Oeste
Silver Coast
The stretch of Atlantic coast north of Lisbon, from Ericeira up through Peniche to Nazaré. Consistent swell almost every day of the year, a beach break for every level, and two of Europe's best-known waves. This is the heart of Portuguese surf and the part of the coast wavesdays knows best.
Towns
Peniche
A working fishing peninsula that catches swell from almost any direction, home to the beach break at Supertubos.
SurfWindsurf
Baleal
A tied island just north of Peniche with a sheltered bay on one side and open beach break on the other. The area's main learner hub.
Surf
Ferrel
The village behind Baleal and Almagreira, with reef and beach options that pick up northwest swell.
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Ericeira
A World Surfing Reserve with a run of world-class right-hand reefs, from mellow Ribeira d'Ilhas to heavy Coxos.
Surf
Areia Branca
A compact beach town at Lourinhã, between Peniche and Santa Cruz, with a sheltered bay that works for learners and a cluster of long-established surf schools.
Surf
Santa Cruz
A long open beach south of Peniche with rock stacks offshore, exposed and consistent, quieter than its neighbours.
Surf
Nazaré
The town beside the canyon that funnels giant winter swell onto Praia do Norte. The bay in front of town is an ordinary beach break most days.
Surf
Foz do Arelho
Where the Óbidos lagoon meets the sea, giving an open ocean beach break plus a flat lagoon for wind sports.
SurfKitesurfWindsurfSpots here
Areia Branca
A compact, partly sheltered bay at Lourinhã, between Peniche and Santa Cruz, with a cluster of long-established surf schools. A dependable learner wave that takes the edge off a bigger swell.
BeginnersYear-round; summer smallest and best for lessons
Cantinho da Baia
The most sheltered corner of the Baleal bay, tucked against the Peniche side. Small, soft and forgiving, and the spot most Peniche schools use for a first lesson. Rarely flat.
BeginnersYear-round; small and gentle May to August
Cave
A short, violent right-hand barrel over a shallow rock shelf near Ribeira d'Ilhas. All the intensity of a slab in a small package. Experts only, and only at the right tide.
Experts onlyOctober to March
Coxos
The best wave in the Ericeira reserve and one of the finest right-hand points in Europe: long, thick, fast walls that barrel on the take-off and race down the reef. Advanced surfers only.
Advanced surfersOctober to AprilFoz do Arelho
Where the Óbidos lagoon meets the Atlantic: an open ocean beach break on one side and a flat, shallow lagoon for kite and windsurf on the other. A two-in-one spot backed by a big car park.
All levelsAutumn to spring for surf; summer thermal wind for the lagoon
Foz do Lizandro
The beach break at the mouth of the Lizandro river, just south of Ericeira. A wide, forgiving sandy beach that is the town's main learner wave and home to most of its surf schools.
BeginnersYear-round; summer is smallest and best for learning
Lagide
A long, mellow left-hand reef on the Baleal side of the peninsula, popular with longboarders and improvers. One of the more forgiving reef waves on this coast and a natural step up from the Baleal beach break.
IntermediatesAutumn to spring, but rideable much of the year
Molhe Leste
The beach break next to the eastern breakwater at Peniche, just along from Supertubos. A more forgiving wave than its famous neighbour, and the spot the crowd moves to when Supertubos is out of control or blown out by the north wind.
IntermediatesAutumn to springPedra Branca
A fast, shallow left-hand reef on the north side of Ericeira town, rated the best lefthander in the reserve. Expert only -- the take-off is straight onto dry rock.
Experts onlyAutumn to spring
Peniche & Baleal
The whole peninsula in one guide: why Peniche works almost year-round, where Supertubos and Baleal fit, and how locals pick a spot by the day's wind and tide.
All levelsAutumn to spring for the biggest, most consistent swell; summer smaller and better for learningPraia do Norte
The wave behind the Nazaré big-wave phenomenon. An underwater canyon funnels and amplifies Atlantic swell onto this beach, producing the largest surf ridden anywhere. A tow-in and big-wave arena, not a normal surf spot at any size.
Experts onlyNovember to March
Prainha
A small, sheltered cove on the Peniche peninsula that stays surfable when the exposed breaks are out of hand. A calm, forgiving wave used by schools on bigger days.
BeginnersYear-round; a reliable option when the exposed breaks are too bigRibeira d'Ilhas
The long, forgiving right-hand reef at the centre of the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve. Peels down a cobblestone point and takes almost any level on the right day. Host of regular WSL junior and qualifying events.
All levelsYear-round, best autumn to springSanta Cruz
A long, open beach between Peniche and Ericeira, with tall rock stacks offshore and a spread of peaks. Exposed and consistent, quieter than its famous neighbours, and it works for every level depending on size.
All levelsYear-round; autumn and spring the pick for size without the winter crowds elsewhereSupertubos
The beach break that made Peniche famous: fast, hollow barrels over a sandbar, both ways with better lefts. Europe's answer to Pipeline and a long-time WSL Championship Tour venue.
Advanced surfersOctober to March, February often the pick
São Julião
A big open beach break between Ericeira and the Sintra coast, known as the area swell magnet -- it has waves when the reserve reefs are flat. Beginner-friendly on a small mid tide, dangerous on size.
All levelsYear-round; biggest and cleanest autumn to winterSão Lourenço
The northernmost break of the Ericeira reserve: an exposed reef with multiple peaks that works most of the year for advanced surfers and turns into a genuine big-wave wave when a large north swell hits.
Advanced surfersAutumn to spring; a tow spot on the biggest swellsSpots at a glance
| Spots | Break | Suits | Best season | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foz do Arelho | Beach break | All levels | Autumn to spring for surf; summer thermal wind for the lagoon | Foz do Arelho |
| Peniche & Baleal | Beach break | All levels | Autumn to spring for the biggest, most consistent swell; summer smaller and better for learning | Peniche |
| Ribeira d'Ilhas | Reef break | All levels | Year-round, best autumn to spring | Ericeira |
| Santa Cruz | Beach break | All levels | Year-round; autumn and spring the pick for size without the winter crowds elsewhere | Santa Cruz |
| São Julião | Beach break | All levels | Year-round; biggest and cleanest autumn to winter | Ericeira |
| Areia Branca | Beach break | Beginners | Year-round; summer smallest and best for lessons | Areia Branca |
| Cantinho da Baia | Beach break | Beginners | Year-round; small and gentle May to August | Peniche |
| Foz do Lizandro | Rivermouth | Beginners | Year-round; summer is smallest and best for learning | Ericeira |
| Prainha | Beach break | Beginners | Year-round; a reliable option when the exposed breaks are too big | Peniche |
| Lagide | Reef break | Intermediates | Autumn to spring, but rideable much of the year | Ferrel |
| Molhe Leste | Beach break | Intermediates | Autumn to spring | Peniche |
| Coxos | Point break | Advanced surfers | October to April | Ericeira |
| São Lourenço | Reef break | Advanced surfers | Autumn to spring; a tow spot on the biggest swells | Ericeira |
| Supertubos | Beach break | Advanced surfers | October to March, February often the pick | Peniche |
| Cave | Reef break | Experts only | October to March | Ericeira |
| Pedra Branca | Reef break | Experts only | Autumn to spring | Ericeira |
| Praia do Norte | Beach break | Experts only | November to March | Nazaré |
Schools & rentals here
Surf It Easy
A coaching-focused surf school in Baleal that pairs water sessions with surfskate training and video analysis, for beginners through to advanced surfers working on technique.
Surf
The Surf Academy
A small school on Praia da Areia Branca run by a coach born and raised there, with group, private and advanced-coaching tracks and everything included.
SurfFrom EUR 35 / group classActivity Surf Center
An Ericeira surf school running since 2012, with lessons for every level across the town's beaches, plus board and wetsuit rental and a shop in the centre.
SurfAtlantic Coast Surf School
A certified surf school based between Santa Cruz and Praia Azul, on a long open stretch of the Silver Coast that is quieter than Ericeira and Peniche.
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Baleal Surf Camp
A family-run beachfront camp on Baleal beach, describing itself as Portugal's first surf camp, with a certified surf school, rentals and hostel-to-apartment lodging.
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Blue Ocean Ericeira Surf School
A surf school based right on Ribeira d'Ilhas beach, inside the Ericeira World Surfing Reserve, running lessons and multi-day courses for every level with equipment included.
SurfFrom EUR 40 / lessonEriceira Surfboard Rental
Board and wetsuit rental for the Ericeira area - soft-tops and hard-tops from 12 EUR a day, with delivery, roof racks and free board swaps.
SurfFrom EUR 12 / day
Ericeira Waves
A surf school in Santo Isidoro, Ericeira, since 2014, teaching on several beach breaks around the World Surfing Reserve with Portuguese Surf Federation instructors and groups of up to five.
SurfEscola de Surf Peniche
A surf school in the town of Peniche offering lessons for all levels, a surf academy and a surf camp.
Surf
Fatum Surfboards
Premium custom surfboards designed, shaped and tested in Peniche by Gero Tragatschnig. CAD design, machine cut, hand-finished, with the shaper in direct contact with each customer.
SurfFerrel Surf House
An oceanfront surf house at Baleal beach with daily lessons, small groups and dorm, private and family rooms.
SurfFozCamp Surf School
A family surf school at Foz do Arelho teaching from age four, with ocean surf lessons on the beach and kite lessons on the flat Óbidos lagoon behind it.
Surf
Global Surf School & Camp
A surf school and camp established on Praia da Areia Branca in 2007, with lessons for all levels and stay-and-surf packages.
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Mica Surfboards
Mica Lourenço hand-shapes made-to-measure boards out of Carvoeira, minutes from the Ericeira reefs: grovellers, step-ups, eggs, classics and a full high-performance line.
SurfNazare Surf School
A surf school on the town beach at Nazaré with local certified instructors, teaching on the ordinary beach break in front of town, not the big-wave beach.
SurfPassaro Kitesurf & Wingfoil School
A kitesurf and wing foil school on the Óbidos lagoon at Foz do Arelho, the shallow, flat, steady-wind water that is Portugal's main learn-to-kite spot.
Kitesurf
Peniche Surf Camp
A long-running beachfront camp at Casais do Baleal with its own surf centre, 200-plus rental boards and accommodation from hostel beds to ocean-view apartments.
Surf
Rapture Surfcamps Ericeira
A surf camp in a Portuguese villa a few metres from Foz do Lizandro, a mellow beach break that suits lessons, with easy reach of the reserve's other spots.
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Razman Surfboards
A Peniche shaper who makes and sells his own surfboards: finished boards ready to buy, or a custom shape to order. Sales and orders go through Facebook.
Surf
RentySurfy
A booking platform for surf, kite and windsurf gear rental and lessons along the Portuguese coast, aggregating local shops and schools in one place.
Surf
Ripar Surf School & Camp
One of the oldest schools on Praia da Areia Branca, running surf lessons and a surf camp on the Silver Coast since 2001.
SurfSPO Surfboards
Hugo Cartaxana's Santa Cruz factory, two decades in. SPO shapes performance and competition boards and most of the tow boards used up the coast at Nazaré.
Surf
Semente Surfboards
Portugal's most established performance surfboard label, shaping in Ericeira since the 1980s. Founded by American shaper Nick Uricchio in the town at the centre of what is now the World Surfing Reserve.
SurfSilver Coast Surf School
A surf school and camp in Baleal with certified instructors, equipment rental and accommodation a short walk from the ocean.
SurfSurf Lodge Santa Cruz
A surf lodge in Santa Cruz-Silveira with FPS/ISA-certified instruction, free board and bike rental for guests, a pool and garden, and dorm-to-suite accommodation, an hour north of Lisbon.
SurfTsunami Surf School
A surf school on Praia de Santa Cruz started by two local surfers, with certified instructors and a team that spans coaching, physiotherapy and health. Weekly programmes or single lessons.
SurfUpRise Surf School
A surf school and camp based in Peniche, with coaches certified by the Portuguese Surf Federation and physical-education degrees, teaching across the peninsula and up to Baleal and Areia Branca.
Surf
Wavegliders
An Ericeira surf shop and shaping room in one - hand-shaped boards by Nico alongside a classic-leaning shop, in the town at the centre of the World Surfing Reserve.
SurfEvents here
16–25 OctMEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal
The MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal is Event 10 of the 2026 WSL Championship Tour, held at Supertubos in Peniche from 16 to 25 October.
Praia de Supertubos
1 Nov – 31 MarTUDOR Nazaré Big Wave Challenge
A one-day tow-in team contest at Praia do Norte, called by the WSL with 24 to 48 hours notice when the forecast tops roughly 40 feet of face and the wind lines up.
Praia do Norte
6–8 NovBom Petisco Peniche Pro
The closing stage of the Liga MEO Surf, Portugal's national First Division circuit, held at Supertubos.
SupertubosCommon questions
- When is the best time to surf the Silver Coast?
- September and October: consistent swell, water still around 17 to 19 degrees, and fewer people than summer. Winter is bigger and colder and better suited to experienced surfers.
- Is the Silver Coast good for beginners?
- Yes. Baleal's north bay near Peniche and Foz do Lizandro in Ericeira are gentle sandy beaches with a wall of schools. The reefs at Ericeira and Supertubos are not beginner waves.
- Do I need a wetsuit?
- Yes, year-round. A 3/2 covers roughly June to October; a 4/3 the rest of the year, with boots useful in the coldest months.
- How do I get there from Lisbon?
- About an hour and fifteen to Peniche by car, 45 minutes to Ericeira. Rede Expressos and Mafrense run coaches if you would rather not drive, but a car makes the daily spot choice much easier.