The morning · Sintra
Begin among palaces and hidden gardens
About 45 minutes northwest of Lisbon, Sintra unfolds between wooded hills and an extraordinary collection of palaces, villas and gardens. Its cultural landscape has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995.
Begin with a short stroll through the village and coffee with a local pastry. Then explore one of Sintra’s remarkable monuments: the National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle or another of your preference.
Midday · Cabo da Roca
Follow the road to the edge of Europe
Winding roads lead from Sintra’s green hills to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe. Here, the cliffs fall sharply into the Atlantic and the horizon seems to stretch forever.
As lunch approaches, pause at one of our preferred seaside restaurants for a relaxed taste of Portuguese cuisine in a beautiful setting.
The afternoon · Cascais
Finish beside the bay
Once a fishing village, Cascais became a summer refuge of Portuguese royalty and European nobility in the late nineteenth century. Its waterfront, villas and elegant streets still reveal that transformation.
Stroll through the centre and along the bay at a gentle pace. When time allows, the return to Lisbon follows the scenic coastal road beside the Atlantic and the Tagus.
