Day tours in Lisbon & surroundings
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Lisbon + Arrabida, Sesimbra, Setubal - full day
Personalized booking
Program
In the morning: A drive to Rossio, the very heart of Lisbon. Alfama, the oldest and most picturesque quarter (stop for a wine tasting in an handicraft
store). Then a drive along the River-Side to admire Black Horse Square, crossing the Bridge over Tagus river, with stops at Belém Tower and at the
Monument to the Discoveries. Next is Jerónimos Monastery (guided tour of the church, one of the most beautiful in Europe) and the Coach Museum (the
world's largest collection of coaches) (both closed on Mondays, replaced by Ajuda Palace or Fundação Medeiros). Free time for lunch.
In the afternoon: Cross the bridge over Tagus river, and have a superb view of Lisbon. Visit the old Castle of Sesimbra and admire the beautiful scenery of
this fishing town. Azeitão - a visit to a famous wine cellar to sample the local wines. Visit an handicraft factory of hand-made glazed tiles. Arrabida
mountain - a unique nature reserve providing a breathtaking panoramic view over Setúbal and Tróia. Stop at Setubal. Travel back to Lisbon by Vasco da
Gama bridge.
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...Lisbon’s history dates back to 300,000 years ago and ranks as one of the world's longest founded cities. As
the legend tells, it is a city founded and named by Ulysses, which has its origins in the Phoenician words "Allis
Ubbo", meaning "enchanting port". Lisbon was a battlefield for Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians,
however it was Romans who started their two-century reign in Lisbon in 205 BC. In 714, the Moors arrived
and stayed till the 12th century. In the 13th century, Lisbon became the capital of Portugal. The 15th century
was the point of departure for the Portuguese Discoveries, an era during which Portugal enjoyed abundant
wealth and prosperity through its newly discovered off shore colonies in Africa, the Americas and Asia. Today,
Lisbon still maintaining the marks of its early history, is one of the most beautiful capitals of Europe...
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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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