Visit the white silver beaches from Figueira do Foz or Mira
The coastline of Center of Portugal is 279 km long with the best surf spots in Europe.
During Summer time, smaller boards are appropriate for surfing waves, sometimes smaller and softer. During winter days, bigger boards are an essential condition for surfing more powerful waves or even guns for surfing giant waves.
And with so many possibilities, you can also find Soul Surfers Sessions that offer a mini surf trip concept. You can reach the best surf spot in the morning or the best waves away from the crowd. These adventures under the motto of surf values and roots.
With surf schools and surf houses along the coastline, discover the best surf spots!
Still unknown for many surfers around the globe, Figueira da Foz is nevertheless paving its way as a sunny, welcoming and very affordable surf destination. Did you know that Figueira da Foz is famous for its mile-long hand breaks? And now you can watch it online on the prestigious Surfline portal! Cool or what?
Buarcos
This long (up to several 100 metres) high quality right point break is mostly more of a carving wave, but there are some steep tubular sections. Actually, there are at least 3 point breaks that can connect with the right swell and form a really long wave.
The Buarcos wave is considered Europe’s longest right point break.
This is one of Europe’s widest beaches with easy waves.
Cabedelo
The jetty generates fast hollow waves, the beachbreak too, but not as consistent. It only takes around 10 minutes to get to Buarcos from Cabedelo.
Figueira da Foz does have great waves, including an unbelievable mile-long right hand break. There are even Aussie and Californian surfers that travel across the world to ride it! Just like worldwide surf legend Kelly Slater said: “Surf is a mafia. Once you’re in, you’re in”!
At night
Figueira da Foz is more than just beach days. The seashore is the city’s ex-libris, but there is another milestone which is just as popular: the Figueira da Foz Casino. It was inaugurated in the final years of the 19th century with the name Theatro-Circo Saraiva de Carvalho, and it added a cosmopolitan touch to Figueira which still lives on until today. Nowadays, it has daily shows, game rooms, bars and traditional Portuguese food restaurants and is still one the greatest entertainment centres in Figueira da Foz at night, along with its wide variety of bars, clubs and terraces. If you prefer a quiet night, you should try a stroll along the seashore.
New Block
If you are strolling through Figueira, you should visit the block which was built during the 1860s and, inspired by some French resorts, faces the sea. The “Bairro Novo” (New Block) was the city’s reaction to the increasing number of summer visitors who would come to Figueira da Foz and some of the most beautiful houses of the turn of the century, with many Art Noveau and Art Deco elements, were built there. One of them is the Sotto Mayor Palace, one of the most representative buildings in the block with a truly elegant architecture which suggests richly decorated interior rooms. Sotto Mayor is now a cultural space which hosts exhibitions, concerts, fashion events, lectures, meetings and conferences as well as a museum.
History and Culture
Admiring Figueira da Foz historical heritage is also a reason to discover the city. You can start by visiting Dr. Santos Rocha Municipal Museum where you will be able to admire great archaeology, African and Oriental ethnography, numismatic, painting, sculpture, ceramic and furniture collections. You can then visit Casa do Paço which will inspire you with its tile collection. You can then take a tour through the local churches, admire the Saint Antony Convent paintings or the 15th century stone retable at Saint Julian Church, the oldest in the city. You can still visit the Sea Museum which keeps the memory of local fishing communities, the Maiorca Palace or the Saint Catherine Fountain and its little chapel which are mandatory sights in the city paths. And, if you really want to discover Figueira da Foz, you should also visit:
- Silva Guimarães Terrace facing Claridade Beach
- The Quiaios, Bom Sucesso and Tocha fresh water lagoons
- The Clock Tower
- The Figueira da Foz Art and Spectacles Centre
- Abadias Park
- The Misericórdia Church and the Buarcos Fortress
- The Benedict Monastery of Seiça
The beaches of Figueira da Foz and Mira can be reached within a 60 minute drive from Quinta da Palmeira – Country House Retreat & Spa.