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Read more →Peniche sits on a peninsula that was once an island, pushed out into the Atlantic about an hour and a quarter north of Lisbon. Because the land sticks out, its beaches face in different directions. When the wind or swell is wrong for one side, there is usually a more sheltered option on another. Baleal, the village and bay just to the north, is where most people learn. To the south is Supertubos, one of the most famous waves in Europe.
Surf conditions change daily, and published guides do not always agree with each other. Where they differ we say so. Treat this as a starting point and always check conditions on the day with someone who knows the break.
Peniche and Baleal at a glance
| Where | Atlantic coast of central Portugal, north of Lisbon |
| Type of waves | Mostly sand-bottom beach breaks, with a few reefs and points |
| Best for | Beginners at Baleal; intermediates at Lagide and Molhe Leste; advanced surfers at Supertubos and Consolação |
| Best for beginners | May to September |
| Best for experienced surfers | November to March |
| Sea temperature | About 14–15 °C in late winter, up to about 19 °C in August and September |
| What to wear | A wetsuit all year |
| From Lisbon | About 1 hour 10 minutes by car, or about an hour and a half by bus from Sete Rios |
Peniche and Baleal surf spots by level
| Spot | Level | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Cantinho da Baía | Beginner | The main learning peak at Baleal, over sand. Used by the surf schools. Best from mid to high tide. |
| Prainha | Beginner | A small beach at Baleal. There is a rip current near the cliffs. |
| Praia da Baía | All levels | The long sweep of beach between Baleal and Peniche, with room to spread out. |
| Gigi | Beginner to intermediate | Along the bay. Works on a rising tide. |
| Lagide | Intermediate | A left on the north side of Baleal. Guides differ on how much of the bottom is rock. |
| Almagreira | Intermediate | A beach break north of Baleal that is usually less crowded. |
| Molhe Leste | Intermediate to advanced | A right-hander beside the harbour wall. |
| Supertubos | Advanced | Fast, powerful, hollow waves over sand, about ten minutes south of Peniche. Often called the European Pipeline. |
| Consolação | Advanced | A right-hand reef point south of Supertubos. |
Peniche month by month
Air temperatures are long-term averages for Cabo Carvoeiro, the headland at the tip of the Peniche peninsula (1981 to 2010). Sea temperatures are typical monthly averages. Any single day can differ.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.3 °C | 9.4 °C | 15 °C |
| February | 14.7 °C | 10.0 °C | 14.4 °C |
| March | 15.9 °C | 11.3 °C | 14.4 °C |
| April | 16.3 °C | 12.1 °C | 15 °C |
| May | 17.7 °C | 13.8 °C | 16.1 °C |
| June | 19.6 °C | 15.9 °C | 17.8 °C |
| July | 20.5 °C | 16.8 °C | 18.3 °C |
| August | 21.1 °C | 17.0 °C | 18.9 °C |
| September | 20.9 °C | 16.6 °C | 18.9 °C |
| October | 19.3 °C | 15.0 °C | 18.3 °C |
| November | 17.1 °C | 12.6 °C | 16.7 °C |
| December | 15.2 °C | 10.5 °C | 15.6 °C |
What that means for surfing
- May to September. Smaller swell and the mildest weather. The best months to learn. The Nortada, a northerly wind, blows on many summer afternoons, and the peninsula’s different-facing beaches help you find shelter from it.
- October. Autumn swells arrive while the sea is still near its warmest. The World Surf League’s MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal at Supertubos is scheduled for 22 October to 1 November in 2026. In 2024 and 2025 it ran in March.
- November to March. The biggest, most powerful swells. The best season for intermediate and advanced surfers. Learners can still surf on suitable days at the sheltered beaches.
- April. A changeover month as swell eases and the days lengthen.
The sea here stays cool even in summer, so you will want a wetsuit all year: a thicker one, with boots, in winter and a lighter one in summer.
Tides and wind
- Pick your side. The peninsula’s great advantage is choice. Beaches on either side of Baleal and Peniche face different directions, so one is usually better protected than the other.
- Tide matters. Cantinho da Baía is best from mid to high tide, and Gigi on a rising tide.
- Go early in summer. The Nortada usually strengthens through the afternoon.
Staying safe in the water
- Rip currents. They form on beach breaks, including near the cliffs at Prainha. If you are caught, stay calm and paddle across the current, not against it.
- Crowded learner peaks. Cantinho da Baía is busy in summer. Keep hold of your board.
- Supertubos. It breaks hard in shallow water. It is a wave for advanced surfers, and a great one to watch from the sand.
- Cold. Wear the right wetsuit for the month.
Getting to Peniche
Fly into Lisbon. Peniche is about 1 hour 10 minutes away by car. Buses run from Sete Rios bus station in Lisbon and take about an hour and a half. Baleal is a few minutes north of Peniche town.
Beyond the surf
The Berlengas islands lie offshore and have been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2011. Boats run from Peniche harbour when the sea allows. In town, Peniche Fortress stands above the harbour, and the road around the peninsula leads to the lighthouse and wave-cut cliffs of Cabo Carvoeiro. Peniche is a fishing port, so the fish is fresh.
Surf Peniche with Mojosurf
Our Peniche Surf Camp is in Baleal, in a hostel with dorms and private rooms, a restaurant, a cinema room, a gym and a co-working space. The surf school is inside the hostel and the beach is five minutes’ walk away.
- 7 Day Portugal Surf Camp Adventure: two nights in Peniche and four in Ericeira, with five lessons, video analysis, guided free surfs, yoga and the transfer between the two towns.
You need to be able to swim 50 metres unaided to join a lesson.
Keep exploring
Peniche surf questions
Is Peniche good for beginner surfers?
Yes. Baleal’s sandy beaches, especially Cantinho da Baía, are among the most used learning spots in Portugal.
When is the best time to surf Peniche?
May to September for beginners. November to March for intermediate and advanced surfers.
How cold is the water?
About 14 to 15 °C in late winter and about 19 °C in August and September. You need a wetsuit all year.
Can anyone surf Supertubos?
It is a wave for advanced surfers. Everyone else can enjoy watching it from the beach.
