For many foreigners living in Portugal, the quieter winter months are one of the country’s biggest attractions. But as summer approaches, Portugal enters its busiest tourism season — and that also brings a rise in scams.

Portuguese police are now warning about fraud linked to holiday home rentals, with fake listings once again becoming a serious concern ahead of the summer months. For expats, second-home owners, and visitors looking for accommodation along the Silver Coast, the message is clear: be careful before sending any money.

Fake listings, real photos, costly mistakes

According to Portugal’s GNR, scammers often use photos of real properties in fake online listings, advertising them at attractive prices to draw in interest quickly. The goal is usually to pressure potential renters into paying a deposit before they have properly verified the property, the owner, or the rental terms.

In many cases, victims only discover the fraud after payment has been made — when communication suddenly stops, the address does not exist, or the property turns out not to be available at all.

This type of scam is especially effective during the high season, when demand is strong and people fear missing out on a good deal.

A warning that matters on the Silver Coast too

Although these scams are often associated with major tourist regions such as the Algarve and Lisbon, they are not limited to those areas.

That is important for the Silver Coast, where international interest in short-term rentals, summer lets, and seasonal accommodation continues to grow. Areas such as Nazaré, São Martinho do Porto, Foz do Arelho, Caldas da Rainha, Óbidos, Peniche and nearby coastal towns attract both holidaymakers and foreign residents looking for temporary stays, relocation rentals, or longer summer lets.

Wherever demand rises, scammers tend to follow.

For foreigners unfamiliar with the Portuguese rental market — or relying on online communication from abroad — the risk can be even greater. A convincing message, professional-looking photos, and a seemingly reasonable explanation can be enough to make a fake listing appear genuine.

Pressure tactics and “too good to miss” prices

Police say one of the clearest warning signs is urgency. Scammers often claim there are many other interested renters and insist on immediate payment to “secure” the property.

Another common tactic is pricing a property below market value to make it look like a rare opportunity. For someone searching from overseas, especially in a competitive coastal market, that can be difficult to resist.

But in practice, a bargain that seems unusually good may be exactly that: a trap.

What police recommend before paying

Portuguese authorities advise people to be cautious with any rental offer that cannot be independently verified.

Among the most important precautions:

• avoid sending money before confirming that the property is real and genuinely available
• be suspicious of listings with unusually low prices
• check whether the same photos appear in multiple ads with different details
• ask for identification from the landlord or agent
• verify that the bank account name matches the person renting out the property
• whenever possible, visit the property in person or ask someone local to do so

For foreigners planning a summer stay on the Silver Coast, using established agencies or trusted local contacts may offer an extra layer of protection.

A timely reminder for expats and holidaymakers

Portugal remains one of Europe’s most appealing destinations for both tourism and longer stays. But the popularity of coastal regions also creates opportunities for fraud.

For expats, digital nomads, part-time residents and summer visitors, the lesson is simple: do not let urgency override caution.

Whether you are booking a seaside apartment in Nazaré, a townhouse near Óbidos, or a summer rental in São Martinho do Porto, it is worth taking a little extra time to verify everything properly before making a payment.

In the summer rental market, a few careful checks can save a great deal of money — and disappointment.

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Caldas da Rainha has officially launched its programme as European Capital of Small Retail 2026, with a year-long agenda built around sustainability, digitalisation, entrepreneurship and urban vitality.

Caldas da Rainha has officially launched its year as European Capital of Small Retail 2026, marking what could become one of the city’s most important opportunities in recent years to showcase local commerce, urban vitality and community identity on a European stage. The title was awarded by the European Commission in the “Vibrant City”category, for medium-sized cities with between 50,000 and 250,000 inhabitants.  

The recognition places Caldas da Rainha alongside Silandro/Schlanders in Italy and Barcelona in Spain as one of the three European Capitals of Small Retail for 2026. According to the European Commission, the awards highlight cities that stand out in four key areas: sustainability, entrepreneurship and community engagement, digitalisation, and urban vitality.  

The official launch of Caldas da Rainha’s title year took place on 26 March 2026 at the city’s Cultural and Congress Centre, with local authorities and European representatives presenting a programme that will run throughout the year. The municipality says the aim is not simply to hold events, but to create a lasting impact by strengthening the competitiveness of local retail and making the city even more attractive for residents and visitors alike.  

The programme is structured around the same four pillars that helped Caldas win the distinction. In sustainability, the city plans to expand the Biorainha programme and create Loja Verde Caldas. In entrepreneurship and community engagement, it will launch the Caldas Lab Store and the “Caldas com Alma” prize. In digitalisation, the Bairro Comercial Caldas da Rainha project will be reinforced with a marketplace, mobile app and other technological tools. Under urban attractiveness, the city will strengthen anchor events such as Mestra, Feira dos Frutos and Caldas Late Night, while also developing a “Criar Caldas” pop-up space and new commercial and cultural routes.  

European officials have described Caldas da Rainha as a strong example of how small retail can remain central to city life. The Commission noted that the city stood out for the way small businesses are naturally embedded in everyday urban life, from the iconic Praça da Fruta market to family-run shops and local services, while also showing an ability to modernise without losing its traditions.  

That balance between heritage and innovation is one of the strongest parts of Caldas da Rainha’s story. The city is widely known for its ceramics, creative identity and traditional street life, but it is also trying to position itself as a place where small businesses can adapt, collaborate and remain competitive in changing economic conditions. The municipality has said the ambition is for Caldas to affirm itself as a model city where small retail acts as a driver of development, cohesion and identity.  

For the Oeste region, the title is also symbolically important. It brings European visibility not only to Caldas da Rainha, but also to a wider regional reality in which local shops, markets and independent businesses still play a major role in economic and social life. Over the coming months, the city will have the chance to turn that visibility into practical results for traders, entrepreneurs and the wider community. That is an inference based on the programme’s stated goals and the Commission’s emphasis on replication and exchange with other European cities.  

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After Storm Kristin, many communities in the Leiria district were left with an electricity grid that visiting crews described as devastated—the kind of damage that makes entire neighbourhoods feel cut off from normal life. But what’s stayed with many people isn’t only the broken poles and torn-down lines. It’s the way ordinary residents respond when they don’t have much—yet still choose to give.  

A recent Lusa report (re-published by Portugal Resident and others) follows a group of around 70 Irish line workersfrom ESB (and subcontractors) who travelled to central Portugal to help restore power. In village after village, they say their arrival was met with applause, hugs, tears—and often coffee, biscuits, bread, and sometimes even port wine.Not because people are wealthy, but because gratitude and hospitality are deeply ingrained.  

“I’ve never seen damage on this scale”

One of the workers interviewed, Cormac Kerry, described having worked other severe weather events, but said he had never seen destruction on this scale before arriving in Leiria. The crews reportedly tackled about two sites per day on average, and beyond the sheer volume of work, they had to adapt to a different network layout and different rules from what they know at home.  

They travelled by ferry to mainland Europe and then drove on to the Fátima area, where they were stationed for roughly two weeks—working from early briefings through to sunset (and sometimes later) when necessary.  

Patience—and generosity—from those with the least

The most striking detail isn’t technical at all. It’s social.

The Irish teams describe:

• Residents who had been without power for more than three weeks, yet remained unusually patient.  
• Work taking place in poorer parts of the region, where “many don’t have much money”—but still offer what they can: a hot coffee, a snack, a few kind words, and sometimes a small glass of port.  
• When electricity finally returns, the reaction can be intense: relief, tears, hugs—real emotion.  

If you’ve lived in Portugal for any length of time, you’ll recognise this pattern. Portuguese hospitality isn’t performative. It’s practical. It’s the instinct to share what’s on the table—especially when someone is doing hard work for the community.

How big was the operation—and why did it take so long?

From the Portuguese side, the scale of the emergency response helps explain the slow recovery.

E-REDES (Portugal’s electricity distribution operator) said it mobilised around 2,400 operational staff, supported by teams from Spain, Italy, France, and Ireland, plus drone teams, helicopters, mobile power stations, and hundreds of generators to supply critical areas while repairs continued.  

ESB Networks also confirmed it deployed crews and contracting partners to Portugal to support restoration efforts following Storms Kristin and Leonardo, noting the storms caused extensive damage and left over one million customers without electricity at peak impact.  

Why this matters to expats on the Silver Coast

Leiria is not “far away” in Silver Coast terms. Severe weather that hits central Portugal can disrupt power, roads, communications, fuel supply chains, and emergency services across a wide corridor of the country.

But this story also highlights something else expats often say they discover here: community resilience. When systems fail, neighbour-to-neighbour support becomes the real safety net—and Portugal tends to be remarkably strong on that front.

The real takeaway

Yes, this is a story about electricity lines. But even more, it’s a story about what’s underneath a society when the infrastructure breaks.

In Leiria, foreign crews saw a grid “crushed everywhere”—and at the same time, they saw people who met them with warmth, dignity, and generosity, even when money was tight and living conditions were hard.  

Sometimes solidarity isn’t a donation or a grand gesture. Sometimes it’s simply: a coffee in the street at dusk, a bit of bread, and a heartfelt “obrigado” when the lights come back on.

Original (Norwegian) version: the same story on MittPortugal.eu:  https://mittportugal.eu/nar-naboen-kommer-med-kaffe-og-portvin-midt-i-stromkaoset-i-leiria/

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If you drive into Caldas da Rainha from the EN8 (Estrada de Tornada), you already know this story: cones, diversions, lane closures – and a road that was supposed to be finished in December 2025, but is clearly still a construction site.

According to a recent report in Jornal das Caldas, the major upgrade of the North Entrance to Caldas da Rainha will now only be completed by the end of March 2026, with the municipality aiming for 28 March as the new target date.  

So what happened, and what exactly are we getting in return for more months of orange fencing and traffic delays?

What the project is about

The “Entrada Norte” works are part of a wider plan to modernise one of the main gateways into Caldas da Rainhaand give it a more functional, urban character.

The project covers the stretch of the EN8 on the northern approach to the city, including the area between the roundabout by McDonald’s and the zone near the former Subtil ceramics factory, with new roundabouts and re-organised junctions.  

According to the municipality and several regional outlets, the key goals are to:  

• Improve road safety and reduce speeds on what has been a fast, busy access road
• Create better pedestrian conditions, with wider pavements
• Add a cycle lane along this axis
• Upgrade underground infrastructure networks (water, sewage, low-voltage electricity, street lighting and telecoms)
• Give the entrance a more coherent urban image, with trees, planting beds and a clearer layout

The total investment is around €2 million, with just over €1.11 million co-financed by the Centro 2030 programmethrough the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER).  

The works have been split into two phases, with the first phase contracted to Submerci and the second to a consortium including Nuno Roque and Pragosa.  

December 2025 deadline… that didn’t happen

When the contract was signed in late 2024, the municipality spoke of a construction period of about one year, with completion “by the end of 2025”.  

In the latest article, vice-president Joaquim Beato confirms to Jornal das Caldas that this timetable has slipped. He now points to the end of March 2026 as the moment when:  

• the main works should be finished, and
• traffic on the EN8 / Estrada de Tornada can finally return to “normal circulation, without diversions”.

For anyone living in the northern freguesias or commuting daily via Estrada de Tornada, that extra three-month delay has been very visible – and very tangible – in everyday life.

Why the delay?

The municipality gives two main reasons for the slippage:  

1. Adverse weather conditions
   • The last months of 2025 were marked by very unstable weather in central Portugal, including the impacts of storm Kristin, with heavy rain and strong winds.
   • These conditions slowed down key parts of the work, especially those that depend on dry ground and stable conditions.
2. Additional / complementary works
   • During construction, extra interventions were considered necessary, particularly on underground networks and related infrastructure.
   • These “complementary works” have added complexity and time, even if the municipality says they shouldn’t radically change the overall contract value.

Beato stresses that while there are extra costs, these are mostly tied to the additional works and, for now, do not imply a major renegotiation of the contract with the contractor.  

What will change on the ground?

Although the project isn’t finished, the vice-president says the improvements are already visibly taking shape along the Entrada Norte.  

Some of the concrete changes described include:

• Two-lane carriageway
  • The road will keep two lanes, but the layout is designed to discourage high speeds and prioritise safety.
• New roundabout and turning rules
  • A new roundabout near the former Subtil factory will handle movements that previously required risky left turns.
  • Coming from the south, direct left turns will largely disappear; drivers will use the roundabout instead.  
• Dedicated turning lane for a school access
  • At the junction with Rua Abílio Vicente Flores, which leads towards the Nossa Senhora do Pópulo basic school, a dedicated third lane will allow controlled left turns, reflecting how heavily that access is used by families.  
• Priority changes to smooth traffic flow
  • Priority from Rua das Estufas has been removed at one point, to simplify and smooth the main flow of traffic on the EN8.
• Green areas and landscaping
  • The design includes planting in the centre of the new roundabout and in adjacent green pockets, as well as tree pits along the edge of the road.
  • The planting plan lists species like Liquidambar styraciflua, Cercis siliquastrum and various Phormiumvarieties, aiming to visually soften what has historically been a very “hard” entrance corridor.  
• The “famous wall”
  • A new retaining wall along the road has generated local debate about its visual impact.
  • The municipality says the structural solution will stay, but that they’re now studying a possible artistic intervention to improve its appearance – potentially turning a controversial element into a visual feature.  

In addition, there is talk of a concrete platform on the roundabout near the former Subtil site, reserved for a future decorative or artistic element – although nothing has been decided yet.  

Linked to a broader urban strategy

The North Entrance project is not an isolated case. It sits within a wider sustainable urban development strategy for Caldas da Rainha, supported by EU funds under the Centro 2030 programme.  

Other related projects already approved for funding include:

• a pedestrian overpass to improve safe crossing over the railway line, and
• the requalification of Rua da Estação to improve traffic flow and road safety near the train station.  

In total, these interventions add up to several million euros in investment, with a significant share coming from FEDER.  

Daily disruption vs. long-term gain

Right now, if you ask drivers in and around Caldas how they feel about the Entrada Norte works, many will probably respond with a shrug or a sigh. The combination of:

• ongoing detours and lane closures,
• extra travel time to and from the A8, and
• a deadline that has already slipped by three months

…makes it easy to focus only on the inconvenience.

But in the medium and long term, this is exactly the kind of investment that tends to change how a city feels:

• safer, slower access road instead of a race track into town
• sidewalks and cycle lane that actually invite people to walk or bike
• modernised water, sewage and electrical networks under the surface
• a more coherent “front door” to Caldas da Rainha for visitors coming from the north

For now, though, the key date to watch is 28 March 2026. That’s when the municipality says the works on the EN8 should finally be finished, and traffic on the Estrada de Tornada can once again flow without diversions – this time, hopefully, on a safer and more attractive North Entrance to the city.  

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Caldas da Rainha has been named European Capital of Small Retail 2026 in the “Vibrant City” category (cities with 50,000–250,000 inhabitants), following the final stage of the competition held in Brussels on 28 January 2026.  

The award is part of the European Capitals of Small Retail (ECoSR) initiative promoted by the European Commission, designed to recognise cities that deliver strong results in supporting small retailers and maintaining vibrant, resilient city centres—especially through sustainability, digitalisation, entrepreneurship/community engagement, and urban vitality.  

From shortlist to winner

Caldas da Rainha reached the final alongside Braga and Fuenlabrada in the Vibrant City category. The competition attracted 28 applications from 13 countries, with finalists presenting their programmes and results to a European jury during the awards ceremony in Brussels.  

The other 2026 winners

One city is awarded per size category. Alongside Caldas da Rainha, the 2026 titles went to:

• Silandro/Schlanders (small cities)
• Barcelona (large cities)  

What the title means in practice

According to EU information about the initiative and the awards, the “title year” brings a year of European-level visibility and structured support, including showcasing best practices, networking and peer learning opportunities, and communication/storytelling around retail-led urban revitalisation.  

For Caldas da Rainha, the recognition is both symbolic and strategic: it places the city on a European map of urban policies that treat small retail as critical infrastructure—supporting local income, street life, walkability, and community cohesion.  

Why this matters for the Oeste

In an era where independent commerce faces pressure from rising costs and changing consumer habits, the award highlights approaches that help local shops remain competitive while keeping city centres active and attractive. Caldas da Rainha’s win signals that a medium-sized Portuguese city can compete at European level by strengthening the fundamentals: a dynamic urban core, a resilient retail ecosystem, and initiatives that connect commerce to everyday community life.  

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Caldas da Rainha is in the final stretch of a European competition that puts local shops and lively town centres in the spotlight. The city has been selected as one of the three finalists for the European Capital of Small Retail 2026 award in the Medium Cities category—reserved for municipalities with 50,000 to 250,000 inhabitants.  

A Europe-wide competition — and a place in the final three

This first edition of the European Capitals of Small Retail (ECoSR) competition attracted 28 applications from 13 countries, but only three cities reached the final in the Medium Cities category: Caldas da Rainha, Braga, and Fuenlabrada (Spain).  

For Caldas da Rainha, reaching the final is more than a symbolic milestone. It signals that the city’s work to strengthen “commerce de proximidade” (neighbourhood retail) is being noticed at European level—alongside larger, better-funded urban centres with similar ambitions.

Decision day: Brussels, 28 January 2026

The winner will be announced on 28 January 2026, during the Awards Ceremony in Brussels. On the day, representatives of finalist cities will present their 2026 programmes to a European jury, which will evaluate both the results already achieved in supporting small retail and the quality, coherence, and feasibility of the activity programme proposed for 2026.  

The award will name three winners in total—one per population category—and the winning cities will begin their “title year” in February 2026.  

What is the “European Capital of Small Retail” award?

The initiative is designed to recognise cities that achieve notable outcomes in:

• supporting small retailers and local entrepreneurship,
• keeping city centres active and attractive,
• and helping small commerce adapt to the digital and green transitions.  

In practice, the ECoSR framework rewards municipalities that treat retail not as a side-effect of urban life, but as critical infrastructure: a driver of social cohesion, local identity, walkability, and economic resilience.

Why Caldas da Rainha is a credible contender

Caldas da Rainha has long been known for a “street-level economy” that feels tangible: independent shops, service businesses, cafés, and traditional commerce that still shape everyday life in the centre. That day-to-day commercial energy is one of the city’s differentiators—because it is visible, locally rooted, and closely linked to community routines.

According to information shared by the municipality and regional reporting, Caldas’ candidacy is built around a consistent strategy of:

• valuing local commerce,
• revitalising the urban centre, and
• building a more resilient and sustainable commercial ecosystem that stays close to residents’ needs.  

This type of approach matters more than ever. Across Europe, small retailers face structural pressure—from e-commerce shifts and rising operating costs to changing consumer behaviour. Cities that succeed tend to do the basics exceptionally well: make the centre easy to use, attractive to visit, and commercially viable for independents—not just for chains.

The bigger story: small retail as urban policy

A key idea behind the ECoSR initiative is that small retail is not only an economic sector; it is an urban policy lever. When local shops thrive, streets are safer and more animated, foot traffic supports cafés and services, and the public realm becomes more socially connected.

That logic resonates strongly in Caldas da Rainha, where the commercial centre plays a central role in the city’s identity. If the jury awards Caldas the title, it will effectively be endorsing a model of medium-sized European city development in which proximity retail is treated as a strategic asset—not a nostalgic leftover.

What to watch next

All eyes now turn to 28 January. Whether Caldas da Rainha takes the title or not, being shortlisted already places the city on a European map of best practices for neighbourhood retail and city-centre revitalisation.

If Caldas wins, the next step will be delivering its 2026 programme as a “title year” starting in February—an opportunity to amplify local initiatives, attract partners, and showcase how a medium-sized Portuguese city can compete at European level by investing in the fundamentals: local business, public life, and a city centre that works.

Decision day is close—and Caldas da Rainha is still in the race until the very end.  

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More pictures at https://www.roygabrielsen.com/real-estate-photo/

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Many residents in Portugal notice that their homes are surprisingly chilly in winter — even though the outdoor temperature is mild compared to Northern Europe. This is especially true in properties with features like:

• Thin outer walls and limited insulation
• Concrete or tiled floors that retain cold
• No central heating system (common in older or budget builds)
• Higher humidity levels indoors

What this means: even at 14–17 °C indoors, the moisture and cold surfaces make it feel much colder than you might expect. This applies on the mainland, as well as on Madeira and the Azores.

What is infrared (IR) heating exactly?

Instead of relying on warmed air, infrared heating panels radiate energy that warms:

• The walls, floor and ceiling surfaces
• Furniture and people directly

It’s the same principle as standing in sunlight — you feel warmth even if the ambient air temperature is relatively low.

Why infrared heating is becoming popular in Portugal

Because the main issue isn’t always the air temperature — it’s the cold surfaces and moisture.

Traditional heating systems (electric panels or heat-mode AC/heat pump):

• Warm the air first, which then hits cold surfaces → lastingly cold walls / condensation / risk of mould
• Often leave feet cold while upper body feels warm
• Require higher air temperatures to feel comfortable → higher electricity use

Infrared heating instead:

• Warms the surfaces and body directly → reduces cold pull from walls
• Can achieve comfortable conditions at a lower ambient air temperature
• Helps keep walls dry, reducing mould risk

Advantages of infrared heating

Disadvantages and what to watch out for

What fits best in Portugal, Madeira & Azores

Choosing infrared heating for your home

You should consider it if:

• You struggle with cold surfaces, damp walls or mould
• You’re looking for comfortable background warmth rather than blasting hot air
• Your electricity tariff is reasonable (which many Portuguese homes may achieve)

You might reconsider if:

• You have very poor insulation and need full-house heating
• You use the building only briefly and invest in a full IR system may not pay off

Summary

Infrared heating is an excellent choice for Portuguese housing — especially when the key issue is cold surfaces and damp rather than air temperature alone. It delivers a more natural, comfortable warmth compared to standard panel heaters or AC-heating — particularly for locals and northern Europeans living in Portugal.

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Why “Silver”?

The name comes from the visual character of the ocean and light along this coast.

On many days, the Atlantic here reflects:

• Silvery mist
• Shimmering wave patterns
• Bright reflections under strong sun
• Sea spray and fog that make the horizon glow

Writers, artists, and early travel promoters in the early 1900s described the sea as having a “silver shine” — especially in the morning and late afternoon when the sun sits low.

The term “Costa de Prata” appears in Portuguese travel literature from the 1920s–1930s, but it was in the 1950s–1970s that tourism officials really adopted it as a more poetic identity — particularly to distinguish this region from:

• The rugged, dramatic “Costa Vicentina” in the southwest
• The golden beaches of the Algarve
• The green Atlantic North

So it’s not an ancient name — but it reflects something very real and visible in the landscape.

Cultural and Practical Reasons the Name Stayed

The Silver Coast became associated with:

• Seaside summer towns like Figueira da Foz, São Martinho do Porto, Nazaré
• Rail tourism when the Linha do Oeste railway brought visitors from Lisbon
• Old seaside hotels and family summer houses
• Surfing and fishing culture

The name worked because it described the mood of the coastline, and locals began to use it too.

By the 1990s and 2000s, the name became commonly used in:

• Real estate promotion
• Tourism brochures
• Surfing destination guides

And today, “Silver Coast” is internationally recognized, especially among visitors from:

• The UK
• Northern Europe
• Canada and the US

In Short

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