São Martinho do Porto is located 100km north of Lisbon, 3km from Highway 8 and 13km South of Nazaré.  The village belongs to the municipality of Alcobaça and has 5000 habitants.  There’s a primary school and a college.

Since the beginning of the century the shell shaped bay has attracted tourists.  There is a little hotel, an apartments hotel, some residentials and pensions, camping parks and guest houses.

Many people from Lisbon come here for the weekend.

The restaurants have many fish and shellfish specialties.  São Martinho do Porto has a daily market (except Mondays).  The terraces, cafes and bars are very inviting and relaxing.

Centuries ago the bay reached Alfeizerão.  It is said that Julius Caesar passed here.  Their first King Afonso Henriques, gave this land to the Cister Monks in the XII century.  They used it as sea port to transport wood form the pine forest of Leiria.  This wood was also used to ship building.

Across the bay, is Salir do Porto where in those years they extracted salt.  There was also a seaport and a shipyard.  The ruins of a medieval Customs House can still be visited.

Although the bay has fish and shell fish, there’s only a few fisherman.  Tourists prefer to swim, surf, jet ski, canoe, sail, row, or just enjoy the beach.

Salir do Porto

Salir do Porto is a quaint village situated just opposite Sao Martinho do Porto which is famous for its sand dunes - climb if you dare!  It has a scattering of bars and shops and a cash point machine.  There is a public outdoor swimming pool (seasonal) and a recently opened small nightclub.  There is a boardwalk through from Sao Martinho to Salir which takes approximately 20 minutes to walk.

Nazare

Nazare is a bustling, lively town with a glorious curved bay which is safe for children.  The beach itself is wide, clean and spacious.  There are many shops, bars, restaurants and a children's play park.  Look out for the racks of drying fish and the street sellers (ladies with 7 skirts) selling nuts, spices and other titbits.  You can walk far back from the beach front to find hidden shops, restaurants and cafes.