When we come out in April to Carvoeiro we wish to explore the Silver coast a bit. Have been told it is very pretty and property prices are cheaper than Carvoeiro. Anyone got any ideas and info to help us on this quest. All greatfully received

Hi Baggy

We had friends who visited the silver coast last year and whilst they said it was beautiful and unspoilt it is in its own micro climate. It was lovely during the day but goes quite cold early evening, thus not many bars and restaurants ever have outside dining. This put them off, as they like sitting outside of an evening. Worth checking this out if you go.

Tricky

I may have got my geography wrong but if I was going to the Silver Coast I wouldn't start in CVO or fly to Faro.

Surely Lisbon is a better start point?

widge wrote:I may have got my geography wrong but if I was going to the Silver Coast I wouldn't start in CVO or fly to Faro.

Surely Lisbon is a better start point?

Yes Widge..think www.Expatsportugal.com would get Baggy more answers

We drove up the centre well beyond Monchique and then spent the day driving down the coast. It is lovely and dramatic. Very like Cornwall, granite not sandstone like the Algarve. Housing much cheaper, but there are very few facilities as it isnt really developed for tourism. (ie no Intermarche!)
It is colder and windier.
If you are thinking about the southern end, then Faro airport would be better, especially as it has the cheaper flights. Access via the motorway up to just beyond Lagos, then quiet a good inner coast road.

If you are buying with a view to letting, you would have a limited market, but if you want the old Portugal...then it's lovely.

Isn't the Silver Coast north of Lisbon?

Yes the Silver coast is to the north and west of Lisbon. I think Bruce that you travelled down the Alentejo area and coast, still very pretty and as you say rocky coastline. Prices for houses are cheaper than on the Algarve but much more rural. Great if you really do want to get away from it all but still like the climate south of Lisbon.

"A Place in the Sun" featured a family looking at somewhere in the Alentejo region. You certainly get a lot more for your money. The house they really liked looked great. It had big open rooms with no ceilings as such just lovely wooden roofing. Having just spent Christmas in cvo, my immediate thought was "How much is that going to cost to heat?" It could be that logs are cheaper inland but I still wonder.

What is the cost of heating, over new year we were burning just over a bag of wood/night ( max 3 euros) mestre macro prices.
Obviously much cheaper if bought in bulk.

Ok the days were warm but this was still sufficent to make our apartment ( 2 bd ) feel nice and cosy.

We have a dual aircon/heating system but did not have to use it.

How much do permanent residents budget ??

Interesting programme that, all round near our house.

Bruce did you visit Milfontes, Odemira, Zambujeira or Odeceixe? If so, that was the Place in the Sun area.

Yes I did...drove on that unmade road along the clifftop