Luz, Portugal
Also within 20 km of Matosinhos
- Matosinhos Surf spot · 1 km from Matosinhos
- Leça Surf spot · 1.9 km from Matosinhos
- Ourigo Surf spot · 3.4 km from Matosinhos
- Bezerro Surf spot · 3.9 km from Matosinhos
- Sacor Surf spot · 4.2 km from Matosinhos
- Praia do aterro Surf spot · 4.3 km from Matosinhos
- Cabedelo do douro Surf spot · 4.7 km from Matosinhos
- Ilha Surf spot · 6.8 km from Matosinhos
Watch this spot We email you when Luz is worth the trip.
About Luz
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces SW (245°), so it takes swell from the SW. The wind blows offshore from the NE (65°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–10 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves steeply: 10 m deep about 200 m out (1 in 18). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would break hollow. The sea is about 14°C in January, its coldest month (4/3 wetsuit and boots), and 17°C in June, its warmest (3/2 wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best month is usually January, with about 2 good days in 7; in July, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Matosinhos, 3.1 km away (about 5 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 9 surf spots and 1 wind sports spot.
Water about 16°C: 3/2 wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 16 h 25 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), changing at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
See flights ORD → OPO · Skyscanner from about £395 returnAdGetting there. 30 min from the airport to Luz.
Accommodation.
Stay in MatosinhosAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Matosinhos (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Matosinhos 5 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 45 places to stay · where Luz stays
Places to stay in Matosinhos · Booking.com AdEspinho 29 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 25 places to stay
Places to stay in Espinho · Booking.com AdEsmoriz 39 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 5 places to stay
Places to stay in Esmoriz · Booking.com AdVila do Conde 40 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 32 places to stay
Places to stay in Vila do Conde · Booking.com AdPóvoa de Varzim 46 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 35 places to stay
Places to stay in Póvoa de Varzim · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Matosinhos · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Matosinhos · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Luz on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 60, good | 4 ft8 shollow | 173kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 11 knots, offshore | 23°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 47, fair | 3 ft14 shollow | 258kJ | offshorewind from the east-north-east, 5 knots, offshore | 19°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 45, fair | 5 ft11 shollow | 474kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 4 knots | 17°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, too big | 6 ft8 smushy | 393kJ | wind from the north, 6 knots | 17°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 0, too big | 7 ft9 scrumbling | 708kJ | wind from the south-east, 4 knots | 17°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 0, too big | 9 ft9 scrumbling | 1,343kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 6 knots | 17°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 0, too big | 7 ft9 scrumbling | 754kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 3 knots | 16°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 0, too big | 7 ft9 smushy | 590kJ | wind from the south, 7 knots | 17°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 0, too big | 8 ft8 scrumbling | 791kJ | wind from the west, 5 knots | 18°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 20, poor | 5 ft7 smushy | 276kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 8 knots | 18°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly ORD to OPO, changing at JFK, then 30 min by road. About 16h 25 door to door
- Tue 20 OctSurf Praia da Sereia
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 5 ft at 11 s, wind 4 kn (8 km/h).
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to OPO, changing at JFK, then 30 min by road. About 16h 25 door to door
The plan picks the best of 12 spots near Matosinhos each day: Bezerro, Cabedelo do douro, Funtão, Ilha, Leça, Luz, Matosinhos, Ourigo, Praia da Sereia, Praia do aterro, Sacor, Salgueiros.
Rough cost
About £830–£1,570 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to OPO, estimated from distance and season, changing at JFK, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £395–£815 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £20–£30 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £160–£265 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £150–£280 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £70–£115 |
| Total | £830–£1,570 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Matosinhos
- Empanadas MalvónEmpanada · 0.1 km from the centre
- LareiraPortuguese · 0.1 km from the centre
- TelepizzaPizza · 0.2 km from the centre
- daTerraVegan · 0.3 km from the centre
- Memórias da SerraVegetarian · 0.3 km from the centre
- Restaurante Luso BrasileiroPortuguese · 0.3 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.