Porto Surf Guide – Spots North and South + Spots in the City
The surf around Porto is shared between the Costa Verde to the north of town and the Silver Coast to the south. Beach breaks are the main draw, and there are options for all levels, in less crowded waters than the south of Portugal.
Porto is nowhere near as popular as Lisbon, Alentejo or the Algarve when it comes to surfing.
The city – and it’s a lovely, lovely city, mind you – is the gateway to a much less-trodden northern corner of the country where the water is colder and the surf is a bit wilder and less predictable.
But we’ll say this: It’s also awesome. Especially if you don’t like crowds.
There are basically three areas you can surf in and around Porto…
There’s the city itself, famed for the big, dumpy beach breaks of Matosinhos. There’s the Silver Coast to the south, which holds lively surf towns like Espinho. And there’s the Costa Verde to the north, a region we ADORE for its white-sand beaches, lush scenery, and unknown waves.
Porto itself is a good base for casual surfers at the beginner end of the spectrum. You can do a city break and do a surf lesson here without even leaving city limits.
More advanced, serious surfers, or people coming specifically to surf every day of thier trip would do better to swap the city for a nearby surf town on the Silver Coast or the Costa Verde. There are some great camps around, while having your own car means you can drive very picturesque coast roads to seek out unbusy waves.
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!
>>This is a part of our greater guide to surfing Portugal
Key takeaways for Porto
- Surf without leaving the city – You can get a surf in during a city break by traveling to Matosinhos, the urban break.
- Gateway to the Costa Verde – North of Porto, this 50-mile stretch of shore has the emptiest waves in mainland Portugal.
- Variety of waves – There are reef breaks on the Costa Verde but classic Portuguese beach breaks to the south. Something for everyone, though winter swells can be BIG.
Porto surf spots
Porto sits on the cusp of the Silver Coast and the Green Coast (the Costa Verde). The first runs to the south of the city and the other runs to the north.
The Silver Coast has the most famous surf towns in the north of the country – Espinho, Esmoriz. It’s generally easier to get to the waves there from the city as there are direct trains and better roads.
However, I’d personally say that the real gems lie on the Costa Verde. That’s a wilder and lusher world, with a sprinkling of great swell locations that go all the way to the Spanish border.
Let’s take a look at all the places you can surf in both…
Surf spots to the north of Porto
As I’ve already mentioned, the north of Porto is my all-time favorite place to surf here. It’s known as the Costa Verde and actually runs for about 50 miles all the way to the Spanish border.
It’s not really like any other region in the country. It’s really lush, green, forested and often completely hazed with sea mists. That all gives it a wilder feel and it’s pretty mysterious too.
I could do a whole guide on the surf in the Costa Verde but here I’ll focus on the spots that are kinda’ easy to reach from Porto city…
Estela
If you’re considering staying outside of the city to surf each day and see Porto on your way in and out of the airport, we think Estela is a great base mainly becuase it’s home to the fantastic Estela Surf Camp, one of our top picks in the country.
But even if you don’t do the camp, it’s with considering. The place is nicely undeveleoped and still has long stretches of dune-backed beach.
The whole run of sand angles a bit north so can get heavy when it’s winter but stands up well in summer, when N or W swells throw all sorts of shapes over the sandbars.
It can get rippy up here, so watch those lifeguard flags and don’t surf alone.
Povoa de Varzim
Póvoa de Varzim is a vibrant coast town that’s sandwhiched between two great surf beaches (Estela and Azurara) and has some pretty nice spots of its own. The highlight is a series of sheltered bays that have manmade breakwaters on thier north side, keeping swells tame and workable for local surf schools.
Azurara
Hugging a wide arc of sand around a 40-minute drive north of Porto (or an hour on the trains), Azurara draws in regular punch from the Atlantic.
The waves are reliable but don’t come expecting Hawaii. Onshore winds are common in the summer and the waves tend to slosh around a bit.
That said, there’s decent protection from the harbour wall on the estuary to the north, which can force wrap-arounds on big days and temper the waves into nice sets that suit all levels.
And this one has some of the cleanest water of any surfing around Porto.
>>Read our full guide to surfing in Azurara
Mindelo
Mindelo can be a world-class wave but it’s fickle as hell. Some people have told us they’ve seen the elusive right barrels forming on the shorebreak here like another Supertubos only way less busy. We’ve never seen it.
What we have seen is a good stretch of beach that’s got some nice peaks that vary in size and shape a lot thanks to patches of reef dividing the whole thing up.
Surf spots in Porto city itself
I’ll count anything south of the airport and north of the first surf town outside of Porto on the Silver Coast as “in the city itself.” That’s not to say that you can reach all these places easily on public transport.
In fact, the only one that’s easy to reach by metro/taxi is Matosinhos, but that’s fine as it’s likely to be the best option anyway and certainly the best option for beginners and those on a city break who just want to do a short surf or lesson.
Leça da Palmeira
Leça da Palmeira – known as just Leca for short – changes a lot depending on the swell size. Over 1.5 meters and you can find some big barrels bombing off the harborside on the south end of the beach. Smaller than that and the beach break comes into play, which can be anything from mush to glassy lines depending on where the wind comes from.
People say the pollution is bad here. I’ve not surfed it. I’ve just been to watch on my way to breaks further north.
Matosinhos
Matosinhos is the Porto surf spot of choice for city locals. Wedged between the 15th-century Castle of Cheese (don’t ask!) and a wide breakwater, it’s linked to the town center by municipal metro.
There are actually two separate breaks here. The protected harbour wall is good when the rest of the surfing near Porto is blown out.
Then you’ve got the outer break that is almost always working but often packed with a line-up of locals.
There are TONNES of surf schools that offer lessons in Matosinhos, including some that offer pickup at hotels in and around Porto. We can highly reccomend Pura Vida, who have packages that start at like $50 per person.
>>We actually have a complete guide to surfing in Matosinhos– check it out
Surf spots to the south of Porto
South of Porto is a series of pretty famous surf towns that are basically the reason this region is even on the map. They’re nice and accessible by direct train and road from Porto itself and have a good variety of waves…
Keep going south and you end up in a land of pine and cork forests where the beaches are broken up by big concrete breakwaters. These can be EPIC if you know which ones to hit, offering huge, long right walls whenever there’s an nice NW swell in.
Esphino
Of all the surfing around Porto, Esphino is the one you’ve likely heard of before.
Arguably the most famous spot in all of northern Portugal, it’s a heavy, curling tube when working. Overheads bring zippy walls that quickly barrel from a breakwater going left to right.
Locals love it and demand first dibs. In summer, the crowd swells with tourists and a couple of surf rentals set up by the beach, though Espinho can be flat for days and days between June and August.
>>We actually have a complete guide to surfing in Esphino – check it out
Esmoriz
Lovers of classic Portuguese beach breaks will adore Esmoriz. A small town that’s tucked between a series of wide, forest-backed sands, it’s laced with peaks of all levels.
Beginners might want to head for the local surf schools, which offer starter lessons in the whitewash. Out back, good groundswells can bring peaky lefts and rights at different angles.
We like it here because a) it’s one of the least crowded spots very close to the city and b) the waves carry some good power, are wedgy, and fun.
Cortegaca
The small village of Cortegaca is linked to Porto by direct train.
Surrounded by pine forests and sandy dunes, it soon spills into the Atlantic on a wide beach taht seems to run for miles and miles on both sides.
There, you’ll catch a couple of reliable breaks. They’re kinda classic North Portuguese stuff: Big bombing beach breaks that are unsurfable over 8 foot but neat A-frames when under 5 and comboed up with an offshore.
The south side of town tends to pick up the heavier swells. Works on all tides. Go to the Surf At Night Surf School for rentals/lessons.
Praia do Furadouro Sul
The Praia do Furadouro Sul is a long, very wild run of beach that has waves basically every single month of the year. We’ll admit that it often lacks the shape and hollowness of southern waves in the Algarve and whatnot, but boy is it consistent.
On top of that, it’s sufficiently far from the city to usually be empty – or big enough for everyone to spread out. It’s the home of Marias Hostel & Surf, which offer 6-day packages including all you need – accom, rental, transport to the breaks.
Praia da Costa Nova (Aveiro)
Little Praia da Costa Nova is the beach that’s attached to the charming town of Aveiro, which sits about an hour’s train south of Porto itself.
It’s a great place to visit for culture, since it has an amazing medieval monastery and winding canals (they call it the Venice of Portugal).
The surf isn’t so great, but there are some unbusy beach breaks with a few patches of reef underneath them that are kinda fun but also a bit mushy most of the summer and then a total mess on the biggest winter days.
>>We have a complete guide to surfing in Praia da Costa Nova
Where to stay on a Porto surf trip
The Passenger Hostel / HostelWorldOne of the great joys of choosing Porto as your place to surf is that you get to enjoy one of the prettiest cities in Europe alongside a day on the waves.
The beach breaks of Matosinhos are just a metro ride away from the UNESCO center of the town. Meanwhile, there’s loads of surfing around Porto that’s reachable by local train and bus services.
The upshot? You could easily base your whole trip in the city itself and head out to hit the beaches.
Of course, you could also do it the other way around: Stay in a surf town near Porto and then travel into the city when you want some culture.
We prefer the latter option, actually, but we’d always prioritise having a morning surf and being in the countryside. If that’s more you then be sure to check out hotel options in places like Azurara or Esmoriz, which are both linked by public transport to the city but far enough away to feel more like real surf towns.
The hotels below are more for exploring Porto the city and venturing out to surf from there. I’ve stayed in this town quite a few times now, both on a budget and on not so much of a budget, and my fav pads would probably be…
- Ocean Porto – Beach House – This is the one if you can afford it/don’t mind being outside of Porto city. It’s basically a real cool boutique hotel that’s 5 mins away from Matasinhos and complete with a rack of free boards. The perfect thing for comboing surf with sightseeing.
- The Passenger Hostel – I’ve ticked off quite a few hostels here but The Passenger Hostel is the best of the bunch. It’s world-famous, actually, thanks to its location inside Sao Bento Train Station (which is where trains leave for some surf spots). It’s aesthetically on point, right down to the grand piano and windows overlooking the train platforms.
- Pestana Palácio do Freixo – Okay, so we’ve never managed the €300+ per night it costs in this palace, but we’re certain it’s worth it! Set on the banks of the Douro, it’s a eye-watering medley of Baroque spires and grand interiors that’ll leave you feeling like Portuguese royalty. There’s also an infinity pool overlooking the river! Oh, and Campanha train station is a short taxi away. From there you can easily reach the surfing near to Porto in the south – places like Esmoriz and Esphino.
Surf camps in Porto
A good way to ensure you get on the waves regularly during your trip to Porto is to go with a planned surf camp.
We remember our first jaunt here. We spent the first night partying, the second hungover, and the third sightseeing. We realized at the end that we’d done WAY less surfing than we intended.
A proper camp package will remedy that because they will have surf trips to local beaches, gear rental, and lessons if you want them, all planned and laid out from the get-go.
The only thing to remember is that most surf camps aren’t located in Porto itself, but rather in nearby beach towns – either to the north or south of town.
This option is about putting the surf first and the culture/nightlife second. There are a few that we can recommend:
- Golden Waves Surf Lodge – We love this camp to the south of the city. A great villa-style home near the beaches of the northern Silver Coast, they offer hands-on tuition and a family-style vibe.
- Onda Pura – Stay in the Caruma Surf Hostel and surf every day with a local surf school. Based near the city and includes 5x days of surf lessons, breakfasts, and transport to and from the beach. A solid choice.
You can also check our guide to best surf camps in Porto right here. We also have a complete rundown of all the very best surf camps in Portugal, which offers info on the hottest surf camps from Porto in the north to Sagres in the south.
When to surf in Porto?
I’d say the late summer, autumn and late spring are the best overall times to surf in Porto. The winters here can be good but they can also bring huge storms that blow the coast out. Months like September are usually when you get the best combos of lighter winds and smaller, longer-period swells from the northwest, plus fewer people!
October – March
(Intermediates-Advanced surers)
Winter storms can bring heavier swells across the Atlantic and give the northern half of Portugal some big whacks of NW swell from about November onwards.
It can be BIG during this time but, if you’re willing to ride out some days where it’s just closeouts galore, there are gems to be had for more advanced surfers. That happens when colder E winds blow down from the mountains and groom up the NW sets.
Some beaches in the Costa Verde especially can hold over 8-10 foot and will be beautiful when that happens.
There’s increased rain and run-off, though, and that means the spots closer to the city will be more polluted. Have a car and drive north/south to find the best winter spots.
May – September
(Beginners-Intermediate)
The weather really comes into its own in the spring and summer months. Beaches start to sparkle. Daytime highs in the 20s and 30s become common.
The ocean even warms a little and it’s basically 3/2 territory from around June onwards, though a lot of people opt to stick with the 4/3 throughout the whole year here.
This is the perfect season for beginners and intermediates who are looking to improve on smaller waves. Dominant swells usually are westerly or NW but there are plenty of south days too, all of which work nicely on the Costa Verde and the Silver Coast.
It’s unlikely to be MASSIVE in the spring and summer like it is in winter but there is a chance. I’d say the most common sort of thing is a mid-period western swell of about 4-8 foot.
What level is the surf in Porto?
That really all depends…
The seasons here play a big part. Just as down south in learn-to-surf towns like Sagres and Aljezur, the winter means much bigger and more powerful waves. Northern Portuguese surfers actually think of themselves are tougher nuts on account of the cold water and the more challenging conditions that they get between November and March.
In our opinion, it’s more that the northern beaches here are more prone to heavy winds because they aren’t as protected and quickly turn into closeouts. Either way, we’d recommend having at least some surf experience if you’re heading to Portugal to surf in the middle of winter.
The summer ushers in the easiest time to surf. After some bigger days in spring, the waves from May to August are generally excellent for learners. There’s loads of whitewash (the bubbly, foamy stuff you’ll be starting on) thanks to the shape of the big, wide beaches to the south of the city.
Meanwhile, the points to the north tend to get better peeling waves that aren’t too big in the warmer months – great for longboarders. That means spring, summer, and the start of fall really do cater to all levels.
Where to rent surfboards in Porto?
Matosinhos beach is the place to go to find surfboard rentals in Porto.
It’s the closest area to the city center with its own array of surf shops and outfitters.
Av. Norton de Matos runs parallel to the beach. Check there for rental outlets that offer day-long or week-long hires. In the summer, there are also likely to be pop-up surf rentals on the beach itself.
If you’re planning on heading further afield, to one of the surf spots around Porto (read about them all above), then you shouldn’t have to lug a board from the city to the waves.
Most of the local breaks are near a smaller surf town. Espinho, Esmoriz, Azurara – they all have surfboard rentals of their own.
However, just be ready to pay a little extra than you’re used to. The lack of competition in the smaller surf towns means the rentals here are among the priciest in the country – we paid something like $55 for just two hours last time we rented.
Travel essentials for Porto
From getting to Porto to getting to the surf breaks to what there is to do off the surf, this section has everything you need to know about traveling to the city.
Where exactly is Porto?
Porto is in northern Portugal. It straddles the Douro River as it wiggles from the winelands in the east to meet the Atlantic Ocean. Porto is the capital of the vast Norte Region, which spreads from the Silver Coast all the way to the borders with Spain and Galicia.
More generally, Porto is one of the westernmost cities in all of Europe. It’s flanked by the Green Coast – to the north – and the aforementioned Silver Coast – to the south. Both are pretty great surf regions with ample beaches to get stuck into and swell virtually all year round.
How to get to Porto?
It’s never been easier to get to Porto. More and more low-cost airlines are now making the hop across to the town. They can whisk you from all over Europe to the sandy beaches and Porto surf spots.
Ryanair, easyJet, WizzAir and others all fly into the Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport on the north side of the city. We almost solely use Google Flights and Omio to search for our tickets. We think they’re the best one for getting the cheapest rates from both OTAs (online travel agencies) and airlines directly.
Portugal has a really efficient train network. One of the most beautiful lines you can take is straight up from Lisbon to Porto. The first departure from the capital is at 6am and the journey takes around 3 hours on average. Surfboards might need to be stowed in the designated luggage compartments (check ahead if you’re bringing yours). Train tickets cost around €24 each way. Again, the very best way to book trains in PT is using Omio. It helps avoid the irritating local booking site.
Bus routes connect Porto to Lisbon and oodles of other European destinations. You can grab the Rede Expressos link from the Sete Rios or Oriente station and arrive in around three hours from the capital. FlixBus offers longer-haul connections from all across Europe but be sure to register your surfboard for special carriage when you book.
How to get around Porto?
Getting around Porto is easy. An uber-efficient tram network links most of the major districts. But the town is also walking friendly, especially in the old area along the riverfront.
Local trains link to most of the surfing around Porto. They can be caught at Sao Bento station in the center. Alternatively, private surf trips offer shuttles out to the remoter beaches that lie to the north.
Anyone traveling to and from Porto surf spots with their board in tow should be sure to check the rules on public transport. It’s not common to see boards on the trains, and rules regarding this change year-on-year. Remember that most surf towns in the region have their own rental outlets and surf shops. You could just pick up your ride when you arrive.
Do I need a car to surf in Porto?
Nope. Not at all.
We won’t pretend that a car hire won’t make getting to less-busy breaks easier. It definitely will. It’s just that Porto is one of the few cities in Europe with a surf break actually within city limits. You can get there on the tram even.
On top of that, there are pretty great train links to most of the surf spots using the trains that go out of Sao Bento.
If you did rent a car then there are upsides. You could drive all the way up to what are probably the remotest surf breaks in Portugal, close to the Spanish border.
And you’d be free to hit Espinho and the other breaks to the south whenever you wanted. Car hires are cheap too – we use RentalCars to book ours and usually pay something like 300 EUR/month!
The downside to a car hire is that parking in the city can be a nightmare. And that’s not even mentioning the driving you’ll need to do on the steep, cobbled roads.
Things to do in Porto when you’re not surfing
Porto is a pretty amazing place.
Laced with cobbled lanes on the side of the Douro River, the second-largest city in Portugal is steeped in history and culture. You can come to taste potent port wines. You can head in to explore grand imperial-era castles.
There’s also salt cod to sample and handsome tiled churches to see in the acclaimed Ribeira neighborhood – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We’d need a whole 20 pages to list the must-do things here so we’ll leave that to the Lonely Planet people and just get to the handful of activities and sites we would not miss. Kinda’ like our local secret tips if you like…
- Food and wine tour – We joined this fricking amazing food tour last time we were in Porto. Yea, you learn loads about the local dishes of north Portugal but the main draw was that it was super boozy and therefore super fun.
- Douro Valley – The Douro Valley is epic. It runs east inland from Porto and it’s got to be one of the most beautiufl corners of the country – think rolling green hills and vineyards as far as the eye can see. If you have time to spare, take the car and stay up there a few nights. If not, just do a day trip from Porto by cruise.
- Sunset at the Jardim do Morro – This park is right next to the iconic Ponte Luis bridge and it’s perfect for sunset. Grab a couple of Sagres beers from a shop nearby and enjoy the view.
Currency, spending and ATMs in Porto
Porto uses the euro (€).
It’s always wise to avoid money changers in the Ribeira neighborhood, the Old Town, and the airport. They’re often rip offs.
ATMs are literally everywhere in the city and most of the surf towns around Porto have thier own cash points, so you should be able to get by with just a travel card (we reccomend the Wise one).
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!
