Beautiful beaches, cute little surf and fishing towns, and amazing weather is what you can find on the Silver Coast of Portugal.
If you’re doing a road trip or taking a campervan around Portugal’s Silver Coast then you’ll have to stop at some of these beauitful coastal towns if you get a chance!
We did the whole Silver Coast by campervan and it was absolutely amazing during our 2-Week west coast Portugal road trip.
Portugal is the best place we’ve been so far for campervan travel. It’s so easy to find campsites all over the place so the trip was a blast.
If you plan to rent a campervan or a car while in Portugal (or even if you’re just city hopping with public transport) this list of cities to visit on the Silver Coast is for you!
Get ready for some amazing surfing, good weather, and delicious Portuguese food! 😉
Here are 8 Cities on Portugal’s Silver Coast You’re Going to Love
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8 Cool Cities to Visit on Portugal’s Silver Coast
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#1 Coastal city of Aveiro & Costa Nova
Aveiro is the most northern city along the Silver Coast in this blog post. It is one of the must-visits in this part of Portugal. Aveiro is also the biggest city out of the seven cities mentioned in this post so there are lots of things to do.
Aveiro is quite different from the other places on the Silver Coast as its old town has been built in an Art Nouveau architecture style.
It also has a canal that you can ride in a moliceiro boat (gondola) on similar to Venice! You can also go on a combined tour where you get a boat cruise AND a guided walking tour. This tour is a good option!
Tourism is a big part of Aveiro so you definitely won’t be alone here. It’s a very popular spot for Portuguese and Europeans to come and visit Aveiro.
Aveiro has a lot of history and culture but it is still Portugal, so if you want to, of course, you can still surf at the beach! However, Aveiro is definitely more known for its historic buildings and beautiful architecture.
Aveiro also has a super cute section with colourful houses by the beach that are worth checking out! (See image above).
Where to stay in Aveiro
Camping: Aveiro Camping
Budget: Ponto de Abrigo
Mid-range: Hotel do Mercado
Fancy: Barcos Casa Aveiro
#2 Coastal city of Figueira da Foz
Figueira da Foz, also known as Figueira for short, is a coastal city just an hour south of Aveiro. You guessed it, there’s a beautiful beach located within walking distance from the center of town. It’s a trend where every city or town of the Silver Coast just has amazing beaches.
If you love golden beaches you’ll love it here! The beaches are beautiful and there’s good surfing and other water sports activities. There are also lots of restaurants and cafes on the main street connected to the beach so you’ll always have lots of places to hang out when you’re not at Praia da Figueira da Foz (beach).
If you’re up for a little hike you can head to Cape Mondego Viewpoint which is one of the coolest places in the area. There are beautiful walking trails along the coast and from the top of the hike, you’ll see the beautiful coastline and the city of Figueira.
Where to stay in Figueira da Foz
Camping: Figueria Camping
Budget: Hostel 402
Mid-range: Fonte da Foz
Fancy: Bachareis Charming House
#3 Coastal city of Nazaré
Nazaré is probably the most famous city along the Silver Coast and one of our favourite spots we visited during out road trip around the west coast.
Firstly, it’s beautiful and an awesome city to spend some time in. Secondly, the waves that can be seen from Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo are insane and some of the biggest waves you will ever see!
Actually, the biggest wave ever surfed was right here in Nazaré. That says something!
The big waves are on the north side of Nazaré (at Praia da Norte) but if you’re a beginner or intermediate surfer then you probably won’t be surfing there!
Instead, you can surf right at Nazaré beach (Praia da Nazaré). That’s where lots of the surf schools and lessons are held. Or if you have your own board it’s a great place to go.
One of the things we love about Nazaré is that there’s so much more than just surfing in town. The Funicular Hike in Nazaré is a must plus trying some street food up in the neighbourhood of Sítio.
There are also plenty of awesome viewpoints in Nazaré that are great for sunset. The best thing to do is just grab some good walking shoes and walk around the whole city. If you get tired you can always ride up or down the Nazaré Funicular!
Also read: 11 Fun Things to do in Nazaré
Where to stay in Nazaré
Camping: Camping spots in Nazaré you’re going to love
Budget: By The Beach
Mid-range: Hotel Mar Bravo
Fancy: Batata – Ocean View
#4 Coastal city of São Martinho do Porto
We’re not kidding when we say there are so many beautiful small towns and cities along Portugal’s Silver Coast. If you just drive along the coast you’ll run into places like São Martinho do Porto that are just like WOW.
This is a coastal town just 15-minutes south of Nazaré so most people pass it up for that reason. But if you have the time to stop by this beautiful coastal city you really should!
São Martinho do Porto has this beautiful crescent-shaped beach that has viewpoints on either side. You can hike up to the lighthouse at the top of Santo Antonio Hill where you can get a beautiful view of the beach and the city.
If you’re looking for the softest and cleanest sand then the beach that faces the São Martinho do Porto bay is actually considered one of the best beaches in Portugal. So grab an ice cream or a snack and hang out at the beach while taking in the Portuguese sun.
Where to stay in São Martinho do Porto
Camping: Parking lot camping in São Martinho
Budget: Hotel Atlantica
Mid-range: Hotel Concha
Fancy: Bela Baia 2
#5 Coastal city of Foz do Arelho
Foz do Arelho is just 15-minutes south of São Martinho do Porto and is another great coastal town along the Silver Coast to surf and hang out at. Foz do Arelho is a really small place so you’re not going to have the vibe as Nazaré has, for example. But in our opinion, it’s the perfect small town to relax, hang out, and surf.
Foz do Arelho’s beaches stretch for miles and miles. Two beaches that are very famous in Arelho are Praia da Foz Arelho and Praia do Bom Sucesso. Both beaches are on either side of the Óbidos Lagoon.
If you love adventures, there are some incredible coastal walks to do in the area. Especially above the beaches and around the actual city of Foz do Arelho you can find some beautiful viewpoints! So if you’re looking for a chill day or two along the Silver Coast then stop by this small and relaxed coastal town.
Where to stay in Foz do Arelho
Camping: Parque de Campismo Orbitur Foz de Arelho
Budget: Agua d’Alma Hotel
Mid-range: Casa Lagoa
Fancy: Quinta de Foz
#6 Inland city of Óbidos
Óbidos is still a part of Portugal’s Silver Coast even though the city itself isn’t actually along the coast. Óbidos Castle is one of the “Seven Wonders of Portugal” and one of the coolest places to visit in all of Portugal!
We camped at this super unique campsite right outside of the castle walls and it was so cool. You don’t need more than a day or two in Óbidos but there’s so much to see inside the castle walls.
If you’re not afraid of heights then you’ll love walking the Óbidos Castle Wall and hiking up to all the viewpoints. There’s also a delicious bakery called Capinha d’Obidos Bakery and it is insane! Everything is made fresh right in front of your eyes. Grab a yummy pastry and hot chocolate and explore all the fun things to do in Óbidos.
You may even get lucky and be in Óbidos at the same time as the annual Óbidos Chocolate Festival! We missed it but heard about it and it sounds delicious. Enjoy this medieval Portuguese town filled with cute shops, streets, and restaurants!
Also read: Ultimate guide to Óbidos
Where to stay in Óbidos
Camping: Campsite next to Óbidos Castle
Budget: Hostel Argonauta
Mid-range: Casa de S. Thiago Castelo
Fancy: Pousada Castelo de Óbidos
#7 Coastal city of Peniche
Peniche is known for its long and beautiful beaches. Another easy way to know you’re on the Silver Coast! Don’t get me wrong, the Algarve is just as beautiful but the Silver Coast doesn’t get enough credit. Especially since you have all these cool coastal cities – Peniche being one of them.
If you love outdoor water sports you’ll love Peniche. It gets quite windy around this part of the Silver Coast so you’ll see lots of kite surfers, wind-surfers, and body bodyboarders. Peniche is also known as one of the best places to surf in Europe.
Besides all the surfing and outdoor activities, Peniche has some other great things to do. One thing we recommend is taking a guided tour to the Fortress São João Baptista. It’s a beautiful little fortress on an island a short boat ride away from Peniche.
Peniche has its own vibe and is a lot more vibrant in the summer months when the weather is warm and the surfers are out. There are some great restaurants and cafes in the center of town as well that are worth checking out.
Where to stay in Peniche
Camping: PenichePraia – Bungalows & Campers
Budget: Selina Peniche
Mid-range: Casa do Campo
Fancy: MH Peniche
#8 Coastal city of Ericeira
If you ask a local, Ericeira technically doesn’t fit in the boundaries of the “Silver Coast” but it’s so damn close and such a cool city that it has to be a part of the list.
Ericeira is a cute and hip little surf town north of Lisbon and Cabo da Roca. This cute little town has everything from cute cafes to amazing beaches for surfing. Ericeira has become quite the hot spot over the years because of the great surfing for beginners and intermediates.
If you’re not into surfing don’t worry because there are so many things to do in Ericeira. We actually stayed at an amazing campground (Ericeira Camping) while we explored the city for a few days.
If you’re looking for a vibrant city with beautiful architecture, good restaurants, and a good atmosphere then check out Ericeira. Even though it’s not technically part of the Silver Coast it’s a good taste of what the Silver Coast is like.
The coastline near Ericeira is beautiful and that’s exactly what it’s like the whole way up the Silver Coast, and up towards Porto.
Also read: 20 Fun Things to Do in Ericeira, Portugal
Where to stay in Ericeira
Camping: Camping Spots in Ericeira You’re Going to Love
Budget: 70’s Hostel
Mid-range: FLH Hotels Ericeira
Fancy: Vila Gale Ericiera
Other related questions about Portugal’s Silver Coast
What is considered the Silver Coast of Portugal?
The Silver Coast of Portugal is the area between Lisbon and Porto. The Silver Coast of Portugal is mostly the coastal part between the two cities but does also go inland to Obidos and Coimbra.
Where do expats live on the Silver Coast of Portugal?
Expats live all along the Silver Coast of Portugal because of the stunning beaches and amazing surf. Places like Ericeira and Foz do Arelho are popular spots for expats along with some of the other smaller coastal towns between Lisbon and Porto.
Is the Silver Coast of Portugal expensive?
In general, compared to the rest of Europe the Silver Coast of Portugal is not expensive and relatively affordable. It’s even more affordable than in the bigger cities in Portugal. Of course, you’ll have exceptions like Ericeira which is quite expensive but if you’re not looking for a beachfront property, then the Silver Coast of Portugal is not that expensive.
You may also like…
- 2-Week West Coast Portugal Road Trip
- Top 11 Things to Do in Nazaré
- The Ultimate Guide to Óbidos
- 20 Fun Things to Do in Ericeira, Portugal
- Everything You Need to Know About Campervan Rental in Portugal
Recap of cities to visit on the Silver Coast
That’s it! You now have 8 awesome cities to visit on the Silver Coast of Portugal. It sounds like “Silver Coast” means just coastline but it’s actually an entire area of Portugal. The majority of the cities are actually along the coast with the exception of Óbidos.
You’ll have plenty of chances to soak in the sun, bury your feet in golden sand beaches, and find some amazing hiking trails that take you along the cliffs by the coast. That’s what the Silver Coast is known for and why it’s one of our favourite areas in Portugal.
If you’re travelling by campervan then you’ll find plenty of campsites along the way. If you’re renting a car or taking public transport then the accommodations mentioned above will help plan your stay. At the end of the day, no matter how you do it, we’re sure you’ll have a great time in these Portuguese paradises.
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