A piece of paradise on the Silver Coast

Luxury accommodation at Praia d’El Rey where the beach is right outside your balcony.

ALTHOUGH there is no doubt that the Algarve is the premium brand in Portuguese tourism, the coasts north and south of Lisbon have been raising their profile significantly over the past decade. The Silver Coast, or Costa da Prata, stretches north from Lisbon along the coast of central Portugal running from the Portuguese capital as far as Porto. Although it doesn’t get the high temperatures of the Algarve — which is actually a blessing in the summer — it enjoys an excellent climate and has the added advantage of proximity to the historic and picturesque city of Lisbon, which is always worth a visit.

The part best known to Irish visitors is the stretch about an hour north of Lisbon where you will find some stunning beaches and a selection of incredibly good golf courses including Praia d’El Rey which won both European Golf Resort of the Year and Portugal’s Leading Resort at the World Travel Awards in 2007. For golf aficionados there are also nearby courses at Bom Sucesso, the formerly Westin branded Campo Real and a new course is under construction at Royal Obidos. There is also a selection of courses around Lisbon itself.