Foz Do Arelho

Foz Do Arleho is a small seaside town not to far away from Caldas Da Rainha , approx. 1 hour north of Lisbon. Foz Do Arelho is located at the Obidos lagoon and right beside the Wild Atlantic Ocean. The area has always been a seasonal vacation resort which used to be popular with the wealthy.
Where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Obidos lagoon is a fabulous beach. on the lagoon side, waters are calm, on the Atlantic Ocean side, they arenwild and most of the time exposed to strong wind.

During the summer holiday, the beach at the lagoon side is frequented by schools who play here during the cooler morning sun. This area of Foz Do Artleho has a lot of modern houses which are mainly holiday homes. There is also a camping which is very busy and in our view not the nicest one with the exception of the fabulous lagoon views. But the problem is that the camping is very busy and the campervans look a bit like a bunch of sardines squeezed into a tin.

When you follow the road towards Caldas Da Rainha, you go slightly uphill away from the Atlantic, and this is the most interesting part of the town. It is the old part of the town where you find small pastelarias , bars and the odd restaurant.
Looking at the restaurants, cafe central is not the most beautiful looking restaurant or cosy one, but the food is brilliant. The typical Portuguese dishes are popular and the restaurant is frequented by locals, especially during weekends.
This part of Portugal is totally not like the Algarve, it is quiet, not taken over by loud tourist,... It is a location where you can enjoy the friendly locals, the great food and of course the sun.

The area of Foz do Arleho lends itself perfectly for walking. In particular, an evening stroll from the old town towards the beach and from there uphill along the R. Visc. Morais along the new boardwalks is perfect to see the last glimpse of the evening sun.

Another walk we enjoyed is along the Obidos lagoon. Here, you can see the many small fishing boats resting for the next days catch. The lagoon is also a very popular place for watersports, a place where you can try kayaking, surfing, stand up paddling ,....
What we really enjoyed about this area is the quietness, a town where you can mingle with the locals in the local bar or pastelaria.
A place where you can enjoy the Portuguese friendliness, the hospitality or just the beauty of the rugged coastline.
With easy flights to Lisbon, iot is a must visit location. The short drive from the airport to Foz Do Arleho is easy and quick, and it must be said that the greater area around Foz Do Arleho is one that needs to be discovered. From monasteries ( http://www.outdoorfitnesssligo.com/destinations-further-afield-travel-blog/alcobaca-monastery) to the fabulous Berlenga Islands off the coast of Peniche ( http://www.outdoorfitnesssligo.com/destinations-further-afield-travel-blog/berlengas)  , there is something new to discover every day of the week.