Surf in the Algarve today
Algarve, Portugal · 21 breaks ranked
Praia da Ponta Ruiva is the call in the Algarve today - overhead at 10 seconds with light cross-shore wind, rated poor to fair. Praia do Telheiro is close behind.
1Praia da Ponta Ruiva5.2ft–6.9ft
11.8 km7kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am–Noon
2Praia do Telheiro5.2ft–6.9ft
14.5 km7kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am–6pm
3Beliche5.6ft–7.2ft
15.4 km7kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am–6pm
4Tonel5.6ft–7.2ft
16.5 km7kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am–6pm
5Carriagem4.9ft–6.2ft
27.8 km3kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
6Amoreira4.9ft–6.2ft
23.8 km3kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
7Monte Clérigo4.9ft–6.2ft
23.0 km3kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
8Arrifana4.9ft–6.2ft
17.7 km2kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
9Vale Figueiras4.9ft–6.2ft
12.5 km3kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
10Carrapateira4.9ft–6.2ft
8.2 km3kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
11Praia do Amado5.2ft–6.9ft
5.0 km3kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–8am
12Praia da Cordoama5.2ft–6.9ft
7.6 km7kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–2pm
13Praia Castelejo5.2ft–6.9ft
8.6 km7kn onshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am–2pm
14Zavial3.3ft–4.3ft
10.2 km5kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am
15Praia do Martinhal3.3ft–4.3ft
14.3 km7kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am
16Mareta3.3ft–4.3ft
16.2 km7kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor · best 6am
17Meia Praia0.3ft–0.7ft
19.1 km1kn offshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best 6am–6pm
18Praia do Burgau0.7ft
10.5 km2kn offshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best 6am–6pm
19Praia de Salema0.7ft
8.6 km5kn offshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best 6am–6pm
20Praia da Rocha0.3ft–0.7ft
29.0 km2kn offshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best 6am–6pm
21Praia Da Luz0.7ft
13.2 km2kn offshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best 6am–6pm
Tomorrow, Saturday 19 September
Carriagem is the call in the Algarve tomorrow - overhead at 14 seconds with almost no wind, rated poor to fair. Amoreira is close behind.
1Carriagem5.6ft–5.9ft
27.8 km2kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am–6pm
2Amoreira5.6ft–5.9ft
23.8 km2kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am–6pm
3Monte Clérigo5.6ft–5.9ft
23.0 km2kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am–6pm
4Arrifana5.6ft–5.9ft
17.7 km4kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 10am
5Vale Figueiras5.6ft–5.9ft
12.5 km5kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 10am
6Carrapateira5.6ft–5.9ft
8.2 km5kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 10am
7Praia do Amado5.9ft–6.2ft
5.0 km5kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am–10am
8Praia da Cordoama5.9ft–6.6ft
7.6 km5kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am
9Praia Castelejo5.9ft–6.6ft
8.6 km5kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am
10Praia da Ponta Ruiva5.9ft–6.6ft
11.8 km5kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am–6pm
11Praia do Telheiro5.9ft–6.6ft
14.5 km5kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am–6pm
12Zavial3.3ft–4.9ft
10.2 km5kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 6am–6pm
13Beliche5.9ft–6.9ft
15.4 km5kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best Noon
14Praia do Martinhal3.3ft–4.9ft
14.3 km5kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best 8am–6pm
15Tonel5.9ft–6.9ft
16.5 km5kn offshore
6am6pm
Poor to Fair · best Noon
16Mareta3.3ft–4.9ft
16.2 km5kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Poor · best 4pm–6pm
17Praia do Burgau1.0ft–3.0ft
10.5 km3kn offshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best 8am–6pm
18Praia de Salema1.0ft–3.0ft
8.6 km5kn offshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best 6am–6pm
19Praia da Rocha1.3ft–2.3ft
29.0 km3kn offshore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best 6am–6pm
20Meia Praia1.3ft–2.3ft
19.1 km3kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best 6am–10am
21Praia Da Luz1.0ft–3.0ft
13.2 km3kn cross-shore
6am6pm
Very Poor · best 10am–6pm
Surfing in the Algarve
The Algarve has two coasts that meet at Sagres, and they rarely work on the same day. The west coast - Arrifana, Amado, Carrapateira, Cordoama - faces the open Atlantic and takes everything the ocean sends, wind included. The south coast - Zavial, Salema, Burgau, Luz, Meia Praia - is sheltered from the prevailing north wind and only breaks when a swell is big enough to wrap round the corner.
So the daily question is which corner of the Algarve to drive to, and the answer flips with the wind. A north wind that wrecks the west coast is offshore at Zavial; a small day that leaves the south flat is head high at Amado. This page ranks both coasts from today's forecast, using the same model as the app.
Where should a beginner surf in the Algarve?
Amado and Arrifana on the west coast have surf schools and long sandy beaches, and work most days from September to May. On the south coast, Meia Praia at Lagos and Praia da Luz are gentle when the swell wraps in, and calm when it doesn't.
Beliche and Tonel at Sagres are for experienced surfers - powerful, with rocks and rips - and Zavial gets hollow and crowded when it's on.
When is the best time to surf the Algarve?
October to April on the west coast, when Atlantic swell arrives with size; summer there is small, windy and full of learners. The south coast is a winter and spring option, needing a big west or south-west swell to work. Water is warmest in September and October, and the Algarve's south coast stays surfable in a spring suit longer than anywhere else in Portugal.
Common questions
West coast or south coast today?
West on a small to medium swell with light or easterly wind; south when the west coast is big and blown out by the north wind. The ranking above weighs both from today's forecast.
Where should a beginner surf in the Algarve?
Amado or Arrifana on the west coast, both with schools and sand. Meia Praia at Lagos on the south coast when the swell wraps in.
When is the best time of year to surf the Algarve?
October to April for the west coast. Autumn gives the best balance of size, warm water and light wind.
Is Sagres good for surfing?
Yes, but it is the serious end: Beliche, Tonel and Mareta are powerful, rocky and exposed. Better for experienced surfers than for learning.
How far is the Algarve from Lisbon?
About two and a half hours by car to Sagres on the A2, or three hours by coach to Lagos.
Forecast generated 17 September at 20:38 UTC. Open-Meteo marine forecast (EWAM/GFS Wave), scored with Frontside's model.
Description last checked 2026-09-17.
