It is a region that is home to some of Portugal's most important and impressive cities, quaint fishing towns and villages, near emtpy beaches, popular holiday resorts and rich and fertile inland countryside. On the one hand, a move to the Silver Coast will give you the option of a calm rural existence amongst beautiful scenery and tranquil small towns. On the other  you will not lose any of the ease and convenience of modern day living as the area is fully equipped with access to good roads, quality healthcare and education and leisure opportunities that will keep people of all ages happy.

The Silver Coast region is located an hour north from Lisbon. This  is home to many places of interest for the prospective homebuyer. Fishing villages such as Nazare and stunning beaches such as Säo Martinho do Porto and Praia del Rey are good spots to start a search. Not far from Lisbon and set slightly inland the ancient city of Leira was once a holiday retreat for the Portuguese Royal family. Back out on the coast, Figueira da Foz is home to large beaches and a world famous casino.
 
Moving back inland Coimbro is one of Europes oldest university towns home to ancient streets with medieval walls, arches and stairways and academic traditions that date back centuries.
 
Further north, the coastal city of Aveiro is famous for its lagoon and the canals where the colourfully painted moliceiro boats sail. Continuing further north still the next major city that you come to is Porto. It is the country's second-largest city and, although largely industrialised, still has plenty to offer the intrepid house-hunter.

Access
Both Porto and Lisbon have international airports and are the main points for arrivals and departures when visiting the Silver Coast. Flights depart daily from London Gatwick and Heathrow as well as six other UK airports to both of the Portuguese airports. A range of carriers including Easyjet, Monarch, British Airways, Iberia and TAP Air Portugal will cater for all budgets. If you're driving from the UK, the fastest route for most people is to take the Plymouth–Santander or Portsmouth–Bilbao ferries to northern Spain and then on to Portugal. The new A8 motorway that runs throught the area connects Porto in the North with Lisbon In the South making all of the Silver Coast easily accesible from either city.

Resorts
Lisbon itself has been the nation's capital city since 1147. It has been around in one form or another for 2,000 years offering its inhabitants and visitors a rich history that is impressively displayed through its fantastic architecture. Property in and around Lisbon is readily available and is only just starting to catch the attention of investors. Currently you can get hold of a city centre apartment in Lisbon for as little as 110,000 euros or, if you're lucky a substantial house for 260,000 euros. The Silver Coast is home to many small fishing villages, of which Nazare is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown. It has many fine restaurants, a large beach made up of fine sands and many a historical attraction. Nazare is definitely a hot spot at the moment, whether it be for holiday homes for brits or city retreats for the Lisbon crowd. Here a newly constructed, purpose designed villa with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and modern interior costs around 340,000 euros but older properties are available for much less.

Praia del Rey is another beachside resort and a current property hotspot. It is within easy reach of the medieval town of Óbidos and there is real competition for properties in this protected area of outstanding natural beauty. Óbidos itself is a stunning location encircled by a ring of medieval walls with pretty, whitewashed houses and cobbled streets. It is also home to a stunning natural lagoon where people spend their days sailing, windsurfing or simply relaxing. In this area property prices are rising steadily but if you were looking to buy a villa off plan on the Praia del Rey golf and beach resort you could expect to pay around 340,000 euros for a large three-bedroom villa. However, prices range depending on specification and there are bargains to be found outside the new build market (Praia-del-Rey). In the cities of Liera and Coimbro the overseas property  market is still in its infancy, so bargains can be picked up for as little as 90,000 euros. However, in Porto, prices are a little higher in central locations with a three bedroom town house available for around 120,000 euros or less depending on its condition. The city may be worth considering for investment purposes thanks to the fact it is a growing economic centre in Portugal. Some fantastic opportunities can also be found in the more rural areas a few miles outside the city centre.

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Article first published in April 2006