Not yet spoiled by mass tourism

Not yet spoiled by mass tourism

You'll find here what the Algarve is missing

You'll find here what the Algarve is missing

The beach resorts are still authentic

The beach resorts are still authentic

You can reach it from Lisbon in no-time

You can reach it from Lisbon in no-time

The weather is nice, all year round

The weather is nice, all year round

Costa de Prata

A personal story

When we drove back to The Netherlands after our holidays in the Algarve in 2001, we were absolutely sure. We were not going to live in the Algarve, nor were we going to buy a house south of Lisbon.

We did not really like the landscape. Of course, the sea is marvellous, always and everywhere, but the countryside consists of huge plains, dry oliveyards and extensive pine forests. Beautiful, but not for us.

So we drove home and perhaps we might still have lived in Holland, but for the fact that some hundred kilometers north of Lisbon, we drove through a beautiful, green landscape.

Hilly, grassy, forests interspersed with orchards. In the distance the blue-grey mountains of the Serra dos Candeeiros. But I was not really interested in them at the time...

A cup of tea

The landscape awakened something inside of me. So I said to Loek (my husband): ‘If there is a nice town in the neighbourhood with a nice terrace, where I can drink a cup of tea on a Fridaymorning, then I would like to look around here. That’s why we drove into Caldas da Rainha and in the middle of the town we found ourselves in a beautiful park from the 17th century. Parque Dom Carlos I. And yes, there is a terrace.

What in heaven's name can you do within one week?

Caldas da Rainha is situated in the Costa de Prata, something I realised much later. The region we chose to live in has many more things than we realised in the beginning. Maybe you have to live here to know this. There is so much to see, to experience and to enjoy here, that we secretly laugh when people rent one of our apartments for one week. I always have the tendency to cry out: 'What can you do in one week, for heaven’s sake!' But of course I don’t do that, instead I bombard people with tips and ideas (if they want to listen to me of course.)

Yes, I dare maintain that, even when it rains, The Costa de Prata is beautiful and if you want to there is a lot to see and to experience. One of the highlights is the old monastery in Alcobaça: Mosteiro de Santa Maria. It is true, the Abbey is described in all the tourist-guides, but there is so much more to discover in the Abbey and in the Costa de Prata.

20 Tips to See and Do at the Silver Coast


Suniest Beaches

Place to be São Martinho do Porto has always been ‘the place to be’ voor people from cities like Lisbon. Because of the specific location of the bay, the beach and the sea are accessible for...

Sun space all around In the Torres Vedras there are several beaches, like Praia Azul, Santa Rita and Santa Cruz. On this page you can find more information.

Versatile seaside resort close to Leiria São Pedro de Moel is a small sea resort, at about 20 kilometers from Leiria. The Portuguese people like to spend time on the beaches of this village. Also...

Best known seaside resort of the Costa de Prata The main beach of Nazaré lies behind a high cliff, on which Sítio is situated. Because of this, there is less wind at this beach. In high season you...

Most Beautiful Places

Experience magical sensations! Nature is the keyword in the Pia do Urso Eco-Sensory park. Natural scents, sounds and shapes take your senses on a magical trip. This the first park especially for the...

Popular market with varied supply In Malveira, a few kilometers east of Mafra, there is a large market on Thursdays. It is a very popular market, every week people from all over the region come to...

Hypermodern museum on bloody battle In São Jorge (between Aljubarrota and Batalha) you can find the Battle of Aljubarrota Interpretation Centre, one of the most modern museums of Europe. By using...

Water feature When it rains the water is cascading over a carpet of large granite blocks and is collected in a huge basin. The water is filtered in a natural way in the stomach and lead to a public...

Popular Activities

Go karting Do you want to do some laps on the track, and relax on the beach after that? That’s also possible at the Costa de Prata! There is an outdoor track near Lourinhã, Bombarral, Batalha, and...

Water fun for the whole family! At the Costa de Prata you are never far from the sea if you want to swim. But a water park is of course also a great day out, especially for the kids. There are...

Experience the underwater world of the Costa de Prata In the Peniche area there are several diving schools, like Haliotis, JustDive, and AcuaSubOeste. They offer you diving lessons, or a diving trip...

New bathhouse offers 19th century wellness In the 19th century Nazaré was wellknown for its warm seawater baths to help relieve backaches and for slimming. In the 20th century there were 2 "warm...

Nicest Towns

One of Portugal's major seaside resorts Figueira da Foz is a lively and cosmopolitan seaside resort at the mouth of the Mondego River, it’s main asset is its wide and extensive sandy beach. The...

Village with rich history In 1385 the battle of Aljubarrota was fought between the Castilians and Portuguese aristocrats. Lead by João, the Portugese won the battle. This victory became symbol for...

Friendly village at a beautiful and calm bay São Martinho do Porto is a friendly village overlooking a famous shell shaped bay with a very narrow entrance from the sea. Because of this the water in...

Funicular takes you up A funicular takes you from downtown Nazaré up to Sítio, the higher part of Nazaré. On the large square next to the church of Nossa Senhora da Nazaré, young and old get...

Best Restaurants

For the tastiest pizzas and pasta View on the bay, good food, friendly service.

A traditional Portuguese restaurant, with large open fire for cooking the meat. The restaurant is very well known with Portuguese people.

One of the best restaurants in São Martinho do Porto and region Regularly changing menu and lovely views.

Some nice and very good restaurants: from pizza to a culinary night out Close to the monastry of Batlha you find several Pastelarias where you can have a coffee and enjoy the Portuguese 'doces', but...