Peniche

Óbidos is a small town, completely surrounded by a medieval wall, about 80 kilometers north of Lisbon. Inside the walls are white houses with blue and yellow trim, cobblestone streets, and churches; the castle crowns the top. Since 2015, Óbidos has been part of the UNESCO Cities of Literature network, and several bookshops are housed in unusual spaces. During the day it is very busy, but significantly quieter in the mornings and evenings.

The Costa de Prata, the Silver Coast, is the coastal stretch between Lisbon and Coimbra, encompassing the districts of Leiria and the western area around Caldas da Rainha. Here lie the walled town of Óbidos, the monasteries of Alcobaça and Batalha, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, the fishing and surfing town of Nazaré, the Peniche peninsula, and the pilgrimage site of Fátima in the hinterland.

Nazaré is a fishing and beach town on the Costa de Prata, around 120 km north of Lisbon. The lower town is on the long sandy beach; atop the cliff sits Sítio, with a pilgrimage church and viewpoint. Nazaré is world-famous for its huge waves, breaking at Praia do Norte in winter and attracting big-wave surfers worldwide.

The Ribatejo is the region on both sides of the middle Tejo northeast of Lisbon. It is flat, fertile alluvial land with viticulture, rice fields, and pastures where horses and fighting bulls are bred. Key towns are Santarém with its Gothic churches and Tomar with the Templar castle Convento de Cristo, plus the river castle of Almourol.

Santarem is located on a plateau high above the Tejo, about 80 kilometers northeast of Lisbon. It is often referred to as the Capital of Gothic due to its many Gothic churches. From the Portas do Sol garden, you look out far over the river and the flat Lezíria, the land of horse and bull breeding. The old town is quiet and not very touristy.