Beaches and leisure activities on the Silver Coast in Portugal
Better known as the Costa de Prata, it stretches along the entire east coast of Portugal. The Silver Coast is currently considered one of the most interesting emerging regions in terms of investments. There are many seaside resorts with magnificent golden beaches, which have the advantage of being less crowded than the beaches of the Algarve or those around Lisbon. There is less mass tourism, offering more tranquillity and a greater presence of Portuguese customs.
From the north to the south of the Silver Coast, you will find magnificent beaches such as Nazaré, Foz do Arelho, Sao Martinho do Porto and Peniche.
Why visit them?
The transparent sea water and the natural environment of the beaches along the coast attract tourists, as do the organised boat trips to the beautiful Berlengas archipelago.
Nazaré : Former fishing town, Nazaré is appreciated in summer for its beautiful beach by tourists, but also in winter time when the most daredevil surfers face the sometimes violent waves.
Foz Arelho: If you are accompanied by young children and you are still looking for adventure, this beach is for you! On one side is the pretty Obidos lagoon, ideal for letting your children wade safely, and on the other, the open sea offers nice waves for those who want to try their hand at surfing. A good compromise for two holiday profiles.
Sao Martinho do Porto: It mainly attracts families. Its fine sandy beach, ideal for relaxing, is located in a semi-circular bay, offering both calm waters in some places and waters suitable for water sports. Also called “the children’s beach” is accessible quite easily.
The beaches of Peniche: In addition to being a pleasant and charming town, Peniche hosts every year the Rip Curl Pro Portugal festival, a competition during which surfers from all over the world compete against each other on the most beautiful waves often reaching 3 meters in height.
More land than sea
For those who are more enthusiastic about activities on land than at sea, the region offers other activities:
For golf enthusiasts, the Côte d’Argent is a true paradise, they will be able to have fun on the twenty golf courses in the region. In fact, the region has been proclaimed a European gold destination par excellence.
One of the most spectacular and picturesque golf courses is located in Praia d’El Rey. This course was designed by the American architect Cabell Robinson B and is located at the end of a pine forest, with a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Berlanga Islands . Other golf courses include Bom Sucesso, Eagle, Campo Real, Penha Longa, Quinta da Marinha, Troia and finally Quinat Peru.
You can also discover the Portuguese way of life in one of the traditional fishing villages. There are fishing ports all along the coast.
Fishing on foot is also a popular activity, we can fish for shrimps, grounds, cockles, clams, winkles, periwinkles, limpets, mussels, knives and other local shellfish.
