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Algarve · 37°07′N 8°32′W

Portimão

Portimão
Photo: Thomas Dahlstrøm Nielsen · CC BY-SA 4.0

A resort town on the central Algarve. The long city beach at Praia da Rocha and the coves west of it catch the gentle, warm south-coast swell, and the town is the transport hub for the whole area.

Spots here

Praia da Rocha
Beach break · Portimão

Praia da Rocha

Portimão's long town beach, about 1.5 km of sand below the Santa Catarina fortress, with gentle beach-break peaks on small swells. On a solid south-west swell a hollow left runs off the breakwater at the river mouth.

All levelsWinter for the jetty left; small and easy most of the summer

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Guides
A week surfing the Algarve
Trip route

A week surfing the Algarve

Base in Lagos or Sagres, chase the wind between two coastlines, and use the west-coast beaches when the south goes flat.

Schools & rentals here

Surf schools, camps & board rental in Portimão
Portimao Surf Clube
Surf school · Portimão

Portimao Surf Clube

A surf club and academy on Praia da Rocha in Portimão, central Algarve, open to the public with lessons bookable without a membership, plus SUP, bodyboard and adaptive surfing.

Surf

Events here

Nothing listed here yet. Know something that belongs? Tell us.

Nearby

Alvor
Algarve

Alvor

A fishing village on an estuary, with an ocean beach break and a tidal lagoon used for kite and wing.

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Lagos
Algarve

Lagos

A harbour town on the south coast with the long sheltered sand of Meia Praia, gentle and good for learning.

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Vila do Bispo
Algarve

Vila do Bispo

The quiet market town behind Cape St Vincent, with roads down to the wild west-coast beaches of Castelejo and Cordoama and the south-coast coves around Zavial.

Surf

Common questions

What are the surf spots in Portimão?
Portimão has one spot guide here: Praia da Rocha.
Is Portimão good for beginners?
Yes — Praia da Rocha is rated beginner-friendly.
Is there a surf school in Portimão?
Yes — one is listed for Portimão.