Leiria is a city in Beira Litoral in central Portugal.

Get in

By plane

The nearest airports of Leiria are Portela airport (in Lisbon) and Francisco Sá Carneiro airport (in Oporto).

By train

There are daily connections between Paris and Lisbon (Sud-Express), entering by the Vilar Formoso border; between Lisbon and Madrid, by the Marvão border; and between Porto and Vigo (Spain), by the Valença border. Train lines: North (Pombal) or West (Leiria 4 km)

By bus

There are 3 bus companies linking Porto (Internorte), Lisbon (Intercentro) and Faro (Intersul) to several European cities.

By car

• National road: IC2 (Lisbon - Oporto)
• Motorway: A1 (Lisbon - Oporto) or A8 (Lisbon - Leiria)

See

• Castle (Castelo de Leiria)
• Rivers Lis & Lena
• Pinhal (pinewood forest) de Leiria
• Beaches
• Viera de Leiria & S.Pedro de Muel.
• Museums: M|i|Mo (Leiria Castle area), Portugal's only Museum of the Moving Image. and the Paper museum (Museu do moinho do papel) situated at the site of Portugal's first paper mill.

Do

• Camping, enjoy the beaches, Berlengas isles, off the coast of Peniche (summer only).

• Castle of Leiria: As well as being a site of historical interest, the Castle of Leiria provides a venue for cultural events . Situated close to the castle, the Church of Saint Peter (Igreja de São Pedro) is used as the venue of Leiria's annual festival of music.

• Theaters/Cinema: The Theatre Miguel Franco in the market Sant'Ana (Mercado de Sant'Ana) and The Theatre José Lúcio da Silva are venues for theatre, music and dance performances, as well as cinema.

• Day & Night Life: The city is the birthplace of several leading Portuguese poets, such as Afonso Lopes Vieira and Francisco Rodrigues Lobo, after whom the central square (Praca Rodrigues Lobo) is named. Today the square is home to a thriving café culture, as well as being regularly used for cultural events. There's also many festivals in the region mostly in the summer.

Buy

The town hosts a monthly antiques market.

Eat

Leiria's gastronomy offers a good variety of Portuguese dishes including fresh fish dishes and the famous "Leitao" da Boavista (barbecued piglet).

The nearby village of Cortes is known for "Migas", a dish of corn bread with spinach, garlic and olive oil which is eaten as an accompaniment to fish or meat.

Local sweet pastry: Brisas do Liz and Lampreia d'Ovos which was originally made by the local convent.

Drink

Leiria, being a university town has a lively nightlife with many bars and cafes.

The central square of Rodriges Lobo has many cafes and bars with outdoor seating and views to the Castle. Not far from there is the "Gato Preto" cafe & Bar (the Black Cat) which is known for the unsual tiles on its exterior.

Sleep

• Hotel Ibis Leiria, Quinta do Taborda Lote 56, ☏ +351 244 816 700. 

• Swiss Hotel, Rua do Jogarl nº 6, 2445-431 São Pedro de Muel, ☏ +351 244590020. 

Go next

• Batalha (monastery)
• Caldas da Rainha – charming, unassuming city to experience authentic daily Portuguese life
• Fátima (sanctuary)
• Tomar
• São Pedro de Moel (beach)