The captivating capital city of Portugal is one of those cities you are sure to fall instantly in love with as you wander the old cobbled streets of the Alfama neighbourhood. Dine out on delicious street food at the famous Time Out food market, climb to the top of the city’s famous “seven hills” for panoramic views, or visit the Castelo de Sao Jorge (St George’s Castle), with its amazing views over the Tegus River.
Overnight Lisbon
Accommodations
A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.
Marquês Pombal Hotel is located in Lisbon with exception adesign, excellent service and modern rooms. Free Wi-Fi, 24-hour reception, a restaurant and bar are all available on site.
A 25 minute transfer will bring you from Lisbon to Sintra this morning. On arrival in Sintra, drop off your luggage at your accommodation then the rest of the day is dedicated to discovering the extravagant palaces, manor houses and castle of Sintra. First stop is the amazing Castel dos Mouros (Moors Castle), which sits right on top of the hill and offers 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.
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 6km loop is therefore available should you wish to opt for this instead.
Long loop: Ascent/Descent: 350m/350m
Short loop: Ascent/Descent: 330m/330m
Overnight Sintra
Accommodations
A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.
A beautiful renovated building with elegant decor. Villa Bela Vista is a boutique hotel located in the historic centre of Sintra, where rooms come with spectacular views of the National Palace and beyond.
Today you will explore Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. A short car transfer will take you to the Convento dos Capuchos (Capuchos Convent), a classic example of an austere 16th-century Franciscan monastery, that you can visit before starting your walk. Continue through the picturesque Sintra hills to the shrine that is dedicated to the Virgin Mary of Peninha. The Santuário da Peninha is a remote and isolated chapel that stands up atop a craggy rock outcrop and has a dramatic location, which provides spectacular views over the entire Sintra coastline.
After passing Peninha, the trail continuesthrough the lush vegetation of the park, with occasional glimpses of the coastline and the Atlantic Ocean in the distance. As you descend towards Azoia, you will notice some typical villages and lookout points along the way, where you can stop and take in the breathtaking scenery. Azoia itself is a charming village with a few restaurants and cafes and marks the end of this stage.
Overnight Azóia
Accommodations
A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.
This gorgeous hotel features an outdoor swimming pool with an architecture rich in wood and stone details, it is located within a forest area, which includes a vineyard. Each of the 7 rooms is named after a different wine grape.
Enjoy a beverage while looking out at the sea or their garden. The property has panoramic views over areas like Guincho Beach, Cascais and the Atlantic Ocean.
Leave Azoia and the “Serra da Sintra” this morning and return to the rugged coastline, following winding paths on the GR11 to the 17th century fort “Fortaleza de Guincho” (now a hotel). From here, it is a very easy walk following a path between the road and the ocean, passing lighthouses and interesting cliff formations to reach Cascais.
Ascent/Descent: 105m/320m
You may wish to opt for an extra night here, allowing you to have a free day to rest or explore the spectacular seaside town of Cascais and its trio of bays.
Overnight Cascais
Accommodations
A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.
The Hotel Baía Cascais is a family hotel located in the village of Cascais, with its feet by the sea. It has views over the beautiful Cascais Bay (in front) and the town center (in the back), with the Serra de Sintra as a backdrop. Enjoy evening meals in their beautiful restaurant serving up a varied menu of Portuguese cuisine, whilst enjoying sea views.
Check out after breakfast and make your way by train back to Lisbon for onward travel connections (40 min).