Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo and the Surfer Wall

What it is

The Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo is the small fortress that crowns the tip of the Nazaré headland, with the lighthouse on top, between the town beach and Praia do Norte. It was built in 1577, in the time of King Sebastian, to defend the bay from pirate attacks. Today it is a Property of Public Interest and has been run by Nazaré Town Council since 2017, under a 25-year concession from the State.

What has made it famous is not its military history but what lies in front of it. From its walls you watch the giant waves of Praia do Norte break, raised by an underwater canyon that reaches almost to the coast. It opened to the public in 2014 and has been open all year since 2015; in 2025 it received almost 445,000 visits.

What you see

• The Surfer Wall: a room with the boards donated by the surfers who have ridden the waves of Praia do Norte. It is what attracts teenagers most.
• The Nazaré Canyon interpretation centre, in the Hydrographic Institute room, which explains why the sea grows so big here.
• Exhibitions on the history of the fort and of Nazaré, and on the giant waves, which the council renews from time to time.
• The terraces and walls, the great viewpoint: on one side Praia do Norte and its waves, on the other the bay and the town.

Opening hours and price

Open every day. The published hours have varied over the years and seasons, and entry is paid, at a reduced price. Check the day's hours and price on the Nazaré Town Council website or social media before you go. After the storm of January 2026 the fort was closed, and it reopened in February.

Allow about 45 minutes inside. If it is a big-wave day, stay longer: what is happening outside is the spectacle.

Getting there and parking

The fort is at the tip of the Sítio, the upper district. From the beach, take the funicular up to the Sítio and walk from the sanctuary square towards the lighthouse: the last stretch is a road and a ramp downhill, with the return uphill. By car you can reach the Sítio and park there; the final approach to the fort is narrow and on big-wave days it fills with people. On those days, go on foot.

When to go

To see giant waves, from October to March, only on days with a strong swell. Check the forecasts and Nazaré's social media before you go: the difference between a normal day and a big day is enormous. To watch the giant waves of Praia do Norte in peace, go early: on announced days thousands of people gather.

In summer the sea is calm and the fort is visited as a museum and viewpoint, with fewer people.

With children and teenagers

Teenagers get hooked on the Surfer Wall and the waves. With small children, the visit is short and what they take away is the views; hold on to them on the walls and on the access path, which is steep and windy. With a pushchair, the descent to the fort is steep and there are stairs inside.