Our Top 8 Group Surf Lessons in Portugal

1.Small Group Surf Lesson with Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 594 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $58Our pick

Meet your van near Aliados and let the guide choose the beach with the best conditions that day. You’ll get a wetsuit, board, safety and technique coaching, then practise in the water with a group capped at seven. Instructors including Igor, Bernardo, and Katerina teach in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

“Very exciting!! We spend a nice morning surfing with excellent instructors. If you come to Portugal, you must try it.”

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2.Funchal: Madeira Island Group Surf Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 282 reviews · 4 hours · from $100

Join Johnny, João, Kaja, or another MadSea instructor for a four-hour Madeira surf lesson. You’ll warm up on the beach, learn board technique, then practice in the clearest, calmest conditions available at Machico, Porto da Cruz, or Seixal. Equipment, transport, insurance, and coaching are included.

“It was an absolutely amazing day. Very beginner-friendly and still not boring. Johnny and Kaia were great trainers, we would absolutely take lessons with them again.”

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3.Ribeira Grande, Azores: Group Surf Lessons

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 198 reviews · 2 hours · from $53

Spend two hours learning to surf with Watergliders Azores Surf Club. Instructors such as Constantino and Pedro teach ocean safety, board handling, paddling, and take-off skills in English or Portuguese. Groups are limited to six, with the beach chosen for the day’s conditions.

“Amazing experience - the guides were so helpful and laid back. Explained everything so well to ensure everyone was safe and got the best out of the experience. They congratulated every move which was so motivating. Had such a great time, I highly recommend.”

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4.Group Surf Lessons

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 73 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $54Top rated

Meet Salty Experiences at Praia de Faro for a two-hour surf lesson suited to your level. Your instructor provides the board, wetsuit, Lycra, and sports insurance. Beginner-friendly coaching, a possible boat ride to the waves, and instructors such as Nuno, Bruno, Antonio, and Oscar make this a friendly choice for adults and children over six.

“Cours de surf au top nous avons adoré le coach était super cool. Le cadre pour commencer est super Je recommande fortement 😎”

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5.Group Surf Lessons For All Levels

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 66 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $94

Filsurf picks you up in Lagos, Praia da Luz, or Burgau and takes you to the Algarve beach with the best conditions. You get a safety briefing, land practice, and 2.5 hours of coaching with instructors such as Ricardo and Nico. Boards, wetsuits, and transport are included. Beginners can learn the basics, while stronger surfers receive tips to improve.

“I would really love to recommend this course to everyone! I just finished my lesson yesterday, and I truly think it’s an excellent program. My instructor was Riccardo—he was very professional, extremely responsible, and always put safety first. The weather wasn’t too hot and the water felt cool at first, but thanks to the wetsuits we didn’t feel cold at all. I also learned how to catch waves and even tried standing up on the board, which was so exciting! It was an unforgettable experience, and I definitely plan to come back again. 🌊🏄‍♀️✨”

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6.Small Group Surf Lesson with Instructor

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 63 reviews · 3 hours · from $94

You’ll be picked up in Carvoeiro, Lagoa, Portimão, or Lagos and taken to one of the Algarve’s surf beaches. A certified instructor, including Duarte on some sessions, covers safety, beach technique, and board practice before you enter the water. Groups are capped at eight, with boards, wetsuits, insurance, and coaching included.

“È stato magnifico! Le lezioni si svolgono in un gruppo ristretto, così l’istruttore puó aiutare tutti a turno. Ci siamo divertite tantissimo e siamo state in acqua per più di 2h. Duarte è un ottimo maestro e molto gentile, la pratica su sabbia prima di entrare in acqua è stata essenziale. Super consigliato!”

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7.Sintra: 2-Hour Group Surf Lesson at Praia Grande

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 16 reviews · 2 hours · from $56

Meet at the Surf At Surfschool sign for a two-hour lesson on Praia Grande or another Sintra-area beach. An English-, Spanish-, or Portuguese-speaking coach assesses your level, teaches on sand, then guides you in the water. Groups are limited to five, with a 4.3mm wetsuit, suitable board, insurance, and free transfer if sea conditions require a different beach.

“Terrible experience. We arrived, were given our wetsuits and and boards of a size that we were barely able to handle (and I’m a big guy) and then had to find our way to the meeting point at the beach by ourselves. There the people were already starting warmup without us. When I went to grab my water (which I told the instructor) the safety instructions were given without me. In the water none of the instructors cared about us at all. We had trouble even getting into position to try to surf a wave. On multiple occasions we just sat down at the beach, highly frustrated, heart rate sky…”

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8.Group Surf Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 2 hours · from $35Best value

Join Onda Pura Surf Center for a two-hour group surf lesson in northern Portugal, including 90 minutes in the water, a wetsuit, board, and guidance in English or Portuguese. Bernardo and the FPS-certified team teach beginners in groups of no more than seven. Arrive 15 to 30 minutes early for the briefing.

“It was a very delightfull and entertaining activity. Thanks to Bernardo, surfing might become a new hobby. He taught very well with a lot of insight and gave the class a fun twist. Thanks a lot!”

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