Silver Coast Portugal

When most people think about Portugal, they think of the big cities like Lisbon or Porto, or maybe, Madeira, the beautiful island that is an autonomous part of Portugal in the middle of the Mediterranean.

However, while you might not hear of the Silver Coast of Portugal too often, it’s a hidden gem. Here’s what you need to know about some of the major destinations in the Silver Coast Portugal, and what you might be able to do to make this beautiful part of the country your home for more than just a short stay.

The Silver Coast in Portugal

When it comes to oceanside regions of Portugal, most people have heard of the Algarve, but very few have heard of the Silver Coast of Portugal, or as the locals call it, the Costa da Prata.

This area is located directly north of Lisbon and is the region of Portugal where you will find the city of Coimbra. But unlike Lisbon, this part of Portugal is a lot more traditional, a lot less busy, and a lot more laid back. Which might be why it’s a hidden gem, and one of the most popular places for expats to settle (especially since Portugal stopped the property-based golden visa for Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve!)

That’s not to say that this part of Portugal isn’t modern or well developed, because it has all the modern comforts you could ask for. It’s just that here, you’re more likely to see traditional Portuguese architecture, eat traditional food and enjoy more frequent cultural festivals. So, it’s a great place to immerse yourself in the amazing culture of Portugal.

Silver Coast Portugal Map

Some maps have the boundaries of the Silver Coast, Portugal drawn a little differently, and you might get a different version of the boundary lines depending on who you ask. But those differences are relatively minor, and all the towns we’ve listed here are definitely within the boundaries of the Silver Coast!

The Silver Coast is a strip of oceanside territory that starts just north of Lisbon and ends just south of Porto. Many of the towns in this area are some of Portugal’s best surfing hotspots.

Why should you live on the Silver Coast in Portugal?

If you’re going to move to a different country, chances are you want to get away from your day to day normal. Which, if you’re like most people, means living in a big city, fighting traffic every day, breathing less than clean air, and paying a fortune for the privilege.

The Silver Coast of Portugal is none of those things. Towns are smaller, the pace of life is slower, the cost of living is lower than the big cities in Portugal, and the air is cleaner. It’s everything you could hope for when you think of “getting away from it all.” Better yet, if you’re considering moving to Portugal on the strength of a property purchase and a golden visa, this area is completely allowed by the government, and you can purchase a home here!

Proximity to major cities

Part of the charm of the Silver Coast of Portugal is that it’s not full of big cities – but you’re never very far from one. Depending on whether you live further south or north, you’re probably within an hour or two’s drive from either Lisbon or Porto – Portugal’s two biggest cities.

Or, if you don’t feel like going to either of those, you can always go to Coimbra, which, while it’s not the biggest city, has over 140,000 residents, and has all the big city amenities you could hope for!

Weather in the Silver Coast, Portugal

The Silver Coast, Portugal has a warm Mediterranean climate. It very rarely gets below double digits and never snows. Summers are hot and can get up to 40 degrees Celsius or more, but it usually hovers somewhere around the mid-30s.

The Silver Coast does get a fair amount of rain, except for the height of summer in July and August, but it’s usually not cold rain, and the locals don’t let it stop them from enjoying the beautiful outdoors in the area.

Things to do in the Silver Coast

The many towns, cities, and villages of the Silver Coast, Portugal have a huge variety of attractions to offer to visitors and residents alike. Some of the better-known activities are:

• Visiting the medieval village of Óbidos – why go to a museum when you can visit a town where history is everywhere
• Take a boat to Berlenga Island, which is a bird colony that also features a historic fort
• Go wine or brandy tasting – there are some amazing wineries and distilleries in the area
• Shop for ceramics in Caldas da Rainha, which is famous for its ceramic production, and even has a museum dedicated to the artform
• Visit the 12^th century Cisterian monastery in Alcobaça
• Swim in the warm, calm Foz do Arelho lagoon
• Buy fish at the village of Perniche, and while you’re there, visit the historic fort
• If you love to surf, visit Nazaré, which is one of the best surfing destinations in Portugal

There are many other things you will find to keep you busy in the Silver Coast, Portugal. Whether you love food and cooking, wine, brandy, surfing, art, nature, or something else, there’s something for everyone in this eclectic, culturally rich part of Portugal. Even after you’ve lived here for years, you’ll probably still be discovering new and exciting things every day.

Best Restaurants on the Silver Coast

There are countless fantastic restaurants on the Silver Coast, Portugal. Many don’t look like what you would expect a fantastic restaurant to look like. Several are literal holes in the wall, that you might never know were there, but that serve some of the best traditional meals in the area. However, there are also many well-known, must-see restaurants like:

• Located in the town of Bombarral, Dom Jose is popular with locals and visitors alike. They serve fantastic local dishes, great wine and have an extensive dessert selection.
• If you like traditional Portuguese food (or want to try it for the first time) A Tasquinha in Nazare is a great place to try it! Be warned, however – this is a VERY popular restaurant, so you might wait for a table. When you are seated, the seafood is unbeatable!
• Above Nazare, you will also find Pangeia Restaurante. It’s very affordable, and also serves perfectly prepared local seafood.

The truth is, like most of Portugal, the food in the Silver Coast is excellent, and you will be spoiled for choice no matter what town you happen to be in. Ask the locals for their recommendations, and you’ll find the best kept secrets anywhere you happen to visit!

Silver Coast Holidays

People in the Silver Coast, Portugal loves to celebrate! So, you can expect to enjoy lots of cultural holidays and festivals in the area! Some of the bests are:

• A medieval market in Obidos in July
• The Christmas festival in Obidos – even if the snow IS fake!
• In March, you can also enjoy the International Chocolate Festival
• There are several carnivals in the Silver Coast, and two of the best are the Peniche Carnival and the Torres Vedras carnival
• Many towns in the area have annual food and wine festivals
• The national horse fair happens in November in Golegã
• And many more!

The truth is, the people of the Silver Coast love to celebrate, and there are many festivals, carnivals, and saint celebrations every year. You’d be hard pressed to go a month without finding a new celebration to explore and enjoy!

Óbidos

Óbidos is a small, historic town on the Silver Coast in Portugal. It has about 3,100 full time inhabitants, many of whom live in homes that have been around for hundreds of years. But the town is a huge attraction for tourists from inside Portugal and abroad, so that number can swell significantly during the busy season! If you love history, this is where you find it!

Nazaré

Nazaré is THE surfing hotspot in the Silver Coast of Portugal. If you love to hit the waves, or want to live the laid-back surfside lifestyle, this is the best place in the area to do it.

This is a relatively large town, with about 15,000 permanent residents, but there are many visitors who come here from near and far, so it can get very busy in the tourist season!

Peniche

Peniche is a historic fishing town that has about 15,000 permanent residents and is famous for its historic fort and fishing industry. It’s also well known for water sports and is the departure spot for many tours to the Berlengas Islands.

Torres Vedras

Torres Vedras is technically in the Silver Coast of Portugal, but it’s only about 40km north of Lisbon. So, if you want to be close to the big city without actually living there, this is a great choice! It’s a fairly big municipality with over 80,000 people and is best known for the castles and other historic architecture.

Coimbra

Coimbra used to be the capital of Portugal before that title was moved to Lisbon. It’s a small, culturally rich and cosmopolitan city that’s big enough to have everything you want, and small enough to feel like you’re getting away from it all.

Caldas da Rainha

Caldas da Rainha is a mid-sized city with over 50,000 people, which is best known for its hot springs and ceramics industry. It’s also located on the rocky coast, so you get great views here too!

Lourinhã

Lourinhã is another small city that practically touches the edge of Lisbon. It has a little over 25,000 inhabitants and boasts beaches and a dinosaur museum!

Living in the Silver Coast as an EU Citizen

If you are a citizen of the EU, it’s very easy (and cheap) to live in the Silver Coast! You can enter Portugal without a visa for the first 90 days on your EU passport, and then all you need to do is apply for a registration certificate after that 90-day period. The cost for the certificate is about 15 Euros.

Living in the Silver Coast as a non-EU/US Citizen

If you want to live in the Silver Coast and you are not an EU citizen, you will need to apply for a residence permit if you want to stay in the Silver Coast for more than 90 days.

That usually means you either need to apply for a golden visa, get a job and have your employer support your residency, or have family or a spouse that you are reuniting with. Most people who plan to make the Silver Coast in Portugal their long-term home choose to go the golden visa or immigration by investment route. Many of the options to move to the Silver Coast of Portugal as a resident also allow you to apply for citizenship when you qualify.

Portugal Golden Visa

Like many countries around the world, Portugal has decided to make the immigration process a little easier for high-net-worth individuals who can afford to invest in the country – either by buying property above a certain value, or by investing in one of several government approved investment schemes.

If you plan to move to the Silver Coast on a Portugal golden visa, the best route might be to purchase property to support your application, but there are also options that allow you to make financial investments in various funds.

D7 Visa

If you have sufficient income of your own to support yourself while you are in Portugal, you can apply for the D7 visa. This is a permit that allows people who can prove that they have an income of 1,000 Euros or more to live in Portugal as a legal resident.

Cost of Living in the Silver Coast

The cost of living in the Silver Coast is, generally, significantly lower than it would be in Lisbon or Porto. Which is another reason it’s so popular with expats who choose to make Portugal their home. It’s close enough to those cities to be able to visit whenever you like, but you can live for much less than you would if you made a home in either of those cities.

If you plan to rent a home instead of buying, there are options for as little as a few hundred Euros per month, and property purchase prices are lower too. So, even if you do buy property to support your golden visa, you will get more house for your money.

Many people who live in the Silver Coast live on as little as 700 Euros per month, however, of course, the more you want to do and experience, the more you need to budget!

Advantages vs. disadvantages of living in the Silver Coast

On the plus side, living in the Silver Coast of Portugal is pretty much like having a vacation every day. Whether it’s spending time on the beach, playing on some of the best golf courses in Portugal or enjoying local food and culture, you will never be bored here.

The Silver Coast is a tourist hotspot though, so you can expect the local population to explode during the summer, when most visitors come to the area. So, if you don’t like to live in bustling, busy towns, you might have to be careful where you put down roots!

Is it important to speak Portuguese?

Yes. Unlike the big cities, where many people speak English, you won’t find as many English speakers in the Silver Coast, especially in smaller towns. Of course, there are big expat communities in many towns, so you should be able to get by until you pick up the language.

Affordable investments

If you want to invest in an affordable property, the Silver Coast is a great place to do it. Properties in the area can cost as little as 70,000 Euros, which means if you have the funds available, you could invest in several properties and create an income from rentals – particularly during the tourist season!

FAQ

How long does it take to drive to the Silver Coast from Lisbon?

It really depends on where you want to go, but in most cases, you can expect a drive of about an hour. There are also buses to and from many bigger towns, so if you’d rather sit back and relax while you travel, you have that option too!

Are there schools and medical facilities in the Silver Coast?

That depends where you decide to live. Bigger towns and cities have more facilities than smaller villages, so if those kinds of services are a factor, you want to look at the bigger towns in the area.

Should I visit before I decide to move?

Yes. Any time you’re considering moving to a foreign country, it’s a good idea to visit first, so that you can be sure you’re making the right choice!