Discover Azenhas do Mar: picturesque village on the Portuguese west coast
The skyline of Azenhas do Mar is one of the most well-known sights of the Portuguese west coast, with waves crashing against the rugged…
Greater Lisbon: Explore The City’s Surrounding Area
There is so plenty to see and to do in the area of Lisbon. Within half an hour you can lie down on the beach of Carcavelos, stroll along the boulevard in Cascais or imagine yourself in a fairytale in Sintra.
Get a rental car or take the train to discover the surroundings of Lisbon at your own pace.
If you thought that Lisbon is the only place worth a visit, you'd better get yourself a good travel guide! Because the surrounding area offers at least as much entertainment as the city itself. For example, did you know that the Costa de Lisboa is dotted with beautiful beaches? Long, wide sandy beaches for sunbathing, and the somewhat rougher beaches on the west side for the more adventurous type.
Castles and parks
Between Cascais and Sintra you will also find the Parque e Palácio Nacional da Pena, a beautiful nature reserve that surrounds the Royal Pena palace. Fairytale and UNESCO World Heritage!
Convinced? Check all must do's and must see's for a day trip near Lisbon.
Brewpub HopSin Colares: beer with a view
A few days after we visited microbrewery Dois Corvos, in Lisbon we found out that there’s been a new beer place in Colares, less…
Tap Room Hops & Drops – Craft beer by the ocean
At a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean at Praia das Maçãs you will find Tap Room Hops & Drops. This craft beer place…
Refúgio do Ciclista – hidden gem near Sintra
If our friends hadn’t taken us to Refúgio do Ciclista, we would never have found this place. For more than 35 years I’ve been…
Gelati di Chef – pricy ice cream scoops
We’re convinced it is always a good time for ice cream. After a visit to Quinta da Regaleira, on a sweltering hot day with…
O Viriato – Cascais’ living room
Restaurant O Viriato is a bit off the beaten track if you’re staying in the city centre of Cascais. But with an uphill walk…
Praia da Conceição – largest beach in Cascais
The largest beach of Cascais is Praia da Conceição and from Lisbon you can be there by train in less than 40 minutes. When…
Fábrica de Queijadas – Recordação de Sintra – royal supplier of the best queijadas
Directly below Pastelaria Gregório you’ll find Fábrica de Queijadas – Recordação de Sintra. This is the factory to be if you want to taste…
Pastelaria Gregório – the best pastelaria in Sintra
One of the oldest and most traditional pastelarias in Sintra, Pastelaria Gregório is exactly how a traditional Portuguese tea house should look like. It…
Café Saudade – favorite teahouse in Sintra
On the spot where a baker used to bake delicious queijadas, today there is Café Saudade. Walking from the train station to the historic…
Santuário da Peninha – hidden gem in the Pena
Santuário da Peninha is a hidden gem in the Pena mountains where few tourists come. Which makes this a very nice and quiet place….
Restaurante Central – classic village restaurant
Restaurante Central is a place where I (and my family) have been coming for years now, and it has never disappointed me. Well, maybe…
