"Quaint and wonderful" a Nazaré Travel Page by rexvaughan

Nazare is a sleepy former fishing village which is now a bit more of a resort. It is obvious when you go to the beach that it attracts tourists, however local customs still give it a village feel. We just made a stop here to have a quick look at the beach and get a bite of lunch. We were treated to seeing the narrow village streets on the hill above the beach. I was treated to becoming lost once again and finding my car at the top of a steep staircase with some pedestrians shouting "No" at me and pointing to the stairs. The space was so narrow I could not even back up to turn around, so one of the ladies summoned a local resident to come out and move his vehicle so I could maneuver my way out. A very hospitable welcome.

The beach is a nice wide expanse with soft sand. There were people sunbathing, families having picnics and a few playing games, but not a lot of people here when we visited in September. I would guess that during the summer months, it is pretty crowded. The old town hilltop part of town, Sitio, offers great views of the beach, harbor and the Atlantic which is a beautiful blue. There appears to be a world of difference in the old (upper) town and the newer (lower) one. Both are worth spending some time just wandering.