Praia do Norte & Forte de São Miguel
InexpensiveEpicentre of world big-wave surfing
Stand on the fort roof overlooking the subterranean 5,000-metre-deep underwater canyon that produces the largest ridden waves on the planet.
O SítioIconicOcean
Nazaré & Óbidos, Portugal
Ideal: 2–3 daysBest: May–Jun, Sep–NovPrice: Moderate
In 60 seconds
Nazaré & Óbidos in 60 seconds
Along Portugal's dramatic Silver Coast, Nazaré and Óbidos combine two of the country's most compelling maritime and medieval experiences. Nazaré is world-famous for colossal 30-metre winter waves surging out of its underwater geological canyon, viewed from the 16th-century clifftop Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo. Inland, enchanting Óbidos is completely encircled by intact Moorish-medieval stone battlements, flowering bougainvillea alleys and sour cherry ginjinha sipped from chocolate cups.
Seafood
Best for
- Coast
- Surfing
- History
- Castles
Known for
- Nazaré giant waves (Praia do Norte)
- Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo
- Walled medieval Óbidos
- Ginjinha in chocolate cups
- Nazaré dried fish tradition
Skip if
You expect record-breaking 30-metre monster waves in mid-summer; the legendary big-wave canyon swells occur strictly between October and March.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Nazaré & Óbidos fits them. Choose interests
See
Must experience
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Óbidos Walled Town & Castle
Complete medieval circuit of stone battlements
Walk the entire 1.5-kilometre crenellated stone wall circuit looking down on whitewashed roofs, gothic archways and church belltowers.
Óbidos CitadelCastleFree walk
O Sítio Promontory & Funicular
Inexpensive318-metre ocean cliff & 1889 water-balance railway
Ride the vintage funicular up the vertical cliff face to the Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré and the miradouro over the town beach.
O SítioFunicularPanoramic
Eat
Where to eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
Local
Where to eat the food this city is actually known for.
A Tasquinha
ModerateLegendary seafood tavern in Nazaré
Arrive early for superb massada de peixe (fish noodle stew), garlic shrimp and grilled barnacles in a classic tiled room.
Nazaré TownLocalQueue
Rosa dos Ventos
ModerateSix-table charcoal fish house
Senhor Fernando grills your freshly landed sardines or sea bream over red-hot embers right at the front door.
NazaréCharcoalFish
Coffee & fika
Mornings, and the slow hour between things.
Livraria de Santiago
InexpensiveBookshop café inside a 12th-century church
Browse Portuguese literature and enjoy espresso and cake surrounded by bookshelves inside a deconsecrated stone church.
Óbidos Castle GateBooksHistoric
Pastelaria Vila Doce
InexpensiveTraditional bakery for Nazaré tamarilhos pastries
Try local tartas de amêndoa and traditional támares cakes filled with sweet egg cream.
NazaréLocalPastry
More places to eat
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Jamon Jamon
ModerateCosy tapas tavern within Óbidos walls
Intimate stone cellar serving platters of Iberian cured ham, melted sheep cheese and garlic mushrooms.
ÓbidosAtmospherePetiscos
Taberna d'Adélia
ExpensiveMichelin-recommended coastal gastronomy
Fine seafood dining serving tender octopus carpaccio, lobster rice and pristine line-caught turbot and sea bass.
NazaréFresh fishMichelin
Beyond the obvious
Hidden gems
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Estendal do Peixe Seco
Traditional beach fish drying racks on Nazaré sand
Fishwife elders wearing the traditional seven petticoats gutting horse mackerel and octopus on wooden mesh frames on the beach.
Praia da NazaréFreeHeritage
Lagoa de Óbidos & Foz do Arelho
Tranquil coastal lagoon opening into the ocean
A serene tidal saltwater lagoon perfect for stand-up paddleboarding, birdwatching and wading in gentle, warm currents.
Foz do ArelhoKayakingLagoon
Miradouro da Pederneira
Ancient hill settlement overlooking the bay
The original fishing settlement high above pirate raids, offering quiet sunset benches looking directly over the crescent bay.
PederneiraHistoricQuiet
After dark
Bars & nightlife
Bar Ibn Errik Rex
InexpensiveEclectic ginjinha institution since 1971
Dark wooden ceilings hung with dried sausages and clay jugs, serving the town's premier sour cherry liqueur.
Rua Direita, ÓbidosAtmosphericGinjinha
Taverna do Capitão
InexpensiveRustic maritime bar on O Sítio
Cold Super Bock and Portuguese ciders enjoyed with local fishermen and visiting surf photographers.
O Sítio, NazaréBeerCasual
Orientation
Neighbourhoods
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Nazaré Beach Front
Grid of fisherman's cottages, beachfront promenade and seafood tascas
The vibrant beach settlement where fish dries in the sun and restaurants line the sand.
Óbidos Intra-Muros
Cobbled hill lanes, castle ramparts and bougainvillea gates
A preserved fairytale medieval town completely enclosed within dramatic fortifications.
Stay
Where to stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Nazaré Beach & Sítio
ModerateSeafront hotels, wave proximity and seafood dining
Best if you want crashing ocean surf, evening seafood dinners and morning walks on the sand.
DiningOcean
Inside Óbidos Walls
ModerateHistoric pousadas & atmospheric medieval guesthouses
Magical in the early morning and late evening once day-trip tour buses have departed.
HistoryRomantic
Practical
Know before you go
- Getting in
- Rede Expressos buses run directly from Lisbon Sete Rios to Nazaré (1 h 40 min) and Óbidos (1 hour).
- Big wave season
- The Nazaré Big Wave season runs from October to March; monitor wave height forecasts on Nazarewaves.com.
- Wall walking safety
- Walking atop the Óbidos medieval walls has no handrails on the inner drop; take care with children and wear sturdy flat footwear.
- Chocolate cups
- Ginjinha de Óbidos is traditionally sipped from a tiny dark chocolate cup that you eat as a dessert after drinking the liqueur.
Context
History in 5 minutes
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
- 1199
King Sancho I donates the lands of Nazaré and Pederneira to the Cistercian order, fostering centuries of maritime and monastic development.
- 1282
King Dinis gifts the fortified town of Óbidos to his bride Queen Isabel as a wedding present, starting the tradition of the 'Casa das Rainhas'.
- 2011
Garrett McNamara rides a world-record 23.8-metre (78-foot) wave at Praia do Norte, catapulting Nazaré onto the global big-wave surf stage.
Further out
Nearby escapes
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Mosteiro de Alcobaça
UNESCO Cistercian abbey & royal tombs of Pedro and Inês
One of Europe's greatest medieval Cistercian abbeys containing the poignant carved tombs of Portugal's tragic star-crossed lovers.
15 min by carArchitectureUNESCO
Mosteiro da Batalha
Flamboyant Gothic masterpiece & unfinished chapels
Incredible lace-like stone tracery erected to celebrate the 1385 victory at Aljubarrota.
30 min by carGothicUNESCO