Peniche, Portugal

About Peniche, Portugal

Peniche is a coastal city located 90km north of Lisbon, in the west of Portugal, and is famous for its surf breaks and for having some of the best waves to be found in Europe. The beach is a 5km stretch of pristine white sand, which surrounds the peninsula, and offers epic kitesurfing conditions. Due to the bay’s shape, you can kite in various wind directions, but autumn and winter are the best times to visit, when the wind blows mostly northerly. The sea brings exhilarating down-the-line wave conditions, with everything from perfect peelers to choppy mush. You’ll need a wetsuit in the winter, when water temperatures hover around the 12C mark, while in summer, the temperature is a far cosier 24C. There is always plenty of room on the beach to rig up and launch, even at high tide. If the conditions are too much for you, or you just fancy a break, then head northeast to the Lagoon of Obidos, for some flat conditions. Often the local kitesurf school takes beginners there to learn.

Traveling to Peniche, Portugal

Lisbon airport is the most convenient for Peniche, and is about an hour and a half by bus, or fifty minutes by car. Car hire can be arranged at the airport. However, there are also good bus routes, along with plenty of taxis and mini-buses, so hiring a car is not essential.

Facilities At Peniche, Portugal

Peniche is very well stocked, with bars, lovely fish restaurants, and cafes local to the beach. There are plenty of hotels, chalets, and beach houses, so arranging accommodation is no problem. There are also supermarkets and shops locally, and even a Rip Curl shop, should you need some more boardies. Some particularly good shipwrecks make Peniche a great place for scuba diving, while nearby Obidos is a lovely medieval town, if you fancy taking in some culture. There is also the island of Berlenga, which is renowned for its bird-watching opportunities. For those just taking up the sport, we would recommend contacting Peniche Kite Centre, which offers IKO-certificated tuition.