ABOUT THE FISHING VILLAGE NAZARÉ
Nazaré is a small and nowadays popular fishing village in Portugal. It’s about 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Lisbon and a lot of people love going here for the amazing Big Waves. But there is more to see. If you like to spend an entire day or weekend in Nazaré you will find some tips here where to go and what to see.
Looking at the map you see the Farol do Nazaré (Lighthouse) marked with a red dot where all the surf happens. This is the place you want to be when the Big Waves reach the coast.
You will particularly like Nazaré because it has amazing seafood, the beaches are very clean and the lifestyle is easy going. People that live here bring you that amazing feeling that you need to have fun and enjoy every moment.
FISHING BOAT EXHIBITATION
There are a few fishing boats exhibited quite central on the beach Praia da Nazaré. You often see especially the “Mimosa” a lot on Instagram.
Here along the beach walk is where you can find all kinds of shops and small restaurants that offer great food. You will also probably also ask yourself what these weird wood stacks are supposed to be in the sand. These are wooden fish dryers and they are still being used these days. Remember: Nazaré is a Fisher Town.
Soak up the atmosphere, enjoy the place, and just immerse yourself more than you might imagine. It’s one of the first things you want to do when you visit this fishing village.
Take the “Ascensor Da Nazaré” up the cliffs
You can reach this from the esplanade. Then you can go up to Sitio, which is the older part of the town. This is 318m above the Praia, and it’s visually stunning. You can see the funicular that was created in 1889 with the idea of connecting Praia and Sitio. This is a great way for you to check the coastline and it’s a breathtaking, immersive experience that you just can’t find anywhere else. It’s one of those things that just about everyone will like in the long run.
Check out Ermida da Memória
This is a wonderful chapel and memorial that was created many centuries ago. This honors a local legend that was hunting and then he was close to going to the cliff edge. He called out the Virgin Mary who saved him. It’s one of the most interesting religion-focused locations that a lot of people will cherish and enjoy. It’s a very distinctive way for you to get close to the region and just immerse yourself into its history and uniqueness as a whole.
Forte de Sao Miguel Arcanjo
You will particularly like this place because it’s an amazing fort near the clifftops. It was created in 1577, and since then it received some modifications. They even created a lighthouse in the region at the beginning of the 20th century. That lighthouse is still in use today, which is something to take into consideration.
Santuario de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré
It’s important to visit this, since it’s by far one of the coolest places you can find here. It’s a landmark that stands out with its unique baroque belfries that are towering over the square. These bring in biblical scenes. Yes, it’s a very interesting, downright incredible sight that a lot of people will like just because it’s so unique and distinctive as a whole. It’s definitely going to make a huge difference if you just go ahead and see it.
Praia Do Norte
We like the idea of visiting Praia da Norte because it’s an amazing sight and it also gets you pumped if you are a surfer. In many ways, Praia da Norte has become a mecca for the big wave surfers, and the ridge here is known for creating massive waves. Historically, there were some waves that went over 30 meters. As a result, it’s one of the coolest places you can check out as a surfer, and you will be incredibly impressed with its looks and features, which is something to keep in mind.
Ideally you want to come here from October to February, as most of the large waves are available during the winter. This is also a great place for nature photography and tourists that just want to see the beauty of nature in all of its glory. That can be incredible and super impressive!
Try out some dried fish
Since Nazaré is a fishing village, you do want to try some of the dried fish in this region. There are many older women that are selling dried fish to these tourists. The interesting thing is that it’s a unique taste, although you need to make sure that you stay away from it if you have any teeth fillings. But if that’s fine, you will find yourself enjoying Nazaré quite a lot, and it has a plethora of amazing features and benefits to explore and enjoy. That alone can make it very exciting and different at the same time.
Explore the Fishermen’s District
While it can be difficult to pinpoint the start and end points, most people say the district is from Avenida Vieira Guimares to the Praca Manuel de Ariaga. This is a very interesting place to explore and enjoy. The reason why it’s a must-visit for a lot of people is because you receive a local feel. Houses are close to one another, and you will find kids playing soccer barefoot. This district is showing the more authentic part of Nazaré, and it’s definitely something different that you want to check for yourself to see how it goes and the experience that you receive.
Conclusion
It’s a very good idea to visit Nazaré if you love surfing and you enjoy massive waves. At the same time, this is a great place to unwind, and you can also see a different side of Portugal. You can engage with the locals, connect with them and also try out some cool delicacies. This is a wonderful place to explore with the entire family. It will impress you with its architecture, hiking experiences and just how great these locals really are. You should definitely consider giving Nazaré a try if you want to visit Portugal and you’re looking for something different when compared to Lisbon!