Nazaré Beach – Nazaré

In addition to the vacationers, here you have the opportunity to see how the art of sewing the nets or preparing the decoy and to cross with some of the women who still wears the traditional seven-skirt dress. Sea conditions attract surfers and bodyboarders from around the world.

Undoubtedly the most crowded beach on the west coast, Nazaré is one of the most traditional fishing villages, where you can still find some women dressed in the traditional seven-skirt dress, taking care of fish that dries in the sun, aligned on stakes.

The beach, completely integrated into the urban area and surrounded by the marginal house, preserves the traditional canvas stalls with stripes of strong colors. Bathed by a normally rough sea and with strong swell, it is ideal for surfing and bodyboarding.

To appreciate the beauty of the beach in all its extension is worth climbing the Site, through the elevator with more than a hundred years that connects the center of the village to its highest point.

And more…

Natural landscape
From the Sítio da Nazaré, next to the imposing and singular Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, one of the most important places of worship of Portugal, heading north crosses the promontory – candidate for the contest “7 Natural Wonders of Portugal” – the beach, and by the pine wood of the Lady you arrive at the Monte de S. Bartolomeu and the Pederneira, place of origin of the town. Praia da Nazaré, the narrow white streets, the extensive beach, people make up the scenery. You can add a trip through the secular elevator that takes you back up through a steep ascent through the Promontory of the Nazareth Site, a recognized geo-monument.

Fishing
Land of Sinners and women of seven skirts, here it is imperative to visit the Fisherman’s Museum. This House-Museum, fruit of the private initiative of a Nazarene lover of its origins, represents the exterior and the interior of a typical house of a family of fisherman and connected to the sale of fish in the decades of 1930 to 1950. Here they can be admired, in addition to household goods and furniture, also the fishing gear and some miniatures of Nazarene vessels of the time. You can also get to know the Nazarene traditions in the Ethnographic and Archaeological Museum Dr. Joaquim Manso.

Ecoparque
The Pia do Urso, place of attractive landscape and calm surrounding, which is composed of several interactive and playful stations. This is a park to live, feel, experience and enjoy, with magnificent trails, where nature plays a fundamental role. Along the paths, the sounds, perfumes and forms, awaken the senses for magical and renewing experiences. The Sensory Ecopark of the Bear Sink is unique in the world and was specially designed to provide new experiences and sensations for the blind.

History right there next door
The villas of Óbidos and Alcobaça, rich in historical and cultural heritage, are only a few kilometers away. In Alcobaça you can visit the Monastery, classified World Heritage by UNESCO in 1989. This monument is one of the most impressive and beautiful testimonies of Cister’s architecture throughout Europe. Despite its almost 900 years, it preserves intact the set of medieval dependencies and its church is the largest in primitive Gothic style built in Portugal in the Middle Ages.
If you choose Óbidos you will also be entitled to a trip back in time through the medieval streets of this unique village in Portugal. Time here has not erased the traces of the past. Enjoy drinking a little ginjinha in one of the many typical taverns.

Gastronomy
Lovers of fish, seafood and other delicacies from the sea are not indifferent to the unique freshness and flavor of the appetizing meals served in many Nazarene restaurants. From stew to grilled fresh fish, past seafood, it will be hard to choose. Taste, enjoy, and then take a walk to digest the certainly tasty lunch or dinner.

Carnival Foliage
The Carnival of Nazaré is one of the most sought after in the country and is made up of the feast of the population and the typical processions of the time. The feel of the Entrudo is made in the dances of the collectivities, in the games that go out to the street, in the blinds that spare no one from the public trial. The kings of this Carnival are Nazarene revelers with evidence given in past carnivals and the Marginal welcomes all the masked people, turning into a “marchódromo” (the marches, musical emblem of each carnival group, constitute another specificity of the Nazarene Costume).

Sleeping with the sea in the background
Accustomed to receiving tourists and vacationers from various origins that come to their beaches in all seasons, but especially in summer, there are places in this village where you can sleep rested, packed by the sound of the sea. From the comfortable hotels to the private rooms rented at night, passing through traditional pensions, there are plenty of options.

Where to sleep in Nazaré:
Hotel Maré
Hotel Praia
Hotel da Nazaré
Hotel Miramar Sul
Albergaria Mar Bravo

Where to eat in Nazaré:
Restaurante A Celeste
Restaurante Mar Bravo
Restaurante Ribamar
Restaurante Maria do Mar
Cervejaria Camões