Some days there is no surf. Maybe there are no waves, or they are too big. Sometimes your body asks for a break after a few days of paddling, or you are travelling with someone who simply doesn’t want to get in the water. That is a good day to plan a trip, whether a short one after your lesson or a whole day out.
The area around Santa Cruz (Torres Vedras, Oeste region) has plenty to offer. There are walks along the coast and trips inland, and since this is wine country, a good number of wineries for wine lovers. Everyone finds something. And if you have a whole free day, there are a few places worth a full day trip.
A day with a lesson, or a free day
On a day with a lesson, the plan follows the surf, so it isn’t easy to fix any trip in advance. Something close by works best.
With a whole free day you can go further. The best approach is to choose one place, leave time for lunch and enjoy the local atmosphere, rather than trying to rush around as many places as possible.
Coastal walks
Santa Cruz and the Azenha. For a short afternoon, a walk along the cliffs above the beaches and a stop at the Azenha, a former watermill with an exhibition about milling and breadmaking, is enough. There is also a tourist information centre where you can find out more about the area. End the day with a coffee or dinner on the beach and the sunset over the ocean.
Rota do Atlântico, Porto Novo to Praia Azul. The marked coastal path is 11.5 km long and takes about three hours one way. For an afternoon, you can pick just a shorter section.
Praia Azul. South of Santa Cruz you will find a beach with dunes, and from there you can keep walking along the coast.
Porto Novo and the Escarpas da Maceira. At Porto Novo the Alcabrichel river meets the ocean. From the beach, a path follows the river and the limestone cliffs of the Escarpas da Maceira to the Termas do Vimeiro spa by the Fonte dos Frades spring. The spa has been closed since 2025, but the walk is well worth it.
By bike. A cycle path runs along the coast from Santa Cruz to Porto Novo, about 8 km. You can rent a bike in Santa Cruz for around €5 a week and ride further afield. Where to? Just ask us, we are happy to tell you.
Torres Vedras and inland
Torres Vedras is about 15 minutes from Santa Cruz by car or bus. Walk up to the castle above the town, then head down to the historic centre for lunch. An ideal half day.
Serra do Socorro. The Eco Caminho takes you from Turcifal up to Socorro hill, about 6 km through countryside with views inland.
Serra de Montejunto. The highest range in the area has forest paths and great views. You can choose from several marked trails, ideally on a clear day.
Tapada Nacional de Mafra. In this former royal hunting ground you walk through the forest and, with a bit of luck, see red or fallow deer. The shortest marked loop is 4.5 km, longer ones around 8 km.
Wineries
Torres Vedras lies in the Lisboa wine region and has its own appellation, Torres Vedras DOC. Thanks to the nearby ocean, it is known above all for fresh white wines from grapes such as Arinto, Fernão Pires and Vital, while the inland vineyards produce reds.
AdegaMãe near Torres Vedras offers tours with tastings and food experiences. The winery is known for its “Atlantic” wines, fresh and mineral, and we are happy to recommend it. It is our favourite. Quinta da Almiara near Ventosa also runs its own wine and tasting programmes. Tours need to be booked in advance. Save the tasting for after your surf. 🙂
Full-day trips
Ericeira. The surf town with its typical white and blue houses, Europe’s first World Surfing Reserve, is about 25 minutes away. Walk around the centre, have lunch and stop at Ribeira d’Ilhas, where international contests are held.
Mafra. At the National Palace, the basilica, the monastery and the famous library are all worth seeing. You can combine Mafra with Ericeira or the Tapada, but one day won’t be enough for everything.
Peniche and Cabo Carvoeiro. The town on its peninsula is about 40 minutes away. Visit the fortress with the Museum of Resistance and Freedom, then drive out to Cabo Carvoeiro on the western tip for a beautiful view of the rocky coast.
Berlengas. From Peniche you can take a boat to the Berlengas islands, a protected nature reserve. It is best to book ahead: you go by boat and daily visitor numbers are limited.
Óbidos. In this medieval town within its walls you can wander the narrow streets and try ginja, the traditional local cherry liqueur. In summer there is a medieval festival, and at Christmas a Christmas village.
Buddha Eden. At the Quinta dos Loridos estate near Bombarral, a garden of Buddha statues and ponds covers about 35 hectares. You can combine it with Óbidos.
Nazaré. In this fishing town, look down from the Sítio viewpoint over the beach and Praia do Norte, where giant waves are surfed in winter. It is worth a visit on a calm day too, but a trip in autumn or winter, when the waves are at their biggest, is a real experience.
Mira de Aire caves. These are the largest limestone caves in Portugal. The tour takes about an hour and goes down 683 steps.
Sintra. This romantic hilltop town is full of palaces and gardens. Give Sintra a whole day and choose one or two main sights. For us, the Pena Palace and its gardens, Monserrate Park or the Quinta da Regaleira are a must.
Lisbon and Cascais. The capital is worth a full day or more. We usually suggest spending two days in Lisbon after you arrive or before you fly home. If you have time left, take the train from Lisbon to Cascais, a seaside town just along the coast, and stop at Boca do Inferno, where the sea crashes against the cliffs.
Cabo da Roca. Stand on the westernmost point of mainland Europe, on cliffs high above the ocean by the lighthouse. You can combine it with Sintra or Cascais.
Dino Parque Lourinhã. This outdoor park with life-size dinosaur models and a museum is a hit with children. Allow at least three hours for your visit.
Trips for the whole group
In a group, everyone often wants something different: one person wants to walk all day, another wants to ride a horse, a third wants a quiet afternoon in Santa Cruz. It helps to agree before you start booking. If you want any advice on trips, get in touch. We’ll tell you what there is to do around here and which trips are worth it.
Leave a little space around your surf lessons. How the water and waves change through the year is in our guide to surfing in Portugal by month. And if you don’t know where to go, ask us at your lesson.
