Nazaré in Portugal - the city of the seven skirts

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Nazaré is a former fishing village on the Atlantic coast of Portugal that is now known as a seaside resort and surfing paradise for daredevil surfers. The town is also known as the ”village of the seven skirts” because of the traditional seven skirts worn by the fisherwomen.

Nazare in Portugal

Nazaré is located dramatically on the Portuguese Atlantic coast and offers several beautiful viewpoints. We arrived here with our campervan, checked into Camping Paraiso and looked around the charming neighbourhoods.

Nazaré - a city with a view

As soon as we arrived in Nazaré, we parked just outside the town so we could take a walk and admire the view. Parts of this town are situated on a hill and the small charming streets seem to go up the hills. The main attraction was the view of the sea which is absolutely stunning.

A popular coastal resort

Nazaré is one of Portugal's most popular coastal resorts and offers a wonderful combination of beach life, fishing traditions and dramatic nature experiences.

The city is practically divided into two parts: the lively promenade down by the sea and the historic area of Sítio, located high on the cliff with fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean. The parts are connected by the classic funicular Elevador da Nazaré, which has been in operation since 1889.

Most visitors are drawn here by the wide sandy beach of Praia da Nazaré or the world-famous giant waves at Praia do Norte. Don't miss the viewpoint at Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, where you can gaze out over the mighty waves of the Atlantic, or a stroll through the narrow alleys of Sítio and the old town center.

Nazaré has also managed to retain much of its fishing culture, and to this day you can still see traditionally dried fish and women dressed in the classic ”seven skirts”, which have become a symbol of the city.

Nazaré and the seven skirts

Nazaré is often called the ”village of the seven skirts” after the traditional costumes of the fisherwomen. The colorful skirts were worn one on top of the other, and there are various explanations as to why there would be exactly seven.

A common interpretation is that the number symbolizes the seven days of the week, the seven waves of the sea or the seven colors of the rainbow. The costumes are still an important part of Nazaré's cultural heritage and can be seen especially at feasts, festivals and other traditional events.

Discover the historic Sítio

Take the funicular or walk up to Sítio, the older part of town perched high above the beach, where you'll find narrow alleys, small restaurants and sweeping views of Praia da Nazaré and the Atlantic coast.

The area also features religious buildings and sites that tell the story of Nazaré's history as a pilgrimage site. Continuing out towards the cape, you'll reach Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo and the view of Praia do Norte, where the famous giant waves break.

Nazaré's world-famous giant waves

Nazaré is known worldwide for its huge waves, which attract some of the world's top big wave surfers. The place got its big international breakthrough in 2011 when Garrett McNamara surfed a 23.77 meter wave at Praia do Norte - a new world record at the time.

Since then, several even bigger waves have been surfed here. The current official men's record is 26.21 meters and was set by Sebastian Steudtner in 2020. In the same year, Maya Gabeira surfed a 22.4 meter wave, which is the official women's record.

Camping Paraiso in Nazaré

We checked into a large and nice campsite in Nazaré called camping Paraiso, or camping Vale Paraiso. This is a large and well-maintained campsite with forest all around, and the only thing that is really annoying is the high fences that surround the campsite. There are also service buildings here that are quite ok, including a laundry room.

See more in the neighbourhood

Do you want to continue your journey and discover more of Portugal? Here you will find more tips and reports:

• Things to do in Caminha
• Things to do in Porto
• Things to do in Lisbon, Portugal
• Cabo da Roca - Europe's most westerly point