SINTRA / LISBON / MAFRA / CABO DA ROCA AND LOTS OF OTHER PLACES
There are plenty of places to see in Portugal. The first of these, whose atmosphere is simply to be experienced and which will welcome you as soon as you arrive to visit us, is LISABON. A cosmopolitan city in the hills, full of contrast, pastel houses facades and history. Here you will enjoy beautiful views of the whole city and the Tejo river and in the evening with sore feet from many kilometers of all day walking, you can get some rest and enjoy the atmosphere of night in local bars with traditional Fado music as a backround.
There are two attractive destinations 20KM away from Lisbon west direction along the coast, ESTORIL A CASCAIS, where the family and prominent guests once found refuge.
ESTORIL is a town known for one of the largest casinos in Europe, the famous “CASINO DO ESTORIL”, which appeared in James Bond movie “In the service of Her Majesty” and for Formula 1 fans, the nearby circuit.
CAISCAIS is a pleasant place with a beach just a few minutes from the city center, lined by a promenade with bars and restaurants located in a bay dotted with boats.
Not far from Cascais, you can go on to the remains of the ancient cave “BOCA DO INFERNO” (Hell’s Mouth), arc looks like as a wide-open mouth sticking out into the sea through which the waves wildly rush by really rich sound.
Continuing north along the coast, you arrive at the westernmost point of Portugal and the whole of continental Europe, the CABO DA ROCA.
A 20min drive east from here lies SINTRA, a city of magnificent mansions that was home for Portuguese monarchs in the past. Be sure to plan at least one day to visit this UNESCO city.
It is worth seeing the monumental Royal Palace, Palácio Nacional de Sintra, located in the historic heart of Sintra, as well as the Palácio da Pena, a palace of all colours surrounded by beautiful gardens. If one visits Sintra, one must not miss the magnificent Quinta da Regaleira complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a vast park where one can find O Palácio da Regaleira, small lakes, caves, fountains, bridges and underground tunnel system with the famous well known as the Torre invertida.
If you still have some time, give it to Castelo dos Mouros, a 9th-century Moorish castle renovated by Ferdinand II in the 19th century and Palácio de Monserrate, a sumptuous villa full of exquisite artistic detail surrounded by a vast garden. A lot of history for one day…
Not far from Sintra and Cabo da Roca is AZENHAS DO MAR, a cliffside village with whitewashed houses, picturesque appearance and a renowned restaurant.
Just a few kilometres from Ericeira is the town MAFRA with its Palácio Nacional de Mafra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a monumental palace and monastery complex with one of the largest and most beautiful libraries.
ERICEIRA is recognized as one of the continent’s most renowned surf spots. Holding the prestigious title as the only World Surfing Reserve (WSR) in Europe, boasts exceptional surfing conditions and a variety of stunning beaches to explore. Beyond the waves, it’s charming town center will capture your heart with its unique atmosphere.
If you venture a little further away, 50km north of Santa Cruz, you can visit the charming medieval town ÓBIDOS, which sits on a hill and is surrounded by walls. Here you’ll find a well-preserved castle and a maze of streets and white houses, enjoying a pleasantly peaceful atmosphere. Almost everywhere you go you’ll get to taste the famous Portuguese Ginjinha de Óbidos, a cherry brandy served in a chocolate cup.
Another tip for a pleasant trip is the Quinta do Loridos “BUDDHA GARDEN”, the largest Asian garden with the largest collection of Buddhist statues in Europe, 15 min away from ÓBIDOS town. Here you can regain tranquillity surrounded by Japanese-style ponds, statues of more than just Buddha and other Asian art.
If you are into surfing, don’t miss a visit to NAZARÉ, which is about an hour away from Santa Cruz and especially in autumn is famous for the big waves that are created by the underwater geomorphological phenomenon. It is the largest water canyon in Europe, thanks to which the waves can reach heights up to 30m if the conditions are right.
Another interesting place to visit is FÁTIMA, the city of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary and a quiet town with the monastery of BATALHA nearby.
If you feel like enjoying nature, swimming in the beautiful clear blue water and beaches with fine sand, the ideal place to spend a great day is the ARRÁBIDA NATURAL PARK, located by the sea between Setúbal and Sesimbra, about 40min from Lisbon. It is a park full of green vegetation and mountains, where the blue of the sea alternates with the white tones of the chalk cliffs. For those who don’t just want to relax, there are opportunities for diving, speleology or climbing.
It is possible to visit the ADAGAMAE OR QUINTA DA ALMIARA winery in the Santa Cruz area near Torres Vedras, where you can learn about the local wine-making process, enjoy the view of the surrounding vineyards with a glass in your hand or you can go for a romantic picnic in the gardens of the Quinta with a basket of wine and regional products such as cheese, chorizos, bread, olives and other delicacies.
Let the video take you to a couple of places of the list up