Journal Surf Booking · Ta première fois
Which wetsuit to wear in each season in Portugal
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The Portuguese Atlantic is cooler than the sunshine suggests. Wetsuit thickness changes with the season and the coast, and it's the difference between a good lesson and a shivering one. 29 octobre 2026 · 1 min de lecture
Arrive in Portugal in August, 30 degrees on the sand, and the first step into the sea is a surprise. The Atlantic here is cool all year, and cooler still on the west coast, where cold deep water rises near the shore on windy days. The wetsuit isn't an accessory: it's what keeps you in the water for the whole lesson.
Reading a wetsuit
The numbers are rubber thickness in millimetres. A 4/3 has 4 mm on the torso and 3 mm on the limbs. A 3/2 is thinner and lighter.
Winter (December to March)
Water around 14 to 15 degrees. A 4/3, often with boots.
Spring and autumn
Water between 15 and 18 degrees. A 4/3 early in spring, a 3/2 from May to mid-autumn. Autumn is often the best time of year: the sea has warmed over summer and the waves arrive more organised.
Summer (June to September)
On the west coast a 3/2 is still right most days. On the southern Algarve the water gets warmer and some surf in a shorty in August.
You don't need to buy anything for a lesson
Schools lend the right wetsuit for the day and your size. On Surf Booking you give your height and weight when you book, and the school has it ready.