Are there big waves in nazar in summer? Where are the world's largest waves (Nazare, Portugal). Bus station in Nazar

The most convenient way is to take tickets to Lisbon. There are direct flights from Moscow to Ural Airlines, TAP Portugal and S7. Prices range from 650 EUR and more, depending on the season, passenger class and the amount of luggage.


From St. Petersburg

There are no direct flights from St. Petersburg to Portugal, and you can get, for example, to Lisbon only with transfers. Austrian airlines offer connecting flights in Vienna, and you can fly with Lufthansa via. In addition, you can order a ticket for “ Turkish Airlines»And transfer to Istanbul, but the travel time in this case will take 25 hours. Ticket prices start from 380 EUR.

If the trip is planned in advance, you can regularly check tickets on various intermediary sites and "comparison" sites (for example) in order to catch the maximum discount.


The total cost of such a trip will surely be calculated not in hundreds, but in thousands of EUR. Therefore, the simplest, fastest and inexpensive way to get to the fishing town of Nazare is by air travel.

By bus

From the city to which you arrived by plane, you can get to Nazare by bus. It is a popular form of transport that runs regularly from all major settlements from early morning until around 8pm.


Bus station in Lisbon

The bus station in Lisbon, from which the bus to Nazar departs, is located seven kilometers from the airport at Pr. Marechal Humberto Delgafdo, Sete Rios, here:

To get to this station from the airport, you can take the metro: take the Aeroporto station, change at S. Sebastiao station on the blue line and get off at Jardim Zoológico.

Ticket price

The price of a bus ticket to Nazare varies depending on the city. From Lisbon, for example, a ticket will cost about 11 EUR. Directions and schedules can be viewed on this website. The ticket price will be visible only after the check-in of passengers.

Bus station in Nazar

In Nazar, the bus arrives at the Rodoviaria do Tejo station, which is located on Rua do Municipio, here:

The station is located very close to the beach and a five minute walk from most of the hotels in the lower part of the city. Details on how to get from Lisbon to Nazare can be found.

By car

Traveling from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Nazare by car is two days of continuous journey, since the distance is 4500 kilometers. In addition, you will have to travel through seven European countries. However, during our travels, we met a car from Russia, so everything is possible.


In addition to gasoline prices (1.48 EUR per liter in Portugal, 1.15 in Latvia and Lithuania, 1.08 in Poland, 1.44 in Germany, 1.45 in France and 1.22 in Spain), toll roads must be taken into account ... As far as I know, apart from Germany and Lithuania, there are everywhere in Europe paid sites... Basically, these are the shortest paths to one or another locality, highways and highways with good coverage. There are also toll roads in Portugal. Here you can see the tariffs for different sections of roads in Portugal.

Car rental in Portugal

In Portugal, you can easily rent a car. The easiest way is to book it online and receive it directly at the airport upon arrival. You can read more about car rental

Clue:

Nazare - the time is now

Difference in hours:

Moscow 2

Kazan 2

Samara 3

Yekaterinburg 4

Novosibirsk 6

Vladivostok 9

When is the season. When is the best time to go

We stayed at 4 * Miramar hotels in the upper part of the city, and the next several times at the Oceano 2 * hotel. The preference is obvious: despite the two stars, everything is very cool - the ocean a stone's throw away, breakfast included, clean rooms.

Food prices

Housing is only half the battle. If there is no breakfast or boarding house in the hotel or apartment, you will have to take care of the food yourself. In Nazar only four-star hotels offer half board option. The rest either only includes breakfast, or no meals at all.

Supermarkets

If you are on holiday without a car, you can go to the local Viva Superpoupança (ten steps from the waterfront street), where prices are higher than popular supermarkets such as Lidl or Continente. The nearest "Lidl" is located 2.2 kilometers from the embankment of the street, you can walk in half an hour (by car, of course, faster).

Food prices at Lidl are not high. If you also look at the various promotions, you can organize yourself a delicious lunch inexpensively.


In addition to Lidl, there is a popular Continent supermarket in Nazar, where we did our shopping quite often.

Prices there are quite a bit higher than in Lidl. Many products cost the same. Again, you need to look at the price tags with offers to make it cheaper in total.


This supermarket is larger than Lidl and has an appropriate selection of products. This is especially true for alcoholic beverages, wine, meat and others. The prices for wine, if you do not chase the high cost, fluctuate on average from 2 to 6 EUR per bottle. In our case, there has never been such a thing that wine bought in Portugal was frankly tasteless.

So let's imagine that we made a purchase in Nazar at the Continent supermarket for breakfast and dinner. Came out following list prices:

  • Bread - 1.5 EUR;
  • Olives - 1 EUR;
  • Local ham - 3 EUR;
  • Cheese platter - 2 EUR;
  • Potatoes - 2.5 EUR;
  • Olive oil - 2.8 EUR;
  • Wine - 3 EUR x 2;
  • Pastries (packaging of local pastries) - 1.5 EUR.

Total: 20.3 EUR

If you really try to save money, then these products will be enough for two breakfasts and one dinner for two, that is, about 3.5 EUR per person per meal. But, as practice shows, in a supermarket, eyes run up at the sight of local "tricks", you want to try everything, which automatically leads to a bloated check. Still, it's safe to say that eating on your own is cheaper than going to restaurants every day.

Restaurants and cafes

There are a lot of restaurants and cafes in Nazar, given the small size of the city and the number of local residents. Prices in local establishments are not very high and do not vary much among themselves. In this case, I do not take into account restaurants with a Michelin claim (and there are those in Nazar too). In such places the price ranges from 20 to 60 EUR per dish.

You can only decide for yourself whether you want to eat in a restaurant with snow-white tablecloths and transparent glasses, or whether it will be enough to use the local “fast food”.


Almost all restaurants specialize in fish and seafood. These include fast food chains such as Tofa.

An ordinary fish dish will cost from 9 to 12 EUR, meat dishes from 10 to 15 EUR. Also, restaurants often serve meals for two - in this case, the price is from 25 EUR and more. Specialty seafood dishes - lobster, lobster, crab, etc. - are more expensive and are sold by weight. We did not order such delicacies, but we always intended to do so. After all, fresh ocean animals are often displayed in showcases and beckon with their diversity.


Major attractions. What to watch

Nazare cannot be called a treasure trove of historical and cultural attractions. The main tourist attractions here are the beaches: the city beach Nazare and the North Beach. Lovers of antiquity will be interested in several objects - the Chapel of Memory, the Church of Our Lady, as well as the Fortress of the Archangel Michael with a lighthouse.

Top 5

I will tell you more about these and other attractions below.

Beaches. Which is better

There are two beaches within the city of Nazare - city and North. Both of them are beautiful in their own way. The northern one is more severe and windy, the urban one is softer and more welcoming.

City Beach

The city beach of Nazare (Praia da Nazaré) has become my favorite of all. Soft light sand, the sound of the waves, proximity to the street, the ability to plunge into the ocean waters in good weather- all this makes the beach a pleasant vacation spot for every taste.


Perhaps the only negative is the lack of a natural shadow. But in summer time beach canvas tents are set up here, where you can hide from the hot sun. In autumn and winter, there is no need to hide from the sun. In addition, at this time there are very few people on the shore, and there is an opportunity to contemplate nature almost alone. The beach is so large that rare tourists from afar seem to be a few dark crumbs on a yellow tablecloth of sand.


We always spent most of the day on this beach. If we got tired of walking from the cliff to the football field, which is located on the beach near the embankment, then we could always look at a small fishing market. It consists of wooden frames with stretched nets placed on the sand. Fishermen bring fresh fish and seafood here, and all this is dried directly in the sun.


North beach

North Beach is a place that Nazare is proud of. It was from here in 2014 that the American Garrett McNamara started to conquer the 30-meter wave.

A magnificent panorama of the famous North Beach (Praia do Norte) opens from the observation platforms in Sitio, as well as from the Archangel Michael lighthouse on the edge of the cape.


From the lighthouse to the beach, you can go down directly along the cliff. In this case, you need to take into account the risks and it is advisable not to take small children with you. On the way to the beach, there are steps without railings - that is, an adult can get there. Also, the beach can be reached by car. At the same time, be careful when approaching, because the roads there leave much to be desired. On one of our visits, we even damaged the bottom of the car.


It is quite windy on North Beach, but if the sun is shining, it does not interfere with enjoying the views and nature at all. Swimming here is possible only partially - you can only splash near the shore, because then large waves begin, which are dangerous to approach.


Here you can watch surfers from the shore. I am always interested in how they prepare to go out into the ocean - they rub the board, warm up, prepare photographic and video equipment. When they leave on their voyage, your heart always stops and you worry about them as for your brothers.


I always look forward to the return of surfers with special trepidation. Some arrive back at the beach in spectacular fashion, standing on the board.

Churches and temples. Which are worth visiting

In Nazar, there are only two church buildings worth visiting - the Chapel of Remembrance and the Church of Our Lady.

Chapel of memory

The legend about one of the city's several landmarks - the Chapel of Memory (Capela da Memória), which is located in the square in the upper part of Nazare - is very interesting. In the 12th century, King D. Fuas Roupinho went hunting and got lost in the fog. Almost falling off a cliff, he prayed for help and turned to the Mother of God, who saved him at the last moment. In memory of this wonderful event, a chapel was erected, which is a small building on the cape, decorated with traditional white and blue tiles depicting a miracle that happened.
It took me five minutes to inspect the chapel, as the building is very small, no more than two meters high and three meters wide.

Church of Our Lady

On the square in Sitio there is another attraction - the Church of the Virgin (Santuário de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré) - very beautiful building, which is also associated with the legend of the Mother of God, more precisely, about the image of the Black Madonna. The Black Madonna is a small wooden sculpture depicting the Virgin who came to Sitio from Nazareth. Hence the name of the city itself. The sculpture traveled around the world, accompanied by a monk, before staying in the caves of Nazare. Today it is kept in the Church of Our Lady and is the subject of mass worship of believers.


The church building was rebuilt three times, the last of which was in the 17th century. A wide cone-shaped staircase leads to the entrance to the church. There are bells under two very beautiful domes. The interior of the church looks majestic - the arches and columns are decorated with gilding, the organ is located at the top, and on the opposite side is the altar with the sanctuary of the Black Madonna. The church looks festive and rich in comparison with ascetic Catholic buildings, for example, in Germany.


Inside the building, to the right of the entrance to the church itself, is the Museum of Religious Arts with free admission. There you can see antiques, sculptures, paintings, as well as ancient vestments of priests.


At the exit from the church there is a shop with souvenirs - where can you go without them!

Museums. Which are worth visiting

Fisherman's house-museum

In addition to the aforementioned Museum of Religious Arts, Nazar has a Fisherman's House Museum. In Portuguese, it sounds like Casa-Museu do Pescador and is located in the Sitio area on Rua J.B. Sousa Lobo 108. The museum was opened in 1999 by a fisherman who loves his own business. The building restores the picture of the life of a fisherman's family, which was typical of the 1930-1950s.

Furniture, household appliances, tackle and the exterior of the house - everything speaks about the life and work of representatives of the typical Nazaré profession of a fisherman. Various exhibits are exhibited near the house - fishing nets, oars, ropes, lifebuoy. A visit to the museum takes place by appointment, and the external decoration can be viewed simply by walking along the street.

The fortress of the Archangel Michael

Another historic building near the square in Sitio is the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, which simultaneously serves as a lighthouse and a modern surfing museum.


This is a typical fortress that defended the city from the attack of enemy troops. Since 1903, a lighthouse has been installed on the fort, and since 2014, a small museum has been opened inside the fortress dedicated to the giant wave that Garrett McNamara conquered in the same year. The height of the wave was about 30 meters, and at the same time the surfer managed to ride it to the end and not fall. Actually, this event made the fishing village of Nazare famous among surfers and nature lovers from all over the world. In the museum you can see posters, descriptions, photographs of the surfer, as well as a model of the underwater relief that allows the waves to rise so high over the Atlantic Ocean right near the city of Nazaré.

The lighthouse has several viewing platforms at different heights. To get to the very bottom, you need to have courage - a narrow metal ladder is attached directly to the rock, and when strong wind always staggers.


There are always a lot of tourists on the viewing platforms, and fishermen also gather here to fish and look at tourists.

The view from the lighthouse is simply unforgettable. From one side you can see the lower Nazare, and from the other you can see the panorama of the North Beach (Praia do Norte), known to all surfers who are ready for dangerous adventures on the waves. And from the lighthouse there is such a staircase right into the raging ocean:


What to see in 1 day

If you have only one day in Nazar, then you may well have time to visit all the sights, enjoy nature and calmly end the evening in one of the many restaurants. I suggest the following schedule:

  • 9:00 – 10:00 - Breakfast at the hotel or in a cafe. If the hotel does not offer breakfast, stop by any bakery or restaurant for a coffee with traditional pastries. If you want to start your morning right on the oceanfront, head to S. Miguel Restaurant, which is located at the end of the Avenida da Republica promenade.
  • 10:00 – 12:00 - Walk along the promenade street or along the beach to the cliff, ride the funicular to the Sitio area, sightseeing in the square - Church of Our Lady and the Chapel of Remembrance.
  • 12:00 – 13:00 - Walk to the lighthouse and watch the surfers. Panorama overview, visiting the surfing museum in the fortress of Archangel Michael.
  • 13:00 – 15:00 - Lunch at a restaurant in Sitio, eg Casa Pires. Visiting souvenir shops on the square.
  • 15:00 – 18:00 - Return to the embankment street, hike to the beach, swim, enjoy the sun.
  • 18:00 – 20:00 - Dinner on the waterfront in a traditional restaurant. For this purpose, for example, restaurant A Tasquinha or Adega Oceano are suitable.

What to see in the vicinity

There are many beautiful places around the city of Nazare. Where the North Beach ends, the following begin, no less beautiful: Praia da Areeira, Praia da Falca, Praia de Vale Pardo. Also 25 kilometers north of Nazare is the large lighthouse Farol Penedo da Saudade, which offers a beautiful view of the cliffs.


The city of Peniche is located 60 kilometers south of Nazare.


He is also very popular place for extreme water sports lovers. The area is full of beaches, scenic cliffs and surfing spots.

Food. What to try

The basis of local cuisine in Nazar is fish and seafood. All variety can be found here underwater world Atlantic Ocean... Fishermen bring their catch to cafes and restaurants, and they, in turn, often put it on display windows. In the restaurant, you can point to the fish you like and it will be cooked.

Local delicacies include cuttlefish salad. The taste is very unusual, as it feels like the product has just been caught and cooked. For lovers of new culinary sensations, it will suit just right.


Be sure to grab something from the market that opens every day on the beach. You can buy 200-300 grams of salted fish for beer for about 3 EUR. You can choose a curiosity yourself, and a grandmother in a national costume will already tell you if the fish is ready for consumption. The most unusual dish (and a sight too) here is a dried octopus, which I never dared to buy.


I advise you to try Portuguese paella. This is a large casserole with rice soup and ocean animals: king prawns, crabs, clams, mussels. It's all uncleaned, crab claws for the most part in shells, so you have to work hard, removing the inedible covers of sea inhabitants. If you love seafood with all your heart, then the taste is amazing! Also try any form of octopus - fried, dried, boiled, or grilled.


And the most important thing! In Nazar, be sure to try COFFEE. In every cafe and restaurant, regardless of the stars, level, service and cleanliness, you will be served amazing coffee, the taste of which will not be forgotten even after years.


To fully experience this taste, order an espresso - its cost varies from 0.7 to 1 EUR. Many Portuguese come to cafes just to drink coffee and read the newspaper. And it is not surprising when such coffee is served on every corner!

Budget

From the budget places in Nazar, I was surprised by the Tofa restaurant on the square in Sitio. For a reasonable price, you will be served a huge portion of well-cooked seafood. You can also visit other budget places:

  • Blue jardim;
  • Rosa dos ventos;
  • Casa Osanto Anibal Portugal Galvao;
  • Restaurante Sete Saias.

Middle level

  • O Veleiro Restaurante;
  • Rosa dos ventos;
  • Sitiado;
  • A Tasquinha;
  • S. Miguel.

Expensive

  • Pangeia Restaurante

Holidays

There are two colorful holidays that are celebrated in Nazar - these are Day of the virgin(Festa de N. Senhora da Nazaré) and Day of the Man of the Sea(Festa do Homem do Mar).

Day of the virgin

It is officially celebrated on September 8, but the festivities can run from August 30 to September 13. This is a large religious holiday dedicated to the Black Madonna, whose figure in a long procession is carried by the inhabitants to the ocean.


Also in the program of the holiday you can find many religious events.

Day of the Man of the Sea

Celebrated on May 7. It is more secular and is a city walk with musical and dance accompaniment, as well as culinary feasts.


The holiday is accompanied by a procession of traditional Nazare boats, decorated with flowers and other festive attributes. Here national costumes for women play an important role - a bright and fluffy multi-layer skirt and a kerchief or a long scarf on the head. There are many variations of the folk costume worn by fishermen's wives on holidays and weekdays.


Safety. What to watch out for

Nazare is a small European town, where you should not be afraid of robbery, attacks and other criminal situations. Also during our travels there was no theft in hotels. However, do not forget that people are different everywhere, and even in the very quiet place anything can happen on the planet. Therefore, keep an eye on your belongings and if you are afraid that something valuable will be stolen from the hotel, take everything with you.


Things

In nature, do not leave valuables unattended or make sure that no one is around. However, there is another danger for valuable items in Nazar - the ocean. Never put your bags near the water, even if you only came to watch the waves for ten minutes. This is especially true of the city beach Nazare.


Waves can be so insidious here that you might not even notice how the water gets to the bag. At best, things will get wet, at worst - they will be carried away by a wave into the ocean.

Bathing

In summer, if there are no strong waves, swimming on the beach in Nazar is quite safe. To enjoy your vacation and not think about the incoming water, check the tide schedule for this beach in advance. This can be done, for example, at prilivy.com.


But whatever the weather in Nazar, keep small children out of the water. It can really be dangerous here. The Coast Guard, of course, is always on the alert and politely asks you to take the child away in case of danger, but you need to assess the situation yourself.

Things to do

There is always something to do in Nazar. It is impossible to get tired of nature, walking along the beach, watching the waves. In the summertime, you can swim and sunbathe or watch others bathe. When it's time to eat, there are plenty of places to go for this purpose - the waterfront street, like the upper part of the city, is filled with cafes and restaurants. Some open only in the evening, but during the summer season they are all open in the morning.


For those who want to play sports, there is a surf school in Nazar. For nature lovers and active rest There are also many activities here, from hiking without a funicular to Sitio and back to long jogging along the ocean or exercising on the outdoor fitness equipment on the beach.

Shopping and shops

There are many different shops in Nazar. These are mainly souvenir shops or shops with national clothes. I will tell you more about this below.

There are also clothing and footwear stores, but it will be difficult to find boutiques with popular brands. Nazare is a small town with large shopping centers not yet built.

Bars. Where to go

There are quite a few small cafes and restaurants in Nazar where you can drink beer, enjoy wine or order a stronger drink. However, there are no bars or nightclubs as such. The following two places can be distinguished where you can while away the time with an alcoholic drink:

  • Sevejaria Berlim;
  • Casa Aliluia.

Extreme sports

Nazare is considered a Mecca for fans of extreme water sports - surfing, paddleboarding, bodyboarding, windsurfing. This is due to the conquest of a giant wave by the American Garrett McNamara in 2014. If the purpose of your visit is not only walks by the ocean and visiting restaurants, then it makes sense to contact the Nazaré Surf School. It is located on the promenade of Via Avenida da República, Edificio S. Miguel.


The surf school has the opportunity to learn how to ride bodyboard and surf. Here you can attend group classes or hire a personal trainer. The price for ten personal surfing lessons will be 400 EUR. If you study in a group of three, ten classes will cost 350 EUR. A group of ten people can practice for 175 EUR per person for ten lessons. There is no difference in the price for surfing or bodyboarding, you can choose a sport to your liking.


The Surf School in Nazar teaches on three levels of difficulty, so if you have never done aquatic species sports, but really want to conquer the wave with a ten-story building, you can start from scratch.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

There are many shops with souvenirs and national goods on the main street. For some reason, in Portugal, it is customary to sell woolen sweaters, jackets and sweaters of all stripes. Maybe they have special sheep with special wool, who knows. You can also often find patterned woolen socks on sale, which are part of the national costume of local grandmothers, as well as local fabric products.

How to get around the city

Funicular

There is a funicular in Nazar that connects the upper and lower parts of the city. It is a tram on rails located on a rather steep cliff. One way ticket costs 1.2 EUR. Two carriages carry passengers every fifteen minutes from seven in the morning, late at night, depending on the season.


Today, the funicular, created by the famous engineer Mesnier in 1889, is completely electrified and safe, but in the middle of the 20th century, when the lift was still running on a steam engine, the cable once broke and killed two people.

The top station of the funicular is located in the Sitio area on Rua do Elevador. Lower station the lift is also located on Rua do Elevador, only 110 meters down the cliff. If you walk along the beach along Avenida da Republica towards the cliff, you will find the station at the very end of the street.

Traveling by funicular is an integral part of a vacation in Nazar. Even if you are a fan of walking and prefer to climb the bypass path on foot, you should still take a tram ride at least once. It opens amazingly when climbing beautiful view to the ocean and to the city.


In addition, the funicular passes right among the houses built on the mountain along the rails, so there is an opportunity to closely examine the housing and life of local residents.

Taxi. What features exist

Apart from the funicular, there is no public transport in Nazar. If you are traveling without a car, you can get around by taxi. Here are three companies where you can order it:

A trip around the city can cost about 10 EUR

Transport rental

To get to Nazare, we rented a car in advance at Porto airport. This can also be done locally, but the price may be higher. Renting will not require much work. On the websites of Hertz, Sixt, Avis, Europcar, as well as on the website of the company, popular in southern Europe, Goldcar, you can easily book a car for yourself to your liking, leaving your personal data and credit card number. We booked with Hertz, we haven't decided on a local Goldcar yet, but their prices are lower than those of popular European companies.


IN different time car prices vary from year to year. If in May the cost of the cheapest car is 120–150 EUR, then in July - already 200–250 EUR per week of rent. You can compare prices and look for a profitable option, for example,.

Upon arrival in Portugal at one of the airports (or Faro), you need to look for the window with car rental. Usually, airports always have a sign with the name Rent a Car. Having found the name of the necessary company, you need to wait for your turn: the Portuguese, like the inhabitants of any southern country are mostly slow and like to talk. The design itself lasts no more than ten minutes.

As I mentioned earlier, there are toll roads in Portugal. In the past few years, when booking a car, they began to offer us to buy a meter that costs 11 EUR and allows you to drive on the Autobahn using the green Viaverde sign without stopping to pay for the fare in cash.

The counter significantly saves time, and cash payment is not possible on all roads. The amount that you "collected" during your trip is deducted from the card with which you booked the car. We will now probably take this meter in our next independent travels. However, if you go on navigation and avoid toll roads, then it is not needed.

Nazare - rest with children

The children in Nazar will certainly be fine. Sea air, not a very hot climate, nature that is changing before our eyes, endless sand, beaches ... Of course, no hotel in Nazar will have children's animation, clowns or face painting. You need to tune in for a relaxing outdoor recreation with walking and spending time on the beach.

Hotel

We went to Nazar with a one and a half year old daughter. When we ordered a two-star hotel, they immediately wrote that we need a cot with sides in our room. Arriving in the room, we did not find her, and instead of her there was a sofa bed in the room, on which a ten-year-old child could sleep. At the reception, we explained the problem, and after ten minutes the room was already in the right bed. I think that in other hotels this will not be a problem either. Another thing is an apartment or rented apartments... Read the information on cots carefully before traveling.

Food

There will be no problems with baby food. Local supermarkets have canned baby food, mixes and fruit purees. All of this is mostly local and tastes different than, say, Hippa products. You will need to buy several jars and choose what exactly to your baby's taste. In restaurants in Nazar, I have not seen a children's menu, only desserts and ice cream. But you can always ask to cook something special - pasta without sauce, fish sticks or fries. If the children are accustomed to the usual diet, then the food in Nazar, especially fish and seafood, will also be useful.

Things to do

If you have sons, they can play soccer with the local boys on the beach field.

You can also quench your thirst for sports on the outdoor fitness equipment on the Avenida Manuel Remigo, on the playground on the same street or at the local surf school.

And the number of outdoor activities is limited only by the child's imagination: playing in the sand, building castles on the shore, running away from the waves, eating ice cream or chasing numerous seagulls ...


For fans of big waves and surfers Nazare (Portugal) - good famous resort located an hour's drive from the capital of the country. The town was founded at the beginning of the 16th century.

It is here that, due to the peculiarities of the seascape, there are waves up to 30 meters high. Only the most courageous athletes can tame the roaring and raging elements. The best surfers from all over the world come to Nazar every year. The rest of Nazar is a small fishing town, there are many cafes and restaurants, souvenir shops.

Photo: waves in Nazar (Portugal).

general information

Tourists call Lisbon the heart of the country, and Nazare is its soul. And this soul is passionate, beautiful and noble. You can endlessly fall in love with the town and also endlessly admire the big waves of Nazare in Portugal.


The population of the city is just over 10 thousand inhabitants. It is located in the Leiria region, which is known for centuries-old fishing traditions and the legend of the miraculous rescue of the monarch by the Mother of God. For many decades, pilgrims from all over the world came to Nazar, but the town gives an incredible sense of unity with nature and allows you to enjoy beautiful landscapes.


Local residents honor ancient traditions, prefer to wear old clothes, and you can often hear folk songs on the streets. Women in Nazar still wear seven skirts and, in the old-fashioned way, repair nets and dry fish, sitting on the shore. Many tourists have the feeling that time has stopped here, but this did not prevent the city from becoming one of the most visited resorts in the country. All conditions for a comfortable stay are created here.

The town is divided into two parts. The upper one is ancient; the main sights of Nazare in Portugal are concentrated here. In the lower town there is a beach, souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants, shops and all the tourist infrastructure.

On a note! It is better to buy souvenirs in the lower part of Nazare, as they are cheaper here.

Features of rest

If you love the ocean, then Nazare will be perfect for you regardless of the season of the year. The high season begins in the second half of May and lasts until the beginning of autumn, during the rest of the year, elderly people and surfers come here.

Summer resort


If your main goal is a beach holiday, summer is best for this. However, it should be borne in mind that the Atlantic coast is quite cool, the water here does not warm up above +18 degrees. In addition, the ocean is often stormy. On weekends, the beach is filled not only with tourists, but also with the local population.

In the midst of the high season, the temperature varies from +17 to +30 degrees, but in the sun it feels +50 degrees. It almost never rains, the vegetation becomes scarce, faded, and fires often occur.

Nazare in autumn

With a decrease in temperature, the waves are gaining strength, the weather is quite windy, it rains, but sunny weather locals wear T-shirts.


Helpful information! An umbrella in Nazar will not save you from the rain, as strong gusts of wind simply turn it inside out. It is best to stock up on a waterproof hooded jacket.

The most comfortable months for rest are September and the first half of October. At this time, the temperature is kept at + 20 ... + 25 degrees, there is little precipitation.

Nazare in the spring

Early spring is quite cool here, the temperature does not rise above +10 degrees, it rains regularly. The weather becomes comfortable for rest only in May.

Nazare in winter

The average temperature ranges from +8 to +15, this is an ideal time for extreme surfing and just to watch the brave athletes. It is during the cold season that Nazaré in Portugal has the largest waves in the world.


Surfing


This amazing paradise for surfers found an athlete with Hawaiian Islands Garrett McNamaru. He owns the world record - Garrett was able to conquer a huge wave of 24 meters (although some fans of exaggeration say that the height was 34 meters). Since then, surfers from many countries have flocked to Nazaré to test their courage and courage.

Interesting fact! The secret of constant big waves in Nazar is that there is a canyon opposite the town at the bottom of the ocean, the stream of water, falling into it, pushes a huge amount of water to the surface in the form of high waves.


If you just want to watch the athletes, climb the cape for a beautiful view and get plenty of iodine-filled air.

While traveling along the Portuguese Golden Circle, Nazar often stops to eat, as they prepare delicious fish and seafood dishes.

What else needs to be done in Nazar:

  • take an ancient tram to Citiu;
  • eat in one of the restaurants;
  • admire the surfers;
  • watch the sunset on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and drink port - the famous drink of Portugal.

What to watch and where to go

The beach is a strip of sand 150 meters wide and about 1.7 km long, which is located between the harbor and the cliff. On the cliff is the São Miguel Arcanjo fort, built in the 17th century, a lighthouse and equipped viewpoint where tourists come to see the city from a bird's eye view.


The beach has a developed infrastructure, soft, clean sand and many cafes and taverns. There is no natural shade on the beach, but in the summer, awnings are installed here to protect from the heat. In the cold season, there are practically no vacationers on the Nazare beach and you can admire the beauty of nature almost alone.

On a note! There is a fishing market not far from the beach, where locals bring their catch.

Sitiu District

This is the historical district of the city, where all the sights are collected, from here a panoramic view of Nazare opens.


Temple of Our Lady

What to visit in Citiu:

  • temple of the Mother of God;
  • fort of the Archangel Michael;
  • Lighthouse;
  • chapel where the Black Madonna was previously kept.

The area is located on a hill; delicious nuts and dried fruits are sold here. The souvenir shops are full of beautiful handicrafts, shells from the depths of the ocean. The place is atmospheric, in the evenings they come here to relax and sit in a cozy cafe. There is a toilet in the square, clean and tidy.

If you want to tickle your nerves a little, take a walk along the path that runs right above the cliff. Under bell ringing walk to the lighthouse and listen to the sound of the ocean waves. You can always use the funicular, it runs until 23-00.

Observation deck Miradoru do Suberco

The observation deck is located at an altitude of 110 meters, overlooking the city of Nazare, the beach and the ocean with its big waves.


Associated with this place beautiful legend, according to which the appearance of the Madonna to the inhabitants of Nazare took place here. The saint saved the knight Fuas Rupinho from death, who lost his way in the fog and, without the help of the Virgin Mary, would have fallen off the cliff.


The observation deck is a place visited by tourists, so it is quite crowded here. From here, the beach looks like a large anthill with scurrying people and colorful awnings. Immediately behind the beach you can see the port with boats of local fishermen.

The two parts of the city - the upper and the lower - are connected by a path, along which it is better to walk with a flashlight at night, since it is not illuminated. If you don't want to go on foot, use the funicular, which runs from 6-00 to 23-00. The lower part of Nazare is a maze of streets that intertwine in a bizarre way.

Most of them are for hiking only. Mount San Bras rises in a southeast direction. You can also consider a new microdistrict under construction.

The fort is a surf museum and is used as a lighthouse, which was installed here in 1903. This is a traditional fortification that protected the settlement from enemy attacks.


The museum exposition is dedicated to Garrett McNamar and the huge wave he conquered. The surfer managed to ride the entire wavelength and stay on his feet.
It was after this event that Nazare became famous and became the center of surfing and a favorite place for nature lovers. The museum exhibits photographs of a surfer, colorful posters with views of Nazare, detailed descriptions terrain.


The lighthouse has several viewing platforms, they are installed at different heights. A wobbly, not fixed staircase leads to one of them, so it is rather difficult to get there, it will take some courage. Not only tourists but also local fishermen gather at the sites.

The lighthouse offers a picturesque view - the new area of ​​Nazare and the city beach. A staircase leads from the lighthouse to the ocean, you can go down straight to the water and feel the salt spray on your face.


Located in Citiu Square. This is a very beautiful and sophisticated building. The legend of the Madonna is associated with it, namely, a small sculpture of the Black Madonna. It is believed that the sculpture traveled around the world and got to the village from Nazareth, in honor of this legend the city is named. The Black Madonna was brought to Portugal by a monk, since then the sculpture of the saint has been kept in the town. Every year hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and believers from all over the world come to touch it.

The landmark building was reconstructed three times, the last reconstruction was carried out in the 17th century. A staircase leads to the entrance bizarre shape... Bells are installed under exquisite domes of beautiful shape. Inside, the temple looks very luxurious and solemn. The premises are decorated with arches, columns and gilding. An organ is installed in the church, and opposite musical instrument there is an altar with a sanctuary. In comparison with Catholic buildings in European countries, the local Church of Our Lady looks elegant and festive.


To the right of the main entrance is the Museum of Religious Arts, which can be visited completely free of charge. The exhibits include old church robes, sculptures and paintings on biblical themes and household items of priests.

There is a souvenir shop at the exit. Is it possible to leave the attraction and not buy a souvenir as a keepsake.

How to get there

Nazare is located in the Leiria region, approximately one hour by car from the capital of Portugal. If you are traveling from Porto, the journey will take two hours. You need to go along the A8 highway. This is a toll track.

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By bus


For tourists who travel without personal transport, The best way to get to Nazar - by bus. In Lisbon, flights depart from the Sete Rios bus station, you can get here by metro - the Linhea Azul line, the necessary station - Jardim Zoologico. To the resort Nazare public transport arrives at the bus station located not far from the center.

All buses are new and comfortable, equipped with air conditioning and Wi-Fi. The frequency of flights is approximately once an hour. Please note that on weekends and holidays the number of flights is decreasing.


You can also get from Lisbon by train, but the journey will take longer, since there is no railway station... Trains arrive at the village of Valado de Frades (6 km from the resort). You can get to the final point of the trip by taxi or by bus (carrier Rodoviária do Tejo).

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Nazare (Porugalia) is a unique town, attractive and amazing at any time of the year. You can come here in winter, when there are big waves in Nazar, or in summer to soak up the beach. The resort offers relaxation for all tastes - you can enjoy the soft sand on the beach, go shopping or sample local dishes, keep fit on the equipment, exercise extreme species sports or visiting attractions.

How big the waves are in Nazar can be seen in the video.

Related entries:

Thinking about surfing and waves, the image of Australia involuntarily pops up in my thoughts. But, as it turned out, even the inhabitants of this country enviously go in search of the biggest ones, not even - huge waves to a small town in Portugal - At dawn .

My husband and I are avid travelers, and when planning a trip to Portugal we could not deprive this place of attention, despite the fact that we have nothing to do with surfing, except, perhaps, contemplating with admiration;)


So, in November 2011. American Garrett McNamara conquered a wave of 30 meters here, thereby beating Guinness record.


Giant waves form right in front of Lighthouse Forte de são Miguel Arcanjo, located in the northern part of the city.


Immediately behind it is one of the beautiful beaches country and world - North Beach Nazare.


It offers many inspiring views from the path leading to the lighthouse.


A visit to the Lighthouse is worth 1€ ... For this amount, amazing views of the ocean, surfs from various competitions, as well as a hall with explanations of such a natural element open up.


It's all about Ocean Day - Canyon Nazare , perpendicularly extending 170 km from the coast. The most deep point This gorge is 5 km away, but it is rapidly decreasing to the shore, forming a unique springboard for giant waves. In addition, there is a strong undercurrent that enhances the effect of killer waves, as the locals call them.

The waves reach their maximum power in the autumn-winter period. If there is a goal to contemplate this riot of elements with a person, then you need to look at the schedule of competitions on surf sites and go here on these dates.

In one of the halls of the Lighthouse you can see Wave conquest videos and surfer interviews.





But most dangerous species, and at the same time the ocean breeze, even in calm weather, open from a sheer cliff front beacon .



You can get to the Lighthouse using Lift connecting both parts of the city.


or by bus, car. By the way, car rental in Portugal is relatively cheap compared to the rest of Europe. The roads are mostly of decent quality, as well as a toll highway.

The beginning of the walking path to the Natural Element is marked by an arch.



Myself the town of Nazare, as I noted earlier, it is located on two levels: upper - the first settlements in these places Sitio where the attraction is located - Black Madonna.


AND lower - with a beautiful walking promenade, beach and cozy hotels right along the coastline.






Top view



Located right on the beach Museum drying-drying of ocean inhabitants. You can also buy them right there.

The southern part of the beach is also equipped with Lighthouses and it is a pleasure to walk here.




While in Nazar, you just need to enjoy the ocean! In the off-season, solitude is felt, only seagulls and albatrosses occasionally add sound to the ocean ...



We rented an apartment for 4 days ( Apartamentos 7 Saias Marginal) on the first line with a kitchen and a terrace with a grill (there is a shop in the upper town Continente with a huge selection of ocean dwellers, which allows you to arrange an excellent homemade dinner) - all this does not cost enough in the off-season!

When planning a stay at these hotels in the cooler months of the year, I advise you to take warm clothes with myself! Heating cannot cope with the night ocean breeze... The rooms are often very cold.

About the weather in general, in December-January, the southern and central parts of the country are warm enough, +17 in the afternoon, the north is cooler. Cold snaps occur at night. The Atlantic is quite changeable: 2 weeks of cloudless sky, with a warm sun, can be replaced in a couple of minutes by pouring rain with hail! And after a couple of minutes it's warm again ... Therefore, an umbrella is a must-have attribute! But not easy! And fortified! Broken knitting needles and even handles are not uncommon here! The wind is such that the story of Mary Popins takes on a new meaning;)

Despite the high readings of the wind thermometer, they are rather chilly, in cloudy days too much moisture is felt. A waterproof jacket and warm sweaters underneath are required.

For 2 weeks, the Atlantic showed us all types of ocean - the complete absence of waves and the summer sun, storm, hail, torrential rain with a wall, sandstorms that overwhelmed even cafes, a hurricane on mountain tops blocking the entrance to the Castles, broken trees on the roads ... and that's it. it's in December!


Immediately after our departure, the heat reigned +20 for a week!

therefore talking about the season - hard to advise a month! The coast of Portugal is always great for Tuzim!

Of course, for a beach holiday it's only summer months, but they can also surprise you with a storm or torrential rains.

The main thing is to observe safety measures! The element is felt as much as possible here. It is here that you feel like a grain of sand and all thoughts and problems fade away!

Great place to reboot, reset!



As for the restaurants that open twice a day in this country - at lunchtime and at 19:00, here we found an absolute gem - Resotran Aki del Mar and also the Okaenskie Delicacies Extraction Company. Prices are minimal, service is excellent! There are no fish and deep-sea inhabitants here, but the huge selection of all kinds of reptiles is impressive.


Everyone knows that Portugal is the homeland Port wine ! But in addition to him, they also produce Wine Verde - green wine, light, slightly sparkling - I advise all lovers of not heavy drinks.

Tasting of Port wine is usually held in Porto, but in ordinary stores you can find sets of mini bottles and find out which one is closer to your taste.

In addition to ocean products, desserts are popular in Portugal - Pastish - Lisbon, Gigna - cherry liqueur in a chocolate glass, Francesigna - a huge sandwich. And this is a small part of the mandatory testing;)

With regards to souvenirs, gifts- be sure to take a closer look at cork products ! What are they doing out of it! You can wear it completely! Handles, caps, shoes, bags and even umbrellas!

And in the capital of Lisbon, real masterpieces are applied to it - paintings by Frida, Adele ...

Good cork work is on par with leather, but worth it! The sneakers purchased there went through all the weather adversities with me and fully justified their price and hopes;)



If you plan to visit the central part of the country, then you cannot pass by the Ceramic Factory in g. Caldas da Rainha. Tableware just turns the perception!


Summing up, I can note that the location of this town allows you to make trips from it to MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF PORTUGAL, such as:

Temple of Alcobaça - sad and terrifying story of Pedro and Inesh - the coronation of a queen with a severed head,

City of brides - Obidos,

The last refuge of the Templars - Tomar

Batalha - huge cathedral in honor of victories

Village Bairro- and dinosaur footprints

Mira de Aire and the Cave of the 7 wonders of Portugal

Religious Center Fatima,

University Coimbra city,

a city of deliciously unusual dishes Caldas da rainha

I also advise Castle Ourem in the town of the same name.

Not close but a must visit is city ​​of Porto and Aveiro- Little Venice and the center of ocean salt mining.

Moving towards the capital to visit Cape Roca - the westernmost point of Europe, Azenhas do mar- natural ocean basin.

Will we come back again? Certainly !!! The Atlantic Ocean is an unforgettable landmark, gem and inspiration for Portugal! The history of this once mighty country, great discoveries and courageous people still excites our hearts!

The small fishing village of Nazare (Portugal) is located between the most beautiful cities Lisbon and Porto. Among other Portuguese outskirts, it is distinguished by two important circumstances: firstly, the locals consider the Virgin Mary to be the patroness of the village, and secondly, they visit Nazar. There is no winter here, so this place can be visited all year round.

Nazare resort

This old fishing village is the main one in Portugal. Its inhabitants sacredly keep ancient traditions: they dress according to the old fashion and sing folk songs. On this oceanfront, you can witness how fishing families lived many years ago. Nazaré women still wear seven skirts, and the main occupation of fishermen and fishwomen on the shore is mending nets and drying fish on special wire grates.

At the same time, Nazare is considered the most famous among the sea. Incredibly beautiful and clean beach stretches for a distance of 1 km. There is an embankment along it. All conditions for a comfortable and memorable stay have been created here.

The town of Nazare (Portugal) is divided into two parts: upper and lower. The lower part is a picturesque promenade, a beach and many cozy restaurants where guests are offered meals national cuisine... There is also an abundance of souvenir shops where tourists can buy gifts for their loved ones. By the way, souvenirs are much cheaper here than in the upper part of the city. The main attractions are located at the top of the village.

What to watch?

So, what are there in Nazar? There are not so many of them as fans of excursions would like, but still there is something to see. The main architectural monument here is considered the small chapel Capela da Memória. It was built in honor of the Virgin Mary, whom the locals consider their patroness. Pilgrims from all over Europe visit the chapel all year round. Opposite the chapel is the Church of Our Lady, built at the end of the 14th century.

There are several museums in the town where you can get acquainted with the history of Nazaré, the history of fishing and national costume. In the museum dedicated to religion, you can see paintings, statues and some historical documents. The main museum of the town is the Fisherman's House. Here you can find all the trappings of fishing and fishermen's domestic life.

Tourists are also interested in the Sau Miguel Arcanjo fort. It was erected at the end of the 16th century to protect the city from attacks by Algerians and pirates. You can enjoy the picturesque views from the Citiu cliff. For this, a spacious observation deck has been equipped here. Tourists can get to the cliff on a modernized cable car; this means of transportation in Nazar is considered the most famous. The height of the cliff is 318 meters, from here an amazing view of the lower part of Nazare opens .

Surfing

Along the coast for 170 km stretches unique canyon Nazare (Portugal). Waves here can reach heights of 30 meters. Surfers from all over the world come to this small village to take part in the annual world competition. Waves that burst from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean can easily engulf surfers at the slightest mistake. But this does not stop the athletes. In 2013, Garrett McNamara (Hawaiian surfer) set a world record: he conquered a wave of over 30 meters.

How to get there

Nazare (Portugal) is located in the Leiria district. You can get here from Lisbon or Porto by regular bus. A bus ticket costs about 12 euros, which is the cheapest option to get to the fishing village. The bus stops at Nazare Station, which is a short walk from the city's main waterfront and from the Atlantic Ocean.

Nazare is a small town on the Atlantic coast of Portugal, with a population of only 10 thousand people. Founded in 1514. The two parts of the city, the upper and the lower, are connected by a 314-meter cable car route. Tourists prefer to settle in the lower, seaside part of Nazare, where most of the hotels and almost all of the tourist infrastructure are located - restaurants, cafes, service and retail establishments. On the coast, there is a beautiful promenade about a kilometer long, with palm trees and snow-white colonial-style buildings. The embankment serves tourists as a promenade avenue, here you can enjoy the healing ocean air around the clock, but sometimes it is very windy.

In the upper part of Nazare, the Sitio quarter, the main sights of the city (temples, museums, an old fort) are concentrated. From here, a magnificent view of the ocean coastline, picturesquely outlined by the foam of the surf, opens up.

Compared to other resorts on the Portuguese coast, rest in Nazar is inexpensive. A hotel room can be rented for 3000 rubles per day. True, in fish restaurants the prices are slightly higher than in Lisbon and Porto, but the high price is compensated by the excellent taste of local fish caught here. Nazare was and remains a city of fishermen, fish are even depicted on the city's coat of arms.

sights

The Virgin Mary is considered the patroness of the city of Nazare; the main Catholic church in the Sitio quarter, built in the XIV century, is dedicated to her. Not far from the temple is the Chapel of Remembrance, in honor of the event of the XII century, when the Portuguese king hunting in this place miraculously escaped falling into the abyss.

There are three museums in Nazar, all of them are also located in the upper part of the city, in the Sitio quarter: the Museum of Religious Arts, the Ethnographic and Archaeological Museum, and the Fisherman's House-Museum. And another memorial site, Fort Sau Miguel Arcanjo, is located under open air, on the far side of the quarter protruding into the sea - here Portuguese fishermen and peasants fought with Napoleon's soldiers.

Last changes: 02.10.2017

Surfing in Nazar

Not standing out too much among the many seaside towns on the Atlantic coast of Portugal, Nazaré has nevertheless gained worldwide fame as a surfing center. It was here that the American surfer Garrett McNamara set a world record: he conquered a wave 30 meters high. Such, and sometimes even higher waves are not uncommon here. During the winter months, the most favorable for surfing, Nazar attracts "wave conquerors" from all over the world.

The secret of the unusually high, even for the restless Atlantic coast of Portugal, waves in Nazar - in the unique structure of the bottom in the coastal waters. Local sea ​​bottom is a huge canyon, stretching from west to east and "abutting" its east edge to the coast in the Nazare region. The canyon is 5,000 meters deep and 230 kilometers long. Having originated in the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean, giant waves on their way to the coast do not meet natural obstacles in the form of underwater rocks, reefs and shoals, sweep over a deep canyon and reach the coast, almost without losing their height and power.

Surfing in Nazar is not only a test and "adrenaline" for the surfers themselves, but also a fascinating spectacle that attracts many tourists to this town. The photos and videos taken here of huge waves with brave athletes sliding on their surface are excellent material for blogs and social networks.

Last changes: 02.10.2017

When is the best time to come

The season in Nazar continues all year round, but best time summer and early autumn are considered for relaxation. In summer, there are many swimmers on the beach adjacent to the promenade, although this is not always safe due to the high waves.

Last changes: 02.10.2017

How to get to Nazare

It is impossible to get to Nazaré by sea. Best option- on railroad from Lisbon, trains run several times a day. From Portela airport, bypassing the capital, you can get to Nazare by regular bus. Motorists can reach the city via the A8 motorway.

Last changes: 02.10.2017

Video Nazare

Last changes: 02.10.2017