We will be driving from Lisbon to Porto and stopping at several places along the Silver Coast. We’ll tentatively spend one night in Peniche or Obidos and this will be on a Sunday. Will restaurants, shops, etc be open on a Sunday?
Note: our overall plan for this drive (after leaving Lisbon) is to spend one day and night in Sintra, then drive to Peniche and/or Obidos and spend one night. Next, we will drive to Aveiro for a day and night … then on to Porto.
Any and all suggestions about our route including where to stop, stay and eat on the Silver Coast are welcome! Thank you! — JU
Posted by
San Francisco
192 posts
Another vote to skip Aveiro. Could you add Coimbra instead?
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7546 posts
It only takes a couple hours to see Óbidos. The main street through town is busy with busloads of tourists until about 7pm. After that, all the stores close and the town is peaceful. The main sights are the castle and walking along the wall. We spent a night there in September; on a Friday so everything was open. We stayed at Casa Do Relogio and our room had a/c. Not all the rooms do. It was cash payment. We found a parking spot close to the hotel just outside the wall. If you decide to stay in Óbidos try to stay outside the wall as driving inside the wall would be a pain.
Aveiro does have some charm, but much of the historic center along the river was a huge construction site when we were there, so it detracted from that charm and influenced my opinion of the town. It has no must see sights. The main draw is the touristy boat ride along the canal. For one night it’s probably fine if you just want to relax. We spent less than 2 hours there.
We thoroughly enjoyed Coimbra, but it is worth more than one night. We spent 3 nights there at Hotel Mondego. It was easy to get to, by one of the train stations, and had a few free parking places in front. If they are filled there is a parking garage a few blocks away. Also, a couple blocks away is a laundromat if you needed to do laundry.
If driving and you plan on stopping at places, look up free parking lots in those locations before going over and bookmark them to your navigation app. That will save you some time looking for them when you arrive in town.
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1885 posts
I agree with the others about both Obidos and Aveiro. Coimbrã would be my preference, especially if you drive out of town to see Conimbriga. It’s a Roman settlement in which there are remaining amazing mosaic floors.
The library at the university in Coimbra is jaw dropping.
Alcobaça and Batalha are also very much worth your time. If you only have time for one, Alcobaça is my favorite.
Posted by
Porto - Portugal
240 posts
Hi!
São Martinho do Porto is a lovely place to stay for one night!
It is very posh to say "skip Óbidos". Well, ok, people want to be different and not like it. But in fact it's a lovely village. Very touristic? Yes. Those that say "skip it" are the ones that were there at sometime, making it touristic, but looking to the others as if they were intrusers!!! And feeling frustrated for all the tourists there, forgetting what they, in fact, are.
I think you should at least visit Óbidos. It is a gem, although not an hidden one.
Posted by
Martinez, CA, USA
1562 posts
I agree that you should skip Aveiro, keep Obidos, and if possible add Coimbra. If it fits your schedule Batalha and Alcobaca are work visiting. Although we have relatives near Aveiro I just don't see how it got to be at the top of so many travelers' lists. Both Obidos and Coimbra are more historical and Coimbra has so many more interesting sights.