The Local Area
There is lots to see and do in this region of the Portuguese Silver Coast (click the map to the right for a closer view of the Silver Coast). Some of the possibilities are outlined below:
Local Amenities
Foz village centre is just a few minutes walk away, with:
- Post office
- Bank
- Doctor
- Baker, butcher and 2 mini-markets
- A variety of restaurants and bars
Caldas da Rainha, a fabulous ceramic market town, is also not far. Go early for fresh fruit and vegetables from the town centre market, open Monday to Saturday in the morning. Caldas is a great shopping town with 4 hypermarkets and many fashionable shops for purchasing those special presents!
Beaches
If you love sun, sea and sand, you have definitely chosen the right destination for your holiday. The area surrounding Foz do Arelho sports some truly beautiful beaches:
- Foz beach - Great for watersports.
- Obidos lagoon - Stunning beaches along a huge, natural lagoon with plenty of beach cafés, restaurants and bars. Great for swimming and really safe for children. Obidos lagoon is also a magnificent natural habitat for all types of wildlife, enjoyed by birdwatchers, fishermen, sailors, cyclists and hikers.
- Sao Martinho do Porto.
- Baleal.
Days Out
There are plenty of places to visit in this area of the Silver Coast, some of the most interesting include:
- Lisbon - Portugal's capital and a beautiful, cultural city. 45 minutes drive.
- Sao Martinho do Porto - Sheltered, safe and sandy beach resort. 10 minute drive.
- Baleal - Superb beach town. 25 minutes drive.
- Caldas da Rainha - Wonderful ceramic town with great shops.
- Peniche - Lovely quaint fishing town with really good fish restaurants. 30 minutes drive.
- Berlenga Islands - Spectacular, largely uninhabited islands famed for their birdlife. Day trips available from Peniche.
- Obidos - Unique walled castle city, a Unesco world heritage site of special interest. Obidos is a must visit. 15 minutes drive.
Eating Out
This area of Portugal has lots of good quality and excellent value restaurants of all types, with local seafood being a speciality. Local produce and good local wines are easy to shop for - look out for wines produced around the lagoon. Some of the best places to eat out are all found in villages and towns nearby:
- Caldas da Rainha
- Foz do Arelho
- Guisado
- Nadadouro
- Obidos
- Peniche
- Sao Martinho do Porto
- Torres Vedras
Golf
This area of the Silver Coast is fantastic for golfers! There are 5 courses within 25 minutes and 18 within 45 minutes. This includes Praia del Rey, the European golf destination of 2007 and the following, amongst others:
Other Activities
There are a host of other activities to pursue in the area. These include:
- Water sports on the many beaches.
- Hiking and cycling.
- Birdwatching.
- Visiting craft galleries and museums.
Some photos of the area...
Following are some photos of the attractions in the local area. Click on them for a larger version of the image. Once open, hover the mouse over the left or right of the image to move backwards or forwards through the slides.