Portugal's Silver Coast: Obidos, Nazare and Peniche

The Silver Coast (Costa de Prata) is the stretch of Atlantic coast north of Lisbon, and one of Portugal’s most underrated regions. It has medieval Óbidos, the giant waves of Nazaré, surf towns, a shell-shaped bay, lagoon beaches, great monasteries and even dinosaurs. It’s an hour from Lisbon and much quieter than the Algarve.

Quick answer: base yourself in Óbidos, Foz do Arelho or São Martinho do Porto, and you’ll have it all within 30 minutes: Nazaré’s waves, surf in Peniche and Baleal, the daily fruit market in Caldas da Rainha, the monasteries of Alcobaça and Batalha, and the Dino Parque in Lourinhã for kids. You’ll want a car.

Why go

The Silver Coast packs a lot into a small area: two UNESCO monasteries, a walled medieval village, Europe’s most famous big-wave spot and some of the best surf beaches in the country. Distances are short, so you can mix culture in the morning and the beach in the afternoon. It’s popular with Portuguese families and surfers, but sees far fewer foreign visitors than Lisbon or the Algarve.

The highlights

Óbidos

The walled medieval village with ginjinha in chocolate cups. You can walk part of the walls (there are no railings, so take care), wander the whitewashed lanes and visit the castle area. Go early or late in the day to miss the coach groups. Allow half a day. See our full Óbidos guide.

Foz do Arelho

Where the Óbidos Lagoon meets the Atlantic: calm, warm lagoon water on one side and ocean waves on the other. Great for families, kitesurfing and sunsets. Places to stay in Foz do Arelho. See Foz do Arelho.

São Martinho do Porto

An almost perfectly round, shell-shaped bay with calm, shallow water, one of the safest family beaches in Portugal. Places to stay in São Martinho.

Nazaré

Home of the biggest waves ever surfed (best from October to March), a big town beach and fishermen’s wives in seven petticoats. The waves break off Praia do Norte, below the lighthouse at the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo. Big swells only come on certain days, so watch the forecast. Take the funicular up to the Sítio clifftop for the view over the town; it has had long maintenance closures with a replacement bus, so check first. See Nazaré.

Peniche and Baleal

Surf central, with Supertubos and the beaches of Baleal, plus boats to the Berlengas islands. Peniche faces several directions, so one beach is usually surfable whatever the wind. Boats to the Berlengas run mainly in summer and depend on the sea, and you also need a €3 BerlengasPass. See Berlengas and surfing in Portugal. Places to stay in Baleal.

Caldas da Rainha

A spa town with Portugal’s only daily open-air market, the Praça da Fruta (mornings, busiest on Saturday), and the home of Bordallo Pinheiro’s famous cabbage-leaf ceramics. The house-museum opens on weekdays by appointment. The town’s park, Parque D. Carlos I, is a pleasant place for a stroll. Treatments at the historic thermal hospital have been suspended since 20 August 2026, so don’t plan a spa visit around it. Places to stay in Caldas da Rainha.

Alcobaça and Batalha

Two of Portugal’s greatest monasteries, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Alcobaça holds the romantic tombs of Pedro and Inês; Batalha has the “Unfinished Chapels”. Each costs about €15 for adults (Batalha’s church is free), and under-12s go free. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for each. They are about 20 minutes apart by car. See the Batalha Monastery, the Alcobaça Monastery and Fátima and the monasteries.

Dino Parque Lourinhã

Portugal’s dinosaur park, with life-sized models along woodland trails. Lourinhã is one of Europe’s richest dinosaur fossil areas. €14 adults, €10 ages 4–12, free for under-4s. Allow 2 to 3 hours, and bring sun protection in summer. Places to stay in Lourinhã.

Buddha Eden

A huge, surreal garden of giant Buddhas, terracotta warriors and sculptures in a vineyard near Bombarral, from the Bacalhôa wine company. It usually opens from 9am to 6pm, later in summer, but check opening times before you go. Entry is about €7, free for under-12s. A small tourist train runs around the grounds for an extra fee.

Getting there

• By car: Óbidos is about an hour from Lisbon on the A8, with Nazaré another 40 minutes. The A8 is tolled. A car makes it easy to hop between towns. See our Portugal road trip.
• By bus: express buses from Lisbon reach Óbidos, Caldas, Peniche and Nazaré, but connections between towns are slower. Most leave from the Campo Grande and Sete Rios bus stations; Rodotejo’s Rápida Verde runs from Campo Grande to Óbidos and Caldas in about an hour. Check the operator’s timetable before you go.
• By train: the Oeste line has had no trains between Meleças and Caldas da Rainha since storm Kristin in January 2026, with replacement buses instead and trains due back from late 2026. Take the bus.
• Tour: see Óbidos and Nazaré tours.

A 3-day plan

1. Day 1: Óbidos in the morning, then sunset at Foz do Arelho.
2. Day 2: Peniche and Baleal, or a boat to the Berlengas (summer).
3. Day 3: Caldas market, Alcobaça, then Nazaré and São Martinho.

Only one day? From Lisbon, do Óbidos in the morning and Nazaré in the afternoon, or join a tour that covers both.

What to eat

• Seafood: grilled sardines, fish stew (caldeirada) and fresh fish in Peniche and Nazaré. In Nazaré you may still see fish drying on racks by the beach.
• Ginjinha: the sour cherry liqueur of Óbidos. See our ginjinha guide.
• Pera Rocha: the region’s protected pear, sold at the Caldas market.
• Convent sweets: Alcobaça’s egg-and-sugar pastries, and cavacas from Caldas.
• Wine: the Lisboa wine region covers much of this coast, with good-value whites and reds.

When to go

June to September for beach days, autumn and winter for Nazaré’s big waves. The Silver Coast is cooler and breezier than the Algarve, with fewer crowds. Expect morning sea fog in summer, which usually burns off by midday. Óbidos hosts events through the year, such as a medieval market in summer and a Christmas village in December; check dates before you go.

Practical tips

• The sea is cold: often only about 17 to 19°C even in summer. Bring a wetsuit if you plan to surf or swim a lot.
• Respect the flags: Atlantic currents are strong, and lifeguards only cover beaches in the bathing season.
• Parking: Óbidos has paid car parks outside the walls; the old town is not for driving.

FAQ

Can I see the Silver Coast without a car?

Partly. Express buses from Lisbon reach Óbidos, Caldas, Peniche and Nazaré, but links between towns are slow, so pick one or two bases.

When can I see the giant waves at Nazaré?

From about October to March, but only on a few days, so watch the forecast.

Is the sea warm enough to swim?

It’s cold, often only 17 to 19°C in summer. São Martinho’s bay and the Óbidos Lagoon at Foz do Arelho are calmer and feel warmer.

From our sister blog: 11 day trips from Lisbon, including secret spots on Sunset Travellers.

See also: the Batalha Monastery, Peniche and São Martinho do Porto.

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