Is Nazaré, Portugal Worth Visiting Beyond the Big Waves?

When you plan your Portugal trip, one image is almost surely going to show up in your search results and make you go, “OMG!”

Gigantic waves crashing behind a bright red lighthouse.

That is Nazaré for you.

It certainly took my breath away when I was planning our 24-day Portugal trip with my son and husband.

I wanted to see the famous 70–80-foot waves for myself.

But there was one problem: when you plan around something created by Mother Nature, you can’t guarantee it will happen when you arrive.

As a budget traveller, I wondered: Is Nazaré, Portugal worth visiting beyond the big waves?

We visited in November, one of the best seasons for Nazaré’s famous waves, and I decided to spend two days there.

Spoiler alert: I didn’t see the gigantic waves.

So, was spending two days in Nazaré a waste of my time and money?

Definitely not!

After exploring the town, I realised Nazaré is about much more than giant waves.

Its centuries-old fishing culture, unique traditions, beautiful coastline, relaxed vibe and fantastic food surprised me.

If you’re wondering whether you should visit Nazaré even if you don’t see the famous waves, I’m here to show you why it deserves a place on your Portugal itinerary.

Plus, I got some quick tips for making the most of your time there.

Why is Nazaré worth visiting even if you can’t see the big waves?

1. Nazaré’s fishing culture gives it a character you won’t find in a typical beach town

Nazaré’s connection with the sea is much older than its reputation for giant waves.

You notice it in the food, the fish-drying racks and the people you meet around town.

As a seafood lover who was super happy in Portugal with fish and shrimp I was eating, I realised this while eating sardines at Aleluia

Whole grilled sardines served on a plate with lemon, showing a classic Portuguese seafood dish eaten across Portugal. — Hello Nazare Sardines – the best of all.

Aleluia Restaurante in Nazare, Portugal, with diners inside and traditional Portuguese pavement, with text on it that says Aleluia Restaurante — A cosy Nazare restaurant worth adding to your itinerary

They were silvery, slightly oily and had a richer flavour than the sardines I had eaten elsewhere in Portugal.

I ended up asking the restaurant staff why they tasted so different, and he explained how the nutrient-rich waters around the Nazaré Canyon support marine life.

Suddenly, the famous canyon meant something different to me.

I had been thinking of it only as the reason behind Nazaré’s huge waves.

Now I was looking at it from the perspective of the small fish on my plate.

You don’t have to eat seafood to appreciate this side of Nazaré.

My wife Sahana, a vegetarian who enjoys observing and learning local tradition loved Nazare too.

Nazare Portugal beach with a local woman drying fish on wooden racks beside the sea in traditional way — Nazare fish drying tradition is one sight you will remember

The town’s fishing traditions are still visible in everyday life, including the fish-drying racks along the beach and the people who continue to preserve these traditions.

That connection between the ocean, food and fishing culture is one of the reasons I found Nazaré worth visiting beyond the big waves

2. Nazaré’s traditions make it feel like a living town, not just a tourist destination

The other thing that surprised me about Nazaré was how visible its traditions still are in everyday life.

And none of them depend on the Atlantic producing giant waves.

I first noticed the colourful sete saias, or seven skirts, while walking through the lower town.

Nazare Portugal square with traditional Portuguese pavement, white buildings and a woman wearing traditional seven layered skirt walking through the centre — When we first met the woman in 7 layered skirt

Later, in Sítio, we met more women wearing them while selling local snacks.

Sitio market stall with lady wearing seven layered skirt selling dried nuts and local snacks beside the waterfront — Nazarena woman, 7 layered skirts and the snacks

One woman even explained the tradition to us, which made the clothing feel much more meaningful than something you simply photograph and move on from.

Traveller posing with a local vendor wearing seven layered skirt at a seaside market stall selling nuts and sweets in Nazaré, Portugal — We asked her for a photo and she was more than happy to pose 🙂

Local craftsman working at a wooden souvenir workshop in Nazaré, Portugal — The only one artist who makes Nazare miniature boats

Small colourful wooden fishing boat souvenir labelled Nazaré held in hand in Portugal — Nazaré wooden boat souvenir

I also found a tiny workshop where an elderly craftsman was making miniature versions of Nazaré’s traditional fishing boats by hand.

I bought one, and it remains one of my favourite souvenirs from Portugal.

These little encounters were part of what made Nazaré feel different to me.

You can come here for the waves, but you can also leave remembering the people, traditions and small details that have nothing to do with surfing.

3. Nazaré has a wilder side beyond its famous beaches

Nazaré may be famous for its giant waves, but the coastline surprised me for another reason.

Nazaré lighthouse at Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo on cliffs above crashing Atlantic waves — Nazare icon – Lighthouse

Nazare Portugal hillside path with stone steps, agave plants and views towards the coast — Nazare has plenty of pretty paths beyond the beach. PC: Unsplash

It has a much wilder side than I expected from a busy Portuguese beach town.

Around Monte São Bartolomeu, you can find forest trails, greenery and campsites.

Praia do Norte feels even more rugged, with thick vegetation along parts of the coast and a very different atmosphere from the main beach.

vacaywork author ashrith standing next to Veado statue with deer head and surfer body overlooking forest and north beach — Veado looking over Praia da norte and also Nazare forest

It was super pleasant to walk along and find smaller caves here.

I remember driving towards Nazare from Lisbon and thinking that I wasn’t approaching a typical beach destination at all.

The landscape felt more like a forest meeting the Atlantic.

So even if the ocean is calm when you visit, there is still a reason to explore beyond the main beach.

Your Nazaré experience doesn’t have to depend on seeing enormous waves crashing against the cliffs.

4. Nazaré has a pilgrimage history that has nothing to do with surfing

If you think Nazaré is mainly a place for surfers and beach lovers, its pilgrimage history might surprise you.

vacaywork author ashrith carrying his son walking in front of Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazareth — Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazareth – A beautiful church for tourists and a meaningful site for pilgrims

interiors of. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazareth showing azeulo tiles, gold cladded dome ceiling — The church interior is equally beautiful

What I liked was seeing this history sitting alongside modern Nazaré.

You have pilgrims, locals, surfers and tourists sharing the same streets and squares.

Nazare Portugal coastal trail with rocky ground, ocean views and a young hiker walking beside the cliffs — Hikers and surfers flock to Nazare in November

The town has long been associated with the cult of Our Lady of Nazaré, and the Sanctuary and Chapel of the Memory are still an important part of Sítio.

If you visit in September 2nd week, you can even see the grand festival of ” Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Nazare,” an annual religious pilgrimage and festival honouring Our Lady of Nazareth.

religious procession with women carrying a flower-covered virgin Mary statue through the streets
Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Nazare, — Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Nazare. PC: Depositphotos

The story of Dom Fuas Roupinho, who was said to have been saved from falling off the cliff while chasing a deer, is woven into the town’s identity.

azulejo on house wall showing Dom Fuas Roupinho chasing a deer on horseback and virgin Mary saving her in Nazare — Sitio houses have religious Azeulos showing religious story of Dom Fuas Roupinho,

You don’t have to be religious to appreciate that.

For me, the pilgrimage tradition gave Nazaré a depth that I wouldn’t have expected from a town best known around the world for giant waves.

If you’re interested in history and culture, Nazaré has another layer worth seeing beyond the huge waves.

5. Nazaré still feels like a real Portuguese town despite being famous

One reason I enjoyed Nazaré was that it felt lived-in rather than built entirely for tourists.

Wavy patterned cobbled street in Nazaré beside the beach, lined with small pastel houses with clay tiled roofs and hills in the background — The cobelled streetts represent big waves of Nazare

With pastel-coloured houses and colourful balconies on either side of the street, many of the roads seemed to end right at the ocean.

Pastel houses in Nazaré with conical towers and worn cast iron balconies, showing the weathered character of the old town — These weathered houses give Nazaré its distinctive character

Row of ivory white houses in Nazaré with colourful louvred windows and matching balconies along a flat, easy to walk street — A quieter side of Sitio away from the beach

It felt like I was walking through a painting at times.

Even though the lower town and Sítio have plenty of visitors, you still see people going about their everyday lives.

That feels very different from Óbidos, where some parts of the old town can feel almost entirely geared towards tourists.

I also liked how quiet Nazaré became in the evening.

Unicroissant cafe on Rua Sub Vila in Nazaré at night, with an empty cobbled street and traditional iron lamps lighting the way — Unicroissant cafe, a famous cafe where a surfer holds a croissant was closed by 7PM

Like most parts of Portugal, restaurants and eateries would shut by 7PM in Nazare too except near beach front promenade.

It was this relaxed, lived-in atmosphere that made me enjoy Nazaré better.

6. Nazaré offers adventure even if you are not a surfer

Nazaré’s reputation may revolve around big-wave surfing, but you don’t need to be a surfer to add a little adventure to your trip.

Two young teenagers learning to surf on boards at Praia do Norte Beach in Nazaré on a sunny day — Learning to surf at Nazaré makes for a memorable beach day. PC: Depositphotos

You can try beginner-friendly surfing lessons. There were kids, learning it when we went!

If you are even more an adrenaline junkie, book a jet-ski experience with an instructor.

I booked a jet-ski experience and then lost my nerve after watching another tourist go out. I still regret cancelling it!

Tourist riding with a professional surfer through the waves at Praia do Norte in Nazaré — A chance to ride the famous waves with a pro on jetski

Or explore the surrounding trails by bike or e-bike.

We saw plenty of cyclists riding up and down Lighthouse road actually.

A cyclist riding uphill along a scenic roadside with hills and town views in Nazare countryside, Portugal. — Hello cyclists- Uphill

These experiences are not about waiting for a record-breaking wave, although weather and sea conditions still matter.

So if you want more than sightseeing, Nazaré can give you that too.

7. Nazaré is easy to explore by foot

Another reason I liked Nazaré was how easy it was to get around by foot once we arrived.

Vacaywork author Ashrith Shetty standing with his son in a stroller on the Lighthouse Road, with the Atlantic Ocean behind them — Lighthouse Road is an easy walk with beautiful ocean views

Narrow cobbled streets in Sítio, Nazaré, lined with pastel houses and blue doors, with the street opening towards the Atlantic Ocean — Sítio streets are full of colour and ocean views, almost easy to walk.

We drove there, parked at our hotel and didn’t use the car again until we left.

We walked around the lower town and Sítio, stopping whenever something caught our attention.

Blue and white azulejo tile at Door 71 in Sítio, depicting the Virgin Mary saving a man on horseback chasing a deer — A Nazaré legend told through beautiful Portuguese tiles – all over Sitio houses

I even found Nazaré manageable with a stroller, which made a big difference when travelling with our son.

Then of course, funicular since 1889, that connects Sitio to Nazare itself is another reason to visit Nazare.

Aerial view of two funicular trains passing each other on the track, with Nazaré town and clusters of red tiled roofs below — The Nazaré funicular connects Sítio with the town below

You don’t need a car for most of the town either. Unless you are heading further out to places such as Alcobaça, you can get around the main areas on foot or use public transport.

Narrow pedestrian street in Sítio, Nazaré, lined with beige houses and yellow and blue doors, with limited stroller access — Only a small part of Nazare isn’t stroller accessible

For us, leaving the car behind meant fewer transport costs and a much more relaxed experience.

It was another little thing that made me enjoy Nazaré beyond its famous waves.

8. Staying in Nazaré can be good value for a Portuguese coastal town

When you look for accommodation in Nazaré, you’ll find plenty of options, from campsites to hotels and spa stays.

But compared with some of Portugal’s famous coastal towns and bigger cities, many are surprisingly affordable.

We stayed at Hotel Magic in lower Nazaré for two nights.

Large room at Hotel Magic in Nazaré with a bed area, lounge, upper loft and stairs, with suitcases and strollers inside — A spacious Nazaré hotel room with room for the whole family – Hotel Magic

Our room felt more like a small suite, with an upper loft and a kitchenette, and cost us just €82 a night.

While booking our other stays during the trip, I found that a similar accommodation in Lisbon would have cost around €300 a night, while a similar suite in Porto would have been around €250.

What made Nazaré even more interesting was that we were visiting during the big-wave season, when the town can be particularly busy with wave watchers and surfers.

Even during this busy period, accommodation in Nazaré was still much cheaper than what I found in some of Portugal’s bigger cities.

If you’re planning Portugal on a budget, the affordable accommodation is another reason to consider Nazaré in all seasons – summer or winter’s wave season.

9. Nazaré is easy to fit into a Portugal itinerary

When you’re planning a Portugal trip, Nazaré doesn’t require a major detour or complicated changes, whether you’re travelling by car or public transport.

Motorway sign pointing towards Nazaré Batalha and Fátima on a highway in Portugal — A8 Highway from Lisbon – Nazare is an easy deviation

Whether you have a one-week trip to Portugal or more than three weeks like us, Nazaré is easy to add.

It sits conveniently between Lisbon and Porto: it’s about an hour from Lisbon by car or around 1½ hours by bus, and about 2.5 hours from Porto.

We could also easily combine Nazaré with Óbidos, which is what we did.

vacaywork co author ashrith standing beside tables of a traditional restaurant in Obidos after paying bill — Obidos and it’s pretty streets

Madeira, for example, meant dealing with flights, luggage restrictions and getting around once we arrived.

Piódão, which I really wanted to visit, meant a longer drive into the mountains and a more significant change to our route.

This matters when you have limited time.

You get a coastal destination with a different landscape and plenty to experience, without spending a large part of your trip just getting there.

For us, that ease of getting to Nazaré was a practical reason to visit, even though we weren’t sure we’d see the big waves.

Final thoughts on why I found Nazaré worth visiting though I couldn’t see big waves.

We visited Nazaré in Portugal in November, during the season when the famous giant waves can appear. We didn’t get to see them.

The forecast showed waves of around 13 to 15 feet. Yet I still found Nazaré completely worth visiting.

A 14 foot high wave crashing at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal, with powerful whitewater rising above the ocean — The Nazaré waves we got to see – 14 to 15 feet

Vacaywork founders Ashrith and Sahana sitting with their son on the lighthouse courtyard wall, with the Atlantic Ocean and Nazaré cliffs behind them — A family moment overlooking Nazaré and the Atlantic

Traditional Nazaré boats resting on the sandy shore at night, with a dark blue and pink sky after sunset — Nazaré boats look magical under the evening sky

We walked along the beach at night, something we hardly got to do in other parts of Portugal.

We watched sunsets behind the lighthouse, ate really good food, explored the fishing and pilgrimage cultures, and wandered around without rushing.

Surfing board museum inside the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo in Nazaré, displayed beneath a stone vaulted roof — The lighthouse fortress has a fascinating surfing history

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazaré with stone bell towers and an ornate white facade viewed from the front — Nazaré sanctuary is one of the town landmarks worth seeing

Statue of Our Lady of Nazaré breastfeeding baby Jesus inside the sanctuary, surrounded by ornate church decoration — A beautiful religious statue inside Nazaré sanctuary

For my wife, the image of Our Lady of Nazaré breastfeeding baby Jesus was especially special.

I also loved the little craft workshops, local snacks and even the drive into Nazaré through the forested landscape.

I was the one who had been most excited about seeing the waves, but after experiencing all this, I wasn’t disappointed.

My tip for visiting Nazaré efficiently is to spend at least two days here. A day trip from Lisbon is also possible, but I wouldn’t combine it with Óbidos or Fátima.

There is enough to see and experience in Nazaré, and adding another major stop can leave you rushing through both.