A traditional fishing village on Portugal’s west coast, Nazaré is famous for its beautiful beach and the monstrous surf break at Praia do Norte, a feature that has it listed among the big wave locations of the world. The lower city is a network of slender streets and attractive boulevards paved with distinctive white stone and lined with antiquated Portuguese architecture.

Beyond them lies town’s pièce de résistance – a wide expanse of pink-gold sand framing a sparkling azure bay. The square behind the main beach is dotted with shops and restaurants, including some of Portugal’s finest seafood eateries. The upper town, a separate neighbourhood known as Sitio, is perched on a plateau high above its lower counterpart and can be reached via a funicular.