Best Time to Surf Portugal
The best time to surf Portugal is September to April: that is when the most breaks are at their best — 17 of the 17 Portugal breaks we map at the peak.
Last updated · Counted from the surf breaks we map — each break's own season, level and wave type
Surf in Portugal month by month
How many of the 17 breaks we map in Portugal are at their best in each month, and which ones. The busiest months are highlighted.
January
17 at their best · 17 in season
Supertubos, Praia do Norte, Coxos, Ribeira d'Ilhas, Carcavelos, Arrifana, Praia do Tonel, Jardim do Mar +9 more
February
17 at their best · 17 in season
Supertubos, Praia do Norte, Coxos, Ribeira d'Ilhas, Carcavelos, Arrifana, Praia do Tonel, Jardim do Mar +9 more
March
17 at their best · 17 in season
Supertubos, Praia do Norte, Coxos, Ribeira d'Ilhas, Carcavelos, Arrifana, Praia do Tonel, Jardim do Mar +9 more
April
15 at their best · 15 in season
Supertubos, Coxos, Ribeira d'Ilhas, Carcavelos, Arrifana, Praia do Tonel, Jardim do Mar, Santa Bárbara +7 more
May
0 at their best · 0 in season
June
0 at their best · 0 in season
July
0 at their best · 0 in season
August
0 at their best · 0 in season
September
15 at their best · 15 in season
Supertubos, Coxos, Ribeira d'Ilhas, Carcavelos, Arrifana, Praia do Tonel, Jardim do Mar, Santa Bárbara +7 more
October
17 at their best · 17 in season
Supertubos, Praia do Norte, Coxos, Ribeira d'Ilhas, Carcavelos, Arrifana, Praia do Tonel, Jardim do Mar +9 more
November
17 at their best · 17 in season
Supertubos, Praia do Norte, Coxos, Ribeira d'Ilhas, Carcavelos, Arrifana, Praia do Tonel, Jardim do Mar +9 more
December
17 at their best · 17 in season
Supertubos, Praia do Norte, Coxos, Ribeira d'Ilhas, Carcavelos, Arrifana, Praia do Tonel, Jardim do Mar +9 more
Lefts, rights and peaks in Portugal
Every break we map here, by what the wave breaks over and which way it peels — a left peels to the surfer's left as they ride towards the beach.
| Break type | Lefts | Rights | Both ways / A-frames |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point | — | Ribeira d'Ilhas, Jardim do Mar | — |
| Reef | Lagide | Coxos | Consolação |
| Beach | — | Arrifana, Espinho, Molhe Leste | Supertubos, Praia do Norte, Carcavelos, Praia do Tonel, Santa Bárbara, Baleal, Costa da Caparica, Matosinhos, Praia do Amado |
Season at every Portugal break
Each break's stated season, with its best months filled in.
- Supertubos
Atouguia da Baleia
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Heavy shorebreak and strong rip currents between the sandbars. When it is pumping, the barrels break in shallow water close to shore. Check the banks and the rips from the beach before paddling out.
- Baleal
Baleal, Peniche
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Lagide
Baleal, Peniche
- Wave
- Reef break · Left-hand
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- Best from mid to high tide
- Watch out
- Flat reef — take care at low tide.
- Consolação
Consolação, Peniche
- Wave
- Reef and beach break · Left and right
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Swell
- SW-W–NW
- Tide
- Varies by peak; the reefs prefer mid tide
- Watch out
- Shallow rock on the southern reefs — booties help. Softer sand-bottom waves at the northern end.
- Molhe Leste
Peniche
- Wave
- Beach break (jetty) · Right-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- Autumn and winter (October to March)
- Tide
- Mid tide is usually best
- Watch out
- Breaks close to the harbour wall — mind the rocks and the current along the jetty.
- Praia do Tonel
Sagres
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Arrifana
- Wave
- Beach break · Right-hand
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Carcavelos
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Costa da Caparica
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Coxos
- Wave
- Reef break · Right-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- Best on a mid-to-high tide
- Watch out
- Breaks over shallow coral or rock reef — booties are recommended and mind the take-off zone.
- Espinho
- Wave
- Beach break · Right-hand
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Jardim do Mar
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and strong currents run around the point, so plan your entry and exit carefully.
- Matosinhos
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Beginner
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Praia do Amado
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
- Praia do Norte
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Advanced
- Season
- October to March for big waves; surfable most of the year on smaller swells
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Heavy shorebreak, very strong currents and rips. Even small days are powerful. Big days are for tow teams with water safety. Watch from the lighthouse at the fort.
- Ribeira d'Ilhas
- Wave
- Point break · Right-hand
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- All tides; best on a pushing tide
- Watch out
- Rocks and strong currents run around the point, so plan your entry and exit carefully.
- Santa Bárbara
- Wave
- Beach break · A-frame peaks (lefts and rights)
- Level
- Intermediate
- Season
- September to April (autumn and winter)
- Tide
- All tides; sandbar-dependent
- Watch out
- Rip currents form between the sandbars — always check conditions before paddling out.
Surf spots in Portugal by level
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf Portugal?
The best time to surf Portugal is September to April: that is when the most breaks are at their best — 17 of the 17 Portugal breaks we map at the peak.
Can you surf Portugal all year round?
Not every month. None of the 17 breaks we map in Portugal lists May to August in its season.
When is the best time for beginners to surf Portugal?
The 3 beginner-rated breaks we map in Portugal (Baleal, Costa da Caparica and Matosinhos) are mostly at their best in September to April. Smaller days in the shoulder months are easier to learn on.
Which surf breaks in Portugal are lefts and which are rights?
Lefts: Lagide. Rights: Coxos, Ribeira d'Ilhas, Arrifana, Jardim do Mar, Espinho and Molhe Leste. The table below splits every break we map in Portugal by type and direction.