Silver Coast Portugal

Escape rooms

Popular all over the world! Also on the Costa de Prata you can enjoy the mysteries of an escape room. At the moment there are 3 in the region, surely there will be more in the future.
There is an escape room in:
– Óbidos – Escape Tower
– Lourinhã – Enigma Box
– Leiria – Great Escape Rooms
Fun entertainment for family or a group of friends. Find hidden objects, collect the clues, solve the puzzles, and find the solution within 60 minutes. Have fun!

Enjoy the Portuguese sea

Surfing

The Atlantic Ocean is ideal for surfing. Some of the most popular surf beaches are at Nazaré, Baleal and Peniche.

You can rent your gear and/or book some lessons at Peniche Surf Camp, Nazaré Surf School, and others.

For (kite)surfing you can also go to Peniche Kitecenter, and the Escola da Vela in Nadadouro.

Sailing

Both the São Martinho do Porto bay as the Óbidos lagoon are excellent locations for sailing, (kite) surfing, canoeing, etc. You can rent the equipment and take lessons.

For instance, check the Escola de Vela da da Lagoa (sailing school) for possibilities at the Óbidos lagoon, not far from Foz do Arelho, for sailing, canoeing, waterskiing, and windsurfing.

The São Martinho Nautical Club offers sailing and windsurfing lessons.

Discover the Silver Coast by foot

OESTE, or the west, is an area in the centre of Portugal, and is part of the Costa de Prata or Silver Coast. This mainly green area knows bright light and a mild climate.

The nature invites you for a hike:
The landscape is very varied: ocean, woods, fields, lagoon, vineyards, rivers and bay, alternates with small white villages, ruines, windmills, white churches and typical hamlets. All of that in landscape with beautiful hills, from which you have stunning views.

There are lovely hiking possibilities in the nature park of Serras de Aire e de Candeeiros, or around the Lagoa de Óbidos. You can also get hiking routes at the tourist offices.

The area offers many marked footpaths, and there are possibilities for geocaching.

You can also check our page Hiking routes, we continuously add new routes on that page.

Picturesque fortified town continues to fascinate

South of Caldas da Rainha, is the town of Óbidos. Óbidos is a fortified town located on top of a hill, and still encircled by high walls. Once the town was surrounded by sea, so it was of strategic importance, which explains the high location and high walls.
Dom Dinis gave the town of Óbidos to his wife Isabela as a wedding gift. Together they spent their honeymoon in Óbidos. For ages Óbidos was the wedding gift for every new Portuguese queen.

The whole of the town of Óbidos is declared as a monument. It has many streets, alleys, squares, white houses, shops, and restaurants. The walls are still completely intact, so you can walk all around the village.

Just before the entrance you can find the Tourism office, here you can get your own copy of the Óbidos map and lots of other information.

The Castelo

The Castelo is very old. During the earthquake of 1755 it was heavily damaged. In the 20th century the ruins were reconstructed. After te reconstruction the castle became Portugal’s first poussada in a historic building. Unfortunately it is not open for the public, only for hotel guests.

Beautiful lagoon invites you for some activities

This vast and natural lagoon is situated between the historic town of Óbidos and the trendy beach resort of Foz de Arelho.

The lagoon has a narrow passage to the Atlantic Ocean. There are walking and cycling routes around the lagoa, and on the water you can surf, sail, fish, and many other activities. This is also a place where paragliders like to use the thermals for long float trips.

Foz do Arelho has several nice beach bars along the wide promenade, a good place to have a drink after a nice stroll. And if you're lucky you can watch a volleyball game on the beach.

Ginja, liqueur with ancient history

Óbidos is a major attraction in the Costa de Prata. The walled village and inside the castle have a medieval ambiance. With its typical whitewashed houses, almost all have blue, red or yellow decoration. The streets are very picturesque, and relatively cool in warm periods. From the city wall (round trip), you not only have a spectacular view of the old town, but also of the environment.

The history of Óbidos also appeals to the imagination: King Dom Dinis gave the castle to his wife Santa Isabel (queen of Portugal from 1286 to 1336) as a present. During reconstruction of the city after a major earthquake in 1755, the first foundations were found dating even 308 BC, a Celtic settlement.

The main street, that you enter when you enter through the main gate, is a very attractive street, with its beautiful blue wall tiles (azulejos). Many shops have all kinds of handmade and local products for sale. There are also many restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy typical Portuguese cuisine.

At various places you can enjoy a glass of Ginjinha (or simply Ginja). This liqueur made from sour cherries, is a typical drink that is very popular in and around Óbidos. A perfect place to drink it is the bar Ibn Errik Rex at the end of the main street, near the castle. The Ginja they serve is an old family recipe, and is only for sale at that place, in a beautifully designed bottle, perfect as a gift. The bar is beautifully decorated with an original mural (ask for the secret, 'o segredo da parede') and hundreds of small bottles on the ceiling. They serve thin chouriço (sausages) grilled on the table in an earthenware dish, accompanied by bread and cheese cubes. Host Antonio welcomes you with Portuguese hospitality.