The Estramadura stretch of the Silver Coast is home to traditional fishing villages, modern holiday resorts and fantastic surf territory. The long sandy beaches, mild climate and warm bays safe for swimming are popular with Lisboetas and tourists alike.
Most seaside resorts stemmed from fishing ports and many continue this tradition alongside more modern tourist pursuits like surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and snorkelling and scuba diving. There is a string of glorious sandy beaches all the way along the coast that range from small secluded coves to wide sandy beaches all pretty much with an easy going, beachy atmosphere. Many of them are relatively undiscovered both in terms of mass tourism and for surfing spots so if you're travelling by car you can discover a beach or bay to suit your taste.
Peniche was originally an island and was only joined to the mainland in the 16th century when a sand spit formed linking the two. Today it's a peninsular with 15 kilometres of rocky coastline jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean. It is an important fishing port and a major supplier of crayfish, sardines and tuna to Portugal. Today it's famous for its lace made locally (you can see it being made at the two lace-making schools) and for its fish restaurants serving some of the best seafood dishes around. It's a lively resort with plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants.
Peniche is also one of the most famous surfing resorts in Portugal with its coastline all around the peninsular you can always find a great surfing spot suitable for all ranging from beginner to expert level. It has the most consistent swell in Europe and is famed for its "Supertubos", very fast and powerful (tubular) waves, on the south side of the peninsular. Scuba diving, kitesurfing and windsurfing are also popular and there are a wide range of surf camps and schools that offer lessons and courses for all skill levels.
The coastline from Lisbon up to Porto makes up the Silver Coast. If you like long sandy beaches and huge crashing Atlantic breakers then the Portugal coast line will fit the bill. Long windswept sandy beaches and rugged Atlantic coast are its trademark; good for windsurfers, surfers and sun worshippers. The Silver Coast has a plethora of different types of resorts from quiet traditional fishing villages to busy family fun oriented destinations. Many of the pretty villages along the Silver Coast have retained a traditional Portuguese culture and way-of-life amongst some of the best European beaches.