Beach Science · October 2026 · 4 min
Nazaré Waves: When They Come, How Big They Get and Where to Watch
October to March, from the fort or the hillside, with a long walk from the car park. And the one rule: stay away from the water.
The giant waves of Nazaré break on Praia do Norte, the beach on the north side of the town, between October and March; in some years September and April work too. The best place to watch is next to the lighthouse at the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo, or from the hillside above the beach. Competition waves often reach 40 to 50 feet, and the biggest wave ever surfed, 26.2 metres, was ridden here in 2020.
26.2 m
the biggest wave ever surfed, at Praia do Norte, on 29 October 2020
Sebastian Steudtner. Recognised by Guinness World Records and the World Surf League, and still the record in 2026.
How to see them, step by step
- 01
Come between October and March.
That is the big-wave season, winter in Portugal. In some years September and April work too. In summer the crowds go to the town's main beach on the south side instead.
- 02
Watch the forecast, then arrive early.
The tourism office's advice for a day with a good forecast: get there early in the morning, because parking and the long walk take time on busy days.
- 03
Park far away and walk.
Parking near the lighthouse and Sítio da Nazaré will not be possible. Park outside the area, near Praia do Norte, and be ready to walk more than a kilometre.
- 04
Pick your viewpoint.
Beside the lighthouse at the fort, or anywhere on the Praia do Norte hillside, where there is room to move between viewpoints even with large crowds. The fort itself is open all year, 10am to 6pm, for €2.
- 05
Wear shoes that grip.
The hillside, where the best views of the giant waves are, is rough and can be slippery.
- 06
Bring your own food and water.
The restaurants are more than 500 metres away and very crowded on big-wave days. There are small food trucks about 500 metres up the hill, and only a few portable toilets.
- 07
Stay away from the water.
You can walk down a dirt road to the sand, and the tourism office's warning is plain: it is dangerous, do not get too close. Several tourists have drowned, carried away by waves.
Why the waves are so big
Under the sea in front of the beach is the Nazaré Canyon, the largest submarine canyon in Europe: about 230 km long and about 5,000 metres deep, starting about 1 km off Nazaré. It makes incoming swells pile onto one another, so Praia do Norte gets waves far larger than the rest of the Portuguese coast.
The beach does the surfing. You do the parking.
How big they have been
| Year | Surfer | Wave |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Garrett McNamara | 23.8 m (78 ft) |
| 2017 | Rodrigo Koxa | 24.4 m (80 ft) |
| 2020 | Maya Gabeira | 22.4 m (73.5 ft), the women's record |
| 2020 | Sebastian Steudtner | 26.2 m (86 ft), the record |
| 2024 | Sebastian Steudtner | 28.5 m (93.7 ft), measured, not yet declared official |
Every one of them at Praia do Norte.
Getting there from Lisbon
About an hour and a half by car, roughly €25 one way in 2025, or about an hour and three quarters by bus for €4 to €12.
Asked
- When is the best time to see the big waves at Nazaré?
- Between October and March, the winter season in Portugal. September and April work in some years. On a day with a good forecast, arrive early in the morning.
- How big are the waves at Nazaré?
- Competition waves often reach 40 to 50 feet. The biggest wave ever surfed, 26.2 metres (86 feet), was ridden at Praia do Norte on 29 October 2020.
- Where is the best place to watch the waves in Nazaré?
- Beside the lighthouse at the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo, on the north side of Nazaré, or on the Praia do Norte hillside, which has room to move between viewpoints.
- Is it safe to go down to the beach at Nazaré on big-wave days?
- The tourism office says to be very careful by the sea and not to get too close: several tourists have drowned, carried away by waves.
The beaches in this post
- Praia do NorteONLY IF YOU'RE ALREADY THERE