Leiria

A vacation in the Leiria District combines two UNESCO-listed monasteries, the monster waves of Nazaré and walled towns like Óbidos. The region on the Silver Coast between Lisbon and Coimbra is compact enough that you can see many of its highlights in just a few days.

Coast and Hinterland

The district stretches along the Costa de Prata, the Silver Coast, from Peniche in the south to the border with the Coimbra District. Wide sandy beaches, dunes and steep cliffs alternate; off Peniche lie the Berlengas, an island group with a nature reserve and a fortress that you can reach by boat in summer. Inland, pine forests, orchards and limestone hills extend to the Serra de Aire e Candeeiros. The great pine forest of Leiria, the Pinhal do Rei, was planted by King Dinis to stabilize the dunes; in 2017, fires destroyed large parts of it.

Sights in the Leiria District

Nazaré is a fishing town with a broad town beach where some women still wear the traditional seven skirts. At Praia do Norte, an underwater canyon pushes winter waves to record heights of more than 20 meters; from the lighthouse at Sítio, spectators watch the big-wave surfers. In Peniche and neighboring Ferrel with Baleal, beginners and pros alike go surfing, and Supertubos beach is a stop on the World Championship tour. The monasteries of Alcobaça, with the tombs of Pedro and Inês, and Batalha, a Gothic masterpiece commemorating the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385, are both World Heritage sites. The district capital, Leiria, is overlooked by a castle perched on a rock, and Óbidos draws visitors with its walkable town walls, white houses and a chocolate festival. In Caldas da Rainha, workshops showcase the ceramics of Bordallo Pinheiro, and in Marinha Grande glassmaking has a long tradition.

Fátima and Surroundings

If you're traveling around the district, you'll also pass near Fátima, which lies just across the border in the Santarém District, only about 25 kilometers from Leiria. Many visitors combine a trip to the pilgrimage site with the monasteries of Batalha and Alcobaça. In the Serra de Aire e Candeeiros, you can tour stalactite caves, and in Pombal a Templar castle looms over the town. The spa town of Monte Real near Leiria is known for its thermal springs. Near Porto de Mós, the Grutas de Mira de Aire lead deep into the limestone, and the castle of Porto de Mós, with its green glazed spires, makes a lovely stop along the way.

Food and Drink

On the coast, you'll find caldeirada, a fish stew, grilled sardines and, in Nazaré, dried fish that lies on racks in the sun on the beach. Óbidos is famous for ginja, a sour cherry liqueur that is drunk from small chocolate cups. The monasteries left behind sweets made from egg yolk and sugar, the Pêra Rocha pear comes from the west, and Alcobaça has a pastry shop with a long tradition.

Getting There and Best Time to Visit

From Lisbon, Leiria is reachable in a little over an hour via the A8 or A1 highway, and buses connect Nazaré, Óbidos and Peniche with the capital. The best time for beaches and excursions is May through October. If you want to see the giant waves of Nazaré, come between October and March, when the big Atlantic storms bring the swell. Summer on the coast is pleasantly cool and windy.