Lisbon & Sintra In Style
- Treat yourself to 5-star hotels bursting with character
- Discover the regal palaces, castles and monasteries of Sintra
- Feast on mouth-watering food at the seaside town of Cascais
- Spectacular clifftop trails, wild beaches and dramatic views
- Take in the history and nightlife of Portugal’s vibrant capital, Lisbon
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Lisbon; transfer to Santa CruzA private transfer will whisk you from Lisbon to your luxurious eco-concsious beach retreat at Santa Cruz on Portugal's Costa de Prata (Silver Coast), where you can unwind and soak up the sea breeze in a magical setting. Kick-start your journey with a drink by the bonfire, with the Atlantic Ocean in view. Looking south you will see the Ponta da Vigia cliffs, where the Penedo do Guincho boulder arises. On clear days, it is possible to take in sweeping panoramic views that extend as far as the Cabo Carvoeiro lighthouse and the Berlengas islands.
Perched on a clifftop overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Areias do Seixo is a luxurious eco-conscious beach retreat on Portugal's 'Silver Coast'. The hotel boasts spectacular gardens, a spa, cinema room, grocery store, stash of DVDs for your use, and bikes to borrow. The infinity pool overlooks the gardens, where produce is grown in the fruit and vegetable patches. In rooms you'll find a fireplace for those chillier evenings, and a wooden patio for you to step out and enjoy the views. Not only that, enjoy the daily treats such as just-baked cakes, home-made teas and and evening bonfires with acoustic music and wine.
The inland village of Vimeiro is the start-point for today's hike back to Santa Cruz. Famous for its hot springs, Vimeiro is a peaceful village with an impressive history, namely an important battle that took place there during the Napoleonic invasions, in the 19th century. After a quick transfer to the village, the path will take you along the Alcabrichel river, towards the coast, and to Porto Novo beach. This beautiful beach is located on the lower extent of a beautiful valley. Historically a fishing port, this place also takes place in the history books and it is an important heritage to Vimeiro. Once close to the Atlantic, you will continue south, exploring the many impressive beaches on the coast until reaching your accommodation in Santa Cruz.
Ascent/descent: 153m/120m
Perched on a clifftop overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Areias do Seixo is a luxurious eco-conscious beach retreat on Portugal's 'Silver Coast'. The hotel boasts spectacular gardens, a spa, cinema room, grocery store, stash of DVDs for your use, and bikes to borrow. The infinity pool overlooks the gardens, where produce is grown in the fruit and vegetable patches. In rooms you'll find a fireplace for those chillier evenings, and a wooden patio for you to step out and enjoy the views. Not only that, enjoy the daily treats such as just-baked cakes, home-made teas and and evening bonfires with acoustic music and wine.
A private transfer takes you to the small town of Colares, famous for it pastries and wine, and the start-point for your hike today, so why not stock up on those pastries! The path climbs up the sierra, with the fragrances of the thickening forest accompanying you. After crossing some forest trails on the hills, you will reach the Monserrate Palace, a Neo-Gothic mansion set within amazing landscaped gardens. Take some time to explore the house and the beautiful gardens. The Park and Palace of Monserrate were classified as a Property of Public Interest in 1993 and were included in the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, which has been classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage. This palace has gothic, Indian, and Moorish influences in its different rooms with exotic plant motifs. The overwhelming beauty of its interior sprawls to the exterior (or maybe it’s the other way around), in one of the most impressive Portuguese botanical gardens.
After visiting this beautiful palace, you have two options: continue walking to Sintra where you'll stay for the next two nights, or take a taxi or bus there (payable locally). The arrival in Sintra is special, with a long descent taking you right into Sintra, with fantastic views. It's a spectacular way to finish today's walk.
Ascent/descent: 605m/377m
A late 18th-century, neo-classical palace, decorated with frescoed walls, tapestries and antique furniture. The Tivoli Palácio Seteais hotel is located in the heart of the wooded Sintra mountains, just 1 km from Sintra town centre and the surrounding palaces, castles and historical monuments. It was once the summer retreat of the Portuguese royal family, and its lush gardens are home to roaming peacocks and privileged views of the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace. Enjoy the outdoor swimming pool, spend time wandering the mazes, or sample the traditional Portuguese cuisine at the hotel's restaurant.
Take in the regal palaces, castles and monasteries of Sintra on a fabulous circular hike through the surrounding emerald green landscape. Today is all about discovering Sintra, with the amazing Castel dos Mouros (Moors Castle), which sits right on top of the hill, offering amazing views over Sintra. Continue on foot, following a peaceful wooded trail uphill to the Pena Palace, with its impressive multi-coloured turrets, dramatic architecture and exotic gardens. If you have time we also recommend visiting the Quinta Regaleira, a lavish mansion and former home to Portuguese nobility. With its enchanting, tropical gardens and lots of hidden caves, tunnels and wells, you can easily spend a couple of hours here.
Ascent/descent: 430m/430m
*Please note that entrance fees to the above are not included to keep your day flexible, and we recommend booking in advance to avoid the sometimes long entrance queues. The distance detailed is also only to entrance gates of the attractions - you will actually walk quite a bit further by the time you have walked around all of them! A shorter 8km loop is therefore available should you wish to opt for this instead.
A late 18th-century, neo-classical palace, decorated with frescoed walls, tapestries and antique furniture. The Tivoli Palácio Seteais hotel is located in the heart of the wooded Sintra mountains, just 1 km from Sintra town centre and the surrounding palaces, castles and historical monuments. It was once the summer retreat of the Portuguese royal family, and its lush gardens are home to roaming peacocks and privileged views of the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace. Enjoy the outdoor swimming pool, spend time wandering the mazes, or sample the traditional Portuguese cuisine at the hotel's restaurant.
Start the day at Convento dos Capuchos, a classic example of an austere 16th-century Franciscan monastery that you can visit before starting (tickets not included). Then, from here, your walking route will lead you towards Praia Grande and its dramatic cliffs.
Capuchos Convent, also called Cork Convent, is an incredible experience as you explore the warren of cells, chapels, kitchen, and cavern in it. The convent entrance door offers two possible paths, symbolising free will, and is a good introduction to the forward-thinking of these monks. The monks' life was marked by simplicity and touchingly well-ordered life. After spending some time exploring the Convent, start your hike along the fantastic woods of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, with its luxuriant green vegetation and the smell of the sea air all around. The final part of the stage will be an approach to the sea.
You will see the beautiful beach of Adraga, where you can see the Pedra de Alvidrar, also known as the “Rock of Reason”, a huge rock formation which drops almost vertically into the sea, and according to the local tradition was an initiation place for young men to prove how brave they were, by climbing up and down it, at huge risk for their lives. Then, you will reach Praia Grande, where a transfer to Cascais will be waiting for you.
Ascent/descent: 253m/569m
Perched on an outcrop of rock above the ocean, right beside Cascais Marina, expect endless ocean views at this 5-star boutique hotel. What was once a 19th century aristocrat mansion is now a stylish hotel and fine dining restaurant, with a sundeck terrace overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and a lounge bar overlooking the saltwater swimming pool. The centre of Cascais is just a 10-minute walk away, which is perfect for exploring this much-loved coastal town.
The day starts with Peninha, one of the highlights of the Serra de Sintra. With about 500m high, this is the place where the sun and the moon present us two great moments, the farewell of the first behind the Atlantic and the birth of the second in the clear skies of the Serra, all this with the enigmatic medieval setting provided by the Peninha Sanctuary. From here, we will continue towards the sea, admiring the spectacular views of the entire Sintra coast while walking in enchanting paths within the forest. Then, keeping the ocean on our right, we will walk towards Cascais, alternating between incredible beaches and a rugged and rocky coastline. This is an area heavily fortified since it was Lisbon’s first-line defense. You can either end at Guincho beach to shorten the walk, or you can continue towards your accommodation, exploring the beautiful Cascais coast. If you decide to do so, almost at the end, very close to your accommodation, you will pass by the “Boca do inferno”, a dramatic coastal spot with amazing views.
Ascent/descent: 105m/552m
Perched on an outcrop of rock above the ocean, right beside Cascais Marina, expect endless ocean views at this 5-star boutique hotel. What was once a 19th century aristocrat mansion is now a stylish hotel and fine dining restaurant, with a sundeck terrace overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and a lounge bar overlooking the saltwater swimming pool. The centre of Cascais is just a 10-minute walk away, which is perfect for exploring this much-loved coastal town.
The morning is dedicated to exploring Cascais. Use your free time exploring its historic monuments and museums, admiring its elegant palaces or just walking along its pretty coastal footpath.
A trip to Portugal isn't complete without exploring Portugal's thriving capital, Lisbon. So now that your hiking has come to an end, a private transfer will whisk you to this much-loved city. Many people instantly fall in love with it as they wander the medieval cobbled streets of the picture-perfect Alfama neighbourhood, home to the stunning 12th-century Sé de Lisboa Cathedral. A climb to the top of the city’s famous “seven hills” is also a must, for the panoramic views of the city and the ocean. Or why not visit the Castelo de Sao Jorge (St George’s Castle), with its amazing views over the Tegus River. Quirky neighbourhoods are aplenty in Lisbon, so hop on board the city’s iconic tram and head into Bairro Alto, a lively bohemian area full of energy, and where you'll hear the chatter of Lisboans or the melancholic tones of fado seeping from cosy backstreet bars and restaurants. If culture is your thing, Chiado is the neighbourhood for you. Home to numerous theatres, museums and bookshops, and where the great writers and philosophers of the 20th-century used to gather.
Located in the center of Chiado, the hotel is just a five-minute walk from the Tagus River and very close to some of the city's main attractions, such as Terreiro do Paço , Príncipe Real and Baixa Pombalina . Surrounded by art galleries, centenary cafes, museums, theatres, bars, restaurants and stores, its location is perfect to start your journey to Lisbon's most iconic shopping and entertaining areas.
Check out after breakfast and make your way back to Lisbon Airport by bus (20 minutes). Alternatively, contact your Adevnture specialist to book a private transfer, or why not book an extra night to explore this fantastic city even further.
This trip has a carbon score of 15kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 15kg is equivalent to 4.5 cheeseburgers. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?Easily accessible from Lisbon, this tour offers easy to moderately graded coastal trails through a variety of coastal and inland landscapes on a mixture of paved and forest trails, clifftop coastal paths and quiet country paths. There are some significant elevations gains in the Sintra hills, but nothing too challenging. Please note that the trail near Cabo da Roca lighthouse can be sandy, which may slow you down. This is a multi-centre walking holiday with 5 days of walking, so there will be a private transfer most days to the start-point of your walk. We also include a private transfer from Lisbon Airport to your first hotel, to ensure you're fully relaxed at the start of your holiday. The circular walk in Sintra can be shortened should you wish to have more time to relax on this day. Stay overnight in 5-star hotels bursting with character, perfect for those who would like to treat themselves with luxurious accommodation at the end of their hike, whilst taking in lots of historical and cultural highlights.
In Style | After a day of exciting adventures and soaking up unbeatable scenery, retreat to stylish accommodations and unwind with fine food and wine. This trip type is for those who like sophisticated places to stay and are looking for active routes but still want the holiday to feel special.
Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This trip is graded ‘easy to moderate’ overall and includes daily walks of 8-18km. It is suitable for most people that are in good physical fitness. The route follows a mixture of gravel trails, sandy coastal trails, forest and clifftop paths and the maximum accumulative elevation gain in a day is 430m, and the maximum accumulative elevation loss in a day is 543m. On days where you walk along clifftop coastal paths, it can feel exposed so if you suffer from vertigo, you may wish to miss those walks. The terrain can also be quite challenging here, with steep sections of bare dirt. You may wish to use walking poles here. We recommend training ahead of this tour, by walking some daily walks of similar daily distances to your planned itinerary.
Your holiday includes accommodation in characterful 5-star hotels, starting with a luxurious eco-conscious beach retreat in Santa Cruz, with an infinity pool overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. In Sintra, you'll be treated like royalty in what was an 18th century palace hidden in the mountainside, and in Cascais you'll be staying in a 19th century aristocrat mansion, perched on an outcrop of rock above the ocean. Finish with a contemporary hotel on Lisbon's most elegant avenue, renowned for their award-winning spa and rooftop bar. All hotels are unique in their own way, capturing the essence of their location.
You can add on extra nights in any of the overnight locations.
Single Rooms
If you require single rooms we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable.
Meals
A breakfast will be provided at your accommodation every morning. Dinners aren't included, but there are options to dine out in most of the towns and villages. The food in Portugal is fantastic, famous for it’s codfish dish Bacelhau a bras amongst many other fresh seafood dishes, and the Sintra region in particular is home to the delicious pastry treat, Queijada de Sintra, as well as the mouth-watering Colares wine.
Lunches aren't included, but you can find small stores in which to purchase items for a picnic lunch, or some of your accommodations can make a picnic lunch if you ask in advance. In your route notes we give advice on where you can eat/pick up lunch.
As the navigation on this tour is fairly straightforward, it does not have turn-by-turn directions. It will be necessary to use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App. Simply download the app for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that you will be able to find your way, even without turn-by-turn directions. The route is way-marked in places and not in others. Several trails have way-marks on the ground, so please do keep your eye out for these.
- 7 nights in 5-star boutique hotels
- 7 breakfasts
- Door-to-door baggage transfer as per itinerary
- Arrival transfer from Lisbon Airport to Santa Cruz
- Detailed Information Pack
- GPX tracks and access to our smartphone app
- 24/7 telephone support from our UK office
- Private transfers mentioned in the itinerary
- Departure transfer on the final day
- Travel insurance (required)
- Lunches and dinners not mentioned in the itinerary
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Entrance fees to monuments
- City taxes - up to 3 EUR per person per night, payable locally in cash
- Additional nights before, during and after the walk
- Departure transfer on the final day
You can start this walking tour on any day of the week from January through to June , and then from September through to December, subject to availability. Sintra offers great weather most of the year round but the months of July and August can get very hot and doesn't make for enjoyable walking. Both spring and autumn offer excellent conditions for walking. Average temperatures range from 10-15°C (70°F) in the winter to 25-30 °C (77 °F) in the summer months. The inland regions are always slightly cooler than Lisbon and Cascais due to the higher elevations.
Lisbon Airport is easily accessed by direct flights from across the UK, Europe and several cities in the US. Major airlines who fly there include American Airlines, TAP, British Airways, Easyjet and Ryanair amongst others.
If you are travelling to Lisbon from elsewhere in Portugal or Spain, it is also easily accessed by rail. View rail timetables at the Comboios de Portugal website.
A private transfer will be waiting for you to take you to your first hotel in Santa Cruz.
Transfers are not included on the final day. It is very easy to get from yourhotel in Lisbon to the Airport by public transport.
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation, giving you the freedom to walk each day with just a day pack. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person. Please ensure that you do not bring more than one bag of 20kg as if this occurs, you may be asked to pay an additional fee for an extra bag.
The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.
Please be prepared by packing all necessary items. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list, which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
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