| Nazaré | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Beira Coast | |
| Surface | 80.49 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 15.158 (estimate / 2011) | |
| Prefix tel | 351 262 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 2450 | |
| Time zone | UTC 0 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Nazaré it is a lovely village of the Central Portugal. It became famous for a surf spot and entered the Guinness Book of Records with its gigantic waves. It is usually crowded in the summer.
To know
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How to orient yourself
Nazaré (Portugal): full screen map.How to get
On the train
Trains connect the line Linha do Oeste from the Oriente station in Lisbon. You have to change and accept many stops along the way. The arrival will take place at the Valado dos Frades / Nazaré / Alcobaça station, approximately 5 km from the center of Nazaré. From there, there is a local bus going to Nazaré and - normally - you can take a taxi from the station (usually with a fixed fare).
By bus
From Lisbon, catch the bus Rede Expressos] from the Sete Rios bus station (closest to the metro station). It is about 2 hours from the central bus station to the center of the village of Nazaré. The cost is € 10.90 (May 2018). This is the fastest line.
How to get around
Stroll through the village, use the tram to the top of the hill and enjoy the fabulous view over Praia da Nazaré. If you can, watch the international surfing championships on the lighthouse track.
What see
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- 1 Shrine of Our Lady of Nazaré. Important Marian shrine which houses the original image of Our Lady of Nazaré.
- 2 Chapel of Remembrance (Ermida da Memória). Marian chapel built in memory of the miracle of Our Lady of Nazaré. It is on a hill with a great view of Nazaré beach. There is a tram to the top.
- 3 Nazaré beach (Praia da Nazaré). A great beach with excellent conditions for swimming and having fun in the summer.
- 4 North Beach (Praia do Norte) (Warning: dangerous swimming). A vast expanse of beach. In November 2011, surfer Garrett McNamara surfed a record 23.8m giant wave and was entered in the Guinness Book of World Records.
- 5 Lighthouse. Watch the great waves of the Atlantic Ocean crash against the cliffs
Events and parties
What to do
- Use the beach
- Watch a bullfight in the Praca do Touros (O Sitio).
- Walk the white streets of the city
- Visit the market
It is a year-round holiday village (although some lodgings and restaurants are closed during the winter season). Take photos of Nazaré beach from O Sítio; ask the local women (who traditionally wear seven skirts) if you can take a picture with them.
Shopping
Buy traditional Nazaré dolls and use them decoratively (or even for a private collection). Also buy a replica of the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Nazaré.
How to have fun
Where to eat
There are lots of small cheap restaurants, where they grill fish (sardines, etc.), chickens outside. It usually pays to go to the smaller streets. On the promenade and in the main squares you will find it much more expensive. Lots of nice cafes in Praça Sousa Oliveira: not cheap but with a good view of busy life.
Average prices
- 1 Casa Pires "A Sardinha", Largo de Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, 44, ☎ 351 262 553 391. Typical Nazaré restaurant that favors dishes with grilled fish and seafood. It has an esplanade overlooking the Basilica of Our Lady of Nazaré.
- 2 Marisqueira "O Casalinho", Praça Sousa Oliveira 6, ☎ 351 262 551 328. Restaurant near the beach and with traditional Portuguese dishes.
Where stay
Arriving at the bus station one will normally be "hijacked" by a group of women offering private rooms. It's fairly cheap, normally central, and the easiest way to find a place to sleep (follow the woman of your choice to see the neighborhoods, but be careful - they're very fast).
There are hotels and guesthouses to book in advance but it is more (much more) expensive and you will not be able to experience the charm of living in a private house, where the family has moved (or in a small room), so they can rent the other rooms .
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Nazaré (Portugal)
Commons contains images or other files on Nazaré (Portugal)
