Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo and Praia do Norte

Nazaré is a fishing town on the Silver Coast with two levels. Down by the sea is the Praia, the main beach and town. Up on the cliff is the Sítio, a clifftop village with a headland that sticks out into the Atlantic. At the tip of that headland is the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo, a small fort with a lighthouse, and on its north side is Praia do Norte, where surfers ride the biggest waves in the world.

A day here has three parts that children love: riding the funicular up the cliff, standing on the headland watching the sea, and going inside the fort to see the surfboards and find out why the waves get so big.

The Ascensor da Nazaré links the beach with the Sítio. It opened on 28 July 1889 and was designed by Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard, the engineer behind several of Lisbon’s lifts. At first it was steam powered. Today two blue cars run on electricity, joined by a cable under the track, so as one goes up the other comes down and they pass in the middle. The line is about 318 metres long at a 42% slope, which makes it one of the longest funiculars in Portugal.

Children who like to know how things work can watch for the passing place, where the track splits so the two cars can get round each other. Sit facing downhill on the way back for the view over the beach and the town.

The funicular runs every day from 07:15 to 20:00 every 15 minutes, then every 30 minutes until midnight. When checked in September 2026 (on the tariff in force since August 2025) a single cost €2.50 for adults and €2 for children, and a return €4 and €3. Pets can ride in carrier boxes the operator provides.

King Sebastião began the fort in 1577 to protect the coast from pirates and privateers, and King João IV had it strengthened in 1644. It later held out against the French invasions and served as a lookout and signal post. The lighthouse was added in 1903 and still works. The town opened the fort to the public in 2015, and it has had more than 650,000 visitors since.

Inside are two things children remember.

The Nazaré Canyon Interpretation Centre, opened in May 2015, explains the underwater canyon that makes the waves, with a model of the sea floor. It also tells the story of the German submarine U-963, which sank off the canyon in 1945.

The Surfer Wall, set up in 2016, is a display of real boards used by big-wave surfers in their most memorable sessions at Praia do Norte, each with information about the rider. Children who know the names will hunt for their favourites; others are simply amazed by how long the boards are.

The fort also hosts changing exhibitions. It’s small, so a visit inside takes under an hour.

Here is the science at a child’s level. Offshore, the sea floor is split by the Nazaré Canyon, an underwater valley about 230 km long and up to about 5 km deep, one of the largest in Europe. When a big Atlantic storm sends swells towards Portugal, the part of the swell over the deep canyon moves differently from the part over the shallower sea floor beside it. The canyon points straight at Praia do Norte, and the two parts of the swell meet and stack up just off the beach. The result is waves far taller than anywhere else on the coast.

The records show it. Garrett McNamara rode a 23.77-metre wave here in 2011. Rodrigo Koxa rode 24.38 metres in 2017, and Maya Gabeira 22.4 metres in 2020, the biggest wave surfed by a woman. An independent guide lists Sebastian Steudtner’s 26.21 metres from 2020 as the current world record. The municipal company lists waves of more than 30 metres recorded here. These surfers are towed onto the waves by jet skis, because the waves move too fast to paddle into.

The big-wave season runs from October to March, and January and February are often best. Only a handful of huge swells arrive each winter, and forecasts only work about a week ahead, so you watch the forecast and the webcams and go at short notice. Outside the season you are unlikely to see giants, but the boards, the canyon exhibition and the coastal view are there all year. For the seasonal side (contest window, crowds, what to wear), see the Nazaré big-wave season card on our What’s on page.

• Ages 4 to 7 love the funicular, the lighthouse and the huge surfboards.
• Ages 8 to 12 can follow how the canyon shapes the waves and compare the record heights with buildings they know.
• Teenagers into surfing or extreme sport get the most from the Surfer Wall and a real big-wave day.
• Toddlers can come along in a sling or carrier, but the headland is steep, windy and has cliff edges, so they need holding.

The fort sits on a clifftop promontory, so keep children well back from the edges, especially on windy winter days when the waves are biggest. The visitor guide on big-wave days warns that several tourists have drowned here after being carried away by waves; stay off the rocks and away from the water’s edge at Praia do Norte.

On big-wave days the Sítio fills up. Parking near the lighthouse goes early and the fort may close for competitions, so park outside the Sítio and expect to walk more than a kilometre, or take the funicular up from the lower town. Bring non-slip shoes, layers and waterproofs, water and snacks; toilets are few. On ordinary days it’s much calmer.

Ride the funicular back down for the calm end of the day on Praia da Nazaré, the town beach, which the council says has lifeguards all year round. Óbidos and the Parque D. Carlos I in Caldas da Rainha are both within easy reach for a second stop. For more funiculars, compare this one with the water-powered Bom Jesus funicular in Braga or the Elevador de Santa Luzia in Viana do Castelo. Inland, the Grutas de Mira de Aire make a good wet-weather alternative.

When is the best time to see the big waves in Nazaré?

Between October and March, on the days a big Atlantic swell is forecast. January and February are often best. Check forecasts and webcams before you drive.

How much is the Nazaré fort for children?

The fort charged €3 per ticket when checked in September 2026. The headland viewpoints around it are free.

How much is the Nazaré funicular?

Children paid €2 single or €3 return and adults €2.50 or €4 when checked in September 2026. It runs every 15 minutes from 07:15.

Is Praia do Norte safe for children?

Only from a distance. Watch from the headland, keep well back from the cliff edges and stay away from the water’s edge. The visitor guide warns that people have been swept away by waves here.

How long do you need?

About half a day for the funicular, the fort and the headland, longer if the waves are running.