When to surf · Lisbon and Cascais
Costa da Caparica in July
Peak summer. Smallest surf of the year, warmest water, busiest beaches, and the nortada blowing hard by early afternoon most days. Surf at dawn, learn on the sheltered bays, or go to the Algarve. Camps are fully booked.
Costa da Caparica
Caparica is a strong summer choice, because the town shelters the beach from the north wind that ruins the exposed coast in July and August. Autumn and winter bring the size and the better sandbanks. April is festival month, with ten days of competition and a market at Praia do Paraíso.
Summer
Spots here
Costa da Caparica
Fonte da Telha
The quiet southern end of the Caparica coast, a former fishing village below the pine woods with soft beach-break peaks on small swells. A good learner's beach when the rest of Caparica is busy.
BeginnersYear-round for learning; winter for cleaner days
Praia da Mata
A sandy, dune-backed beach break on the central Caparica coast. Works on west to north-west swells with an east to north-east wind, on any tide, and suits all levels.
All levelsYear-round
São João da Caparica
The northern end of Costa da Caparica, where a line of groynes shapes the sandbanks and most of the area's surf schools operate. Sheltered from the north wind, so it is a key summer option near Lisbon.
All levelsAutumn to spring for size; summer for the sheltered lessons