Carcavelos

Lisbon coast · Portugal

Live cam and today’s forecast: the live surf cams and the current surf forecast for Carcavelos (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To watch the cam and check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/carcavelos.

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Carcavelos is the best-known surf beach near Lisbon, a long sandy beach on the Cascais line, 20 minutes from the city by train. The east end has a fast left by the rocks that gets wedgy at high tide, and the west end has a hollow right on bigger swells. The middle of the beach is easier but often dumpy. In winter it can give good tubes.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, sand and rock
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Packed
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard or fish in winter; longboards and foam boards in summer.

When it works

✓ A west to south-west swell of 1.8–3.5 m offshore with a north wind, around mid tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Small swells, which don't wrap in, and onshore southerly winds.

Watch out for

  • crowds
  • localism
  • rocks
  • pollution

Best months

October, November, December, January, February, March, April

Local tips

Surf early: if it is good at 8 am, go, because the line-up fills quickly. In summer the beach is packed with bathers.

Getting there

Take the Cascais train from Cais do Sodré to Carcavelos, or drive the Marginal coast road; the beach is past the fort.

Travel notes

How often it works
Fairly reliable from autumn to spring when swells wrap around the coast. Summer is often flat or tiny.
Crowd and vibe
Always crowded, and very crowded at weekends. The locals are known for being quick to call out snakes, so follow the rules of priority.
Camping and vans
No campsite nearby; Orbitur Costa da Caparica is across the Tagus and Orbitur Guincho is about 13 km west. Portuguese law limits motorhome overnight stays to 48 hours outside campsites.
Facilities
Lifeguards in summer, toilets, showers, many surf schools, surf shops, cafés and restaurants, and a train station.
Water quality
Both bathing points (Nascente and Poente) were rated excellent in 2025 (APA) and fly a Blue Flag in 2026. Guides mention water quality worries after heavy rain.

Ideal conditions

Swell
SW–W best, S–NW works
Size
1.8–3.5 m offshore swell; starts at 1.2 m, holds to 5.5 m
Period
10 s minimum, best from 13 s
Wind
Offshore NNW–NE; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
mid best
Faces
SSW (200°)

Live cams

Cams © their operators, shown from the operator's own feed.

In the guides

Nearby spots

All spots in Lisbon coast · All spots

Sources