whole of Nazaré goes up to the lighthouse. Planning the trip with the forecast in hand is what separates seeing a wall of water from seeing an ordinary sea.
Off Nazaré there is an enormous underwater canyon: about 227 km long and up to 5 km deep, reaching almost to the shore of Praia do Norte. When a north-westerly swell comes in, the canyon splits it in two; the part that travels along the channel keeps its strength and, when it meets the other near the coast, the two add together. The result can triple the wave size expected in the area. A current towards the beach and the north-easterly wind do the rest.
For truly giant waves, several things are needed at once: a period of 14 seconds or more, waves of over 4 metres in the forecast for Nazaré, a north-westerly sea and a light wind from the north or north-east. That is why big days are few.
Anyone: you can watch it free from above, and the sight of surfers towed by jet skis dropping down walls of water is hard to forget. With children it works if you keep them close and away from the edge. What it is not: a safe plan for just any day. If you can only go on one particular date, you will most likely see a strong but ordinary sea.
Nazaré is on the central coast of Portugal, north of Lisbon. From the town beach you go up to the Sítio by funicular and from there it is about 13 minutes on foot, a kilometre, to the lighthouse. On wave days you cannot park near the lighthouse: leave the car outside the Sítio or in the Praia do Norte area and expect to walk more than a kilometre. Arrive early.
The big-wave season runs from October to March, peaking around December; some years there are also big days in September or April. Reliable forecasts reach a week ahead at most, so the Nazaré Big Waves website recommends stays of two or three weeks to give yourself options. The practical approach, if you live in Spain, is to watch the forecast and slip away when a big day appears.
Watching the waves from outside is free. Going into the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo costs €2, from 10:00 to 18:00 every day, with last entry half an hour before closing; on championship days it may close. Add the funicular and, on wave days, whatever parking far away costs you.
If you arrive and there are no big waves, the Sítio is still worth the trip up: the Suberco viewpoint, the sanctuary and the lighthouse. Down in the town beach, there is a permanent boat exhibition from May to December.
Who it's for
You can move at short notice when a big day appears in the forecast, or you will be in the area for several days between November and February.
You only have a fixed date in summer: at that time the sea at Nazaré is usually ordinary.
What to bring
Map
What you have around the starting point.
More to do
Tips
If you see a big day in the forecast, book a bed as soon as you can: the town fills up.
On wave days, the car parks in the Sítio fill very early.
In a big sea the water reaches very high up the sand. Watch from above.
The championship website sends email notices when the date is confirmed.
The restaurants are more than 500 metres away and fill up; there are few portable toilets.
Questions
From October to March, with Atlantic storms. Each season has only a few really big days.
From the headland of the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, beside the lighthouse, and from the cliffs overlooking Praia do Norte.
Not to watch from outside. Going into the fort costs €2.
Check the forecast at nazarewaves.com and on surf sites. The championship is called only when the sea allows it.
Because of the underwater canyon off the beach, about 227 km long and up to 5 km deep, which concentrates and adds up the swell.
Between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027, on whichever day the sea allows it. It usually lasts a single day and is open to the public.
Far from the lighthouse: outside the Sítio or towards Praia do Norte, and the last kilometre on foot.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/portugal/central-portugal/nazare/things-to-do/nazare-big-waves
