How to spend top weekend in Leiria - ideas on extraordinary attractions and sites

Active Holidays on the Island of Berlenga Grande

You can visit the island of Berlenga Grande during your holiday in Leiria. The National Park is located here. Not many people come here. You can admire the picturesque coast, where there are rocks, the azure of the Atlantic Ocean, meadows, and an active lighthouse.

There are several options for active recreation here. For example, if you like diving you can go scuba diving in caves and grottos located under the water, which is always clean and transparent. You can also spend time conquering the waves while standing on the surfboard. The wind is constantly blowing on the local coast.

Leiria Surf Spots

Do you like active beach holidays? Then you will like the coast of Leiria. You can go yachting, kayaking, and fishing in the ocean here. There is also a specialty store called ADN Surf Shop in the city. You can buy all the necessary equipment for surfing there. You should also choose a suitable surf spot. For example, you will find the Supertubos spot near Peniche Beach. The conditions here are suitable for daily board riding. There are also dive schools here. You will learn the basics of surfing there if necessary. You can also drive 500 meters north from Nazare beach to get to another surf spot with high waves. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Tour of the Ruins of the Castle and its Surroundings

If you like to visit architectural monuments you should visit the castle in Porto de Mos. It was built on a hill in the 13th century. It was damaged by an earthquake in 1755. You can see the preserved walls, several towers that have a conical shape, green roofs, and a beautiful loggia here. You can also walk around the small cemetery that is located near the hill. You can take a tour of the underground caves located near the castle. You will see bizarre rock formations and tracks left by dinosaurs inside these natural attractions.

Stand on the Balcony of Leiria Castle

You should pay attention to the castle with its bright tiled roof and arched windows while sightseeing in Leiria. It is located on a mountain. Its slopes are overgrown with forest. It was founded in 1135. The castle was rebuilt many times. At first, the building was used for defensive purposes and as a country house of the king. The Pope's residence was also here. You can take a tour of the castle and stand on its majestic balcony, bounded by two towers and decorated with vaults, which are made in the Gothic style. You will get a wonderful view of the city from here.

Tour of the Caves of Mira de Aire

The complex of caves of Mira de Aire is located in the neighborhood of the city. The air temperature is constant here. It is at 17 °C. It was discovered in 1947. The total length of these caves is 11 kilometers, and the depth is 230 meters. You can view them every day from 9:30 to 17:30 from October to March, until 18:00 in April and May, until 19:00 in June and September, until 19:30 in July and August.

You will go here on a tour. You will pay 7 euros and become a member of the tour group. No more than 33 people can become its members. A guide will accompany you. However, you can only walk 100 meters. This is due to the fact that this depth is equipped for visiting. You will spend 1.5 hours exploring the caves. You can see stalactites and stalagmites that are beautifully illuminated by electric lights. You will go down to the caves by a stone staircase. You will take the elevator with a capacity of 33 passengers to get out of it.

Go Up to the Active Lighthouse

São Pedro de Moel is a district of Leiria. The current lighthouse is located on the Saudade Rock here. It is a rectangular stone tower. It was open in 1912. The attraction is open to the public on Wednesdays. You can climb to its top to enjoy the picturesque scenery of the coast from a height of 32 meters.