Fernweh: Home
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAll highlightsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    • Neighborhoods & highlights
    • Eat & drink
    • Culture
    • Getting around
    • Accommodation
    • Plan trip
    • Nearby
    Nazaré

    Portugal

    Nazaré

    CityCulture

    Nazaré is a fishing and beach town on the Costa de Prata, around 120 km north of Lisbon. The lower town is on the long sandy beach; atop the cliff sits Sítio, with a pilgrimage church and viewpoint.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Portugal
    7. Costa de Prata (Silver Coast)
    9. Nazaré
    Nazaré is a fishing and beach town on the Costa de Prata, around 120 km north of Lisbon. The lower town is on the long sandy beach; atop the cliff sits Sítio, with a pilgrimage church and viewpoint. Nazaré is world-famous for its huge waves, breaking at Praia do Norte in winter and attracting big-wave surfers worldwide.

    Sights in Nazaré

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo and Lighthouse

    1Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo and Lighthouse

    16th-century fortress on the headland with a lighthouse and an exhibition on big-wave surfing. From the wall, you can see the giant waves at Praia do Norte in winter.
    Open in Google Maps
    Miradouro do Suberco

    2Miradouro do Suberco

    Lookout in Sítio district, approx. 110m above sea level, right at the funicular's top station. From here, you overlook the beach and lower town.
    Open in Google Maps
    Praia da Nazaré

    3Praia da Nazaré

    Wide city beach by the Lower Town, fully packed with sun umbrellas in summer. On the beach, fisherfolk sometimes still dry fish on wooden racks. Mind the flags; the surf can be strong.
    Open in Google Maps
    Miradouro da Pederneira

    4Miradouro da Pederneira

    Viewpoint in the old Pederneira district, on the hill east of the lower town. Quieter than the Sítio, overlooking the bay to the headland.
    Open in Google Maps
    Chapel of Memory

    5Chapel of Memory

    Tiny chapel on the Sítio's cliff edge. It recalls the legend of Knight Dom Fuas Roupinho, whose horse stopped here in 1182 in the fog at the abyss. Next to it, the alleged hoof print is shown in the rock.
    Open in Google Maps
    Praia do Norte
    Attraction

    6Praia do Norte

    Wild beach north of the headland, where an underwater canyon causes waves to swell to enormous heights in winter. Regular big-wave competitions are held here. The beach is dangerous for swimming due to strong currents.
    Open in Google Maps

    Dining & Drinks

    1

    Restaurante A Fornalha

    Restaurant in R. Dr. António Duarte Pimpão 12.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Pangeia Restaurante

    Restaurant in R. Abel da Silva 50.
    Show on Google Maps
    3

    Restaurante Little India

    Bar in R. Adrião Batalha 29.
    Show on Google Maps
    4

    Restaurante Esmeralda

    Restaurant in R. Tomás Ribas 1.
    Show on Google Maps
    5

    Maria do Mar

    Hausgemachte Meeresfrüchtegerichte mit Reis und Kartoffeln in einem bodenständigen Restaurant.
    Show on Google Maps
    6

    Restaurante A Tasquinha

    Restaurant in R. Adrião Batalha 54.
    Show on Google Maps
    7

    Esmeralda - Take-Away

    Restaurant in Rua Francisco Teixeira Freire.
    Show on Google Maps
    8

    Restaurante Casa Pires - A Sardinha

    Restaurant in Largo de Nossa Sra. da Nazaré 44.
    Show on Google Maps
    9

    Restaurante Fonte Mar

    Restaurant in Largo da Fonte Velha nº14.
    Show on Google Maps
    10

    A Lanterna - Cataplana & Arroz de Marisco

    Restaurant in R. Mouzinho de Albuquerque 59.
    Show on Google Maps
    11

    Marisqueira Aki-d'el-Mar

    Restaurant in Av. Manuel Remígio 129.
    Show on Google Maps
    12

    Pizzaria Prediletta

    Restaurant in R. da Caridade 8.
    Show on Google Maps
    13

    Mar Bravo

    Moderne Zimmer in einem Hotel mit entspannter Atmosphäre und einem Fischrestaurant mit Meerblick.
    Show on Google Maps
    14

    no PONTO

    Restaurant in Praça Sousa Oliveira 40.
    Show on Google Maps
    15

    Restaurante Dinamar

    Restaurant in Av. Porto Santo 44.
    Show on Google Maps
    16

    Gaivota

    Restaurant in Largo Cmte. Cândido dos Reis.
    Show on Google Maps
    17

    Cafe Bar Zé do Aníbal

    Restaurant in Praça Sousa Oliveira 17.
    Show on Google Maps

    Culture and History

    According to legend, in 1182, the Virgin Mary saved the knight Dom Fuas Roupinho, whose horse stopped in the fog at the Sítio cliff. From this, the pilgrimage site with the Church of Nossa Senhora da Nazaré emerged.Nazaré was long a fishing village where boats were pulled directly from the beach into the sea. Some elderly women still wear traditional skirts with multiple layers, and fish is dried on racks in the sun on the beach. The waves of Praia do Norte gained international fame starting in 2011 when surfer Garrett McNamara rode a record-breaking wave there.

    On the Road in Nazaré

    Regular buses depart from Lisbon; the journey takes just under two hours. You explore the town on foot; the funicular takes you to Sítio. From Sítio, it's about a 15-minute walk to the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo. Parking is difficult in summer and on surf days.

    Accommodations in Nazaré

    Find perfect stay in Nazaré

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Campgrounds in Nazaré

    Find perfect campground in Nazaré

    Search via Google Maps
    Campgrounds nearby (15km)
    Camping.info
    Find Campgrounds
    Park4Night
    RV Parks & Camping

    Plan your trip to Nazaré

    Save places, build a route and plan your city trip, all in one place.

    1. 1
      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
      1234

      Round trip

      12 days · 4 stops

      Saved

      Pick a route

      Pick a ready-made one or save places and plan your own.

      Open bookmarks
    2. 2

      Trip to Nazaré

      Live
      • 1Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo and Lighthouse3 days
      • 2Miradouro do Suberco4 days
      • 3Praia da Nazaré5 days
      Budget

      Plan your trip

      The planner sorts stops, days and budget. Plan together in real time.

      Start trip planning
    3. 3
      9:41 No signal
      Nazaré
      Available offline

      Use it on the road

      Download the guide to your phone and use it on site, even offline.

    Nearby

    Costa de Prata (Silver Coast)

    Costa de Prata (Silver Coast)

    The Costa de Prata, the Silver Coast, is the coastal stretch between Lisbon and Coimbra, encompassing the districts of Leiria and the western area around Caldas da Rainha. Here lie the walled town of Óbidos, the monasteries of Alcobaça and Batalha, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, the fishing and surfing town of Nazaré, the Peniche peninsula, and the pilgrimage site of Fátima in the hinterland.
    Óbidos

    Óbidos

    Óbidos is a small town, completely surrounded by a medieval wall, about 80 kilometers north of Lisbon. Inside the walls are white houses with blue and yellow trim, cobblestone streets, and churches; the castle crowns the top. Since 2015, Óbidos has been part of the UNESCO Cities of Literature network, and several bookshops are housed in unusual spaces. During the day it is very busy, but significantly quieter in the mornings and evenings.
    Fátima

    Fátima

    Fátima is one of the world's largest Catholic pilgrimage sites. In 1917, three shepherd children reportedly had multiple apparitions of the Virgin Mary here. Today, a huge square surrounds the small Chapel of the Apparitions, with two basilicas at its ends. The town thrives almost entirely on pilgrims; hotels and devotional shops line up around the sanctuary.
    Peniche

    Peniche

    Peniche is a fishing and port town on a rocky peninsula around 90 kilometres north of Lisbon. The waves at the beaches of Baleal and Supertubos make it one of Europe's most important surf spots. At the harbour stands the fortress, where the dictatorship held political prisoners. From the harbour in summer, boats depart for the Berlengas, a protected archipelago off the coast.
    Ribatejo

    Ribatejo

    The Ribatejo is the region on both sides of the middle Tejo northeast of Lisbon. It is flat, fertile alluvial land with viticulture, rice fields, and pastures where horses and fighting bulls are bred. Key towns are Santarém with its Gothic churches and Tomar with the Templar castle Convento de Cristo, plus the river castle of Almourol.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI