Vila Nova de Milfontes surf flies under the radar, but the town is a good base for exploring the upcoming Alentejo and the famous western Algarve alike, so be sure to check it out.
An introduction to Vila Nova de Milfontes surfing
Vila Nova de Milfontes is a pretty stunning spot. A cluster of red-tiled cottages that string along the Mira River in the heart of the Alentejo coast, it’s at once sleepy but charming, traditional yet coming alive with a nascent surf scene. There’s a lot to be said for swapping out a stay in the more popular Algarvian surf towns of Sagres or Aljezur for a trip here – the beaches are emptier, the swell is just as reliable, and the vibes are great.
Anyway, enough gushing. Let’s get to the detail. Vila Nova de Milfontes, or just Milfontes as the locals tend to say, is right on the doorstep of a series of really great beaches. Our compadres over at Rapture Camps, who now have a surf camp in Milfontes, have called it the “hidden gem of Portguese surfing” and we can see why. There’s excellent exposure to 180 degrees of Atlantic swell channel on nearby Malhao Beach and Furnas, but also hidden reef from Barcas down to Brejo Largo.
There’s lots for all levels, but we’d probably say that the exposure and shape of the coast here lends itself more to intermediate surfers than the greater Algarve. It’s also perfect for those who don’t want to be rammed in a line up with 20 other surf schools.
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
Vila Nova de Milfontes at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Vila Nova de Milfontes surf?
Where is Vila Nova de Milfontes?
Vila Nova de Milfontes is nestled on the stunning Alentejo coastline in Portugal. It’s one of the hot properties of the Portuguese travel scene rigth now – a region that’s seemingly got it all, from inland vinyards and mountains to wild beaches, only without the booming crowds just yet.
The town is actually on the southern side of Alentejo, just 19 miles shy of the regional border with the Algarve. Lisbon is about two hours’ drive to the north if you take the big motorway.
For surfing, it’s worth knowing that Milfontes itself actually sits along a the Mira River, so you will need to drive some to get to the best surf beaches in the area. Malhao Beach, for example, is like 15-20 mins to the north.
How to get to Vila Nova de Milfontes?
The town of Vila Nova is roughly two hours south of Lisbon and about 1h40 north of Sagres, so it’s accessible from both the Algarve Airport in Faro and the main international airport in the capital.
We’d almost always reccomend renting a car to be honest. This part of PT isn’t as well connected with public transport as the Algarve or the Estoril Coast, or even the long Silver Coast. Going without wheels is doable, becuase there are local buses, and would be the pick if you’re joining a surf camp like Rapture or something. But it’s better to have your own ride and take that lovely – albeit slightly longer – coast road through the cork forests from Lisbon.
(Side tip: We use RentalCars to search for wheels in Portugal. It’s cheap, it’s reliable, and they offer good cancellation most of the time. From Lisbon Airport, we love Centauro. They might be popular but they have some of the best rates and haven’t yet given us hassle about any car hire we’ve done). You can search below…
Vila Nova de Milfontes surf spots
While Vila Nova de Milfontes may not be as well-known as some of the more famous surf spots in Portugal like Nazaré or Peniche, this one still sits on the northern cusp of the famous western Algarve spots (probably our favorite region in the whole country) and within reach of the upcoming Alentejo, which has pounding beach breaks that can get really, really good.
To put it another way, there’s LOADS of surf around here. You just gotta’ know where to look. Here’s our guide to the spots, starting in the north and finishing in the south.
Sines
The beaches around Sines that are near Milfontes are pretty good for surfers. They tend to be narrower, with high cliffs on either side, and the swell squashed in between rock stacks. But reliability is a strong point, and there are all sorts of little nooks and crannies that can be good when those HUGE winter swells kick through and you want something smaller but CBA to drive Algarve way.
We have a complete guide to surfing in Sines – click here to learn more
Praia do Malhao
Praia do Malhao is one of those ridicualously versatile Portuguese beach breaks. You know, the sort that run the length and breadth of this country, from the Algarve to the Silver Coast. We’ve seen it go from overhead slab to knee-high hotdogging waves in the space of just a day or two as the swell angles and wind changes.
All that’s helped to make it the star of the show down in Vila Nova de Milfontes. Surf schools and private surf tutors, plus a great cohort of Alentejo locals, are always in attendance, so don’t expect to be alone.
There’s plenty of space though – Praia do Malhao is like 1.5 miles long. Crucially, it’s divided into two sections, with the southernmost run getting the best protection from any S winds and a bit less of the head-on NW swell hit. AKA it’s usually a bit smaller down there.
The northern side of Malhao can actually be epic on certain days. Look out for offshore easterlies (usually after November) and good W in the swell. Then, lines of A-frames that are hollow on the left and the right can peel into shore, and they hardly require a paddle out.
Good, fun, solid beach break action that will keep you – and all levels – going for however long you want to go.
Praia das Furnas
Praia das Furnas is the river beach that skirts south from the mouth of the Mira Riva just over the water from the town. Throughout the summer, it hardly has a wave at all, but there’s often a tiny little trickler that comes in to make it the place to go for classes with groms and families.
In the winter, it can get 2-3 or even up to 5 feet, but it’s rarely massive becuase of the angle of the sand, just bending into the mouth of the riverway a touch.
It’s the most sheltered spot on the coast, great for learning. Just watch out for swimmers!
Zambujeira do Mar
The way that Zambujeira do Mar sits on the high cliffs of the Alentejo reminds us a little of Biarritz. It’s that cool. The waves are heavy things though, with a beefy right stringing off the cliffs that’s not to be toyed with. Rumor has it the loacs really aren’t all that into seeing travelers drop by, especially since the coming of a huge music fest to Zambujeira. Try your luck, but as ever it’s your cheekbone!
We have a complete guide to Zambujeira do Mar (coming soon)
Step-by-step guide to planning your Vila Nova de Milfontes trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Vila Nova de Milfontes…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 camps in Vila Nova de Milfontes
To be honest, one of the main reasons that we went to all the trouble of writing a compelte guide to a town that’s not yet anywhere near the top of the list for surfing destinations in Portugal is because we think Vila Nova de Milfontes has one or two of the very best upcoming surf camps in the country right now.
We love a couple of things about them: 1) They’re chilled compared to the mass of surf camps packed into towns like Peniche. 2) They get access to all those empty Alentejo breaks. 3) They tend to be pretty in touch with local culture, offering wine tasting and the like alongside surf.
Here’s a quick look at them:
- Alentejo Surf Camp – There’s tons off surfing and loads of technical practice packed into the 8-day beginner course at this fantastic camp. You’ll stay in a villa and be like a family – eating together each night, sharing local wine and whatnot. It’s a cracking course and very good value for money when it comes to Portuguese camping.
- Rapture Surfcamp Portugal – We’ve already mentioned the good folk over at Raptive. They’ve got a lovely new pad in Milfontes with rooms in a traditional Alentejo villa and cheaper accom options in a hippy surf van. The program here is very much beginner orientated, and we can think of few camps that offer such comprehensive tuitrion to take you from whitewash to green waves.
We also have LOADS more picks for the best surf camps in Portugal, the Algarve, and other regions.
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 Vila Nova de Milfontes camp options? Search the whole shebang below right now and book in a few clicks.
Where to stay when surfing in Vila Nova?
If you choose to go it alone with your own wheels or are just dropping by Milfontes for a day on a cross-PT roady, then a hotel for a night is the best option. We have a soft spot for one or two in town, including…
- Selina Milfontes – A cracking, cracking rendition of the Selina brand that every digital nomad surfer out there has grown to love. The one at Milfontes has a riverfront location, a great bar, and even a hot tub overlooking the water. Niceee.
- Villa Eira – A better pick for couples or families wanting some chill time would be this charming aparthotel done in local styles. Rooms are comfy, service is great, and the beach is close – like 450 yards away. A car will be needed to get to surf though.
Step-by-step guide to planning your Vila Nova de Milfontes trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Vila Nova de Milfontes…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.
When to surf in Vila Nova de Milfontes?
The best time to surf in Vila Nova de Milfontes is in the autumn, between October and the end of November, but there’s also a sweet spot in the middle of spring, between April and May. Those times tend to see the most reliable daytime offshore winds, and have plenty of swell coming in because they’re either side of the winter storm season.
For beginners, we’d plump for the summer months here. The Alentejo is not short of swell. You can get chest-high sets in the middle fo June and July, no problem, so there will be plenty to learn on if you come then, and the weather will be gorgeous. Yes, the beaches might be busy but don’t worry too much because they’ll still be less busy than in the Algarve, or around Lisbon.
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!
