Best kitesurf spots in Portugal
We visited the best kitesurf spots from north to south of Portugal and we are happy to share them with you! Portugal is world known for its surf conditions but it is still to discover for its amazing kitesurf conditions ! You’ll find plenty of empty spots all along the coast with a great variety of conditions, from the large sandy beach, the flat lagoon or the waves spot.
Cabedelo, praia Luzia Mar (Viana do Castelo)
At the top north of Portugal, in the iconic city of Viana do Castelo, you will find one the best and windiest spot of Portugal located on the beautiful beach of Luzia Mar in Cabedelo. Only 45 min drive from Porto and it’s international airport, the spot is easy to access.
The Nortada wind is blowing along the Portuguese coast from May to October, plus here in Viana do Castelo, there is a local thermal wind (due to the proximity of the Lima river and the green hill around) that adds strenght to the wind, making this place the windiest spot in Portugal with an average of 20-30 knots.
The spot is a large sandy beach, with one side protected from the atlantic swell by a pier offering a flat calm water zone perfect to learn and on the other part of the beach you can ride medium to head size waves. So this spot offers amazing kiteboarding, kitesurfing, foil, wing and surf conditions, perfect for beginners to advanced and all the way to pro riders !
Moreover, Viana do Castelo is one of the most beautiful, authentic & vibrating cities in northern Portugal with plenty of things to do and see for the non-kitesurfers or after the session (restaurants, bars, skate parks, wake park but also churches and monasteries, monumental, and bicycle ride, walk on marked trails, jet skiing, sailing, rowing and canoeing on the River Lima).
More info here
- flat area and waves area
- large beach
- strong and consistent wind
- in mid august the beach can be crowded
Esposende
The spot is located in the Cávado river delta, 30 min from Porto, it is a great flat spot in northern Portugal with shallow water.
South wind works good here, the northern wind is not as strong as in Viana do Castelo. It can be a good place for very windy day in Cabedelo .
To access the spot in Esposende, you have to cross the estuary by boat (the kite schools there offer a boat transfer service from the pier to get you to the natural reserve). Or you can walk about 2km to reach it.
- flat and shallow water
- empty spot
- light wind
- difficult access
Obidos Lagoon
1h30 from Lisbon, you’ll find the beautiful lagoon of Obidos, one of the best and most famous kitesurf spot of Portugal. The lagoon can be divided into 2 areas. The first area is the estuary of the lagoon, the most beautiful part, were it meets the ocean. This spot has two sides one is Bom Successo beach, on the south (best side, more wild, wide beach, best orientation, little cool café) and on the other side Foz de Arelho on the north (big camper area and restaurants).
You can only kitesurf there from 15 of September to 15 of June, so in the summer you need to go to the 2nd area of the lagoon, more inland.
- beautiful scenery
- flat and shallow water
- spot isolated (20min to the first city)
- light wind
Gincho
Mytic spot for surfing in Portugal, Gincho beach is also a great spot for kitesurfing.
The wind is reliable here, consistent and strong. It is a wave spot, with a solid short break and many surfers in the water, so probably not the best for beginner or to have lessons, but great sensations if you look for a wave kites session.
Very easy access from Lisbon, Gincho beach can be reach in 30min.
- easy access (30min from lisbon)
- strong wind
- big waves - spot for advanced rider
- many surfers
Costa de Caparica
Costa de Caparica is Lisbon’s spot. It’s a sandy beach, with shre break. The water can be a choppy to waves. The wind is usually light here but if your lucky you can get stronger days, so check the forecast before planning your kite session.
During high season, this location can get crowded.
- sandy beach
- easy access
- light wind
- crowded in summer
Alvor lagoon in Algarve
South of Portugal is home to many kitesurf spot, the most famous is the alvor lagoon. The water is flat and shallow which make it a good place to start learning kitesurfing, but the beach is very shelly so you’ll need some surf shoes.
The Nortada wind starts there usually around 3pm and stays around 20 knots and is often onshore/sideonshore in this lagoon. This landwind is very gusty.
- beautiful scenery, clear water
- hot weather
- light wind
- gusty landwind