Lisbon's most accessible beach break, just a short train ride from the city center, with peaky, reliable left and right beach-break waves. It's the home base for many of the capital's surf schools and clubs, but the crowded, punchy peaks are best for intermediates and up. Quieter dawn patrols can still turn up quality waves outside peak crowds. Works year-round with best conditions on a west swell and northeast offshore wind.
🌡️ ~18.2°C now · a 2mm spring suit / shorty
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Advanced: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
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New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at Carcavelos. Tag us in your clips and we'll share them.
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Advanced: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
All-time average wind & swell
Dashed line marks Carcavelos's known offshore direction. Bright arrow is the all-time average swell direction, colored arrow is the all-time average wind direction at 15 km/h — hover or tap either arrow for exact values.
Monthly avg wave height (ft)
Monthly avg wind speed (km/h)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 15° | 15° | 15° | 16° | 16° | 18° | 18° | 17° | 17° | 18° | 18° | 16° |
Averages from 3 years of daily wave, wind and water temperature data — what a typical year looks like, not a forecast.
Waves average 7.8 ft (2.4 m), with offshore winds around 15 km/h from the N. Water is ~15°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 7.1 ft (2.2 m), with offshore winds around 14 km/h from the N. Water is ~15°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 8.0 ft (2.4 m), with cross-onshore winds around 15 km/h from the NW. Water is ~15°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 5.5 ft (1.7 m), with cross-offshore winds around 14 km/h from the NW. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates and advanced surfers.
Waves average 4.2 ft (1.3 m), with cross-offshore winds around 16 km/h from the NW. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.8 ft (1.2 m), with cross-offshore winds around 15 km/h from the NW. Water is ~18°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 3.7 ft (1.1 m), with cross-offshore winds around 17 km/h from the NW. Water is ~18°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 4.1 ft (1.2 m), with cross-offshore winds around 17 km/h from the NW. Water is ~17°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 4.7 ft (1.4 m), with cross-offshore winds around 15 km/h from the NW. Water is ~17°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for intermediates.
Waves average 5.9 ft (1.8 m), with cross-onshore winds around 13 km/h from the NW. Water is ~18°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for intermediates and advanced surfers.
Waves average 6.6 ft (2.0 m), with cross-offshore winds around 13 km/h from the N. Water is ~18°C: a 2mm spring suit / shorty. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 6.6 ft (2.0 m), with offshore winds around 13 km/h from the NE. Water is ~16°C: a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. A best month for advanced surfers.
For intermediates: Apr–Oct. For advanced surfers: Oct–Apr. The biggest waves come in March, averaging 8.0 ft (2.4 m), and the smallest in July, at 3.7 ft (1.1 m).
It ranges from ~15°C in February to ~18°C in October, averaged over 3 years of daily readings.
In February (~15°C): a 3/2mm full suit, boots optional. In October (~18°C): a 2mm spring suit / shorty.
Not really: Carcavelos is best suited to intermediate and advanced surfers.
The nearest airport is LIS, and the nearest town is Carcavelos, Portugal.
