Circuits · Lisbon

Lisbon, Sintra and Arrábida

Lisbon's hills and trams, fairy-tale Sintra and the turquoise coves of Arrábida.

4 days18 stopsLisboa 3 nights · Sintra 1 nightTrain-friendly; car optional
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The colourful Pena Palace on its hilltop in Sintra

Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

DAY 1

Lisboa

Night: Lisboa
1

São Jorge Castle

Hilltop castle with the best view over the Baixa and the Tagus.

1h30PaidAll year
↓ a few minutes on foot
2

Santa Luzia viewpoint and Alfama

Azulejo tiles, bougainvillea and the maze of alleys in the city's oldest neighbourhood.

1h30FreeAll year
↓ a few minutes on foot
3

Tram 28

The yellow tram that climbs up and down the hills between Graça and Estrela.

40 minTransport ticketAll year (best early)
↓ ≈ 15 min walk
4

Baixa and Praça do Comércio

The city rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, opening onto the river.

1h30FreeAll year
↓ a few minutes on foot
5

Chiado and Bairro Alto

Historic cafés, bookshops and, at night, petiscos (small plates) and fado.

2hFreeAll year
DAY 2

Belém · Alcântara

Night: Lisboa
6

Jerónimos Monastery

A Manueline masterpiece and World Heritage Site. Next door, try the pastel de nata (custard tart) of Belém.

1h30PaidAll year (closed on Mondays)
↓ ≈ 20 min walk
7

Belém Tower

Riverside fortress, a symbol of the Age of Discoveries.

45 minPaidAll year (closed on Mondays)
↓ ≈ 15 min walk
8

Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos)

Monument to the navigators, with a giant compass rose set into the ground.

30 minViewpoint paidAll year
↓ ≈ 5 min by road · 4 km
9

LX Factory

A former factory with shops, a bookshop, street art and restaurants, beneath the 25 de Abril Bridge.

1h30FreeAll year
DAY 3

Sintra · Cascais

Night: Sintra
10

Pena Palace

The colourful Romantic palace at the top of the hills. Buy your ticket online well in advance.

2hPaid (timed ticket)All year; go early
↓ ≈ 20 min walk
11

Quinta da Regaleira

Mysterious gardens with the Initiation Well and grottoes.

1h30PaidAll year
↓ a few minutes on foot
12

Sintra centre

A World Heritage town. Try the queijadas (small cheese tarts) and travesseiros (almond puff pastries).

1hFree (National Palace paid)All year
↓ ≈ 15 min by road · 13 km
13

Cabo da Roca

The westernmost point of mainland Europe, above 140 m cliffs.

45 minFreeAll year; sunset
↓ ≈ 15 min by road · 15 km
14

Cascaisoptional

An elegant fishing town, the Boca do Inferno and the seafront promenade to Estoril.

1h30FreeAll year
DAY 4

Arrábida · Setúbal

Night: Lisboa
15

Portinho da Arrábida and the Arrábida beaches

Turquoise water between the hills and the sea. Galapinhos and Creiro beaches.

3hFreeSummer (restricted access; take the bus)
↓ ≈ 30 min walk
16

Serra da Arrábida road

A scenic road along the ridge, with viewpoints over the sea and the Arrábida Convent.

45 minFreeAll year
↓ ≈ 15 min by road · 14 km
17

Setúbal and choco frito

Livramento Market and a lunch of choco frito (fried cuttlefish) by the Sado.

1h30FreeAll year
↓ a few minutes on foot
18

Sado dolphinsoptional

A boat trip to see the resident dolphins of the estuary.

3hPaidSpring to autumn