Travel Log: Peniche

December 2023 led Dog and Dragon to the beautiful country of Portugal. Having never been to Portugal and knowing very little about the country we set up our home base in Lisbon and ventured outward from there. We had recently discovered that our friend Anna had made the bold move to emigrate to the seaside town of Peniche on the Atlantic coast. After making plans to meet up with Anna we took the Flixbus for a day of exploration that would include Peniche, Obidos, and the Buddha Eden Garden of Peace.

Peniche

The town of Peniche sits on the ocean along Portugal’s famed Silver Coast. Despite its appearance as a sleepy fishing village it is a relaxing destination with perfect beaches, delicious restaurants, and rustic old buildings. Like Nazarre to the north it is a frequent travel destination for surfers. After a delightful brunch at Celeiro Cafe we visited the area around the marina where you can see the lighthouses, take in the amazing views of the waterfront, and visit the Fortress of Peniche. From there we took off to visit a couple of other great spots Anna wanted to show us, but returned later for a killer sunset at the beach.

Don’t forget to stay hydrated while you are out adventuring in these lovely warm climates. We always have Dragon’s favorite water bottle, the Camelbak Chute Mag. We had to replace ours while we were wandering Athens for a week, but luckily we were able to find a replacement. It works great on our adventures because it is slim enough for a backpack side pocket, has a loop to clip it to something with a carabiner, and has a magnetic lid that stays up while you drink.

Buddha Eden

We had planned to head up to Nazarre, but the surf report said it was flat that day. That turned out not to be a problem because Anna surprised us with a visit to the Buddha Eden Garden of Peace. What an amazing place! Buddha Eden is an oriental garden set on close to 87 acres of land. I’m not sure if it is the remote location or because it was December, but it seemed like we had the place to ourselves. It just took our breath away with its inspirational beauty. If you have the opportunity and good fortune to visit Portugal’s Silver Coast, take the time to hop over to Buddha Eden. You won’t be disappointed.

Obidos

Our final destination for the day was the tiny town of Obidos. Obidos was a perfect way to follow up on where we just left, because it was so freaking cool. This little town of roughly 3000 people has a castle in it, around it, part of it. Being a nerdy American guy, Dog just found this to be the coolest experience. We walked into town where they had a Christmas festival going on. After sampling some ginjinha in a chocolate cup (yes, you eat it after you’re done sipping), you just walk up the stairs to the castle walls and walk around the perimeter on top of the wall. OMG! The perma-grin was just glued in place. There’s an aqueduct and a quaint little village to enhance the entire experience. Obidos was the cutest remnant of medieval Europe and is a must see on your own adventure. You can even book a hotel room to stay in the castle!

Day Trip to the Silver Coast

After watching the sun go down over the Atlantic from Peniche we took the Flixbus back to Lisbon. What an incredible day trip that was. We loved our outing to Portugal’s Silver Coast and would like to return for further explorations. We barely scratched the surface and now know it is a lovely place to go. Hopefully another trip is in the future. Thanks Anna, be ready for the return of Dog and Dragon. We’ll prep you in advance.

Disclosure clarification: While the link to our favorite water bottle on Amazon is an affiliate ad that we would earn a small commission on, we have no affiliation with Flixbus. We had a few great experiences using their service and simply want to share them as a recommendation for getting around Portugal without a car.