Private tours in Lisbon & surroundings
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Sintra, Cascais, Estoril, Arrabida, Sesimbra, Setubal
full day
Personalized booking
Program
Estoril coast - the "sunny coast" where the sun shines 300 days per year. Drive close by
the largest beach of Carcavelos and the rocky stretch of Sao Joao and Sao Pedro of Estoril
with aristocratic palaces, manor houses and deluxe villas. Cosmopolitan Estoril with a stop
at the biggest casino in Europe, its gardens and esplanades.
Cascais bay and ancient fishing port, stop of many navigators in the past, like Columbus
and Vasco da Gama. See the typical fishing boats unloading the catch and a magnificent
panorama of the coastline.
Continue by the seaside with rocky and sandy beaches and the picturesque cliff - the
Mouth of Hell.
Guincho, the wind surfer beach and Cabo da Roca - the westernmost point of continental
Europe - stop for a marvellous view of the ocean and seashore at 140 meters high.
Drive across the luxuriant Sintra Mountain and its gardens by twisted roads surrounded by
a huge variety of vegetation - "The Glorious Eden", "The Garden of Paradise". Admire the
noble houses - each one in a different style, matching the variety and originality of the
vegetation.
Stop in the medieval Sintra town, with free time to see the most ancient royal palace in
Portugal, the narrow streets with local handicraft shops, the typical local pastry like
queijadas and travesseiros, the wine shops, the gardens.
Cross the bridge “25 Abril” over Tagus river, and have a superb view of Lisbon.
Visit the XII century Castle of Sesimbra and admire the beautiful view of the ocean,
Sesimbra beach and scenery of this fishing town. Sightseeing of Sesimbra, seaside with
crystal clear water and where we can have a glimpse of the fishing port, to see fishermen
unloading the catch.
Azeitão - famous for its wine cellar, where we can stop for a guided visit to this antique
muscatel wine producer and wine tasting.
Arrabida mountain - a unique nature reserve providing a breathtaking panoramic view, on
the highest cliffs of the Portuguese coast, over Lisbon, Setubal, Troia and the ocean.
Stop at Setubal, an important fishing harbour, where once again we can admire the typical
Portuguese fishing boats. Travel back to Lisbon by Vasco da Gama bridge, 12 km long, for
another unforgettable view of Lisbon and one of the widest estuaries in the world.
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... Described by Lord Byron as “Glorious Eden,” Sintra’s charms have long
been celebrated. Once the summer residence of the kings and Moorish lords,
today Sintra is a romantic getaway for people from all around the world.
Inhabited since the pre-history period and by Celts and the Romans who called
this area “The Mountain of the Moon”. In the 8th to 9th century, Muslims built
a castle here. During Medieval times, the Portuguese royal family, overflowing
with the pomp and riches from their colonial triumphs abroad, first came here to
escape the heat (and stench) of the summer in Lisbon. Beginning in the 14th
century, the Portuguese aristocrats followed the royals to Sintra, a dwelling
place for hunting and relaxing. Stormy and mysterious, the mountain is covered
by more than 1000 different species of plants. Several artists from different
countries came here to work, inspired in the beauty of this place, extolling its
beauty: “The Garden of Paradise”, “Garden of Europe”, “Glorious Eden”…
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...The forest-clad, elongated hummock of the Serra da Arrábida is a veritable oasis of
natural vegetation amid the suburban sprawl of the Setúbal peninsula, with an incredibly
diverse wildlife to match. Along the shore of the Sado estuary, its sheer flanks drop sharply
into a turquoise sea, the pale limestone cliffs eaten away at the base to form small sandy
coves. Although the 50km-long ridge of the Arrábida attains a maximum of only 501m
(Alto do Formosinho), the views from the top are truly spectacular, giving the impression
of much greater altitude. More than 1,000 species of vascular plants have been recorded
from the Arrábida natural park.
Situated to the south of the peninsula is the hub Setubal, actually Portugal's third largest
port after Lisbon and Porto. Renowned for both its fishing and fish restaurants and its
many historic buildings and museums, Setubal makes a superb Portugal holiday base or
indeed a day trip. To the west of Setubal centre are stunning beaches backed on by the
Arrabida Natural Park. To the south is the natural reserve of the Sado estuary, home to
numerous birds and wildlife including bottle-nosed Dolphins...
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