COMPLETE Sines Surf & Travel Guide 2026
Situated in the Alentejo region, Sines benefits from a unique geographical position that means it’s a pretty good option for surfers.
There are beaches here that face northwest, others that face southwest. That’s helps them hoover up almost anything the Atlantic throws thier way, and means there’s usually a spot where the winds blow offshore – a bit like Peniche does further north.
For the most part, you’re looking at long beaches that have shifting sandbanks up and down thier length. Lots of folks compare it to the Capraica near Lisbon, but we think the sands of Sines are superior becuase a) they don’t have the crowds and b) the banks are just better overall, with the potential to cook up semi-hollow walls at key spots.
I’ll also repeat: No crowds.
The other highlight of surfing in Sines is the untouched natural beauty of the Alentejo. The coastline here is adorned with golden sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, and crystal-clear waters, and most spots are waaaay emptier than what you find around Ericeira and Peniche.
Sines is home to a vibrant and welcoming – if nascent – surfing community. The beaches south of town (generally the better ones) now have surf schools and camps that cater to all levels.
Plus, there are a few pretty darn fantastic surf camps hidden away in the Alentejo mountains behind Sines that we think are among the best in the whole of Portugal.
Oh yea, and there’s the town itself…Sines offers myriad activities. Explore the town’s historical sites, such as the medieval castle or Vasco da Gama’s birthplace, and immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Portugal in the maze-like center, between its whitewashed cottages and seafood taverns. Charming.
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 guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Portugal
Sines surf at a glance
The good…
- Generally emptier line ups that elsewhere in Portugal
- Easy beach breaks for learners
- Gorgeous, untouched coastline
The bad…
- A few spots with nascent localism
- Some pollution in the area around town
What’s in this guide to surfing in Sines?
Sines surf spots
We’ll start north of town and work our way south.
That means starting in the area of Comporta, a town that’s pretty up and coming for its very picturesque beaches – though many aren’t great for surf becuase they actually face south.
South of town is where the gems are in the Sines area if you ask me – it’s there that you get beaches like Vieirinha, Aivados, and Malhao.
They’re all highly consistent sand-bottomed breaks broken up by reefs, and are the creme-de-la-creme of the Alentejo for sure.
Surf spots to the north of Sines
Praia do Carvalhal
Praia do Carvalhal is probably the best surf spot in the Alentejo region, let alone in the vicinity of Sines. It’s the long, arcing band of yellow sand that’s north of town. Gets great W swell action but works nicely on anytthing from SW thru NW. There are patches of reef that throw out semi-hollow walls on larger days. Summer is for learners, as the whole thing is one sandbank peak after the next, usually cruisy and very forgiving.
>>This is the main spot of Comporta, which we also have a full guide to surfing
Praia do Areão
Praia do Areão lacks a lot of quality because of the shape of the shoreline on the beaches north of Sines. The dunes drop really steeply here, sucking up any water into what’s little more than dumpy beach breaks. There are some sections of the beach where the shelf widens and a low tide can offer lippy little rides and A-frames, but it won’t work well on anything over 5 foot. At least we’ve never seen it. Pretty beach, though.
Surf spots to the south of Sines
Praia de Sao Torpes
Praia de Sao Torpes is consideredthe first of the main quality Alentejo spots south of town.
It’s a classic regional setup, with a long beach filtering away from a jetty wall at the north end. That north is end is where you’ll get the best waves, because there’s excellent shelter from oncoming N winds and the sets pluck up nicely into wedgy walls that will barrel when there’s good power coming through.
There’s a really small, fast left on the north side of the breakwater. But it’s the other side that steals the show, because a tubular right works about 100m shy of the concrete when it’s 6-foot+ and offshore. People come up from the Algarve when its working fine becuase it’s a seriously nice wave for upper intermediates and advanced riders.
Summer on Torpes is for the learners mainly. There’s girgling whitewash and ankle slappers that are great fun and great for practice, most of which break on sandbars further south from the jetty. Loads of surf schools about and the setting is lovely – think long runs of dunes topped with oats and a few enticing coastal villas.
Praia da Vieirinha
South of town, this beach break provides consistent waves suitable for all levels of surfers.
With a sandy bottom, it’s pretty forgiving and ideal for beginners and intermediate riders when its smaller in the summer months – notice how many of the beaches I’m saying that about here!
The best swells for Praia da Vieirinha come from the northwest and west directions. They’ll hook in nicely to give playful and fun waves that tend to string nicely off the reefs going left.
It works best at mid to high tide when the waves become more hollow and offer longer rides.
Porto Covo
Porto Covo is often a good choice in the middle of winter when the heaviest W or NW Atlantic swells push through to the Alentejo.
It’s got decent shelter from rocks on the north side and needs more power to work than the other exposed beaches that run north.
The town is also really lovely. It’s small, whitewashed, has some cobbled lanes, nice B&Bs, and is all a max of 20 minutes’ drive from all the best spots in Alentejo.
Where to stay? O Lugar – This charming local B&B is small and intimate, tucked into Porto Covo’s center.
>>We have a complete guide to lovely Porto Covo
Aivados Beach
South again from Porto Covo is this quintessentially southern Portuguese beach break. Clear water, consistent sandbar breaks, hardly any crowds, that’s the MO here!
You’ll need a car – or to be on a surf camp – to get here cos it’s dirt-track coast roads. There are some cobblestone reefy sections, but it’s mainly sand.
Works really well on mid-size, long-period swells, and is fantastic for learners when small.
Where to stay? Monte da Bemposta – A lovely country hotel with a pool about 2 mins driving back from the sands of Aivados.
>>Read a full guide to surfing at Aivados Beach
Malhao Beach
Malhao – yet another ultra-gorgeous stretch of gold-white sand south of Aivados is just as consistent as its compares.
In summer it’s a surf-camp favorite becuase it gets good warm-season swell and is easy to access from both Sines and the town of Vila Nova de Milfontes, which is sort of – along with maybe Porto Covo – the main surf town of the south Alentejo these days.
Good lefts can work on the reef-cliff collection at the south of Malhao but really it’s about the all-tide sandbars and the fact that there’s room for everyone.
>>Read more about beautiful Malhao Beach (coming soon)
When to surf in Sines?
The absaloute best season for surfing in Sines is probably the autumn, when good NW Atlantic sets come thorugh and keep the beaches all the way up to Comporta ticking over with good waves. The biggest swells will be midwinter, which is best for advanced surfers, but summer is best for complete learners.
Autumn (September to November)
As the summer crowds disperse and the weather begins to cool down, autumn emerges as one of the best seasons for surfing in Sines. This time of year offers consistent swells, with wave heights ranging from 3 to 6 feet the norm – great for the long beaches up near Comporta. The water is still pleasantly warm, around 18-20°C (64-68°F), so pack a 2/3 and booties.
Winter (December to February)
If you’re seeking bigger and more challenging waves, winter in Sines is the time for you. With swells reaching heights of 6 to 10 feet, this season attracts experienced surfers looking for the tubes and hollow shoulders. The water temperature lowers to around 15-17°C (59-63°F), so a good quality 4/3 or 5/3 is a must.
Spring (March to May)
As winter fades away, spring rejuvenates the crowds a little in Sines. This season brings consistent swells, ranging between 3 and 6 feet, perfect for surfers of all levels. The water temperature starts to rise again, reaching around 16-18°C (61-64°F), so you could ditch the thicker wetsuits.
Summer (June to August)
Summertime in Sines welcomes warm weather and smaller but fun waves. Although the swells may not be as consistent as in other seasons, wave heights range from 2 to 4 feet, making it perfect for beginners and intermediate surfers looking to improve. The water temperatures rise to a pleasant 19-21°C (66-70°F), so something thin or even no wetsuit is a possibility.
Where to stay when surfing in Sines?
Hotels in Sines
The way we see it, there are two options…
Either stay in Sines itself to be immersed in the history and the town buzz. Or stay outside so you’re closer to the surf spots.
Both have thier pluses, but a car rental is probably wise if you’re not based right by the beaches (in fact, we’d say it’s wise anyway, but espeically so if you’re going to be waking up in the town each morning and need transport out – unless you go for a surf camp [see below], who will sort transport for you).
- Casa do Médico de São Rafael – Our choice for those who want to stay in Sines town would be this lovely B&B on Vasco da Gama Beach. It’s close to the urban sands but also the center, has spacious suites and an onsite terrace bar with views of the Atlantic.
- Casa Calmar – THe out of town option. Still close to Sines itself (20 mins drive), but surrounded by farms, this whitewashed cottage come lux bolthole has a pool, amazing views, amazing design, and good proximity to beaches like Vieirinha and Sao Torpe – some of the best in the whole region!
Surf camps in Sines
We’ve made no secret of the fact that we think the Alentejo is a rising star on the surf scene of Portugal.
One of the reasons we say that is the growing number of pretty excellent camps in the region. There’s still not the overload of the Algarve or Peniche, but what is here tends to be very high quality.
Most of the options are based just south of Sines in or around Vila Nova de Milfontes.
- Rapture Surf Camp – Brought to you by well-known Rapture brand, this is a camp with a slight difference. It’s an eco camp that’s all about recconnecting with nature, which it manages fantastically with a location in the charming village of Odemira on the Vicentina Coast. There’s a dual focus on ecology and surf – three surf lessons and workshops in permaculutre, farming, and local crafts.
- Dreamsea Surf Camp – The Alentejo outlet of Dreamsea is just south of Sines, in Porto Covo. They run camps from May to September in glamping tents, which is pretty cool.
Should I rent a car for surfing in Sines?
Unless you’re planning on joining a surf camp, which is a great option for more beginner surfers who want surf lessons and transport all sorted for them, I highly reccomend getting your own car for any trip to Sines and south Portugal as a whole.
It’s just that there are so many breaks and many of them are cut off from towns by the coastal reserves, so the only way to the creme-de-la-creme of spots is with your own wheels, often on wonky dust roads.
The other thing – it’s possible to get some cheap car hires here. My last trip, I scored a ride for like $300 for three weeks, so it shouldn’t break the bank. Use Discover Cars to search first. I’ve usually found they do the cheapest deals.
Sines travel basics
Where is Sines?
Sines is a charming coastal town located in the Setubal District of Portugal.
Situated on the western coast, its in the rather stunning Alentejo region, which is a bit of an outlier on the PT surf scene since it’s not yet anywhere near as famous as the Silver Coast, the Algarve, or the Estoril Coast.
More generally, Sines town is sat on a headland that’s just under 2 hours’ drive south of Lisbon and about the same from the southwestern tip of the Algarve at Sagres.
How to get to Sines?
The nearest major airport to Sines is Lisbon Portela Airport, located approximately 160 km away. From the airport, you can take a direct train or bus to Sines, with a journey time of around 2 hours.
Sines is well-connected by rail to other big PT cities. From Lisbon, you can catch a train from Sete Rios station to Sines, with regular services throughout the day. The journey takes approximately 2.5 hours. We use Omio to book our train travel in Europe all the time – it’s the best online platform IMO.
Various bus companies operate routes to Sines from major cities like Lisbon, Porto, and Faro. The journey times vary depending on the departure location, but typically range from 2 to 4 hours. The bus station in Sines is conveniently located in the town center.
If you prefer the freedom of driving, Sines is easily reachable via the A2 motorway. The drive from Lisbon takes approximately 2 hours, while Faro is around 3 hours away. We actually think this is the very best option because you’ll almost certainly want wheels to explore the beaches north and south of town to surf – it’s the main joy of choosing the Alentejo region!
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!
