Map of the Silver CoastThe Local Area

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There is lots to see and do in this region of the Portuguese Silver Coast. Some of the possibilities are outlined below:

Local Amenities

Foz village centre is just a few minutes walk away, with:

  • Post office
  • Bank
  • Doctor
  • Bakers, butcher and mini-markets
  • A variety of restaurants and bars

The city of Caldas da Rainha, known for its fabulous ceramics, is less than a 15 minutes drive or bus ride away. Caldas has excellent shopping with open air fruit and vegetable market, fish market (mornings only) and fashionable shops for those special presents. Day to day shopping is easy as there are a number hypermarkets.

Beaches

If you love sun, sea and sand, you have definitely chosen the right destination for your holiday. The area surrounding Foz do Arelho sports some truly beautiful beaches:

  • Foz beach – Great for watersports.
  • Obidos lagoon – Stunning beaches along a huge, natural lagoon with plenty of beach cafés, restaurants and bars. Great for swimming and really safe for children. Obidos lagoon is also a magnificent natural habitat for all types of wildlife, enjoyed by birdwatchers, fishermen, sailors, cyclists and hikers.
  • Sao Martinho do Porto.
  • Baleal.

Days Out

There are plenty of places to visit in this area of the Silver Coast, some of the most interesting include:

  • Lisbon – Portugal’s capital and a beautiful, cultural city. 45 minutes drive.
  • Sao Martinho do Porto – Sheltered, safe and sandy beach resort. 10 minute drive.
  • Baleal – Superb beach town. 25 minutes drive.
  • Caldas da Rainha – Wonderful ceramic town with great shops.
  • Peniche – Lovely quaint fishing town with really good fish restaurants. 30 minutes drive.
  • Berlenga Islands – Spectacular, largely uninhabited islands famed for their birdlife. Day trips available from Peniche.
  • Obidos – Unique walled castle city, a Unesco world heritage site of special interest. Obidos is a must visit. 15 minutes drive.
  • Alcobaça – Monastery de Santa Maria, a Unesco World Heritage Site dating back to the 12th Century.

Eating Out

This area of Portugal has lots of good quality and excellent value restaurants of all types, with local seafood being a speciality. Local produce and good local wines are easy to shop for – look out for wines produced around the lagoon. Some of the best places to eat out are all found in villages and towns nearby:

  • Caldas da Rainha
  • Foz do Arelho
  • Guisado
  • Nadadouro
  • Obidos
  • Peniche
  • Sao Martinho do Porto
  • Torres Vedras

Golf

This area of the Silver Coast is fantastic for golfers! There are 5 courses within 25 minutes and 18 within 45 minutes. This includes Praia del Rey, the European golf destination of 2007 and the following, amongst others:

Other Activities

There are a host of other activities to pursue in the area. These include:

  • Water sports on the many beaches.
  • Hiking and cycling.
  • Birdwatching.
  • Visiting craft galleries and museums.

Some photos of the area…

Click a thumbnail to see a larger version of the image.