Hi,
On a separate thread I asked about the Silver Coast vs the Algarve and now am focused on the Silver Coast
A well respected contributor (aka Kathryn) recommended São Martinho do Porto, she has not been there in many years
Anyone been there recently and care to share their thoughts?
Regards
Dennis and Elinore
I would also be interested since I continue to recommend it. I was there briefly in 2020 but just for lunch. If it has deteriorated, I definitely need to stop recommending it.
I was there a few months ago, just for the day. I thought it was a lovely little town. I often visit a place for a day, then find myself thinking I'd like to go back to spend more time. Sao Martinho is one of those places. I can easily imagine myself spending a few low key weeks there.
I was there last month with my wife.
We found the town cute, but the beach and main strip were too touristy for us. Nothing but tacky souvenir shops.
The restaurants were overpriced and there was little charm to the place.
As I mentioned in another post, we found the sand on the beach oily and the water dirty. Lots of plastic garbage.
I guess it comes down to what you want to do. If you're not a beach person or a swimmer, then the town might be okay.
But we definitely preferred Nazaré. Beautiful sandy beach and plenty of charm. Really friendly people, too.
We were in Portugal in April of 2023. We stopped at São Martinho do Porto before going to Nazarre. We did some hiking and enjoyed the views. We weren't there to swim or spend time on the beach, but we thought it was pretty. Nazarre was busy and interesting. We liked the old town, narrow street area. We enjoyed some time up in Sitio and came back down to Nazarre for dinner.
Hi Dennis and Elinore,
São Martinho do Porto is still very well-liked by people visiting and living on the Silver Coast today. The bay is as beautiful as ever, the vibe is relaxed, and it has enough cafés, restaurants, and year-round life to feel comfortable without being overly busy.
If you’re exploring the area, it’s also worth looking at a few nearby towns:
Nazaré – more energetic, famous for surfing, but the town itself has a great promenade and a growing expat presence.
Foz do Arelho – lagoon views, great for water sports, a bit more spread out and residential.
Caldas da Rainha – not coastal but a very practical city with markets, services, and hospitals; many people live here and drive to the beach.
Óbidos – charming medieval village, smaller and more touristy, but very scenic and close to everything.
Each of these spots has a slightly different feel, but all share the same Silver Coast charm.
You check here Best Places on the Silver Coast for Expats.
