Praia do Norte

The beach of the giant waves, home to world records in big wave surfing.

Praia do Norte, on the north side of Nazaré, is the beach of the giant waves. Fed by the huge underwater canyon that runs in front of the town, its winter swells reach sizes seen almost nowhere else on earth, and the beach has become the capital of big wave surfing, drawing the best surfers of the world and the photographers who follow them.

The giant waves

The waves of Praia do Norte are formed by the Nazaré Canyon, a deep underwater valley that channels the energy of the Atlantic swells directly onto this stretch of coast. First ridden at world-record size in 2011, the waves have since brought the biggest rides ever recorded in surfing, and in winter, when the great storms cross the Atlantic, the beach becomes the stage of the world’s big wave season.

What to see

The giant waves of winter, seen from the clifftop viewpoints.
The Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, above the beach, with its surf museum.
The Sítio and its viewpoints, high above the bay of Nazaré.
The beach itself, on calm summer days.

Visiting

The big waves arrive with the winter swells, between October and March, and the best (and safest) place to watch is the clifftop of the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo. The beach is dangerous in big swells: never approach the water when the waves are large, and follow the warnings of the local authorities. For everyday bathing conditions and news of the surf season, check the official information of the municipality.