The Best Lisbon to Nazaré Day Trip – By A Travel Expert
Can you do a Lisbon to Nazaré day trip?
We recently spent a month on the road with our two boys exploring Portugal, which we loved. Hands down Nazaré, famous for having some of the biggest waves in the world, was one of the best places that we stopped on our road trip. We stopped in Nazaré on our way from Porto to Lisbon as it made a really handy halfway stopping point to break the journey up. What’s great is that, if you’re short of time, it’s easy to do a Porto or Lisbon to Nazaré day trip!
Nazaré is famous for its long beaches of sand, stunning historic city centre, plenty of tasty seafood and, of course, its world record giant waves for surfers. You’ll soon find out why it is one of the most popular destinations to visit on a day trip from Lisbon. In our guide, we will tell you all you’ll want to know before you plan the best Lisbon to Nazaré day trip. We’ll include how you get there, and what you can do once you arrive along with how the big waves it’s famous for are formed. So let’s get going!
Quick Guide to Visiting Nazaré on a Day Trip from Lisbon
Distance from Lisbon to Nazaré – 122km or 80 miles
Time from Lisbon to Nazaré – 1 hour 30 minutes by car or 2 hours by train
Best things to do – Visit the surf museum, enjoy the beach and watch the sunset.
Best time to see the big waves – November to February each winter
Biggest wave ever ridden – 24.38m by Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa in 2017
How to Travel Between Lisbon and Nazaré
Nazaré is 122km, (nearly 80 miles) north of Lisbon by road and it takes just 1 hour 30 minutes by car or 2 hours by bus to get there.
Travel by car between Lisbon and Nazaré
We think that driving to Nazaré is the easiest way to travel and the best option. If like us, you like the flexibility of your own transport when you travel, then without doubt this is the best way for you to get there.
The drive from Lisbon to Nazaré will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes and will take you along the motorway (the A8). The rout is very straightforward and safe. However, the downside is you’ll need to pay to use the toll road which costs about seven euros.
The upside to driving is that you’ve got the flexibility to stop wherever you’d like on your route. So that you can discover more of the coastline nicknamed “Silver Coast”. Stops include some of the best places such as Peniche (a small fishing and surf town), and beaches such as Foz do Arelho and São Martinho. You can also detour slightly on the drive to places such as Fatima and the Monastery of Batalha (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) on your day trip from Lisbon.
There is paid parking all throughout Nazaré. It is free for 15 minutes and then you pay €2 for one hour. And then about €4 for every 2 hours.
Top tip from a travel family: Make sure you have small change available for the car parking machine. And if you want to avoid the tolls to save money you can change your settings in Google Maps to “avoid tolls” and you’ll end up saving some $$ on your drive.
Travel by train between Lisbon and Nazaré
Trains aren’t an ideal way to get to Nazaré because there isn’t a train station there. To go by train you’d need to head towards Caldas da Rainha, once you get there you’ll have to head to Nazaré by bus. The total journey is well over 3 hours.
If you do decide to take the train then they depart from the Santa Apolonia train station in Lisbon fairly regularly, and you shouldn’t need to wait too long to get one. The train journey is quite long as it takes over 2 hours to get to reach Caldas da Rainha. It’s also the most inconvenient way to travel there.
Travel by bus between Lisbon and Nazaré
For those of you on a budget then travelling by public transportation will save you money because the bus is the cheapest and easiest way to get from Lisbon to Nazaré. The bus departs Lisbon’s bus station called Sete Rios. This is great because there it has a metro line stop which makes it easier to reach. Buses tend to depart every hour and takes about 2 hours leaving you lots of free time to spend in Nazaré.
Bus is also the cheapest if you’re on a budget. It’s only about 11 euros (each way), and you can book your tickets to Nazaré online at FlixBus in advance which makes it even more convenient. As well as this, another upside is that the bus station in Nazaré is near to a most of the major sights. This makes it easier to jump off the bus to start exploring.
Travel by guided tour between Lisbon and Nazaré
If you to take the stress out of planning your day trip to Nazaré from Lisbon then a guided tour is probably the best idea. Tours are a great option because they’ll collect you from your hotel or accommodation, take you to the town itself and show you the best bits. Then at the end take you back to your accommodation in Lisbon. How much easier is that?
Most of the guided tours we’ve seen also include stops at other places in the local area such as Batalha Monastery or Obidos Castle. You’ll get to explore other areas in the region this is perfect if you perhaps don’t have the time to discover it on your own and you want to fit more into your sightseeing day than just Nazaré.
Generally, tours to Nazaré from Lisbon aren’t cheap. However, if you don’t have much time during your trip to Portugal, or perhaps don’t like to plan using public transport routes, then they are the best option.
The 8 Best Things to Do in Nazaré on a Day Trip from Lisbon
1. Stop in at the Faro di Nazaré & Surf Museum
Surfing is a hot topic in Nazaré! This is because of its location on the Atlantic Ocean and the giant waves that come in the winter. A trip to this amazing coastal town would not be complete if you didn’t visit the Nazaré Surf Museum. You can easily spot it by the red lighthouse on top of it (Faro di Nazaré)
What’s really cool about the museum is that you get to look at all the surfboards and read some fantastic stories about the surfers who’ve ridden the big waves in Nazaré. Our son loved seeing the boards and us explaining about the big waves that come through. It’s a must-see stop on any family trip to Portugal!
You’ll also learn about how such big waves are formed there, and if you head to our FAQ section we’ll explain! At just two euros per person admission (kids are free), it’s totally worthy of a visit.
Nazaré Lighthouse (Faro di Nazaré) is a great way to see where the waves form. And it’s here that locals come when the largest wave of the biggest waves in winter comes in. Plus, you’ll maybe get to watch lots of local surfers trying to catch the waves.
You’ll spot that the lighthouse happens to be on the roof of the stone fort which houses the Nazaré Surf Museum. The fort is called Forte de Sao Miguel Arcanjo and King Sebastian I built it in 1577 so that it would defend Nazaré from attacks. The lighthouse was built onto the fort in 1903.
Top tip: If the walk is too far then you catch a tuk-tuk. You’ll find them all around town waiting to take you. There are some that take you from the entrance gate in the old town down to the Faro di Nazaré.
2. Stop at the Veado Statue
On your way back to the main town of Nazaré you’ll pass this really cool statue. Built in 2016, this marble and steel statue stands at over 20 feet tall. Created by Portuguese sculptor Adália Alberto it honours the legend of Nazaré. Which you can read about in the next section – The Sanctuary Of Our Lady Of Nazaré. As well as the town’s legendary status as the home to some of the best surfing and biggest waves in the world.
It’s a cool statue so we looked at the stalls nearby for a t-shirt to buy with the statue on. Unfortunately we couldn’t find one. As well as stalls by the statue you’ll also find buskers there as well. It’s totally worth taking some time to enjoy the view and listen to some music!
On the top end of this road, if you’re feeling hungry, you’ll find several cool food trucks to choose from. We love a food truck meal!
3. The Sanctuary Of Our Lady Of Nazaré
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré is known locally as Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, and is the site of a famous Catholic pilgrimage. It is been dedicated by the Catholic church to their Virgin Mary.
It’s a sanctuary that can trace its origins to a miracle that happened there. The legend is that in the early 12th century that Dom Fuas Roupinho, a local knight, was on a hunt in the local area and his horse almost plunged off of a cliff. During this moment of despair, he prayed for help from the Virgin Mary and she answered by saving him. To celebrate the miracle and thank the Virgin Mary, they built a chapel. It has eventually grown into the larger sanctuary that is seen there today and pilgrims from the world over come to visit.
Every year on the 8th of September thousands of people come for the masses and processions.
4. Ride the funicular up from Nazaré Beach
Nazare is definitely most popular for its giant waves, however the older part of town is still pretty cool to visit. You’ll find that the centre of the town can be a bit touristy, you’ll find that the old town is quieter and much more charming. As well as a great spot to enjoy some wonderful views, especially at sunset.
Called Sítio da Nazaré, this district can feel almost like it is separate from Nazaré itself with its great location high up on a cliff. To get there the easiest way is to ride the funicular. The funicular was designed by a proteges of the famous Gustave Eiffel’s and was finished in 1889. It heads upwards from the Nazaré beach all the way towards the neighbourhood of Sítio.
For those of us with kids, you’ll be pleased that you rode the journey up in the funicular. Not only is it great fun, but it’ll also save you a long steep walk. Once you get to the top you’ll find the Chapel of São Giã which was built in the 7th century. This is a very rare religious building that was designed by the Visigoths and has survived pretty much intact.
5. Visit one of the local beaches
There are a couple of beaches in Nazaré, because the coastline is essentially broken in half by the piece of land that juts out into the sea, where the old fort and lighthouse are located. Whilst they both share the same stretch of Portugal’s coast, they are in fact very different in several ways.
Praia Da Nazaré
This long, sandy beach (1.5km long to be exact) has lots of places where you can rent a sun lounger, or simply find a spot on the sand to base yourselves. The ocean water at Praia da Nazaré is much calmer. This makes it a more popular beach for both sunbathers and families to visit. This is the beach you want to head to if you’re looking to head into the ocean for a swim.
Praia Do Norte
This beach based north of the fort is famous for its much larger waves. You can access Praia do Norte by several paths, including a fairly steep, dirt trail down from the fort overlook.
6. Take in the view from over Nazaré & the beach from Mirador del Suberco
More than 100 metres high over the waves, on the Nazaré cliffs you’ll find the popular Mirador del Suberco. You’ll want to head there for some amazingly stunning panoramic views of the beautiful landscape and areas natural beauty.
You’ll see some amazing views from over Nazaré including its beaches, plus you can also see the beautiful coastline that’s further along.
What’s great is that if by then you’re starting to feel hungry there are lots of places where you can grab something to eat. It’s also very beautiful here at sunset. We loved enjoying a good sunset over the Atlantic Ocean when we visited Portugal with our kids.
7. Wander around the Bairro dos Pescadores
The Bairro dos Pescadores which translates to the Fishermen’s District and is the historic area of Nazaré. There are narrow streets which are lined with pretty white-washed homes and you can get a chance to watch locals taking part in every day life. If you visit on a Friday then make sure to head there as they have a local fish market you can check out.
8. Watch the sunset on the beach whilst enjoying dinner at seafront restaurant
If you’re able to spend the full day in Nazaré, then the best way to finish your day is watching the sunset on the beach. And the most perfect way to finish it off is to stop at a local restaurant for dinner.
If you’re looking for a recommendation of where to go, then the best place to head is Pangeia by the Sea. It has the most amazing location and the food is delicious. Or, if you’re on a budget then you should definitely head up to the road out to the lighthouse and pick one of the many cool food trucks to eat at the also have sunset views.
How Are The Waves At Nazaré’s Praia Do Norte That Big?
Off the coast of Nazaré is an underwater canyon called the Nazaré Canyon which channels then increases the swells.
The underwater canyon can reach a depth in excess of 5,000m (or, 16,400ft). When the big waves start to reach the coast at a particular angle they encounter the canyon. This causes the energy from the wave to amplify and concentrate like a funnel. The shape along with the location of the canyons channels the smaller incoming waves, which then results in the creation of giant waves.
Another factor behind the big waves is convergence of the swells that come from Atlantic Ocean. This is because Nazaré is in an unusual position to take the swells created by storms that come from the Northern Atlantic Ocean. As these hugely powerful swells journey through the Atlantic Ocean and hit the shallower waters off of the coast, the swell then undergoes a process that is called shoaling. Where as the seabed depth begins to decrease, the swells energy is squeezed, this causes the waves begin to build in their height and their steepness.
Inside the museum within the fort because they have a great model and accompanying video that shows this. It’s a lot easier to “see about it” than read about it!
What time of year are big waves in Nazaré?
There are big waves all year around. However, from November to February is when you can expect the very big waves that Nazaré is famous for.
The actual time as well as the size of the incoming wave depends on a variety of factors. These include the swell direction, tidal influences and weather patterns to be able to determine when the big waves will arrive at Nazaré. You should monitor local weather forecasts, surf reports alongside updates from pro surfers.
FAQ’s About A Lisbon to Nazaré Day Trip
Yes, yes, yes! Nazaré is totally worth visiting if you’re into surf culture and want to see some of the biggest waves in the world. Nazare is a stunning coastal town along Portugal’s Silver Coast. It is famous for its world record breaking big wave surf competitions and the huge waves you can at Praia do Norte.
Nazaré is known to have the biggest waves that have ever been surfed. Nazaré holds the world record for the largest wave ever surfed, it was ridden by the Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa in 2017 with a height of approximately 24.38 meters (80 feet).
Nazere isn’t the best place to swim as the waves are big, especially at Praia do Norte! AtPraia da Nazare it’s possible to dip into the water for a cool off, however, it’s still not the best place to swim.
Yes, the best ways to travel are either the bus or driving are both relatively easy ways to get from Lisbon to Nazaré. By car it takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, by bus is around 2 hours.
There are lots of fantastic stops that you can make on the drive to Nazaré, these include:
– Óbidos Castle – the medieval village of Óbidos is famous for its beautiful medieval walls and the castle of Óbidos
– Batalha Monastery – a UNESCO World Heritage Site
– Fatima – the world-famous pilgrimage site where the Virgin Mary is said to have delivered miracles to three local children.
Final Thoughts on Going from Lisbon to Nazaré on a Day Trip
If you’re looking for an exciting day trip from Lisbon, then heading to Nazaré is one of the best options. You can easily get there in under 2 hours which gives you a great amount of time to explore and enjoy Nazaré. There are also lots of cool things to do when you get there, so make sure to make the most of your visit!
