Marc C. Says:
My husband and I would like to move to Spain or Portugal. He loves to surf. Could you recommend a town for us to scout?
IL Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens Says:
Hi Marc,
A town that immediately comes to mind is Peniche, on Portugal’s Silver Coast.
Located on the west coast of Portugal about an hour northwest of Lisbon, Peniche is as good as it gets for surfers and beach lovers.
Real Estate Trend Alert scout Paul O’Sullivan said it has the best waves he’s ever seen.
Of special note is Superturbos, the best beach break in Portugal. With its fast-forming waves and powerful tubes, the area has been called the “European Pipeline,” a reference to the Banzai Pipeline in Oahu, Hawaii.
The climate in Peniche runs cool compared to the inland Alentejo region and the warmer, southern region of the Algarve. January and February are the coldest months, with highs of 57 F and overnight lows of 50 F. Summertime temperatures range from about 70 F down to 63 F. With 25 inches of rainfall annually, it compares well to the much wetter Porto to the north, with its 50 inches.
One ideal time to visit is on the third Sunday of July. Lacemakers from all around Europe—even India, where the Portuguese introduced lacemaking in Goa—gather to preserve and celebrate their craft.
But since your husband is a surfing enthusiast, you may want to wait until the fall to visit. That’s when an annual surfing competition on Superturbos beach, the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal brings fans flocking every October.
Fly from New York’s JFK to the capital, Lisbon, rent a car and you’ll arrive in Peniche in an hour or so. With the freedom of your own vehicle, you can also see popular sites like Fátima, Batalha, and the medieval town of Tomar, home to the Convent of Christ of Knights Templar fame.
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