Want to know where you should stay on your trip to Nazare Beach Portugal?

Read our comprehensive guide to Nazare’s unique neighborhoods, and find out which part of town is ideal for you.

True story: from time to time, we use affiliate links in our posts to promote the things we love about Nazare.

Meaning that if you do click a link and make a purchase, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Sincerely, Tourism Nazare

Nazare apartment building

Knowing what neighborhood to stay in, and what hotel to book, can make or break your next vacation.

Airline delays and lost luggage aside, hotels are the number one complaint received by most tour operators and travel agencies worldwide.

Are you willing to sacrifice space and decor for a better view?

Perhaps you need a quiet neighborhood away from all the action so you can get a better night’s sleep?

Regardless of what you are looking for, Nazare has the option for you. You just need to know where to book.

Scroll down to find your next Nazare neighborhood destination.

NAZARE BEACH

Lovingly referred to by locals as ‘the beach,’ and by visitors as the ‘touristy part’ of Nazare.

And who could blame them?

With an oceanfront a mile-long littered with shops, bars, and cafes, it’s hard not to think that.

But here, in the lower part of town, this is where the city comes to life!

Where the action is.

Where some of the top restaurants are.

Where the parade routes for Carnaval, Nazare’s most anticipated festival of the year takes to the stage.

Where athletes from around Europe come to battle it out in beach soccer tournaments.

Where live music can be heard almost any day of the week during the warmer months.

And where, of course, the locals come to enjoy life as well.

BOOK HERE IF

You want quick access to the beach

You want to eat and drink your way around town without worrying about transport or taxis
Driving around to find a parking spot doesn’t bother you, instead, you treat it more like a game or challenge (this is especially true during July and August)
And if you don’t mind a little noise

SERVICES YOU WILL FIND

ATM’s

Convenience stores
Banks
Post office
Police station
Bus station
Taxi stand
Restaurants
Pharmacy

QUICK TIPS

Parking during the peak season will be a challenge. Look for temporary parking lots set up by the Municipality of Nazare or book a hotel or apartment with a parking spot included to avoid the stress.

Are you traveling with small children? Avoid long uphill treks to Pederneira or having to pay for transport on the Funicular to the Sitio and stay in the lower section of town here in Praia da Nazare.
Arriving by bus to Nazare? Many hotels are within walking distance of the bus terminal that connects Nazare with cities like Lisbon and Porto.
Thirteen of our 23 places to eat in Nazare are here in the lower town, making it an ideal place to stay.

For more tips and tricks on how to book a stress free holiday, check out our post 29 Helpful Things to Know About Nazare Portugal.

YES PLEASE

EAT: MARIA DO MAR

Tucked away on a side street off the main pedestrian dominate road leading to the Funicular, Maria do Mar is easy to miss, but shouldn’t be.

This all-female kitchen is lead by the dynamic owner ‘Maria’ and has been a local favorite for many years.

Try the mixed grilled fish platter €11 per person, minimum of two persons per order. Variety of fish changes daily.

SLEEP: VILLAMAR STYLE MAISON

Close to services and public transportation, the Villamar Style Maison is tucked away on a quiet cul-de-sac in Nazare.

The hotel offers family suites, rooms with pool access, and an onsite restaurant and bar.

Prices range from $70 to $165 per night with American style breakfast included.

To reserve a room or for more details, visit Villamar at Booking.com here.

SEE: THE OPEN-AIR DRIED FISH MUSEUM

The Museu do Peixe Seco is an open-air dried fish market that dates back over 300 years.

Today you can still see the men and women of Nazare extending their catch out in the sun to dry.

Out of the seven or so quality of fishes caught here, the local favorite is Pescada, Hake – a lean white fish perfect for drying and deep-frying tempura style.

DO: ‘HAGGLE’ AT THE GYPSY MARKET

Except for eight weeks during peak travel season, the seemingly never-ending Gypsy Market sets up shop every Friday in the parking lot behind the City Hall of Nazare.

While haggling isn’t generally accepted, what is common practice is asking for a few euros off your purchase of multiple products.

Most vendors will negotiate and stay within a five euro discount for larger purchases.

MORE THINGS TO SEE & DO

Walk the promenade

Visit The Cultural Centre
Visit The Municipal Gallery of Paul Girol
Shop at the Farmer’s Market (Mercado Municipal de Nazare)
Ride the Nazare Funicular (Ascensor da Nazare)

“Did you know … That because of the threat of pirates, Nazare didn’t build its first houses in the lower beach town until 1792 – Arrr! Those pesky pirates.”

Funicular lookout point at sunrise

SITIO

O Sitio, the place to be.

Directly translated, O Sitio means the place.

Overlooking the sunbathers’ beach of Nazare and 360 feet above sea level, the Sitio offers expansive views of the town and the southern strip of the Silver Coast of Portugal.

Considered to be the new residential area of Nazare, this neighborhood offers free parking throughout the borough, top-rated restaurants by locals, and easy access to the Lighthouse and the North Beach.

BOOK HERE IF YOU

You want to see the big waves at the Praia do Norte
Don’t’ mind a little distance between you and the main drag of Nazare
Are not into nightlife
Want a more relaxed part of town
An unforgettable lookout point at your doorstep

SERVICES YOU WILL FIND

ATM’s

Convenience stores
Pharmacy
Hospital of Nazare
Restaurants
Large-format Supermarkets

OTHER REASONS TO LOVE SITIO

Great for walkers who love to explore

Staying here will give you a valid excuse to ride the Tram
A quiet neighborhood with excellent local restaurants all within a short distance of each other

EAT: SITIADO

Where the exquisite wine list matches the quality of the food.

Taberna Sitiado is a modern twist on traditional Portuguese food done tapas-style or Petiscos in Portuguese that specializes in various cuts of meat. Vegetarian options are also available.

Try any bottle of wine. The menu lovingly curated by the owner and features small boutique vineyards.

SLEEP: ZULLA NAZARE SURF SCHOOL

The only hotel and surf school in the region, Zulla, was a concept born out of the imagination of two professional bodyboard athletes with a passion for Nazare and surfing lifestyle.

The hotel offers both private and shared accommodation options, has a pool, WIFI, and a terrace bar and restaurant that features local organic food.

Prices range from $23 to $55 per night.

For more information on rooms and surf school packages, click here.

a person surfing big waves on north beach on Nazare

SEE: THE BIG WAVES OF THE PRAIA DO NORTE

During the winter months, visitors descend on to the North Beach for a glimpse of the world’s largest waves ever surfed.

The current Guinness World Record holder is Brazillian surfer Rodrigo Koxa and his wave of 80 feet!

VISIT: THE NAZARE LIGHTHOUSE

… and the Surf Board Museum and the Forte de Sao Miguel Arcanjo. Luckily, they are all in one.

For one euro per person, venture down toward the cliffside and into the Nazare Lighthouse and Forte de Sao Miguel Arcanjo.

Catch up on surfing culture and pay homage to the men and women who have braved the waters of Praia do Norte.

Many have come close to losing their lives.

MORE THINGS TO DO & SEE

Stroll along the sands of the Praia do Norte and climb into the Forno de Orca cave

Go back in time to the 12th century and learn all about the Legend of Dom Fuas Roupinho and The Chapel of Memory (Ermida da Memoria)
See sunset from the Miradouro do Suberco
Visit the Church of Nossa Senhora da Nazare and seek out the often mistaken ‘Black Madona’ statue that dates back to 711 AD (one euro entrance fee per person)
Admire the facade and architecture of the Chaby Pinheiro Theatre
Visit the historical Museu Dr. Joaquim Manso

“Did you know … That there is a former Royal Palace in the Sitio of Nazare? Look for the staircase leading up to the second level balcony above the Casa Palacio Real souvenir shop.”

Lookout in Pedreneira overlooking Nazare beach and Sítio

PEDERNEIRA

The road less traveled leads to here, Pederneira. The least frequented area, and where Nazare got its start.

The oldest of all three barrios, Pederneira, is a sanctuary of solitude that dates back to 1469.

In 1808 the town was attacked and set fire to by the French Army. Only four of the original houses remain today.