Nazaré is a small beach town nestled between green hills and the Atlantic Ocean. Located only a bit more than an hour north of Lisbon, Nazaré makes a perfect day trip or weekend trip destination from the capital. This guide provides you with the best things to do in Nazaré to make the most of your visit.

Not far from Nazaré you’ll find the laid-back surf town Ericeira, which is known to be the surf Mecca of Europe. If your time allows you should definitely include Ericeira in your Portugal trip.

Ultimate Guide to Nazaré, Portugal

How to get to Nazaré

Nazré is located about 2 hours south of Porto and 1,5 hours north of Lisbon. You can take a Flixbus from both cities that will drop you off right in the heart of the town near the beach of Nazaré.

Nazaré is separated in the two regions Praia and Sítio. Praia is the area around the beach and Sítio is the old village on top of the cliffs. 

Nazaré, Portugal
Nazaré, Portugal

Best time to visit Nazaré

To enjoy sunny weather and the beach, the best time to visit Nazaré is from May to September.

If you want to see the giant waves that Nazaré is famous for, you should travel to Nazaré between October and March. This time is even called “Big Wave Season”.

If you can, try to avoid visiting Nazaré on a weekend, as it might be packed with local families. 

Things to do in Nazaré

Nazaré is a small beach town perfect for a relaxing weekend getaway. Enjoy the sun on Praia da Nazaré and explore the stunning view points on the clifftop in the old part of Nazaré.

Visit the viewpoints

Viewpoint Balaoiço da Ladeira

Miradouro do Suberco provides a stunning panoramic view of the beach, the sea, the cliffs and the red roofed houses of Nazaré. Also make sure to check out the view from Balaoiço da Ladeira, an instagramable swing with amazing views.

To get to the viewpoints, you can either hike up the hill or you take the Nazaré Funicular. The funicular runs every 15 minutes and costs € 3 for a round trip. If you have a car, you can also drive up.

Visit the old town Sítio

Santuário de Nossa Senhora, Sítio

Right behind the viewpoint Miradouro de Suberco you’ll find the main square of Sítio, the charming old town of Nazaré. This is the historic part of the town, which I enjoyed much more than the touristy area by the beach.

When you pass the viewpoint you get to a square where you’ll find the beautiful church Santuário de Nossa Senhora. Around the square there are numerous shops with local products and fish restaurants overlooking the ocean. Local women wearing traditional clothes are selling typical Portuguese snacks on the square.

The best time to visit Sítio is before sunset. Like this you can enjoy the stunning sunset view from the top of the cliffs. As mentioned before, to get to Sítio you can either hike up or take the funicular. 

Watch the sunset at the light house

When you’re in Sítio on the hilltop of Nazaré and you walk past the village you’ll get to a viewpoint of Praia do Norte. 

There’s a path leading to the tip of the cliff to Fortress Sao Miguel Arcanjo with the lighthouse of Nazaré. That’s the best place to watch the sunset with amazing views over the beach and the ocean.

Praia do Norte Viewpoint, Portugal

Try Licor de Pastel de Nata

Yes, you read that correctly – there is a liquor of Pastel de Nata.

Pastel de Nata is the most iconic Portuguese dessert made of puff pastry with a type of vanilla custard. If you’ve never tried it you’re definitely missing out. Every time I had one it felt like taking a bite of heaven. 

Nazaré was the first (and the only) place where I’ve seen a liquor made of Pastel de Nata. Obviously, I had to try it and it was absolutely delicious!

Take a stroll along the board walk

Praia da Nazaré offers a 1,5 km long boardwalk featuring numerous shops, boutiques, restaurants and beach bars along the way. To be honest, this was my least favorite part of the beach town. When I went there it was packed with people and the shops are selling cheap mass production items.

Watch the giant waves

If you happen to visit Nazaré in the period between October and March you’ll be there during “Big Wave Season” and you might be lucky to see the biggest waves you’ve ever seen in your life. Expert surfers from around the world arrive to Nazaré to hit the enormous waves at Praia do Norte. In 2011, Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara surfed a 23.8 m wave in Nazaré and set a world record.

Head to the lighthouse that overlooks Praia do Norte and enjoy the view. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see those giant waves as I visited Nazaré town in August.

However, visiting Nazaré between October and March is no guarantee to see the giant waves. They only form under specific weather conditions and are not a daily spectacle.

I hope this guide to the best things to do in Nazaré helps you to plan a beautiful stay in this small coastal resort town. It is absolutely worth visiting either for a day trip or for 2-3 days.

Have you been to Nazaré or would you like to visit? Let me know in the comments!

Ultimate Guide to Nazaré, Portugal
Ultimate Guide to Nazaré, Portugal

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