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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