Where do you surf on the Centro coast?

Figueira da Foz is the hub: Cabedelo is a long, powerful left off the river jetty that has held WSL events, and Buarcos at the north end of the bay is gentler and sheltered. The rest is open beach break backed by dunes.

Is it good for learning?

Buarcos and São Pedro de Moel are the gentler options and have schools. Cabedelo is powerful and better left to intermediates and up.

Figueira da Foz

Centro

The middle of the coast, from Praia de Mira through Figueira da Foz to São Pedro de Moel. Figueira's Cabedelo is a long, powerful left that has held WSL events; the rest is open beach break backed by dunes and pine forest. Quieter than the Silver Coast just south. Coverage here is light for now.

A quiet beach village between Figueira da Foz and Praia de Mira, with a long, rarely crowded beach break.

Surf

Spots here

Beach break · Figueira da Foz

Buarcos

The sheltered north end of Figueira da Foz bay, in the fishing quarter of Buarcos, tucked under the Cabo Mondego headland. Gentler and far more forgiving than the powerful Cabedelo left at the river end of the same bay.

All levelsAutumn to spring; a dependable option when Cabedelo is too big

Rivermouth · Figueira da Foz

Cabedelo

A long, powerful left that breaks off the training wall at the mouth of the Mondego river in Figueira da Foz. On the right sandbank it is one of the best lefts in the country and has held WSL and national events.

Advanced surfersAutumn to spring

Beach break · Barra

Costa Nova

An exposed beach and jetty break just south of Praia da Barra, with lefts and rights, a fickle temper and often few people in the water. It wants a west to north-west swell and an east wind.

All levels

Beach break · Barra

Praia da Barra

The beach where the Ria de Aveiro meets the Atlantic, organised by a 500-metre breakwater at the port entrance. Quality banks on a west swell, and it can hold clean in a light north wind when the neighbours are blown out.

IntermediatesWinter

Beach break · Tocha

Praia da Tocha

A long, quiet beach break on the coast between Figueira da Foz and Praia de Mira. Friendly peaks when the swell is small, rarely crowded, and the wind decides everything.

All levelsYear-round, winter often best

Beach break · Praia de Mira

Praia de Mira

The beach of a quiet resort village on the long sandy coast south of Aveiro, with friendly banks that suit learners. Rarely crowded, but very exposed to the wind.

BeginnersYear-round for learning; winter for clean days

Beach break · São Pedro de Moel

São Pedro de Moel

The best-known wave on the near-empty 80 km of coast between Figueira da Foz and Nazaré, below a small seaside village. Very consistent, working on almost any swell and tide.

IntermediatesYear-round; very consistent

Spots at a glance

Spots	Break	Suits	Best season	Town
Buarcos	Beach break	All levels	Autumn to spring; a dependable option when Cabedelo is too big	Figueira da Foz
Costa Nova	Beach break	All levels	—	Barra
Praia da Tocha	Beach break	All levels	Year-round, winter often best	Tocha
Praia de Mira	Beach break	Beginners	Year-round for learning; winter for clean days	Praia de Mira
Praia da Barra	Beach break	Intermediates	Winter	Barra
São Pedro de Moel	Beach break	Intermediates	Year-round; very consistent	São Pedro de Moel
Cabedelo	Rivermouth	Advanced surfers	Autumn to spring	Figueira da Foz

Schools & rentals here

Surf school · Figueira da Foz

Dude Surf School

A surf school on Praia do Cabedelo in Figueira da Foz, with Portuguese Surf Federation coaches and a maximum of five students per instructor.

Surf

Surf school · São Pedro de Moel

Murillo's Surf & Bodyboard Academy

A surf and bodyboard school in São Pedro de Moel since 2006, certified by the Portuguese Surf Federation, teaching daily and moving to Peniche or Figueira da Foz when the home beach is too wild.

Surf

Surf school · Figueira da Foz

Surfing Figueira

A surf school and shop on Praia do Cabedelo in Figueira da Foz, open year-round, with drop-in, private and group lessons and rental of boards, SUPs and wetsuits.

Surf

Events here

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Common questions

Where do you surf on the Centro coast?: Figueira da Foz is the hub: Cabedelo is a long, powerful left off the river jetty that has held WSL events, and Buarcos at the north end of the bay is gentler and sheltered. The rest is open beach break backed by dunes.
Is it good for learning?: Buarcos and São Pedro de Moel are the gentler options and have schools. Cabedelo is powerful and better left to intermediates and up.