Your stay — Mercearia d'Alegria
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The Property — Mercearia d'Alegria
Mercearia d'Alegria is a welcoming 3-star guesthouse in central Peniche, blending a former grocery store's charm with functional, clean rooms. The lobby feels more like a friend's living room than a hotel reception: tiled floors, a small honesty bar, and local pottery on shelves. It suits independent travellers or couples who prefer character over frills and want a base close to the ferry terminal and main square. You'll get a genuine, quiet stay with helpful staff who can point you to the best seafood spots.
Chronicles of Peniche
Peniche grew from a medieval fishing port into a significant 17th-century fortress town, its star-shaped walls defending against pirates and later serving as a political prison under the Estado Novo regime. The old quarter's narrow lanes and whitewashed houses reflect this layered past, while the 1974 Carnation Revolution freed the last political prisoners here. Today the city is Portugal's surfing capital and a major shellfish port, with a gritty, authentic energy that bypasses resort gloss. Its contemporary identity balances traditional fishing families, a growing creative scene, and year-round wave-chasers.
Best Time to Visit
Full Peniche guide →Best months
June and September offer warm seas, reliable surf conditions, and thinner crowds than peak July–August. May is also good for hiking the Berlengas before the summer heat.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are the busiest months, when Lisbon day-trippers and European surfers flood in. Hotel prices can double from their low-season rates, especially during the Peniche Surf Fest (usually late August). The town's several summer festivals also push demand.
Budget shoulder season
Late September through October sees a 30–40% drop in room rates, with still-pleasant 20°C days and quieter line-ups at Supertubos. April–May also works, though the water stays chilly for non-wetsuit swimmers.
Weather & packing
Peniche's exposed Atlantic position means wind can whip up even on calm forecasts. Always pack a windproof jacket and a swimsuit you can wear under a wetsuit if you plan to surf.
Live City Briefing — Peniche
- Peniche's main ferry to the Berlengas nature reserve now runs a summer timetable with extra departures; book a week ahead in July to guarantee a spot.
- A new pedestrian zone on Rua Alexandre Herculano, linking the fortress to the market, finished in late 2025 and makes walking between the hotel and waterfront smoother.
- Several local seafood restaurants have introduced fixed-price lunch menus (€12–15) for 2026 to compete with tourist-trail spots — try the grilled percebes at Tasca do Joel.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Mercearia d'Alegria, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) for a quieter stay, as the hotel's location on a narrow street (Travessa da Horta) may generate some street noise. Additionally, rooms on the upper floors are likely to be farther from the lift, which is a small, traditional one, and the service entrance.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms near the lift, especially on lower floors (1st or 2nd), as this may increase noise from the lift's operation and potential noise from the service entrance.
Best views
Unfortunately, the hotel's location on a narrow street means that views may not be spectacular, but rooms on the 4th floor may offer a slightly better view of the surrounding buildings and the sea in the distance.
Quietest floors
The 3rd and 4th floors are likely to be the quietest, given the hotel's layout and the location on a relatively narrow street.
🔊 Noise notes
Be prepared for some street noise, especially during peak hours, as the hotel is located on a narrow street in the historic center of Peniche. The traditional lift and service entrance may also generate some noise.
Insider tips
Consider requesting a room with a balcony for a bit more natural light and a view of the surrounding area. If you have mobility issues, be aware that the hotel's lift is small and traditional, and you may need to use the stairs to access the upper floors.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Mercearia d'Alegria
free, 50 Mbps speed, no login constraints
serves all floors, but one wing has stairs-only access due to historic building constraints
complimentary digital newsstand (PressReader) with Portuguese and international newspapers
15:00, 12:00 early bag-drop; late check-out until 14:00 for €20
available for €5 per bag, per day; limited capacity, first-come, first-served
step-free access, wheelchair ramps at main entrance, some rooms adapted for guests with disabilities
on-site parking available for €15 per night; public car park 200m away for €10 per day; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €2 per night/person, mandatory city tax
Deposit & card hold: €50 advance deposit + €100 incidental card hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Capela do Senhor do Calvário (197 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Ajuda (353 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Capela de Nossa Senhora Estrela do Mar (990 m · ~12 min walk)
- Church: Igreja da Misericórdia de Peniche (1.4 km · ~17 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Parque da Urbanização Pisa Barros — 1.9 km · ~23 min walk
Museu da Renda de Bilros de Peniche — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Forum da Parreirinha — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
Parque Infantil da Urbanização Pisa Barros — 1.9 km · ~23 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 765 m · ~10 min walk
Farmácia Higiénica — 993 m · ~12 min walk
Galinha Gorda — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Terminal Rodoviário de Peniche — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro (EUR)
You can change money at the airport or in town at a cambio or a bank. Be aware that the rates at the airport might not be the best.
Contactless and card payments are widely accepted, but it's a good idea to have some cash for small purchases or rural areas.
Tipping is not expected but rounding up the bill or leaving 5-10% in restaurants and bars is appreciated. Taxi drivers don't usually expect a tip, but rounding up the fare is fine.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A café con leite (coffee with milk) costs around 1-2 EUR at a pastelaria.
A meal at a local restaurant can cost around 5-7 EUR for a simple meal like a frango grelhado (grilled chicken).
A main course at a restaurant can cost around 10-15 EUR for a hearty meal like a feijoada (bean stew).
You can find street food at the Mercado do Peixe (Fish Market) on the waterfront, offering fresh seafood at reasonable prices.
Local supermarkets like Lidl and Continente are available in the area.
You can find affordable clothing at the local market or at second-hand stores in the town center.
A single ticket on the bus costs around 1.80 EUR, and a day pass can be bought for 4.50 EUR.
Buy food at local markets or supermarkets instead of tourist areas, consider buying a Viva Viagem card for public transport, and avoid eating at restaurants near popular tourist spots.
Good to know — Peniche
Type C/F · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
PenicheAll emergencies (police, ambulance, fire) in Portugal are handled by the single number 112. For non-urgent police matters, contact the local GNR at +351 262 780 090 (Peniche station). For health queries outside emergencies, call Saúde 24 on 808 24 24 24.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Peniche, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Mercearia d'Alegria
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 765 m · ~10 min walk — pharmacy · Farmácia Higiénica — 993 m · ~12 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Peniche bus station → Casa d'Arriba (Rua do Cabo Carvoeiro)
💡 Take line 4 towards Cabo Carvoeiro and ask the driver to stop at 'Casa d'Arriba'. Otherwise it's a 15-minute walk from town – walk west along the seafront Av. do Mar.
Lisbon Sete Rios bus station → Peniche bus station
💡 Get off at Peniche's central stop, not the marginal stop near the port. Casa d'Arriba is a 5-minute walk uphill from the bus station.
Lisbon Airport (LIS) – Aerobus line 1 or 2 → Sete Rios bus station
💡 Buy both tickets online via Rede Expressos app. The Aerobus drops you right at Sete Rios – follow signs to the bus terminal (level -1).
Lisbon Airport (LIS) → Casa d'Arriba, Peniche
💡 Pre-book with a local company like Peniche Transfers for a fixed €65. Avoid unlicensed drivers at the airport arrivals hall.
About Peniche
Wikipedia ↗
Peniche (Portuguese pronunciation: [pɨˈniʃɨ] ), officially the City of Peniche (Portuguese: Cidade de Peniche), is a seaside municipality and a city in the Oeste region, in the historical province of Estremadura, and in the Leiria District. It has 26,431 inhabitants, in an area of 77.55 km2. The cit...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Mercearia d'Alegria?
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) for a quieter stay, as the hotel's location on a narrow street (Travessa da Horta) may generate some street noise. Additionally, rooms on the upper floors are likely to be farther from the lift, which is a small, traditional one, and the service entrance.
Which rooms should I avoid at Mercearia d'Alegria?
Avoid rooms near the lift, especially on lower floors (1st or 2nd), as this may increase noise from the lift's operation and potential noise from the service entrance.
Is Mercearia d'Alegria noisy?
Be prepared for some street noise, especially during peak hours, as the hotel is located on a narrow street in the historic center of Peniche. The traditional lift and service entrance may also generate some noise.
Which rooms have the best views at Mercearia d'Alegria?
Unfortunately, the hotel's location on a narrow street means that views may not be spectacular, but rooms on the 4th floor may offer a slightly better view of the surrounding buildings and the sea in the distance.
What are insider tips for staying at Mercearia d'Alegria?
Consider requesting a room with a balcony for a bit more natural light and a view of the surrounding area. If you have mobility issues, be aware that the hotel's lift is small and traditional, and you may need to use the stairs to access the upper floors.
What time is check-in at Mercearia d'Alegria?
Check-in at Mercearia d'Alegria is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Mercearia d'Alegria have Wi-Fi?
free, 50 Mbps speed, no login constraints
Is there a city or tourist tax at Mercearia d'Alegria?
€2 per night/person, mandatory city tax
Where can I eat cheaply near Mercearia d'Alegria?
A meal at a local restaurant can cost around 5-7 EUR for a simple meal like a frango grelhado (grilled chicken).
What is the cheapest way to get around from Mercearia d'Alegria?
A single ticket on the bus costs around 1.80 EUR, and a day pass can be bought for 4.50 EUR.
When is the best time to visit Peniche?
June and September offer warm seas, reliable surf conditions, and thinner crowds than peak July–August. May is also good for hiking the Berlengas before the summer heat.
Top Attractions in Peniche
💡 Adults pay €3, but entry is free for all on Sunday mornings. The rooftop offers the best view of the harbour and Berlenga Island.
💡 Ignore the paid parking by the restaurant—park 100m back on the road for free. Go on a clear day to see Berlenga Island 10km offshore.
💡 Go at low tide to walk across to the Baleal island—it connects via a sandbar. Free parking near the roundabout if you drive.
💡 The steps down to the beach are steep—about 200 of them. Bring water and a towel; there's no café on site. Best at late afternoon when the sun lights up the cliffs.
💡 Entry costs €2 but includes a live demonstration—go in the morning (10am-12pm) when the lace-makers are actively working. The free audio guide is worth grabbing.