Portugal is known for having some of the best surf in Europe. The country’s rugged coastline is riddled with waves from world-class surf breaks to beginner-friendly beach breaks. From the mile-high waves at Nazare to the cruisy swells along the Cascais coastline, there is always a wave to catch in this incredible country.
Staying in a surf hostel is one of the best ways to experience the waves in Portugal. These are the places that you can quiet literally – sleep, eat, surf, repeat – with little effort involved in organising. Surf hostels have it handled for you.
I’ve done more surf trips to Portugal than I can begin to count. I’ve got my favourite spots that I go back to (Peniche and Sagres), but I like to spread the love to other places too! In this guide, I’ve collated my favourite surf hostels for all different types of travellers 🙂 So, let’s get into it.
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
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In a hurry? Here are my top hostel picks in Portugal
Let’s take a closer look at each hostel
Now you’ve had a little snapshot, let’s dive into the details for each of the best surf hostels to stay in while visiting Portugal 🙂
1. WOT Ericeira Surf Hostel – Best Overall Surf Hostel
Price: $$
Best for: Solo travellers, surfers of all levels, digital nomads, couples
Highlights: Ocean‑view terrace, swimming pool (Apr–Sep), private bathrooms in all rooms, skate ramp, pet‑friendly, 4‑minute walk to the beach
Dorms from: $38
Private rooms from: $130
Location: Ericeira – Rua das Lombas, 4 minutes from the beach, 1 km from Ericeira centre
Set in a trendy neighbourhood just a short distance from the town centre at Ericeira, WOT Ericeira Surf Hostel offers a huge garden with a swimming pool, lawn, and skate park. The hostel sits in Europe’s only World Surfing Reserve, so you’re perfectly placed for lessons, beach days, or simply watching the waves roll in from the terrace.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Fully equipped kitchen, where you can prepare meals and store your food.
- An outdoor pool and skate ramp
- 4-minute walks from some of the best waves in Portugal
The vibe is relaxed but social, with a big terrace for sunset beers, a swimming pool open April–September, and plenty of communal space, which makes it easy for those who are solo travelling in Portugal to make some new friends.
2. Algarve Surf Hostel Sagres – Best for Beginner to Intermediate Surfers
Price: $$
Best for: Solo travellers, beginner to intermediate surfers, anyone wanting a social but chilled surf base
Highlights: Healthy breakfast included, big outdoor hangout areas, hammock zone, pizza oven + BBQ, surf shop nearby, privacy‑curtained dorms.
Dorms from: $41
Private rooms from: $94
Location: Sagres, my favourite place to stay in the Algarve. 10 minutes’ walk to beaches, cafés, restaurants & the hostel’s own surf shop
Algarve Surf Hostel in Sagres has a proper homely feel. It’s housed in a big, traditional Portuguese villa turned into a surfer’s base. The mornings here start with a healthy breakfast before heading out to the waves. There’s loads of space to relax with hammocks, a big outdoor seating area, a ping-pong table, a pizza oven, a BBQ…. shall I go on??
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Social vibes with plenty to do at the hostel
- Surf lessons, trips and board rentals from the hostel’s surf shop
- Free breakfast!
The vibe is friendly and community-centred, with family‑style dinners, sunset trips, and flexible surf packages that suit total beginners through to intermediate surfers. Located in the chill-out, surf town of Sagres, it’s one of my favourite places in Portugal for surfing.
3. The Salty Pelican Yoga and Surf Retreat – Best for Surfing, Yoga & Wellness
Price: $$$
Best for: Solo travellers, wellness-focused surfers, digital nomads, couples, yogis!
Highlights: Daily yoga (additional cost), social-retreat vibe, coworking space, free WiFi, green outdoor areas, community atmosphere
Dorms from: $84
Private rooms from: $375
Location: Cascais, 1.1 km from the town centre. If you’re visiting Lisbon, it’s about 30 minutes drive away.
The hostel draws on the two lifestyles of yoga and surfing, where like-minded travellers can practice daily yoga, surf, and eat healthy food as a community. The hostel also has an outdoor swimming pool, which is the perfect place to cool off after a steamy yoga session or rinse off a salty surf.
Set in a traditional Portuguese home that has been beautifully restored and refurbished with modern interiors and trendy furniture, the entire aesthetic of the space is ‘beach-chic.’ It’s one of my favourite surf and yoga retreats in Portugal.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Daily yoga and surf lessons available
- Beautiful, bright villa spaces with a swimming pool
- A genuinely social retreat vibe – ideal for meeting like-minded people
Practice a rejuvenating yoga session by the sea at sunrise, head back to the hostel to prepare your own breakfast in the kitchen, and grab your surfboard for a morning session. When the waves are good, you’ll want to be in the water, and when they aren’t, you will have even more time to practice yoga with a team of certified instructors.
4. 33 Hostel – Best for Solo Travellers
Price: $$
Best for: Solo travellers, beginner-intermediate surfers, social backpackers
Highlights: Free breakfast, daily hostel activities, surf lessons & rentals with free transfers, bike rentals, scuba diving, Berlenga Island trips, family‑style dinners
Dorms from: $27
Location: Peniche. Ferrel – the lively backpacker hub next to Baleal.
33 Hostel is one of the most social and welcoming surf hostels along Portugal’s west coast – and it has been designed specifically for solo travellers! Located in the heart of Ferrel, the hostel is surrounded by cafes, surf shops, bakeries, bars and more. The family that runs the hostel have created an incredibly warm and community-led atmosphere.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Free breakfast! Great for those trying to save a few extra bucks
- Daily surf lessons and board rentals, with free transfers
- Designed with solo-travellers in mind
Evenings mean homemade family dinners, pub crawls, quizzes, and group outings – which is perfect if you want to enjoy a social stay without the chaos of a party hostel.
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5. Banana Beach House, Lagos – Best for Beginners and Beach Lovers
Price: $$
Best for: Solo travellers, beginner surfers, beach bums, party lovers
Highlights: Free breakfast, nightly activities, family dinners, custom blackout-curtain bunks, surf lessons from the door, sun terrace, unbeatable beach access
Dorms from: $50
Private rooms from: $120
Location: Lagos. 200m from Dona Ana Beach, 10 minutes to Old Town
At Banana Beach House, you’ll be as close to the beach as a hostel in Lagos can get, and Old Town is only a 10‑minute stroll downhill. Days work around daily surf lessons, beach hangs, and planning adventures at the activities desk. Although this is not a party hostel, Lagos is famous for it’s nightful, so if you don’t mind surfing with a hangover, go have some fun!
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Closest hostel to the beach in Lagos
- Nightly activities + family dinners, great for solo travellers
- A sunny terrace space to relax on
Besides the location, the best thing about this hostel is the outdoor space, including a lush zen garden and a furnished terrace perfect for socialising with other guests. There is also a sunny roof terrace where you can catch an epic sunset each evening.
Travel Safety Tips for Portugal
Remember to pre-purchase travel insurance before your trip! Surfing can be an unpredictable sport, and it’s best to protect yourself from unwanted medical bills.
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Still not sure where to stay in Portugal?
Lined with beautiful beaches and rolling waves suitable for everyone from beginner to advanced surfers, Portugal has grown to become Europe’s top surf destination – for a good reason. And with the surf tourism market still growing, there are bound to be new properties popping up every year!
Whether you’re after a relaxing space to practice yoga, surf, and get in touch with your spiritual side. Or if you’re looking for a vibrant hostel with a bar and party scene, there is a surf hostel here for you! If you’re still unsure, I’d suggest locking in WOT Ericeira Surf Hostel. With social vibes, a huge swimming pool, ocean views and walking distance to some of the best waves in the country, you can’t really go wrong!
Wherever you end up, I hope you are blessed with sunny days and good waves! 🙂
