A Beginner's Guide to Surfing in Portugal
With its exposed Atlantic coastline dotted with picturesque fishing towns, Portugal has steadily grown as one of Europe’s premier surfing destinations.
And for good reason - The consistent waves that roll into Portugal’s beaches are ideal for beginners looking to catch their first waves. Whether you’re looking for smaller, gentle peelers to practise popping up or want mellow, rolling waves in a thriving surf hub, Portugal has no shortage of surf spots tailor-made for learner surfers.
This beginner’s guide will spotlight the best towns to learn surfing in Portugal along with key things to know beforehand like lessons, gear, safety and more.
Choosing the Right Surf Town in Portugal for Beginner
When just starting out, picking a beginner-friendly surf spot in Portugal is key for building confidence and skills in the water before graduating to more advanced waves.
Here are some of the best places around Portugal to set up base.
Peniche
Peniche attracts surfers of all levels for its diverse range of beach and point breaks scattered nearby.
While beaches like Baleal and Supertubos offer faster waves for experienced surfers, the relatively gentle beachies to the North of town provide smaller, less intimidating waves that are ideal for longboarders and beginners practising the basics.
The chilled out surf culture and abundance of surf schools here make Peniche a great place to stay.
Now solidified as an exciting stop on the World Championship Tour, the town of Peniche is a must-check area if you are a beginner surfer in Portugal.
Spot Check:
Around Peniche, try these beginner surf spots.
Cantinho da Baia / Praia da Baía: This is a long horseshoe shaped sandy bay - and depending on the swell direction almost always has a rideable wave. More spot information can be found on the Cantinho da Baia surf spot map page
The amazing thing about Peniche is the variety of the coastline - basically on any given day, the wind will be blowing offshore. And yeah, the swell doesn’t always cooperate, but its pretty amazing to be able to find waves 1ft or 10ft waves all within a 5 minute drive.
Baleal: Just to the North and East of the town of Peniche is Baleal. Again, you have options depending on the wind and swell, so check each side of the road to Ilha do Baleal (Baleal Island).
A bonus at Baleal is that there are plenty of places to park and also fuel up after surfing.
Ericeira
Now considered the home of surfing in Portugal, Ericeira is a vibrant fishing village turned surfing mecca that boasts one of Europe’s first World Surfing Reserves with surf spots dotting the coastline, catering to all abilities.
With pro surfers such as Frederico Morais, Kanoa Igarashi and Tiago Pires now calling Ericeira home, the standard of surfing and quality of waves is high. Whether you know it or not, you’ve probably seen some epic surf movies filmed around this area over the years.
And even for beginners, there are options - the beaches around Ribeira D’Ilhas on it’s day dish out gentle waist to head-high waves perfect for getting a few leg-burners, while emptier beaches farther north provide more solitary settings to grow confidence away from crowds.
Spot Check:
Praia do Matadouro: In town opposite the huge boardriders surf shop is the beach of Matadouro. The literal translation into English is ‘Slaughterhouse’ but don’t let the name put you off!
A good option if you don’t have a car, you can walk from town or the nearby Ericeira campsite. A few rocks around, but it’s generally a great beginner beach.
Praia do Sul – South Beach: Further South you have the sheltered spot of Praia do Sul. A good option if other spots are too big, and easy to get to on foot. Just a regular Portuguese beachie - perfect for learning.
Foz do Lizandro: Further South again is the bigger, more sandy beach break of Foz do Lizandro.
A long sandy beach, this is perfect for learning provided the swell is not too big. Lots of options nearby for the post-surf refreshments too!
Lagos
Known for its postcard-worthy, turquoise blue waters, the Algarve region has no shortage of sandy beaches with mellow waves ideal for beginners, especially in summer months.
And even in Winter, the huge swells in the Atlantic wrap around to the South facing beaches of the Algarve, creating classic long period conditions - easy to get out back and catch the wave of your life!
Check out beaches like Meia Praia and Porto do Mos near Lagos offering expansive shores with predictable rolling waves to practise on while taking in the beautiful scenery.
Spot Check:
Praia do Amado: Ok, so it’s about a 30 minute drive from Lagos, but I think it's one of the best beach breaks in the Algarve region - there always tends to be a good sandbank at Amado throughout the entire year.
Wild, rugged and raw, the scenery is spectacular and so are the waves. Probably best for beginners in Summer when the swells are typically a bit smaller.
Porto do Mos: A bike ride away from the centre of Lagos, Porto do Mos is a great spot to check in the Winter months. Mellow vibes and a local longboard crew, it’s a beautiful beach with lots of space to find some waves to yourself.
Arrifana: Another stunningly beautiful beach, the great thing about Arrifana is the shelter from the wind. Tall cliffs surround the bay, making it sheltered in almost every wind direction.
Lots of space, and plenty of surf schools Arrifana is a top choice. Arrifana also boasts both a beach break and a point break, so something for everyone.
Finding Surf Lessons and Camps in Portugal
Types of Lessons
Given the nuances of surf etiquette, ocean awareness and board handling as a leaner surfer, taking a lesson from a qualified instructor is highly encouraged before self-teaching.
Portugal has countless surf schools and camps offering introductory courses covering ocean safety, positioning and popping up on waves.
Types of lessons run the gamut from private to group sessions, as well as week-long surf camps that immerse you in surf lifestyle and instruction.
Private lessons allow for focused 1-on-1 coaching while group lessons with 5-10 people often prove more social and affordable. Multi-day surf camps combine lodging and daily lessons for full immersion.
Choosing a Surf School
When evaluating surf lessons as a beginner, be sure to ask about instructor qualifications, student-teacher ratios for group lessons and if all equipment is included.
Highly reviewed instructors certified in CPR/First Aid with smaller student groups and providing boards/wetsuits tend to yield optimal learning experiences.
Well-reputed surf schools to check out are Peniche Surf Camp, Ericeira Surf School in Ericeira, and Lagos Surf Center in Lagos, which all offer beginner-tailored lessons.
What to Know Before Your First Surf Session
Surf Lingo
Before paddling out, getting acquainted with basic surf terminology will help you better grasp key concepts and instructions in the water. Also important is understanding conditions and wave types as a novice surfer dependent upon whitewash and smaller swells when gaining competence.
Wave Types
Pay attention to the wave section you’ll be surfing as a beginner, either beach break (waves breaking into sandy seabed) or point break (waves breaking around rocky points/reefs).
Point breaks often offer faster, more powerful waves while beach breaks dish out mushier whitewash ideal for beginners. Ask your surf instructor about conditions before heading out. Find out more about the different types of waves.
Surf Gear
Using the appropriate sized surfboard and wetsuit thickness is also key when starting out.
Beginner surfboards are generally soft-top longboards from around 7ft to 9ft depending on your size. They are large and cumbersome to carry, but they allow for easier paddling, balancing and catching waves - don’t try to learn on a tiny fibreglass board or you will come away disappointed!
Protecting yourself from the elements is also important in order to have an enjoyable session. If you are surfing in Portugal in the depths of Winter you’ll need a 5/4 wetsuit, and in Spring and Summer either a 3/2 or 4/3 will suffice.
Safety Tips for Beginner Surfers
Entering and Exiting the Water
When paddling out from shore, wait for a lull between sets then paddle hard underneath upcoming waves towards the lineup. Use rips (swift outward currents) to propel yourself out but never against waves.
When returning to shore, identify shore breaks (large waves slamming the shore) and carefully push your board ahead of you when nearing the beach to avoid getting slammed downwards.
Sharing Waves
Using judgement before taking off on waves to avoid collisions is critical as is giving way to more experienced surfers in the lineup who have right-of-way priority over beginners depending on location in the peaks.
Avoid “dropping in” on another surfer already riding the wave and respect other beginners around you by communicating verbally if needed. Stay aware while surfing.
Handling Accidents
If you lose grasp of your surfboard from wiping out, cover your head until resurfacing then regain board control.
Never attempt to outswim a surfboard heading towards shore. If you or someone near you gets injured like a laceration from a surfboard fin, calmly alert others to seek help from lifeguards.
Final Thoughts
By surfing the best beginner surf spots with easy to ride waves, working with experienced instructors and remembering crucial safety knowledge, you will no doubt get bitten by the surf bug and keep coming back for more!