Places to visit and explore
Discover the Hidden Charms in the Silver Coast area.
Silver Coast
Stretching from Lisbon to Fiqueira da Foz, Portugal’s Costa de Prata (Silver Coast) is a gem of largely undiscovered beauty and gets its name from the effect of the sun on the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Here you can discover pretty villages and a real Portuguese way-of-life amongst stunning coastal scenery fringed with the best beaches in Europe. Because much of this area of Portugal remains undiscovered by the mass tourism market you can guarantee a beach to yourself even in the height of the season. Learn more
Obidos Lagoon (Lagoa de Obidos)
Beatify beach and saltwater bay close to the pretty walled city of Obidos. The beach is a popular tourist destination as it offers both calm bathing waters and a more exciting surfing swell at the bay. Lagoa de Obidos is the largest saltwater lagoon in Portugal with the lakes and waterways extending inland for 6km. The calm inland waters provide a sheltered environment for a variety of wildlife which can be viewed from one of the scenic walks. The best beaches of the region are at the mouth of the Lagoa de Obidos.
Obidos Lagoon offers a safe location for beginner wind and kite surfers while the ocean facing side provides powerful swell for surfing and body boarding. Lagoa de Obidos is a beautiful area that is slightly off the common tourist trail. The area offers stunning scenery combined with a very traditional and hospitable Portuguese atmosphere. Learn more
Óbidos
Considered to be one of the jewels of Portugal’s national heritage, Óbidos was once the favourite retreat of King Sancho I and was a wedding gift from King Diniz to Queen Isabel. Its unspoilt beauty is retained in its narrow cobbled streets and elegant whitewashed buildings with balconies brimming with flowers. Óbidos has dozens of restaurants, bars and cafes as well as open air opera in the old town square, music festivals, the world renowned medieval fete and the chocolate festival. The fine and traditional Obidos liqueur known as Ginja which is drunk from a tiny chocolate cup! Heaven! Learn more
Golden Triangle
Golf enthusiasts will no doubt know, that this beautiful lagoon is also centre placed within the newly formed ‘Golden Triangle’, comprising three newly constructed five-star golf resorts. Close to the Obidos Lagoon, is the established and quite superb Praia D’el Rey Championship Golf Course, Royal Obidos and Bom Sucesso golf resort – each just 5 minutes drive from Casa Marcelo. Learn more
Caldas da Rainha
Every day Caldas da Rainha has a lively bustling market in the town square. Return to the old world of the freshest local and regional produce including vegetables, fruit, nuts, cheese, chickens, flowers, sausages and fresh-baked cakes. The cobbled side streets are excellent for clothes shopping with branches of well-known retailers. There are dozens of shoe, sports, lingerie, kids, casual and perfume shops and an excellent cinema with new-release films in English shown at the same time as the UK. Just 20 minutes from our villa. Learn more
São Martinho do Porto & Salir do Porto
Sitting in its shell-shaped bay the beachfront of the old town of São Martinho do Porto has been recently renovated with new cobbled pedestrian areas and upmarket shops, bars and cafes. Just around the other side of the bay São Martinho is a lively seaside resort with yellow sands which are cleaned daily, beach bars, cafes, restaurants, beachwear & beach gear shops and an equally lively nightlife. Old Portuguese buildings and new modern apartments all look onto a beautiful bay with boats on the water in this natural harbour. Salir do Porto sits on the south side of the bay and is much quieter with fantastic views of the bay and within walking distance to São Martinho, only 25 mins northwest of our villa. Learn more
Nazaré
A typical fishing town, Nazaré is nowadays a busy summer resort, where side by side with the crowds of tourists, one still sees all over the streets of the town the fish-sellers, and the carapaus (horse mackerel) and octopus laid out to dry on the sun. Restaurants with food to die for. The Sítio district, at the town’s highest point (accessible by a funicular), is without doubt the best viewpoint in the area.
In November 2011, surfer Garrett McNamara, surfed a record-breaking giant wave: 78 feet (23.8 m) from trough to crest, at Nazaré. On 28 January 2013, McNamara returned to the spot and successfully surfed a wave that appeared even larger, but is awaiting an official measurement. Then, on October 28, 2013, Carlos Burle surfed another wave that is currently being scrutinised as possibly the largest wave ever ridden. Learn more
Peniche
A lively old-style fishing town with fishing boats leaving the harbour every evening and returning to port during the early morning with their catch of seafood and fresh fish. The catch is on sale that day in the big covered market in the town centre and in the many fish restaurants throughout. With excellent waters and beaches around Peniche this is surf-city with annual surfing championships held here. 20 mins southwest of our villa. Learn more
Cadaval & Bombarral
In fantastic agricultural countryside the Concelho of Cadaval is home to vineyards producing many good quality wines of the Tejo Valley and is famed for the delicious pears known as “Pêra Rocha” and sweet sponge cakes called Pão-de-Ló. With the majestic backdrop of the Montejunto mountain known as the ‘Varanda da Estremadura’ this is truly beautiful Portuguese countryside. Only 25 minutes from Casa Marcelo. Learn more
Lourinhã
Lourinhã is in a very attractive area within easy reach of our villa, with wonderful beaches. For some time this area has specialised in the production of grape brandy known as “Aguardente” that are only sold after being kept 2 years in oak casks. The town of Lourinha itself has small individual shops reminding us of the days before impersonal concrete shopping malls.
Now you can also visit the Fantastic World of Dinosaurs (Dino Parque) that is a theme park dedicated to dinosaurs, and is the largest outdoor museum in Portugal and is one of the best attractions near Lisbon – Portugal. At this dinosaur exhibition in Lourinhã, visitors can see more than 120 scientifically proven life-size models dinosaur species, walk with dinossaurs in one of our pathways that are split into the 4 most important periods in the history of the Earth and the evolution of life. Learn more
Fátima
Fatima has been one of the biggest Catholic shrines in the world since 1937, when it is believed the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children as they were tending their family’s sheep.
There are visits to Fatima throughout the year, but it is on May 13th and October that it receives the most pilgrims from all over the world, many of them making their way to the basilica on their knees. The vast neoclassical basilica was built in 1953 in recognition of the importance of the site to pilgrims, with a 65m (213 ft) tower and contains the tombs of the three children. It is located in a square twice the size of St. Peter’s Square in Rome, capable of holding a million people. Learn more
OUR REGION
What makes it so good?
Here are the ten reasons why you should visit the area.
It’s a hidden treasure
Relatively undiscovered, the silver coast is an authentic destination, delivering not just great beaches but a superb mix of culture, cuisine, activities and days out.
Home to some of Europe’s finest, most natural beaches
The 150 km stretch of Silver Coast from Cascais to Nazare alone provides nearly 40 recognised beaches, all offering clean blue waters, wild sand dunes and Atlantic surf (plus a few that provide shelter for younger children!). Often you’ll feel as though you’re discovering something new.
It’s not just a place to relax
The activities on offer here are enough to satisfy even the most demanding sports enthusiast or restless teenager – diving; surfing; kayaking; windsurfing; go-carting; climbing; mountain-biking – need we go on?
Some of the finest cuisine in Europe
Food is part of the culture here, and treating yourself to a night out will do a lot less damage to your wallet than in Spain, France or Italy. Think fresh seafood, suckling pig and mouth-watering cakes – the custard tarts are to die for, washed down with Portugal’s world-renowned port or madeira. You’ll be amazed by the quality of wines available – Portuguese wines are almost unheard of in EU.
Of the warmth of its welcome
Not for the Portuguese the curmudgeonly service you have to endure in much of Southern Europe – you will be welcomed with a smile everywhere you go, and the staff at the residences will go out of their way to make your stay a happy one. English and French is widely-spoken too.
It won’t break the bank
Not only are the villas and houses good value in themselves, they also provide exceptional levels of service, with regular maid and laundry services offered as standard in many properties.
The area is rich in culture
Take an evening stroll around Obidos, a delightful fortified hill-top village of white-washed walls and terracotta roofs, enclosed by 14th century walls, or visit the eccentric palace of Sintra, whose beautiful, elevated position and woodland setting made it a favorite summer retreat for Portuguese royalty.
A real escape
You can lose yourself exploring the elegant, narrow streets of delightful towns and villages such as Obidos and Tomar.
Its climate
The west coast offers sunny, dry summers – hot enough to top up your tan, but without the worry of the fierce suffocating heat, a particular benefit to families with young children.
Diverse events throughout the year
There are a whole host of diverse cultural and sporting festivals and events taking place throughout the year, which are listed on the events page.