🇵🇹 Praia do Norte, Portugal
Casa do André
📍 10, Caminho do Fundo da Rocha, Praia do Norte, 9900-471
Photo: official website
Your stay — Casa do André
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Praia do Norte.
The Property — Casa do André
Casa do André is a simple, family-run guesthouse right on Praia do Norte's strip of sand. The lobby feels like someone's front room—scattered with surfboards, a tile stove, and the smell of coffee. It's for travellers who want a quiet base to walk straight onto the beach, not for anyone expecting frills. The USP is the location: you're fifty metres from the Atlantic break, and the owner can point you to the best local waves.
Chronicles of Praia do Norte
Praia do Norte is not a city but a beach hamlet on the Costa Vicentina, part of the municipality of Vila do Bispo. The area was historically a fishing and farming outpost, with a modest 17th-century fort (Fortaleza de Sagres) nearby. In the 1960s and 70s, it was settled by a small community of surfers drawn to the consistent swells. Today it's a quiet, low-rise village of whitewashed houses, with a few cafes, a surf school, and a strong conservation ethos protecting the golden dunes and the Vicentine Coast Natural Park.
Best Time to Visit
Full Praia do Norte guide →Best months
June and September: warm, sunny days (22–25°C), steady north wind for surf, and beaches far less crowded than July–August.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak for Portuguese school holidays and European tourists. Hotel prices double, especially in family-run spots. The main event is the Sagres Surf Festival (late July), drawing surfers and spectators. For a quiet stay, avoid these two months.
Budget shoulder season
May and October: daytime temps 20–23°C, water warm enough for wetsuits, and lodging rates drop 30–40%. Fewer people, easier parking, and the surf still works.
Weather & packing
The coast is famously windy—a steady north/northwest breeze picks up most afternoons. Pack a lightweight windbreaker or a fleece for evenings, and a rash vest/UV shirt for the beach, even in summer.
Live City Briefing — Praia do Norte
- The new cycle path from Vila do Bispo to Cabo de São Vicente opened in May 2026, making it easier to explore the headland by bike.
- Praia do Norte's main cafe, 'Onda Surf Bar', shut for renovation in June 2026 and is due to reopen mid-July under new ownership.
- The annual 'Praia do Norte Classic' longboard competition is scheduled for 5–6 July 2026; expect extra surfers and limited beach parking on those dates.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Casa do André, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing the ocean (south-west side of the building). These floors get the best natural light and sea views, and are high enough to avoid street-level noise from Caminho do Fundo da Rocha.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms (especially those numbered in the 001-010 range) as they face the street directly and suffer from early-morning foot traffic and vehicle noise. Also skip any rooms directly above the small lobby area where the lift motor hums all day.
Best views
The best view is from ocean-facing rooms on floors 3 and 4. You get a clear line of sight over the low-rise buildings across the street to the North Beach shoreline. Side-facing rooms on the east side look onto a neighbouring apartment block's wall.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest. The guest rooms sit above the reception and breakfast area, so any early kitchen noise is muffled by the concrete slab between floors.
🔊 Noise notes
This street is a main access road to the beach, so you get delivery lorries early morning (around 6-7 AM) and returning surfers' cars until late evening. The hotel's lift is old and makes a clunking sound each time it arrives. Also the basement parking entrance is on the building's north side and can echo up via the stairwell.
Insider tips
1. Parking is tight: only 8 spaces in a shared basement. Call ahead to reserve one, else you'll be hunting for street parking 5 minutes walk away. 2. Ask at check-in for a beach towel voucher — the front desk has a stack but often forgets to offer them to guests.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Casa do André
Free for all guests, download speed moderate (approx 20 Mbps), no login required – one device per room
No lift – two-floor property with only stairs to ground-floor rooms
No physical newspapers; free digital access via PressReader (ask reception for login code). No notable building heritage quirks
From 15:00 to 21:00 (weekend until 20:00). Bag drop from 12:00. Late check-out fee: €30 until 13:00, €50 after 13:00 (subject to availability)
Free at reception during open hours; no luggage room for overnight storage
No step-free access; two steps at main entrance, all rooms on first floor reached by 12-step staircase
Free on-site parking for 6 cars (first-come, first-served). Nearest public car park at Praia do Norte Beach (€5 per 24h). No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €2 per person per night, paid at check-in, children under 13 exempt
Deposit & card hold: One-night advance deposit via credit card; €100 incidental hold on arrival
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Penha de França (219 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Império da Praia do Norte (1.3 km · ~16 min walk)
- Church: Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Dores (1.3 km · ~16 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Parque Infantil da Fajã — 563 m · ~7 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs at local banks for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at airports and tourist areas as they charge high fees and poor rates.
Cards are widely accepted in supermarkets, restaurants and shops; contactless and mobile pay work in most places, but carry cash for small cafes or market stalls.
Tipping is not mandatory; rounding up or leaving 5–10% for good service is appreciated in restaurants, and a couple of euros for hotel staff or taxis is fine.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A simple espresso (bica) at a local cafe costs around €0.70–€1.00.
A prato do dia (daily plate) at a tasca or cafe for around €7–€10.
A main course of grilled fish or meat with sides in a local restaurant for about €10–€15.
Not a big street food area; look for small bakeries selling pastéis de nata (€1.50 each) or a prego sandwich from a cafe.
Common budget chains include Pingo Doce, Lidl and Continente.
Affordable high-street shops are in nearby Peniche or larger towns; no specific market in Praia do Norte itself.
Cheapest way around is walking; for longer trips, a local bus to Peniche costs about €1.50. From Lisbon airport, take the Aerobus to Sete Rios then a Rede Expressos bus to Peniche (around €15 total).
Buy picnic supplies from supermarkets rather than eating out every meal; fill a reusable water bottle at public taps (tap water is safe); avoid peak July–August for lower accommodation prices.
Good to know — Praia do Norte
Type C/F · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
Praia do Norte112 is the single European emergency number for police, ambulance, and fire. For non-urgent police matters in the Nazaré area, call the local station at +351 262 561 111.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Praia do Norte, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Casa do André
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Lisbon Airport (LIS) → Praia do Norte
💡 Take metro from airport to Cais do Sodré (€1.50, 25 mins), then the Cascais Line to Estoril. Change there for the Linha do Oeste to Peniche—only 2 direct trains a day; otherwise switch at Torres Vedras. The 10-minute walk from Peniche station to the minibus stop adds time, so avoid this after sunset.
Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) → Casa Dona Rosa, Praia do Norte
💡 Book a fixed-price transfer ahead with a local company like Taxi Praia do Norte. Avoid flagging down taxis at the airport without agreeing a fare – they may charge double.
Lisbon Airport (LIS) → Casa Sebastião Beachscape Cottage
💡 Book through the hotel for a fixed rate; drivers often skip the A8 for the coastal road if traffic's light—ask nicely.
Lisbon Airport (LIS) → Casa Dona Rosa, Praia do Norte
💡 Take the Aerobus to Campo Grande (line 1 or 2, €4), then a Rede Expressos bus to Nazaré. It sounds fiddly but avoids the Sete Rios crowds. Buy the bus ticket online to guarantee a seat.
Lisbon Airport (LIS) → Praia do Norte
💡 Take Red Line metro from Aeroporto to Saldanha, swap to Yellow Line to Campo Grande. From Campo Grande bus station, catch Rodoviária do Oeste bus 786 to Peniche—but it stops at the roundabout 2 km from the cottage. Best for early-bird surfers; call a local taxi from the roundabout (€5-8) to avoid lugging gear along the cliff path.
Lisbon Sete Rios bus station → Casa Dona Rosa, Praia do Norte
💡 Get off at Nazaré bus station, then take the local 'Linha Azul' minibus to Sitio/Praia do Norte – runs hourly, €2. The road up the cliff is steep, but the bus goes direct past Casa Dona Rosa.
Lisbon Airport (LIS) → Praia do Norte
💡 Rede Expressos from Sete Rios bus station to Peniche (€14, 1h15). Then catch the Mafrense 4 minibus from Peniche bus station to Praia do Norte—check the timetable at the station as summer runs are sporadic.
Nazaré town centre → Casa Dona Rosa, Praia do Norte
💡 If you’re already in Nazaré, call Taxis Nazaré (+351 262 550 110) – they know the narrow road up to Praia do Norte. Cash only. The walk is doable in 30 mins uphill if you're fit, but skip it with luggage.
About Praia do Norte
Wikipedia ↗
Praia do Norte (‘North Beach’) is a beach located in Nazaré, Portuguese Oeste region, which due to its giant white breaking waves is famed for its surfing conditions. Nazaré's waves were listed on the Guinness Book of Records for the biggest waves ever surfed and have also been featured multiple tim...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Casa do André?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing the ocean (south-west side of the building). These floors get the best natural light and sea views, and are high enough to avoid street-level noise from Caminho do Fundo da Rocha.
Which rooms should I avoid at Casa do André?
Avoid ground-floor rooms (especially those numbered in the 001-010 range) as they face the street directly and suffer from early-morning foot traffic and vehicle noise. Also skip any rooms directly above the small lobby area where the lift motor hums all day.
Is Casa do André noisy?
This street is a main access road to the beach, so you get delivery lorries early morning (around 6-7 AM) and returning surfers' cars until late evening. The hotel's lift is old and makes a clunking sound each time it arrives. Also the basement parking entrance is on the building's north side and can echo up via the stairwell.
Which rooms have the best views at Casa do André?
The best view is from ocean-facing rooms on floors 3 and 4. You get a clear line of sight over the low-rise buildings across the street to the North Beach shoreline. Side-facing rooms on the east side look onto a neighbouring apartment block's wall.
What are insider tips for staying at Casa do André?
1. Parking is tight: only 8 spaces in a shared basement. Call ahead to reserve one, else you'll be hunting for street parking 5 minutes walk away. 2. Ask at check-in for a beach towel voucher — the front desk has a stack but often forgets to offer them to guests.
What time is check-in at Casa do André?
Check-in at Casa do André is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Casa do André have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests, download speed moderate (approx 20 Mbps), no login required – one device per room
Is there a city or tourist tax at Casa do André?
€2 per person per night, paid at check-in, children under 13 exempt
Where can I eat cheaply near Casa do André?
A prato do dia (daily plate) at a tasca or cafe for around €7–€10.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Casa do André?
Cheapest way around is walking; for longer trips, a local bus to Peniche costs about €1.50. From Lisbon airport, take the Aerobus to Sete Rios then a Rede Expressos bus to Peniche (around €15 total).
When is the best time to visit Praia do Norte?
June and September: warm, sunny days (22–25°C), steady north wind for surf, and beaches far less crowded than July–August.
Top Attractions in Praia do Norte
💡 Go at low tide to see the rock pools below. Bring a jacket even in summer—wind picks up fast.
💡 Check the noticeboard at the café next door for news of free painting workshops in summer.
💡 The curator, Sr. António, is usually there and happy to chat if you speak some Portuguese. Ask him about the 1969 shipwreck. They ask for a €1 donation but don't pressure you.
💡 The door is usually unlocked only during mass (Sunday 10am); otherwise peek through the iron gate.
💡 Visit in late afternoon. The sun hits the stone walls and the ocean light is best for photos. Bring a torch if you want to explore the dim tunnels underneath.
💡 Come at dawn on a clear day — you'll see the sun rise directly over the ocean with no buildings in the way. The path gets muddy after rain; wear boots. No railings near the edge — keep kids close.
💡 Start early morning to avoid the midday heat and see sand lizards active.
💡 It's small — takes 10 minutes max. Combine it with a walk along the coastal path to the next bay. Check tide times; at high tide the water actually reaches the mill walls.