Beaches of Central Portugal

The Silver Coast / A Costa Prata

I wrote this blog to help people who were thinking of coming to the area and to help them understand what the coastal resorts had to offer and what the various beaches looked like.

I added addresses and GPS co ordinates so that you can use GoogleEarth.com or your in car SatNav to find the easily. All of the photographs were taken at the locations specified.

Enjoy your travels in Portugal, jump in, the waters lovely and the welcome warm.

Figueira da Foz (The fig tree at the mouth of the river)

This is one of the busiest resorts on the Silver Coast a lively modern coastal resort centred around the Mondego river and huge sandy beach. Located in the Coimbra district although 38 kilometres west of Coimbra it is served by many trains and buses from Coimbra city.

Close to the river mouth is the modern Marina of Figueira da Foz * Sat Nav location on the Avineda da Foz do Mondego N 40. 148.10 W 8.96.206 * which also hosts a diving / scuba school and dingy sailing clubs. The small boat club which mainly has fishing orientated members has a small bar there. I was once the first none Portugues member of this friendly organisation.

There is a large public slip way for launching your own trailered boats trailer a chandlers and well stocked fishing tacle shop where fresh bait can be bought.

Near to the marina is the small pedestrian ferry, you can also take a bycicle and surf board on the ferry that takes people across the river Mondego to Cabedelo the Surf School and beaches. In this area is the Clube de Tênis da Figueira da Foz (Figueira da Foz Tennis Club) you can hire courst by the hour, coaching is available and a very nice resturant.

In the high summer, Figueira as the locals call it. Hosts many Spanish holiday makers as this is the nearest and easiest accesable coastal resort to the west of Spain. The atmosphere changes and you can see more people walking around in the evening promanading before enjoying dinner. In August it is the turn of the French and french living Portuguese its very common to hear french spoken as you walk around.

If you are a fish lover you are lucky because Figueira has a huge fish and fresh produce market, many resurants providing all kinds of fresh fish and of course Bacalhau which Portugal is famous for.

The beach is reputed to be the largest in Europe, Sahara-on-Sea or Rainha das

Praias translated to “Queen of Beaches”. I will let you decide.

There are wooden walk ways from the broad promanade with cycle paths which take you within 100 meters of the sea. Tents and umberlas to hire and beach bars and resturants (english is widley spoken).

Also on the beach towards the promanade are football and tennis courts. At various times of the year there are organised events such as international beach football, volleyball, Motocross competitions and even international power boat racing in the river. One of the none sea related highlights is the Carnival when Rio comes to Figueira da Foz which takes place in February each year and lasts 3 days. For more photographs click here.

There are aproximatly 15 kilometres of golden sand beaches in the Figueira da Foz area, Praia de Buarcos, headind along the shore road out of central Figuira is renowned for its good surfing. * Sat Nav location on the Avineda Dom Joao III N 40. 166.74 W 8.88.306 * Near the Lidl supermarket !

At the end of the bay where the promanade stops * Sat Nav location on the Avineda Infante Doutor Pedro N 40. 176.98 W 8.89.909 * There is a very good quality resturant specialising in fish and seafood and a water slide park for the children.

If you were to leave the coast and drive out of Figuera to the top of the wooded hill which you can see from here there is a newly built atraction. Built in the pine forrest a park of wire rope slides going through the trees. This is a well managed park catering for all ages and a great aftermoon out.

For lots more pictures of these beautiful and varied Silver Coast beaches, check out our Flickr page. You can also view coastal property for sale on the silver coast of Portugal at Dreamhome-Portugal.