The 7 Best Surf Hostels in Portugal [Updated 2025]
Surfing on a budget? Look no further than our guide to the 7 best surf hostels in Portugal, a guide to the best low-cost stays for backpacking surfers and shoestring travelers.
Surf hostels are about two things: Bargain beds and proximity to the beaches.
Thankfully, Portugal – with its 568 miles of shoreline on the Atlantic and a cost of living that’s WAYYY lower than just about anywhere else in Western Europe (beers for a euro?) – provides the perfect stomping ground for accomodations that want to fit that bill.
Yes, this country of ceaseless waves is now riddled with fantastic surf camps. They’re great options, offering planned weeks of surf tuition, yoga, and board and lodging. But they can cost quite a chunk.
That’s where our guide to the best surf hostels in Portugal comes in. We’ve scoured from Sagres to Porto on the hunt for the most incredible low-cost coast lodges for shoestring surfers.
We think you’ll be positively pleased with what’s on the menu. Some of the finest surf hostels in Europe are on the menu here, with in-house surf tutoring, board rental, nightly events, and locations smack dab in the middle of seriously lovely surf towns.
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 just one part of our complete overall guide to surfing in Portugal
Quick-click links to our top surf hostels in Portugal
- WOT Ericeira Surf Hostel [Ericeira] – Best all-round surf hostel in Portugal we reckon
- The Salty Pelican Surf & Yoga [Peniche] – Best for beginner surfers
- Amazigh Design Hostel [Alejzur] – Stylish design in the middle of what we’d say is the most enchanting surf town in Portugal
- Laneez Ericiera [Ericeira] – The most comfortable dorm rooms of all
- Sagres Sun Stay – Surf Camp & Hostel [Sagres] – Bargain beds close to arguably the best coastline for surfing in the height of winter.
- Good Feeling Hostel & Guesthouse [Vila do Bispo] – For staying inland but surfing the Algarve each day
- Hostel and Surfcamp 55 [Ericeira] – Sheer overload of surf lessons (over 22 hours in 6 days!)
Looking for more inspo? Check out our pick of the top surf camps in Portugal and the top surf hotels in Portugal. We also have a separate guide that focuses in on the best surf hostels in Lisbon
Location: Ericeira
The WOT Ericeira Surf Hostel is celebrated as one of the best surf hostels in Portugal due to its exceptional location in Ericeira – you might just know that as a designated World Surfing Reserve, with something like 20+ spots on a coastline that’s just as many miles.
The property is cut into the hillside about 600 meters back from Praia do Sul and only a short walk from the bumping bars, tapas joints, and Portuguese tavernas of Ericeira’s lovely old heart. The upshot? You can walk to the surf, but you can also stroll in for nightlife and a taste of proper culture and gastronomy.
To be honest, it’s like the designers of WOT were playing some 1990s Surf Hostel Simulator game. They’ve got the pool. They’ve got the chillout deck area. Hell, they even have an on-site skate ramp for surf-skate practice and halfpipe showdowns. It’s tailor-made for people like us.
Dorms range up to 12 beds but you can also get 4-bed mixed dorms and 6-bed female-only options, all of which come with neat pod beds that let you slide back that curtain for extra privacy.
Once you’ve booked, it’s a cinch to add on planned surf lessons. Just rock up to reception and ask to join either group ($45) or private ($120). There are also nightly pub crawls, BBQ evenings, and karaoke nights.
Location: Peniche
We’d heard rumors of a super-cool new surf hostel that was taking Peniche-Baleal by storm, so simply HAD to drop by The Salty Pelican Peniche last year (end of 2023) to see what everyone was talking about.
It was impressive stuff, which ranks this one as the top newcomer to the scene. It’s only a couple of years old, meaning everything is brand spanking new, from the garden pool to the rooftop yoga space.
Most enticing is the prime position. You’re looking at dorms literally steps across the road from Praia Baleal Sul, a beach which is like a sliding scale of difficulty, with complete beginner spots at its top end that get progressively more challenging as you go south – can you think of a better spot to learn and progress?
Inside this one, you can expect a selection of 4-bed female dorms, mixed dorms, and rooms, all of which are stylishly done with a touch of the Mykonos chic. The evening gathering on the rooftop are great prep for the Peniche nightlife. The sea-view rooms have stunning vistas of the Atlantic and Baleal town on its rocky island.
Location: Aljezur
Imagine bedding down in an old Algarvian cottage under the gaze of a Moorish castle, just 15 minutes’ drive from the uber-reliable beaches of Arrifana (one of the top spots in Portgual for beginners) and Carrapateira (a great choice for upper intermediates and above).
Well, that’s precisely what’s on offer from the Amazigh Design Hostel in the heart of old Aljezur, a special, special place that’s undoubtedly up there with the most unique and best surf hostels in Portugal.
We should start with a mention of the style. True to the name, the pad channels a lovely minimalist character, with whitewashed walls and toned-down bathrooms throughout. There’s an air of the Bauhaus about it, plus the gorgeous views of the red-tiled roofs of Aljezur New Town through the front-facing windows.
A shared kitchen, an outdoor terrace, and laundry facilities take care of all the basics. And they do regular surf packages that match you with seasoned local instructors and surf guides that can take you to the local spots.
Location: Ericeira
The Laneez Ericeira Surf House is one of our top picks for the best surf hotels in Portugal this year. But, in addition to those chic doubles and surf apartments, they’ve still got a couple of mixed dorms. And they’re not your run-of-the-mill dorms, either.
These bad boys are stylishly decorated bunk rooms with plush lounge chairs, chez lounge chilling spaces, and whitewashed walls from top to bottom. There’s not a creaky Ikea metal bed in sight. It’s more like being in a family room in a hotel. They even have sea views that include visions of the rolling waves under the rocks just below the hostel here.
(There’s also a separate surf villa located about a5-10 minutes’ walk up a hill from the OG site that has its own multi-bed dorm. That’s just as stylish and airy, and boasts lovely views of the Ericieran shoreline.)
So, those are where you’ll be staying, but what about when it’s time to surf? Laneez has a team of in-house instructors that run guided lessons every single day throughout the main seasons. They’ll set you back around $48 (45 EUR) per person but are maxed out at a 1:4 instructor to student ratio and, seriously, are some of the best in town.
Later on, head back to the pad to chill on the terrace and watch the sunset before enjoying a BBQ and a hangout sesh with the other guests.
Location: Sagres
If you’re not into booking complete packages that have all your lessons and whatnot pre-organized, then a simple accommodation-only stint at the Sagres Sun Stay – Surf Camp & Hostel is sure to bring plenty of great surfing. We choose this as our standout go-it-alone Algarve surf camps or a few reasons…
First, it’s in Sagres. That’s perfect for accessing both the south-facing shores around Luz and Lagos, which can be epic on HUGE winter-swell days. But it’s also great for hitting the beaches that run north towards Arrifana, which are better when it’s small and almost always have something worth surfing.
Second, the pad itself is well-rated and it ticks all the boxes for a budget-surf stay in one of the most consistent surf towns in the country. There’s a pool in a shared deck area that’s perfecto for chilling as a group. You can pick between dorm and double options. There’s even a dedicated surf locker room like it’s some sort of summer ski hotel. We love it.
Good Feeling Hostel & Guest House
Location: Vila do Bispo
A small and utterly charming hamlet on the fringes of the southern surf town of Vila do Bispo (the hottest part of Portugal, no less) is the setting for highly-rated Good Feeling Hostel & Guesthouse.
There, it spreads over a few olive tree-clad hills on the side of the village, offering a pool surrounded by a sunny deck and a series of doubles and dorms in charming Algarvian cottages.
What we love about this one is precisely that it isn’t right on the coast or in the heart of some uber-lively surf town. You’ll probably need a car to get to it and don’t expect rollicking nightlife and pub crawls. Instead, enjoy morning yoga under the shade of native orange trees and plenty of chillout time reading and relaxing on the bean bags.
When you do want to surf, it’s not far; not far at all. Just hop in the car and head 10 minutes to Castelejo Beach or 20 minutes to Praia da Bordeira (better for more advanced surfers). The beginner sands of Tonel and Mareta are also only 15 minutes’ drive away, down in nearby Sagres.
Hostel and Surfcamp 55
Location: Ericeira
Hostel and Surfcamp 55 stands out for two key reasons: affordability and an extensive amount of surfing.
Focusing first on the volume of surfing offered, participants in the 7-day/6-night package receive an impressive nine 2-2.5-hour lessons. This level of instruction surpasses what many other surf camps in Ericeira and across Portugal provide. Moreover, the camp’s proximity to Praia da Baleia (also known as Praia da Sul), just a couple of streets away, allows for ample opportunities for free surfing. This beach offers breaks suitable for all levels of surfers.
When it comes to value, the camp’s price of $706 for potentially over 22 hours of guided surfing, excluding additional free surfing time, is exceptionally competitive. Even if the fee only covered the cost of renting the necessary gear, it would still be considered a steal.
The compromise for this deal is the shared accommodation in a true hostel setting. However, this isn’t necessarily a downside, as the hostel boasts high ratings for its spaciousness, cleanliness, and overall positive atmosphere.
Do I need a car hire to surf in Portugal?
Some of the hostels we talk about here are in surf towns that are super-easy to reach by public transport. They include the most popular spots of Ericeira and Peniche (including Baleal), both of which are served by buses from Lisbon multiple times per day.
There are other places – the Algarve, Aljezur, Vila do Bispo, and Sagres – that are doable on public transport or taxi transfers but are a whole load better when you have your own car.
We’d also say this: It’s worth checking. Shoulder-season rates for car hires in PT aren’t that high (we recently dropping $120 for two whole weeks for a car that fit 2x boards). We use RentalCars to compare and book (mainly because they often offer late cancellations, which can be 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!
