Is Costa de Prata the New Algarve?

Costa de Prata (Silver Coast) is one of the six tourist regions of continental Portugal and includes the province of Beira Litoral and most of the provinces of Ribatejo and Estremadura. It runs for approximately 200km from north of Lisboa almost as far as Porto.

This coastal region has many long, sandy beaches, with spectacular scenery, as well as rolling hills and wooded mountain areas. It also has lots of unspoilt, little fishing towns and coastal villages, rural inland towns and villages, beautiful countryside and is known for its many sites of historic, religious and architectural importance.

The name Silver Coast apparently derives from the fact that the sun’s reflection on the sea gives a silvery light. It has been a traditional holiday destination for many Portuguese families over the years and until quite recently there was little in the way of development. 

The main cities and towns in this region are: Aveiro, Caldas da Rainha, Coimbra, Leiria, Óbidos, Santarém and Tomar. Other towns of note are: Alcobaça, Batalha, Fátima, Figueira do Foz, Foz do Arelho, Nazaré, Peniche and São Martinho do Porto.

Since the A8 motorway was opened a few years ago, thereby reducing the drive from Lisboa’s airport to under an hour, the region has really been opened up and has recently seen an explosion in foreign property buying, especially around the Óbidos area. Its central location in Portugal makes it ideal for accessing the rest of the country and many of the major towns and cities.

As there is also a new international airport underway, located 30km north of Lisboa at Ota, and there are plans for further golf developments in the area, interest from foreign buyers can only continue.

The increasing popularity has also been due to the cheaper property prices in comparison to those of the more famous Algarve coastal region. It could therefore potentially offer buyers a very good investment.

Whilst the climate is mild, it should be noted, however, that the Atlantic waves tend to be fiercer (a surfer’s paradise) and the water and air temperatures a few degrees cooler than in Algarve. Inland will also be somewhat colder during the winter, especially the nearer you get to the mountains.

The property in this region is varied depending on your taste and budget and includes new builds on new developments (particularly on the coast), resale properties in the towns and villages and old cottages or ruins for renovation in the more inland, rural, countryside areas.

A new 18-hole golf course at the Bom Sucesso Design Resort, Leisure, Golf and Spa is due for completion during 2007 and bordering this resort, building has already started on Quinta de Óbidos, a luxury country club and equestrian centre with luxury lakeside villas. It is being tipped as the Costa de Prata’s answer to Algarve’s Quinta do Lago. Oceânico developments have also yet another Portuguese project in the pipeline called Royal Óbidos. As well as these newer developments, there are several other well-established golf courses in the region, some with development still ongoing nearby, such as, 18-hole courses at Praia d’El Rey Golf and Beach Resort, Westin CampoReal Golf and Spa and The Golden Eagle Golf and Country Club, and 9-hole courses at the Atlântico Golf Course and Vimeiro Golf Course.

Only time will tell whether the Costa de Prata will be able to hang on to its traditional charm and image as being more “real Portugal” than Algarve or become overdeveloped, with manicured golf and villa complexes, as is clearly now in evidence in its more cosmopolitan, southern cousin.