Matosinhos surf leads the way for many Porto surf schools, but it’s under threat from a new breakwater. Still, there are waves here for all levels, real close to the town center. Like, real close – you can get here on the Porto Metro from the UNESCO heart of the town.
An introduction to Matosinhos surf
Matosinhos is the go-to playground for Porto locals and it’s been that way for some decades.
Though we’ve been less than kind about the pollution and the localism here in recent years, there’s no denying that it’s a handy break to have. The spot is less than 20 minutes by car from the UNESCO core of Porto and about the same if you take public transport. That’s made it super-popular with city breakers who want to sample a little of the iconic Portuguese surf on a weekend away.
The waves themselves lend themselves to that vibe too. The added protection of a breakwater at the north end of the bay, along with patches of rock reef that temper swells to the south, mean that you get cruisier sets rolling through. Add to that the fact that it’s a sand-bottomed spot and you begin to see why this is such a doozy of a stomping ground for Porto’s top surf schools.
Sadly, there have been moves to extend said breakwater from local government. The first rock was moved in 2021 and the construction of an extra limb to the jetty is thought to risk up to 60% of the swell power at Matosinhos Beach. That will no doubt be disastrous for the water craft. Sad times
Sad times but there’s also lots more on the Porto coast if you push north, so we’ll lament for like 10 mins then jump in the rental car looking for something better.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing In Portugal
Matosinhos at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Matosinhos surf?
Where is Matosinhos?
For all intents and purposes, you can look at Matosinhos as an extension of Porto. It lies on the northwest side of the town, some 20 minutes’ by car from the famous Ribeira neighborhood on the Douro River (the part of Porto you see in all the travel brochures!).
The big Porto Leixões cruise terminal marks the top end of the bay, giving way to a marina that’s also the reason fro the extending breakwater that’s set to play havoc with the surf in Matosinhos. To the south is the area of Foz do Douro, which has loads of rock-speckled beaches that are top for sunset beers.
The best way to get here is on the metro to Matosinhos Sul. Trains leave for there from the Sao Bento station in the heart of the city. You’ll need to walk a couple of minutes to the north to get to the main surf breaks after alighting. Tickets are like 1 euro from the kiosk at the station.
Where to surf in Matosinhos?
Matosinhos Beach – Praia de Matosinhos – isn’t just one spot but several. And they are actually a pretty varied bunch. Arcing for around 1.5km from the breakwater int he north to the Castelo do Queijo in the south, the bay hosts a right-hander point, some beginner beach peaks, and even a lefty sandbank wave to cater to the goofies. Let’s take a close look at the lot, and any other surrounding surf breaks…
The jetty right at Porto Leixões
The right-hand point that starts on the inside of the Porto Leixões cruise terminal is one of the more fickle waves in the area. It’s often a whole lot smaller than the rest of the beach but does have much better shelter from winter N winds on big swells. Try this one when the rest of the beach is blown out or closing. The right usually doesn’t work in the summer and it’s likely to be the first causality of the jetty extension once it’s finished.
Matosinhos beach break
The center of Praia de Matosinhos is split between two beach breaks. They’re both best on a pushing tide with 4-7 foot in the swell. The northern ones are finer lefts and the southern ones are better for the rights. They each break onto a sand bottom and are the go-to spot for most of the local surf camps, largely thanks to the spacious whitewash that rolls in before the secondary swell.
Castelo do Queijo left
There’s no official name for the left that works on the south side of Matosinhos, but it’s right under the rocks that sprout the Castelo do Queijo. Go there to find the most reliable break on the whole stretch. It gets more action from the SW swell channels because the jetty from the port doesn’t hang over. The best days see about 4-8 foot and a decent winter E wind to keep it offshore. When that happens you can score fun, occasionally hollow, rides. The pollution also thins out nicely this far from the refinery and port.
Praia Cabedelo do Douro
You’re no longer in Matosinhos her but it’s worth mentioning because Praia Cabedelo do Douro is one of the only other places where you can surf in central Porto. It’s on the south side of the river mouth and it’s generally unreliable, mushy stuff, although decent for casual sessions in the spring and fall. Summer can be flat.
Espinho
Espinho is one of the best-known surf towns in northern portugal. Like Matosinhos, it has harbor walls that will offer nice point-break rights. Thankfully, the ones here aren’t in danger of being lost to construction. There are also regular competitions here and some nice beach break waves for beginners. Many of the surf schools in Porto will make the trek south to Espinho to search for swell.
We’ve got a complete guide to surfing in Espinho – check it out right now
The best surf camps in Matosinhos
Matosinhos is near enough to Porto to be a great option for surfers who don’t want to bother with all the ins and outs of planning a trip from the ground up. The town hosts some great surf schools and hostels that have banded together to offer multi-day packages that get you guided lessons, equipment rental, and accommodation, all in the same price tag.
- 5 Day Surf Coaching Program in Porto – Stay at the chilled Sea House in the middle of town and surf every day with local pros. The package includes pick-up and drop off at Porto Airport, which is why we’d say it’s one of the best offerings for people looking to escape the Rat Race for a few days on the waves without too much hassle.
- 4 Day Weekend Getaway Surf Camp in Matosinhos, Porto – We see this 3-night, 4-day surf package as a great supplement to a trip to Porto. Take some time to see the sights and then head down to have a trio of guided lessons on the best breaks in the region. It’s best for the younger crowd because you’ll be staying in a local hostel; a pretty darn fun one at that!
(You might also want to check out our complete guide to surf camps in Portugal for 2023 – it’s got LOADS more suggestions on top stays and surf packages all around the country!). We also have a guide to the best surf camps in Porto itself, which keeps the recs more local.
A note on why we partner with BookSurfCamps.com: Book Surf Camps are probably the biggest online aggregator of surf camps and surf-yoga packages in the world. We sounded out a quite a few potential partners before we affiliated with them. But, in the end, the abundance of choice for beginners, intermediates, and female-only surfing sealed it. We also love the simplicity of their booking system and the trusted brand name, along with the focus on connecting with homegrown local businesses on the ground.
Want more Matosinhos surf camp options? Search the whole shebang below right now and book in a few clicks.
Where to stay when surfing in Matosinhos?
Matosinhos is the epicentre of the surf-school and surf-camp scene in Porto. That means you shouldn’t have a shortage of places to stay. The area also happens to be right on the edge of the main cruise terminal, plus close to the best urban beaches around. That means hotels, hotels, and more hotels. Here are our accommodation suggestions…
Four Points by Sheraton Matosinhos
The Four Points by Sheraton Matosinhos is a great option if you want the added comforts of a tried-and-tested chain hotel. It’s super new and really well designed, with bright, colorful lounge, bar, and lobby spaces. The main reason we love it is for the walking access to the beach breaks.
Porto Sea Apartments
The Porto Sea Apartments get you within eyeshot of the main beach breaks and lefts at the south end of Matosinhos Beach. They are nicely done up and offer windows and patio spaces form where you can check the state of the swell. They also have the added bonus of fitted kitchens and lounge spaces.
Matosinhos House Surf & Beach
There are two bedrooms and space for up to four surfers at the Matosinhos House Surf & Beach. It’s within walking distance of the beach and is nicely done up with a boho bedroom and kitchen for you to cook at. We’d say it’s the best option for two couples or a small family.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Matosinhos surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Matosinhos surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step five: Enjoy!
For paying for stuff when you’re traveling – Get a Wise borderless card/account. They charge NOTHING for POS payments in any country and have some of the best FX rates around in our humble opinion.
Surf lessons in Matosinhos
We’ve already mentioned that one of the greatest things about Matosinhos is the fact that you can simply waltz down during a weekend break in Porto and have a surf. Like, you can work in a surf to a city holiday. It’s great.
What’s even greater is that you can now pre-book surf lessons in Matosinhos so you don’t have to jostle with the summer crowds or be disappointed when you arrive. There are a couple of people offering good packages. We particularly like these:
- Porto: Surfing Experience – A two-hour surf lesson with a surf school that’s been plying their trade on Mato for like 25 years. You’ll do out-of-water training and learn proper pop-up techniques.
- Porto: Small Group Surf Lesson with Transportation – This one costs a little more but includes all of what the basic surf experience does plus guided transport from the station in Aliados, in central Porto. It’s a great choice if you don’t want to bother navigating the town’s metro or rail links. Just get on the bus and be taken to the surf. Easy.
When to surf in Matosinhos?
The best swells here roll through in the fall to spring, when the North Atlantic has regular low pressure. Summer is better for learners, butt there are flat spells. They only usually last days, not weeks, though.
Matosinhos is like the rest of Portugal in that the autumn and the winter are the best times to surf. Strong NW swells are needed to get the waves properly pumping. They turn on in earnest around October time and stick around until March-ish. Don’t be shy to come in summer if you’re learning.
The surf schools in Porto operate all year round. There might be some super-flat days between May-August but that will give you time to explore the city itself. Plus, the surf camps here know where to go to squeeze sessions out of days with even a foot or two in the swell charts.
Do I need a car to surf in Matosinhos?
Nope.
One of the great things about Matosinhos is that it’s an urban break. In fact, it’s the best urban break in Porto we’d say. You can fly into the city, see all the UNESCO sites, party in the downtown, and head here to surf whenever you like. The metro from Sao Bento takes 20-30 minutes in all. It’s even more accessible on public transport than Carcavelos is down in Lisbon.
Of course, renting a car isn’t a stupid idea by any stretch. It’s just that it’s not required like it is in other regions in PT here. If you do decide to hire, we’d recommend staying in Matosinhos itself. That way, you can pick up the wheels in the airport and drive there in like 10 mins, no need to navigate central, old Porto, where the streets are ridiculously tight.
Having a car means good access to some great surf to the north (the Green Coast) and the south (Espinho and the Silver Coast). It also means you can drive out to spend some days in the awesome Douro Valley (a gorgeous UNESCO wine region about an hour’s drive to the east of town).
Anyway, rent or no rent, it’s up to you. If it’s affirmative, we would recommend using RentalCars.com. They have some of the best rates and they usually offer free cancellation until pretty late, which is handy.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
