Costa de Prata (Silver Coast) is located an hour north of Lisbon with vast countryside and miles of spectacular sandy beaches, set beneath rugged cliffs. Nazare is a quaint little fishing village full of charm and tradition with its colourful fishing boats and attractive buildings and is a popular destination for tourists, especially surfers, to travel to. Almourol Castle can be found atop a small island in the middle of the Tagus River and is worth a day trip by ferry. The city of Tomar is not far off from Almourol and boasts a majestic castle, monastery and truly picturesque village.
Porto is known as Portugal’s “second city”, is located on the slopes of the Douro Estuary. The city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s easy to see why with its fortified walls, grand churches and cathedrals as well as National Monuments. The riverside promenade is full of trendy restaurants and bars as well as quaint little cafes. The Cais da Ribeira also has magnificent views of the Luis I Bridge, pastel coloured houses, buskers and street performers. The Gothic church of Sao Francisco is definitely worth visiting. It was built in the early 15th century with the most intricately carved wood panels, gilded woodwork, vaults and pillars. Just next door you will find Palacio da Bolsa, Porto’s old stock exchange with its neoclassical façade and sumptuous interior. Perhaps most interesting are the tours offered by the Port manufacturers, located on the south bank in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Aside from the historic towns and villages, which retain the traditional Portuguese culture and way of life, tourists can spend their time at some of the most exquisite holiday resorts in the world. Leisure activities range from golf, surfing, water-sports, cycling and fishing to visiting the markets and sampling the delicious local cuisine centring around fresh seafood.
Getting to the Silver Coast from Lisbon is easy as you can drive, take a bus, taxi or the train, which will take approximately 3 hours, however, the views along the coast are spectacular.
