Nazare Travel Guide- A Town in Portugal Where Magic Happens

In this post, you will find not only the list of awesome things to do in Nazare in Portugal, but also all the reasons why Nazare should be more than just a day trip from Lisbon.

Nazare is a picture-perfect fishing town set on the Portuguese Silver Coast, four hours bus ride from Porto and one and a half hours from Lisbon. It has it all. Relaxed vibe, stunning beach, plenty of seafood restaurants and beach bars, as well as famous Praia do Norte – home to the largest waves in the world.

I spent a whole week here, although this town could be easily walked in one day. This was, however, a perfect opportunity for me to catch up on my writing, work on a new project, and just relax in a peaceful setting.

Nazare was an excellent choice.

What is Nazare famous for?

Nazare is most famous for its spectacular waves, and it attracts the best surfers from around the world!

On February 11, 2020, at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Maya Gabeira broke the record for the biggest wave ever surfed (also as a woman) on a record-setting wave measuring 73.5 feet (22.4 meters), besting her own previous world record of 68 feet. But the fame of Nazare waves started in 2011 when the Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara won the Billabong XXL Global BigWave Award and entered the Guinness Book of World Records.

I visited in April, so the sea most of the time was perfectly calm and inviting rather than dramatic.Yet on my last day, I received a perfect gift and experienced not only the beautiful personality of the sea but also the best sunset I have seen so far, ever! More on that later.

Nazare is often recommended as a great day trip from Lisbon. And yes, as much as the town can be seen in a day, I recommend spending a few days in Nazare. Nazare is a fantastic place to recharge, relax, and truly immerse yourself in the Portuguese lifestyle. But surprisingly, there are actually also plenty of awesome things to do in Nazare!

Why is it worth staying for longer in Nazare?

Nazare is a very popular day trip option from Lisbon and is often even combined with other towns like Obidos and Fatima.

And yes, Nazaré is perfectly walkable, and most of the things to do and see in Nazaré can fit into one day of sightseeing.

But I think that visiting a town like Nazaré and rushing around to tick all the boxes defeats the whole purpose of being there.

Wouldn’t it be lovely to allow yourself to spend a day on the beach without rushing back to the city, or to spend the evening watching the sunset while indulging in the freshest seafood? Then wake up the next day and pick up fresh fruit from the local market, along with delicious, freshly baked pastries and bread.

How about taking an afternoon walk along the promenade, pretending you have nowhere to be, strolling to the lighthouse for the best photo opportunities, and then exploring Praia do Norte, where all the surfers gather?

Sounds tempting?

Then you should definitely stay in Nazaré for a few days.

Three days is the perfect amount of time to explore what the town of Nazare has to offer while also relaxing and enjoying the beach. And Nazare can be a great tranquil base for further explorations. It is very well connected by regional buses, and you can easily visit several beautiful towns on a day trip, such as Obidos or Batalha.

Nevertheless, if you only have one spare day while staying in Lisbon, Nazaré is still well worth a visit. And if you are really short on time, you can also book a day trip from Lisbon that covers Nazaré, Óbidos, and Batalha.

Things to do

The Nazare seafront promenade

The promenade runs along the Praia da Nazaré, and just walking along this beach is an adventure of discovery.

As you stroll along, you will see traditional colourful boats displayed on the beach. It is a sort of open-air museum walking you through the history of the fishing tradition in Nazare. The boats were painted in strong, vivid colours, not for aesthetics, but for visibility and identity. Each family had its own symbols and patterns, so their boats could be recognised from afar and returned safely after storms. You will also find signs explaining the use and the type of boats!

Nazaré is one of the most traditional fishing villages in Portugal, and you can still find some women dressed in traditional skirts with seven petticoats, taking care of and selling the fish that dries in the sun, lined up on posts.

You will also find plenty of cafes, beach bars, and restaurants spread along the strip. And of course, the beach itself:

Praia do Nazare

Praia do Nazare is one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal, and it is much calmer compared to neighbouring Praia do Norte. The long stretch of golden sand and crystal blue ocean will allow you to spend glorious days soaking up the sun.

You will find numerous beach bars along its promenade where you can get a drink as well as a snack or lunch. In the summer, colourful tents open on the beach, which adds even more charm to this town.

What better way to spend time in Portugal than to enjoy its remarkable beaches?

Winding streets of Nazare town

I loved getting lost between Nazare’s cobbled streets and discovering its nooks and hidden local restaurants and snack bars. You will find many locals enjoying drinks and food amongst whitewashed buildings decorated with flower pots, with colourful linen drying in the sun.

Walking amongst those buildings and streets was one of my favourite things to do in Nazare, and I always found a corner I hadn’t seen yet.

O Sitio and a funicular ride

O Sítio, located at the top of the impressive headland, is one of Nazare’s famous neighbourhoods and is an older part of the town. The over 300 m high rock cliff it’s sitting on provides one of the most famous views of the Nazare coast. O Sitio can be reached on foot or by taking the funicular. 

The walking path is quite steep, yet it’s perfectly walkable. It is paved with cobbled stairs, and you can reach the top in around 20 minutes whilst marvelling at spectacular views. 

I liked walking up on foot and then taking the funicular down, as I found the steps to be a bit slippery. It is a great workout as well 🙂

A funicular ride is a lot of fun. The ride costs €2.5 one way and is available throughout the whole day until midnight. 

Once you reach the top, you will find yourself in the charming old town, where life seems even slower than in Nazare’s main town. It’s a great place to walk around and experience authentic Portuguese life and culture. 

The sites you should visit include Ermida da Memória chapel, Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, and, not far away, the Dr. Joaquim Manso Museum, where you can learn about the traditions of Nazaré.

There are also a few restaurants, souvenir stalls, and snack bars. 

The Views From São Miguel Arcanjo Fort!

From O Sitio, you can continue walking towards Farol lighthouse situated at São Miguel Arcanjo Fort, the famous viewing point for Nazare’s big waves.

There is a path that will take you down to Praia do Norte, where you will be able to observe the surfers or just take a walk. Given the dangerous currents and waves, this is not a swimming beach. For swimming, it is best to use a designated part of Praia do Nazare.

The beach itself is very beautiful, especially at sunset. You should also take a walk all the way to the fort, and if you are lucky, you might spot some surfers fighting with big waves!

Nazare Municipal Market

Nearly every town in Portugal has its own Municipal Market. And Nazare is no different. This is the place where you can get a glimpse of local life, especially in a town like Nazare.

Whilst in Lisbon or other bigger cities, you will often find those markets heavily catered towards tourists. Here, a market is a place where locals shop for local fruit, vegetables, bread, and of course, fish!

Pederneira – The Lesser-Known Part of Nazare

The town of Nazaré is divided into three different areas: downtown on the seafront, Sítio on top of the cliff, and Pederneira – the uptown. I took a walk up the Paderneira and found a wonderful viewpoint – Miradouro da Pederneira, but also many narrow, cute streets and the church Igreja da Misericórdia da Pederneira. 

It is a very peaceful part of the town and really worth exploring. 

Watersports

If Nazare is not the best place in the world to learn surfing, I don’t know which is!  

Unless you’re a proficient surfer, I wouldn’t recommend catching the massive waves at Praia do Norte. But there are smaller beaches in the area where you can practice your surfing skills, and the ​Nazaré Surf School​offers private and group lessons that range from €25 to €60 per person. You can also book packages of 5 classes or surf guiding with lunch included.

If surfing isn’t your thing, do not worry!

You can also rent jet skis and explore the calmer parts of Nazare water, or enjoy paragliding.

The food!

There are plenty of restaurants spread across Nazare where you can have a taste of the freshest seafood. Most of them are lined along the promenade, but you will also find great eating spots up in Sitio as well as in the town. 

You will find many Cervejarias where locals sip a beer and eat clams, snails and other small dishes of shellfish as a snack. 

The traditional dish to have whilst in Nazare is, of course, fish like bacalhau, grilled sardines, or octopus.

A word of warning – be careful with the starters! Waiters often bring a few appetisers once you have ordered your food. Sometimes they will say, but sometimes they will not, that those starters are chargeable – meaning you pay for what you eat. 

This is the case in many smaller towns in Portugal, as I had this happen in Obidos as well.

What is the true magic of Nazare?

Nazare is special. There are many charming and beautiful towns in Portugal, but Nazare holds a special place in my heart.

To express the true magic of Nazare, I decided to share with you some of the notes I made on my way from Nazare back to Lisbon:

 I’m on my way back from Nazaré as I’m writing this, and I can’t help but think that I could easily spend the rest of my life in Portugal.

When I woke up this morning and opened the patio door, I loved the feeling of being close to nature. I could hear the birds singing (really loudly, actually). I was surrounded by whitewashed houses rather than a busy road or a train station, and I knew that the beach was just a ten-minute walk away, if I fancied a morning dip. The water was freezing though!!!! So not today 🙂

Yesterday, I was gifted the most incredible sunset. I am a sucker for a good sunset, but this one was truly out of this world.

Nazaré is famous for its massive waves, especially among surfers. Unfortunately, as I’m here at the end of April, the season for big waves is over, and during my stay, the sea was calm and inviting rather than dramatic.

Yesterday afternoon, I decided to walk to the lighthouse for some final photos of the viewpoint and the famous Praia do Nazaré. You cannot see Praia do Nazaré (the famous big waves beach) from the town, as it is hidden behind the cliff, so it was the perfect excuse for a golden-hour walk.

I took the funicular, and when I got to the top, I walked around the old town of Sítio, which sits on top of the cliff. Then I started walking towards the viewpoint.

And then I saw it.

A sea with character. A powerful personality!

Of course, these were not 30-metre waves, yet they were beautiful enough to leave me standing there in complete awe. The waves were high enough to create so much spray that a deep mist covered the entire length of the beach.

The view was spectacular. It seemed as though the whole beach was wrapped in misty fog, with a few surfers battling the waves and a couple of photographers, just like me, trying to capture the moment.

No words or photographs can ever truly describe what my eyes had seen.

I walked down to the beach, almost running, as I couldn’t wait to get closer and take more photos. I didn’t mind the wet sand or my inappropriate footwear, which ended up completely drenched. I felt as though I was stepping into a mysterious territory of sea and land that belonged to a different world.

I then climbed back up to the lighthouse for sunset. I think I must have taken around a thousand photos in one hour. I was so desperate to capture that moment.

A guy standing next to me with a drone had exactly the same expression on his face. He must have noticed it in me as well.

“This place is magical. It can’t be expressed in photos,” he said.

“It’s beautiful. You have to see it with your own eyes,” I replied.

And we stood there, staring at the sea, which was dancing to the sound of the wind, while the setting sun coloured the sky in every shade of pink, purple, and orange.

This place truly is magical.

Thank you, Nazaré!

Visiting Nazare logistics

Best Time to Visit

Nazare is an all-year destination, depending on what attractions or activities you are after.

For its magnificent waves, the best time to visit is between October and March. For the sun and sunbathing, it would have to be June to September.

There are plenty of sunny days on offer all year long in Nazare, but there are significantly more rainy days during winter. The temperature can get down to around 10° to 7° in the winter. Given the town is located on the Atlantic oceanfront, the evenings, even in May, can get cold, so pack a warm sweater or a jacket. During the day, you can wear sandals and shorts starting from May or even April all the way to October.

For the hottest weather, visit Nzare in July and August when the temperature can go well above 24°. Mind you, that is also the busiest time of the year when the sleepy town transforms into a bustling beach resort. If you’d rather avoid that, I recommend the months of May, June, and September for great weather and an authentic feel.

How to Get to Nazare From Lisbon

Nazare is located 80km from Lisbon. The best and cheapest way to get to Nazare from Lisbon is by bus. This route is served by the Rede Expressos company, and the Bus departs from Lisbon Oriente station. The journey lasts around two hours, and the ticket costs between €10 and €15.

How to Get to Nazare From Porto

It takes three and a half hours to get to Nazare from Porto.  The best and cheapest way to get from Porto to Nazaré is by bus, which costs 12€ – 15€ and is operated by Rede Expressos. The bus will stop right in the town centre. 

There is a train you could take from Porto to Nazare, but it stops at Valado station, which is located 5km away from the town, and the journey is longer. No point, really. 

Where to Stay in Nazare, Portugal

There are plenty of charming little hotels and homestays in Nazare and a few excellent hostels.

There are a few cool surfers’ hostels in Nazare like Lab Hostel Nazaré and Nazaré Hostel.

After some research, I realised that you can get a nice private room for a really reasonable price as well.

I stayed in Bairro Típico – Casas da Bela, and I loved it. I had a small studio room with a shower and a mini kitchenette. No stove, but I had a kettle, microwave, and some kitchenware, which was fine for a few days. It was one of the cutest places I stayed. And there was a washing machine we could use free of charge!

GuestHouse Pombinha also offers incredible value for money. You can get a large room with either a shared or private bathroom, a great shared kitchen with all the possible equipment, and an unbeatable location.

If you fancy a little more room and comfort, I recommend Océane Guest House or By the Sea – Nazaré.

And if you are more than one person, I highly recommend renting one of the cute apartments like the Iris Apartment, Casa Avó Chupeta, or a larger, two-bedroom Rancho Tá-Mar Apartment Nazaré Beach.

Finally, for a very comfortable stay with access to swimming pool, lush garden anddelicious breakfast, it doesn’t get better than Villamar Style Maison.

Where to next?

If you are enjoying visiting the most charming towns and villages in Portugal, you simply cannot miss Obidos!

And if you are looking for off-the-beaten-path day trips from Lisbon, it doesn’t get better than Setubal and the Troia peninsula.

If you are heading to Porto next, here is a list of the most picturesque photo spots you can’t miss! Porto is so beautiful. On the way there, or as a day trip, be sure to stop by Aveiro and Costa Nova.

If you are planning to also visit the stunning island of Madeira, I have a whole chapter dedicated to this island in the Portugal section of the blog.