Viana do Castelo

Portugal

Viana do Castelo in northern Portugal is one of the Atlantic coast's most consistent wind spots, where the Nortada, a strong northerly that builds through the afternoon, blows reliably from May to September. The beach at Cabedelo, by the mouth of the Lima river, offers a mix of wind and Atlantic swell, with conditions that can get powerful and suit intermediate riders best. The cold, clean ocean, dramatic coastline and a historic town behind give Viana a distinctly European Atlantic character. For riders touring Portugal beyond the southern Algarve, it is a rewarding, wave-flavoured stop with dependable summer wind.