Located in Portugal's Centro region, Peniche is a beach destination with many feathers in its cap. The raging sea and the lie of the land make it a surf central. The best of many supreme beaches is Praia dos Supertubos, which has a tubular wave fit for big-time international events.
Peniche has also been a port since the Early Modern Age when a fort was constructed to defend it. This monument has an absorbing history, first as a maritime defence and then a prison during the Estado Novo regime in the 20th century. Since Peniche is still a fishing port, the fish and seafood could not be fresher. On top of everything, the Berlingas Islands, a natural reserve off the coast, is a palace that must not be missed.
Why Book Student Accommodation in Peniche?
The sea is one of the main points of attraction in the city of Peniche. Supertubos beach is considered both nationally and internationally to be amongst the very best for surfing and bodyboarding, where each year international surf competitions take place.
Peniche is where Politécnico de Leiria has its School of Tourism and Maritime Technology. This is a privileged study and research spot where you can study and research facing the Atlantic Ocean and the Berlengas Natural Reserve. Plus, you have all the space and conditions to practice all kinds of beach and sea sports after a long and sunny study day. If you stay until after sunset, you get to enjoy Peniche’s energetic nightlife.
Universities in Peniche
Casita has 2 accommodation options within walking distance to the university.
Jose Jeronimo Inacio Correa bus stop is a 19-minute walk away from campus.
Forte de Peniche is just an 8-minute car ride away; Cabo Carvoeiro Lighthouse is a 3-minute car ride away.
Student Life
Is Peniche expensive to live in?
On the contrary, the budget-conscious will be happy to hear that Portugal has the second-lowest cost of living in Europe after Bulgaria. If you planned on a monthly rental of $500, you could easily buy groceries, dine out, and use local transportation for less than $1,400 a month.
Must-Visit Places in Peniche
The Praia dos Supertubos beach south of the peninsula is revered in the surf community and even made a recent list of Portugal’s seven natural wonders. Some combination of the shallow slope, north wind, and ocean currents gives rise to a tall, perfectly hollow wave that is the ultimate for surfing and bodyboarding. There isn’t a wave like it anywhere else in Europe and every October it’s the location (along with nearby Praia do Baleal) for the Rip Curl Pro event when the best surfers in the world test their skills on the pipeline. Autumn is when the waves are biggest but they’re pretty consistent in any season.
The cliff-top fortress of Fortaleza de Peniche controlling the port was built by King John III in 1557 and then expanded in the 17th century by John IV. At that time, it was equipped with the latest anti-cannon architecture and given a star configuration. As one of Portugal’s pivotal maritime defences, it had a military purpose until the end of the 19th century. From then on it was either a prison for political opponents of the Estado Novo regime or a shelter for refugees, from the Boer War in the late 1800s or more recently the Angolan Civil War. You can get up to the roof to scan the ocean, and there’s a museum inside.
Given the varied history of the fort, the Museu Municipal de Peniche inside has lots of different facets. One of the periods in focus is Salazar’s dictatorship in the 20th century when this was a political prison. Cells have been kept as they were, and there are accounts of covert anti-fascist activity in Portugal during this period. The place also has an archaeological side: The Neolithic artefacts from the Gruta da Furninha cave are presented here, while the many shipwrecks at Peniche give us a big section on marine archaeology. You can also study Peniche’s traditions, like fishing, boat-building and bobbin lace.
Other places worth visiting include the tiny coastal village of Baleal, the Berlengas Archipelago, and the Igreja de São Pedro church.
Transportation in Peniche
Portugal has a large network of bus connections which is run by comfortable long-distance carriers. There is also a local bus service that does the rounds every 45 minutes on weekdays, four times on Saturdays, all day Sundays and Holidays. Timetables are posted at the bus stops served. The buses are as comfortable as a train, cheaper, equipped with air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, and usually quite empty so that you can even use two seats for yourself.
Nearby Student Accommodation In Portugal
Besides having facilities for student accommodation in Peniche, Casita also offers student accommodation in other Portugal cities. Some of these cities are:
Azores,
Braga,
Lisbon, and
Porto.
