Itinerary
- Day 1
Lisbon
You'll start this morning in Lisbon's historic quarters, walking through neighborhoods that shaped the city's character over centuries. After grabbing breakfast at a local café, head to Belem where you can check out the monuments from the Age of Discovery period. The Belem Tower and Monastery of Jeronimos are key stops here, and you'll get a real sense of Portugal's maritime heritage from that era. By midday, you'll move on to see the Lisbon bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril), which spans across the Tagus River and offers great views of the city. Spend the afternoon wandering through other historic districts, taking in the cobblestone streets and learning about the different periods that shaped Lisbon. This full-day tour covers a lot of ground, so you'll want to pace yourself and stop for lunch somewhere along the way. By evening, you'll have a solid understanding of the city's history and character.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious lunch at restaurant with options varying based on meal preferences or dietary restrictions)
Included Activities
- Full day guided sightseeing tour of Lisbon's historic landmarks
- Visit to Maritime Museum in Belém with entry ticket included
- Tasting of traditional Lisbon pastries
Optional Activities
- Entry tickets to other Lisbon monuments (not included in base package)
Landmarks/POIs Maritime Museum (Museu de Marinha) Belém 25 de Abril Bridge - Day 2
Queluz and Mafra
This tour branches out from Lisbon proper to hit several historically significant sites across the region. You'll visit royal palaces that showcase Portuguese architecture and royal life, then move on to check out a distinctive library with holdings that reflect the country's intellectual history. Later, you'll explore fortresses that once guarded the coastline, learning how they played into Portugal's defense strategies. If timing works out, you can also swing by areas known for surfing culture, which provides an interesting contrast to the historical elements. The tour also includes stops where you can see dinosaur footprints preserved in rock formations, connecting the region's geological past to its human history. This combination means you're covering a lot of different types of sites in one day, so transitions between locations take some planning.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious lunch at restaurant with options varying based on meal preferences or dietary restrictions)
Included Activities
- Entry tickets to Queluz Palace
- Entry tickets to Mafra Convent
- Guided tour with historical insights at each monument
Optional Activities
- Entry tickets to other monuments (not included)
- Visit to Ericeira (seaside village - mentioned as special surprise stop)
Landmarks/POIs Queluz Palace (Palácio Nacional de Queluz) Mafra Convent (Convento de Mafra) Ericeira - Day 3
Sintra and Cascais
Start your day heading to Sintra, where the microclimate creates lush green landscapes and an almost dreamlike setting for the palaces scattered throughout the region. Sintra has five major palaces total, and you'll choose two to visit based on your interests, so you can decide which ones appeal to you most. Each palace offers something different, from colorful tilework to sweeping views across the valley. You'll spend your morning exploring architectural details and the grounds around your first palace choice, then after lunch head to your second selection. The fairytale quality people talk about comes through once you're actually walking through these places, especially with the landscape around them. By afternoon, you'll travel to Cascais on the coast, where you can walk along the waterfront and soak in the seaside atmosphere. The contrast between Sintra's lush, forested hills and Cascais's open ocean views makes for a nice balance to your day.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious lunch at restaurant with options varying based on meal preferences or dietary restrictions)
Included Activities
- Choice of two of Sintra's five iconic palaces with entry tickets included
- Tasting of local Sintra pastry
- Guided tour with historical insights at each monument
Optional Activities
- Visit to third palace in Sintra (not included)
- Entry tickets to additional monuments (not included)
Landmarks/POIs Pena National Palace (Palácio Nacional da Pena) Quinta da Regaleira Cascais
