Carcavelos
Carcavelos is Lisbon's urban performance beach break, a powerful sandbar setup that can produce fast barrels when west swell and light offshore wind line up. It is one of Portugal's most accessible quality waves, sitting close to the train line and city center, which also means crowds arrive quickly. The wave is highly bank-dependent but can be excellent through autumn and winter.
Carcavelos surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- W (270°)
- Direction range
- 240° - 290°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 3m
- Ideal size
- 2m - 2.6m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- N (0°)
- Offshore range
- 330° - 45°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
Water temp
17°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Bottom
Sand
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
7/10
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Carcavelos?
Carcavelos is a beach break in Cascais, Portugal, with peaks that run both left and right over a sand bottom. It's also a renowned bodyboarding wave.
What swell works best at Carcavelos?
Carcavelos picks up swell from the WSW round to the WNW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the W. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 3m, with the sweet spot around 2 to 2.6m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Carcavelos?
A N wind is dead offshore at Carcavelos, and anything from the NNW round to the NE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to midday. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Carcavelos?
Carcavelos is at its best around mid tide.
When is the best time of year to surf Carcavelos?
The most reliable run of swell at Carcavelos comes Oct to Mar. Lisbon beachbreak favoring W-WNW winter swells and north offshore winds.
How cold is the water at Carcavelos?
The water at Carcavelos averages around 17°C, so you'll want a 3/2mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Carcavelos good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 5/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. It gets busy (crowd 7/10), so mind the pecking order. Things to watch for: strong rips and crowds.
How do I get to Carcavelos?
The nearest airport on our list is LIS, then it's roughly a 20-minute drive.
What other surf spots are near Carcavelos?
The closest breaks we track are Praia do Guincho (12 km), Praia Grande (19 km) and Ribeira d'Ilhas (35 km), handy when Carcavelos isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Lisbon beachbreak favoring W-WNW winter swells and north offshore winds.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Praia do Guincho
💨 Lisbon's windy outlet • Dual-sport beach • Sintra backdrop
Praia Grande
Sintra beach break • Consistent Atlantic exposure • Easy Lisbon access
Ribeira d'Ilhas
🏆 WSL CT venue • World Surfing Reserve • Europe's premier point
Coxos
🇵🇹 Portugal's best • Heavy hollow right • Ericeira's crown jewel
Supertubos
🇵🇹 Portuguese Pipeline • WSL Championship venue • Europe's heaviest tubes
Baleal
🏄 Europe's surf school HQ • Beginner paradise • Peninsula consistency