‘Waves are not measured in feet or inches, they are measured in increments of fear…’

Your new surf teacher probably shouldn’t be allowed to talk to kids.

Still, don’t let that stop you from suiting up and belly-flopping into the big blue. With gnarly waves, unspoilt beaches and 300 days of sunshine per year, Portugal is the Holy Grail - er, Wetsuit - for surfers.

Here’s LuckyTrip’s guide to Portugal’s Surfing Towns.

As well as some of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal (i.e. the world), Peniche is home to ‘The European Pipeline’, Supertubos beach.

Sagres is the best surfing spot in the Algarve, with the best waves in spring, autumn and winter. There’s also whale and dolphin-watching and diving.

Two of the best surfing beaches are by Costa Vicentina - Arrifana and Praia do Amado. As well as being in the middle of a national park, both beaches have ‘violent waves’ which are perfect for surfing

This fishing village is surrounded by gnarly surf beaches - Lourenço, Coxos, Pedra Branca and Foz do Lizandro. It’s also famous for local pastries, so win-win really.

"If you take Jaws, Puerto Escondido and Waimea shorebreak and put them all on steroids... you get Nazaré." - Garrett McNamara

Nazaré’s Praia de Norte became famous after it had ‘the biggest wave of the year’. If the stormy seas get too much, you can watch others accidentally salmon into the sea from the lookout point Miradouro do Suberco.