Nazare

Nazaré is a lovely town in Leiria district, western Portugal.It is crowded in summer.

Getting there

By bus

From Lisbon. Take the Rede expressos-bus from the bus station at Av. Duque de Avila (nearest metro Saldanha). Approximately 2 hours to the central bus station in the center of Nazaré. Prices are around 8-9 Euros (-08). This is the fastest line.

By train

Trains run the Linha do Oeste line from Oriente station in Lisbon. You have to change and accept lots of stops en route. Arrival will be in Valado dos Frades/Nazare/Alcobaca station, around 5 km. from the center of Nazaré. From there, there´s a local bus going to Nazaré and - normally - it would be possible to get a taxi from the station (normally with a fixed fare).

From Coimbra or Leiria, drive south or take the train to Valado/Nazare/Alcobaca station.

Traveling around

walk/tramway

See

• O Sitio, hill with a wonderful view of the beach. There is a tramway to the top.

• Go out to the lighthouse and watch the Atlantic Ocean crash against the cliffs.

• Praia do Norte - A vast expanse of beach. Caution: Dangerous swimming.

• '''

Things to do

• Use the beach.

• See a bullfight in the Praca do Touros (O Sitio).

• Walk the white streets of the city.

• Visit the market. It´s a holiday town all year around (though some accommodations and restaurants are closed in the winter season). Take pictures of beach, Sitio; ask local ladies(who wear seven skirts) if you can take a photo.

Eat

There are lots and lots of small cheap restaurants, where they are grilling fish (sardines etc...), chickens outside. Normally it pays off to frequent the smaller streets. On the waterfront and major squares you will find it much more expensive. Lots of nice cafés on the Praça Sousa Oliveira. Not cheap but with a good view of the bustling life.

Sleep

Arriving at the bus station one will normally be "hijacked" by a group of women who offers private rooms. It´s quite cheap, normally central and the easiest way to get a place to sleep (follow the woman of your choice to see the quarters, but beware - they´re very fast..). There are hotels and pensions to be booked in advance it´s more (much more...) expensive and you won't be able to experience the charm of living in a private home, where the family has moved out (or into one little room) so they can rent the other rooms out.

Buy

• Dolls

Get out

• Batalha

• Alcobaca

• Peniche

• Obidos: A visit to this town could be made en route to Lisboa. (Get off at the Obidos trainstation, deposit your luggage and walk up to the city.) A tour of the town walls gets you some fine views. But - it´s a sleepy town and they know what to charge for a meal...

• Coimbra is easily reached with a bus (leave in the morning - return in the afternoon/evening) if you want a day without sunbathing on the beach.

• Leiria

• Tomar