Surfing Peniche

Last checked November 2026.

Peniche is one of the surfing hotspots of Portugal, and one of the most flexible places to surf in Europe. It’s famous for the superb Supertubos break, but there are many other excellent breaks, and the beaches face almost every direction, so as long as there’s swell you can nearly always find a wave that’s working. Portugal’s coastal plan lists the beaches from Supertubos round to Baleal among the country’s surf spots of international importance. Always take a good look around Baleal bay, as there are many peaks and you might find one to yourself.

In October and November 2006 Darren spent nearly a month in Peniche, surfing most days at Lagide and around Baleal bay. Back then free camping was normal all around Baleal bay. That has changed: in Peniche you can now only stay overnight in a campervan or motorhome on a campsite or in an authorised motorhome park.

Where you can and can’t stay overnight

Two sets of rules apply in Peniche, and together they rule out sleeping in your van anywhere else.

Portugal’s national rules. Since 2021, overnighting (being in the vehicle between 22:00 and 07:00) is banned on the coastal strip covered by the coastal plans and in Natura 2000 sites, except in places authorised for it, with fines of €120 to €600. The whole Peniche coast is in the Alcobaça to Cabo Espichel coastal plan, much of it is also in the Peniche/Santa Cruz Natura 2000 site, and the Berlengas islands are a nature reserve. See camping in Portugal for the national rules in full.

Peniche council’s own regulation. Anywhere in the municipality, parking a vehicle in order to spend the night is banned outside the campsites and places authorised for motorhomes. The regulation treats any of these as camping rather than parking:

  • lowering stabilisers or putting chocks under the wheels
  • opening the side windows of a caravan or motorhome
  • putting the step out
  • putting tables, chairs or other camping kit on the ground
  • hanging out washing or lighting a fire
  • emptying waste water
  • sleeping in the vehicle

The council’s fines are €150 to €200.

The rules are enforced. In June 2026 the council and the Maritime Police (Polícia Marítima) ran a joint operation against motorhomes parked and overnighting on the cliff tops and in protected areas, and the council is putting in barriers to keep vehicles off the most vulnerable cliff-top areas.

By day, you can still park at the beach car parks at Supertubos, Baleal and Lagide and go surfing. When Darren arrived in October 2006 there were about 30 vans in the Baleal car park, many of them staying the night. Don’t plan on doing the same.

Campsites and motorhome parks

PenichePraia, Bungalows, Campers & Spa, Estrada Marginal Norte, 2520-605 Peniche. Tel: 262 783 460. A big private campsite on the north shore of the peninsula, just outside the town, which Darren described as a good private campsite with a pool and restaurant. Pitches for motorhomes, caravans and vans come with electricity, hot showers and use of the motorhome service point (water and waste). There’s an outdoor pool, covered over in low season, a restaurant, and a saltwater thalasso spa that costs extra. Dogs are €4 a night on a pitch.

Urban Art Camping (Parque de Campismo Ferrel), Rua do Cataló, 2520-141 Ferrel. Tel: 262 247 776. A small campsite in Ferrel, between the beaches of Baleal and Almagreira, run by Campigir and open since 2018. Campigir says its parks take caravans and motorhomes all year; ring ahead to check there’s a pitch to suit your van.

The old municipal campsite (Parque Municipal de Campismo), between Supertubos and Baleal, was Darren’s base in 2006: two minutes from Supertubos, five from Baleal, and very cheap. Darren’s 26 nights cost €65 in total, and a night there for Darren and Abby in March 2011 cost €3.86. It closed in 2022 and is being rebuilt as an eco resort of lodges and villas, with the first phase due to open in 2027, so it’s no longer an option for a van.

There are also one or two private motorhome parks in and around the town, listed in the motorhome apps. Check recent reviews before you go.

Peniche has a tourist tax of €1 per person per night, for anyone aged 13 or over, up to five nights in a row. Campsites add it to your bill.

If Peniche is full, the nearest other campsite is Orbitur Foz do Arelho (Caldas da Rainha), a short drive to the north-east and open all year. The campsite at Praia da Areia Branca (Lourinhã), to the south, closed in May 2025 to be rebuilt by a new operator. See Estremadura and Ribatejo.

Getting there

Peniche is about 90 km north of Lisbon by road. Take the A8 motorway north, which has toll booths, and turn off onto the IP6 for Peniche. Some motorways in Portugal have electronic-only tolls, so see driving in Portugal for how a UK van pays.

Supertubos

Supertubos (Praia do Medão) is just a few minutes’ drive from the town, and signposted. A hollow, fast and shallow break that works in all swells. It’s busy at 4 ft, but the crowds start to thin as the swell gets bigger. Parking is at the beach, by the café, with more on the road leading away from the beach.

Praia do Baleal

A massive crescent-shaped bay offering fantastic flexibility. Parts of the bay will be offshore in winds from the west through to the east. Stop at various points around the bay to check the conditions; there are car parks right around it. In 2006 Darren found clean, sheltered waves at the east end of the bay, inside the Baleal causeway, and at the north end, and some days found a peak in the middle of the bay with nobody else on it. There are rocks and reef under the water in places, so boots are a good idea.

Lagide

A small beach with a great reef to the east. Lagide faces east and is busy when the winds are westerly. The reef has a small take-off zone, so be careful. Park at the eastern end of Baleal bay, overlooking Lagide beach. This is where Darren surfed most in 2006; at low tide the rocks are exposed, and on big days there are plenty of collisions and kayakers in the line-up.

Molhe Leste

A beach break by the east harbour wall, popular with local surfers. Closes out easily.

Ferrel beaches

Ferrel is a beach break with great peaks. It’s popular with local surfers, so show respect in the water.

Where to surf in different winds

It’s possible to surf in Peniche in almost all wind conditions:

  • Easterly winds: Supertubos, and further down the same beach, Baleal bay, Molhe Leste and the Ferrel beaches.
  • Southerly winds: Baleal bay.
  • Westerly winds: Lagide and Baleal bay.
  • Northerly winds: check Baleal bay, but this is normally the only wind direction where everywhere is onshore.

Surf schools and surf shops

Surf schools have to be licensed by Peniche council to teach on its beaches, and the council publishes the list of licensed schools on its website each year. In 2026 there were more than 50 of them, many based around Baleal and Ferrel.

The town has a few surf shops, mainly selling clothes. For equipment, head for the Baleal road. In October 2006 Darren bought a 7’5″ mini-mal at the 58 Surf shop there, after finding little choice in the shops in town, and found the staff very helpful.

Peniche town, with its walls and fortress, is covered in the Estremadura and Ribatejo guide.

Darren’s trips

More on Portugal

Sources: Lei n.º 66/2021, Diário da República; Resolução do Conselho de Ministros n.º 66/2019 (Alcobaça to Cabo Espichel coastal plan); Câmara Municipal de Peniche (municipal regulation on occasional camping and caravanning, tourist tax regulation n.º 356/2024, list of licensed surf schools, and news of June 2026); Turismo de Portugal register of tourist establishments; PenichePraia and Campigir; checked November 2026. Know of a change? Tell us in the comments below.

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