Praia Grande, Portugal – Surf Guide & More
Praia Grande, Portugal, is among the most gorgeous and most surf-reliable beaches in Lisbon. Yes, it’s just shy of an hour’s drive from the city, so really it’s on the very fringes of what the capital has to offer, but that’s actually one of the draws – it’s way less crowded that places like Carcavelos, or the Costa Caparica.
More than that, it’s a stunner. You come here to get a real fix of central Portuguese coastline – the cliffs rise up behind, dunes roll down to the shore, and the beach has that trademark PT hue of golden-cream. It’s a really nice spot and I won’t have anyone say any different.
In terms of conditions, Praia Grande has a few faces, all determined by swell. It’s not complicated stuff – this is a whole run of what this region does best: Punchy beach breaks. That said, on big days, they can be monsters. On smaller days, they are great for even complete beginners, just as the steady stream of surf camps/schools shows.
Personally, I see Praia Grande as a great first stop on a road trip running north from Lisbon. That or a second stop after Praia do Guincho further south. Park up, surf – there’s always something – then press on towards Ericeira.
Alternatively, you could bed down in nearby Praia das Macas, a very chill fishing town to the north that has some nice hotels and seaside bars. It’s a great base for surfing all the beaches around here, and a lovely spot to wake in.
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Where is Praia Grande?
Praia Grande is on the coast between Ericeira and Lisbon. It’s about an hour’s drive north of the city, and just a little less than that if you come straight from Lisbon airport, which is what I usually do.
I’d highly recommend hiring a car to get here, not just because public transport to the beach itself is a little limited. It’s more that this beach is best seen as one spot in the middle of like 20 – you can drive this coast and get loads of amazing waves, but a car will be required.
The good news is that hires in Portugal aren’t that pricy any more. I tend to use DiscoverCars to search as they’ve proved the cheapest recently – I got a 2-week hire for like 200 EUR in 2024.
The surf in Praia Grande
Praia Grande Portugal is a long, highly-exposed beach break that sums up the Silver Coast really. It gets loads of swell all year round, and almost always has some sort of wave no matter the season.
Of course, that means it can get huge in the winter when the big NW pulses come through, and when that happens it will close out and can get mental.
The whole place relies on a series of sandbanks that are often very good after settling after the long winter to give shape to the waves, though they can change from month to month, so there’s no hard and fast rule about what you’ll get.
A small reef section sits at the far northern end of the beach under the swimming pool. That can fire off some nice right peelers on a NW swell when the tide is low but it’s not a wave that makes headlines. Most folks come for classic PT beach breaks – they are punchy, reliable, and all-round good fun.
There’s a whif of localism here – you’re too close to Lisbon for there not to be. But a good surf-school contigent througout the summer means that the vibe in the water stays international for the most part.
We should say that Praia Pequena, the next bay over to the north, is often combined with Praia Grande but they are quite different. Praia Pequena has more reef underfoot but that offers up a nice A-frame wave with long lefts especially. The spot is often less busy and has better wind protection, though the local do prefer it, so that localism counter cranks up. A great wave, though.
Other surf spots near to Praia Grande
While Praia Grande is considered a part of the Lisbon surf area, it’s also kinda the southernmost end of the SIlver Coast, and that means it’s the beginning of arguably Europe’s most consistent surf coast.
North from here, you’ll hit places lile Magoito beach, which herald the start of the Ericiera beaches, then there’s Peniche, and Foz – it basically doesn’t end.
Honestly, one of the most solid surf-trip ideas you can do is rent a car and drive the coast here up and down. It will be spot after spot, surf town after surf town. All awesome. Secenery to back it up too.
Here’s a quick glimpse at some of the places that sit to the north Praia Grande…
- Ericiera – The most famous surf town in Portugal probably. There are like 20 spots in less coastal mileage here, with a lovely old fishing village center. You’ll also find some of the very best surf camps in the country in Ericiera. It’s a great choice for everyone, really, though expect crowds.
- Magoito – A more remote bay that’s even further north from Lisbon with a big reef section that can fire off good rights.
- Praia das Macas – This is the main town for visiting Praia Grande. Stay here and surf Grande each day. It’s chill, it’s fun, it’s pretty. It beats Lisbon IMO.
Here are some spots south of Praia Grande…
- Praia do Guincho – More of the same punchy Central Coast beach break is on offer at Guincho, though the closeness to both Cascais and Lisbon means its often a bit busier.
- Cascais – The town that really crowns the Estoril coast is this lively casino-nightlife hub. It’s glitzy and it’s fun in the peak summer. It’s beaches are really for sunbathing, but drive 10 mins one way and you get Carcavelos, and a bit the other and you can hit Guincho. A great base if you want surf and nightlife. Some great surf camps too.
- Carcavelos – You’re talking like 40 minutes’ drive away now, and closer to LIsbon, so kinda defeats the point of going north to Grande. Still, Carca is worth knowing about because it’s probably the most famous break in Lisbon as a whole – strong beach breaks that like huge NW swells or SW summer swells, and a right hander that can barrel on the outside.
When to surf in Praia Grande?
There are waves all round at Praia Grande. It’s one of the most consistent spots in the country, because the NW orientation means it gets hit by literally anything coming through those main swell channels in the Atlantic.
However, I would say that winter here can be brutal. Big, heavy, slabby, and just downright unpleasant for most surfers. The key times are fall and spring, when the winds slacken a touch and so do the swells. It’s better then for good intermediate surfers who prefer longer walls to have fun on that just massive double overheads.
For beginners, it has to be summer. Simple as that. June-August is a great time to surf Grande, as most of the local surf camps and schools will be open then and the swells tend to drop hugely in size and power. That’s not to say there aren’t big days then. There will be, but generally it’s a better time.
What to do in Praia Grande?
I rarely come to Praia Grande for anything other than the surf. But actually it’s a fine spot to base yourself for a few other things. Number one: Check out the awesome sea pool at the north end of the beach. Number two: Sintra is soooo close!
- The ocean pool – A 100-meter-long saltwater pool sits at the north end of Praia Grande. It’s really awesome, especially when swells get up and start crashing against the rocks below. A swim here is a joy, so is just a day’s chilling looking down at the beach and the surf. It’s actually a part of the Arribas Hotel – entry is 15 EUR or 25 EUR, depending on season.
- Day trip to Sintra – If you haven’t been yet, then Sintra is 100% worth it. A UNESCO site filled with palaces and castles, it’s in the mountains high above Praia Grande. Takes a day or half a day. Best done with a guide.
Where to stay in Praia Grande?
Praia Grande doesn’t have loads and loads of hotels itself. There’s one spectacular spot, but I usually opt to stay in nearby Praia das Macas. That means you get the amenities and vibe of a town (with all the good sunset spots for a Sagres) but are still only a matter of minutes’ drive from the beach.
HOWEVER, there are some lusssh places set just behind the beach too. Here are options options…
- Arribas Sintra Hotel – This is home to that saltwater pool I mentioned before. Okay, so it looks a bit like a beached cruise ship, but the hotel really is very nice. Great views, that amazing pool, and super lux rooms. Spend a night if the budget allows. Just for views!
- Coastal Charm Chalet – This is a bloody lovely stay for groups. It’s a whole villa – and a really, really nice one – set above Praia Grande. Spend morning surfing, and the rest of the day sitting beside your private pool drinking Sagres. Heaven.
- WOT Ocean Soul [in Praia das Macas] – This budget choice has a real surf-backpacker feel to it. Low cost, great social calendar, and amazingly reviewed (currently 10/10 on HostelWorld!)
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!
