Praia da Nazaré

Praia da Nazaré is the main beach of Nazaré, a broad crescent of fine golden sand that runs the length of the lower town, from the foot of the Sítio cliffs in the north to the harbour in the south. Sheltered by the headland, it is much calmer than the wild Praia do Norte on the other side of the point, and in summer it is one of the busiest and liveliest beaches in central Portugal.

The beach has always been the centre of town life. Nazaré was a fishing community long before it was a resort, and for generations its brightly painted boats were launched directly from the sand and hauled back up by teams of fishermen and, later, by oxen and tractors. Since the harbour was built south of the beach, the boats no longer work from the beach, but the tradition lives on in other ways. On the sand, local women still split, salt and dry fish such as horse mackerel and sardines on wooden racks in the sun, and some still wear the layered skirts of traditional Nazaré dress.

In July and August the beach fills with rows of striped canvas tents, rented by the day or week, giving it a distinctive old-fashioned look, and lifeguards patrol the bathing areas in season. The Atlantic is cool here even in summer, and waves can still be strong on some days, so swim in the supervised zones. Behind the beach, the seafront avenue is lined with seafood restaurants, cafés and shops, and it is a pleasant place for an evening stroll.

For the classic view of the beach, ride the Ascensor da Nazaré funicular up to Sítio and look down from the Miradouro do Suberco. Combine a beach day with the sanctuary and square at Sítio and a walk to the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, overlooking Praia do Norte, especially in winter when the giant waves are running.