Surfing Costa da Caparica

Beach Break · Best Year-round · 1-6 ft · Crowd 4/5

W-NW swell, low-mid tide

Costa da Caparica is the long beach across the river from Lisbon, and the city's classic weekend surf escape. The main stretch breaks over sand, with punchy peaks that handle a good range of swell but are never as heavy as Guincho on the other side of the river.

The beach runs for kilometres, so the crowd spreads out, and the banks change through the season, so there's usually a decent peak somewhere. It's the main place to learn in the Lisbon area, with surf schools and board rental all along the promenade. Low to mid tide on a small to medium swell is easiest. At summer weekends half of Lisbon is here.

Beach Break · Best Year-round · 1-5 ft · Crowd 2/5

W-NW swell

Fonte da Telha is the quiet southern end of the Caparica coast, reached by car or by the small beach train in summer. The waves are the same punchy beach break as the main stretch, but there are far fewer people, and pine-covered dunes instead of beach bars.

It's where locals go to avoid the summer crowds without driving far. Low to mid tide on a small to medium swell works best. There are fewer facilities, so bring water and sun cream.

It's busiest in summer, when Lisbon heads to the beach, but even then there's space. Autumn and spring bring better swells. There are a few beach restaurants, and Caparica town, at the northern end of the beach, has the surf shops and places to stay.