Beach · Central Portugal
Praia da Nazaré
Praia da Nazaré is the beach right in front of the town.
- Blue Flag 2026
- Excellent water
- Live webcam
Sea now at Praia da Nazaré
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Forecast: Open-Meteo (model, indicative). Always check the flag. · Tides and detailed forecast
Watch the live webcam · Praia da VilaBeach guide
Praia da Nazaré is the beach right in front of the town. The Ascensor da Nazaré funicular, opened in 1889, climbs a 318-metre line at a 42% gradient to the clifftop Sítio. This is not Praia do Norte, the big-wave spot where Sebastian Steudtner rode the largest wave on official record, 26.21 metres, in 2020. Offshore lies the Nazaré Canyon, a submarine gorge about 170 km long that makes those giant waves possible. Three MEO live cams cover the town beach, the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo and the harbour.
- Type
- Sea beach
- Region
- Central Portugal
- Water quality 2025
- Excellent
- Blue Flag
- Yes, 2026
- Coordinates
- 39.6016, -9.0755
Before you go
- Bathing season
- Nazaré town beach: 20 Jun – 15 Sep 2026
- Lifeguards
- Praia do Norte has its own season: 1 Jul – 31 Aug 2026, lifeguarded
- Access
- Funicular from the town to the Sítio: 318 m long, 42% gradient, opened in 1889
- Accessibility
- Accessible Beach 2026, with bathing-aid equipment and assistance
- Public transport
- Rede Expressos coaches to the town; Linha do Oeste trains to Valado dos Frades (6 km)
- Surf
- Praia do Norte: official record for the biggest wave surfed, 26.21 m (2020)
Good to know
- To follow the big waves from afar, MEO has a live cam at the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, as well as cameras on the town beach and at the harbour.
- By car, leave the A8 at the Nazaré (Valado/Alcobaça) exit, 6 km from town, then follow the EN 8-5 or the IC9.
- Praia do Norte has a shorter season than the town beach: in 2026 lifeguards were on duty only in July and August.
8 sources checked for this guide
- madeira.gov.pt//Portals/12/Documentos/Ambiente/Portaria%2020…
- business.turismodeportugal.pt/SiteCollectionDocuments/all-for-all/lista-pra…
- cm-nazare.pt/visitar/como-chegar
- cm-nazare.pt/visitar/onde-ir/monumentos-e-patrimonio/poi/a…
- cm-nazare.pt/autarquia/noticias/noticia/praia-do-norte-em-…
- beachcam.meo.pt/livecams/nazare-forte-sao-miguel-arcanjo/
- beachcam.meo.pt/livecams/praia-da-nazare/
- beachcam.meo.pt/livecams/nazare-porto-de-abrigo/
Every fact above was confirmed in these sources (Portuguese Environment Agency, local councils, the Blue Flag operator, transport operators and others). Rules, timetables and seasons change: check locally.
Praia da Nazaré · Central Portugal
Sleep close. Arrive early.
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6.7 kmPraia do SalgadoFamalicão · Silver Coast (Oeste)
9.5 kmPraia de Vale FuradoPataias · Silver Coast (Oeste)- 9.7 kmPraia da GralhaSão Martinho do Porto · Silver Coast (Oeste)
Water quality: official 2025 bathing-season classification (European Environment Agency / APA). Editorial description by Portal Turismo Portugal. Before you go, check lifeguard cover, the flag and access, especially outside the bathing season. Blue Flag 2026 awarded by ABAAE, the Blue Flag operator in Portugal (official list); check on site whether the flag is flying.