Nazaré is often associated with Big Wave Surfing. I spent a few days there last February and saw that it is so much more then that!

How to get there

Getting to Nazaré by Car

The small fishermen town of Nazaré is located about 2 hours north of Lisbon. If you want to escape the big city bustle, this is a pretty good option. It is best accessible by car, especially if you want to go explore the surrounding beaches and towns which are not or very badly connected to public transportation – Peniche and Figueira da Foz for example each are about 1 hour away from Nazaré.

Taking the Coach to Nazaré

However, I took the coach from Sete Rios in Lisbon to Nazaré which costed me about 10 Euros for one way. (Check out Rede Expressos which is one of the main coach companies in Portugal and offers super accessible prices and discounts for under 30 year olds!)

What to do

The town is right by the ocean and is split in two parts, one right by the beach and the other up on a hill. Both are connected through a walkway or by the Ascensor da Nazaré – a train / elevator taking you up within a few minutes and costs 4 Euros for a round trip. Either way you get amazing views over Nazaré while on the hill.

Once you reached the top, walk straight towards the ocean until you reach the famous lighthouse. This is the place if you want to watch big waves. From October to March you will have the best chances to do so (with December and January being the most promising months) however, it is hard to predict what you will get while you’re there. In February the weather and conditions will slowly start to shift and even though I didn’t get to witness the big 100 foot waves 😉, I was amazed by what I got to see during my time there.

I found the part of the town right by the beach to be more lively through the narrow streets full of little shops, coffees and squares that invite you to sit and enjoy yourself while the part up on the hill seemed more historic (don’t miss a quick walk around Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré which combines the most beautiful and detailed interior inside the church with the traditional azulejos – the blue and white tiles you see all around Portugal).

When to go

I visited in February and enjoyed the town without it being too busy*. Overall all months during the low season (March – June / September – November) tend to be calmer and more relaxed. Another plus point for a trip during low season is the fact that the weather stays pretty consistent and comparably warm comparing to countries higher up in Europe (especially during May & June as well as September)

*However I did visit right in the middle of carnival season. Which means locals getting dressed up – no matter whether you’re at work or taking a stroll around town – parades and festivities every night. 💃🏽

What to eat

As for food – I think everyone will find something. 🍽
Nazaré got more and more touristic over the last few years and therefore was able to extend its options with a little bit of everything (from traditional Portuguese food to European classics). When in Portugal, you will sometimes have to search for vegetarian options – especially in smaller towns. However I never had any issues with finding vegi meals in Nazaré and was impressed by the variety some places offered.
If you’re travelling on a budget, you’ll find either a big supermarket right outside of town, smaller convenience stores all around or the local market selling fresh fruit and veggies.
If you just feel like having a snack, look out for the women with the seven skirts, a traditional clothing where women will wear colourful, bright skirts on top of each other.*

*Why seven skirts? There are lots of theories to that such as the skirts standing for the seven days of the week, the seven colours of the rainbow or the seven waves in the ocean. However they always seem to be related to the life by the coast.

Where to stay

I stayed for 4 days (including travel) and found that to be enough to see the town while still having time to just sit down at the beach or by an overlook and enjoy myself for a while. It is definitely possible to see the biggest part of the village during a day trip though.

Accommodation in Nazaré

The Hostel I stayed at is called Nazaré Hostel and offered everything needed during a short stay. It is close to Ascensor da Nazaré and only about a 5 minute walk down to the main strip of the town. Despite it being February, there were constantly new people who it was easy to connect with through the social spaces provided by the Hostel.

Overall Nazaré is an amazing place to rewind and relax while still being close to the capital. It offers a lot to see, a lot to eat and that easy going, relaxed way that Portuguese people are oftentimes associated with.

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Disclaimer: Any experiences I’ve shared in this post were self-funded, and I have no affiliations or partnerships with any businesses or services mentioned. The opinions expressed here are solely based on my independent experiences as a traveler and are not influenced by any external entities.