Two wave-watchers, a few winters in Nazaré.

Surf Nazaré is run by a couple of enthusiasts who have spent several winters in Nazaré watching the ocean. We aren't big-wave surfers, a tour company or a booking platform. We got hooked on standing at the lighthouse when a big swell rolls in, and we kept being asked the same question by friends: is it worth driving up this weekend?

This site is our answer to that question.

How we know what we know

We walk to the Farol every day. During our winters in Nazaré we walk up to the lighthouse at the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo and look down on Praia do Norte. That daily walk is how we learned what a two-metre day and a big-swell day actually look like from the headland, and how differently a forecast number can feel once you're standing there.

We gather information from many local sources. Opening hours, events, transport and the practical details of visiting all come from what we hear and read locally, and we cross-check before anything goes on the site.

We keep our own wave log. The forecast on this site comes from the Open-Meteo marine and weather models. Since September 2026 we record that forecast every hour and keep it, so over time we can show how big each winter really got — and check our own calls against it.

How the go / no-go ratings work

Every rating on the live conditions page — GO, MAYBE or DON'T GO — is calculated from the forecast wave height, swell period, swell direction and wind, using fixed thresholds we publish in full. The numbers are for open water just offshore; the Nazaré Canyon makes the faces at Praia do Norte much bigger than that figure, which is why a "4 m" forecast can be a spectacular day. Forecasts change, so always check again on the morning you plan to travel.

Read exactly how we make the call →

How we make money

Some links on this site — to hotels, tours and car rental — are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. That's what keeps the site free.

Commissions never change a rating. The ratings are calculated from the forecast, not by us, and we'll tell you not to come when the sea is flat even though that costs us bookings. Full details are in our affiliate disclosure.

Why no names

We prefer to stay in the background — this site is about Nazaré, not about us. We're independent and not connected to the town council, the lighthouse, or any surf event or its organisers.

Get in touch

Spotted something out of date, or were you at the lighthouse on a day we got wrong? We'd like to hear it. Contact us.