Private tours in Lisbon & surroundings
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Program
We leave Lisbon passing close by the mouth of the river, with several stretches of sandy beaches and the vibrant harbor.
Estoril – the worldwide famous seaside resort with a mild climate all year round. Drive along the coast by several beaches like
Carcavelos, close by Tagus estuary and XVII century Saint Julian fortress, the most impressive one. Next is Parede, famous spa
with plenty of iodine. Continue to Sao Joao and Sao Pedro of Estoril with aristocratic palaces, manor houses and deluxe villas,
once the shelter of exiled kings and political refugees.
Cosmopolitan Estoril with a stop at the biggest casino in Europe with its gardens and esplanades.
Cascais bay and ancient fishing port, stop of many navigators in the past, like Columbus and Vasco da Gama. We get off to 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.
Go up the mountain by twisted roads with breathtaking views of the coastline and arrive to Cabo da Roca - the westernmost
point of continental Europe - for a view of the ocean and seaside 500 feet high.
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Drive across the luxuriant Sintra Mountain and its gardens by twisted roads bordered by a huge variety of vegetation. Once called "The Glorious Eden",
"The Garden of Paradise", where thousands of different species of plants bloom in the 4 seasons of the year. Admire the manor houses - each one in a
different style, matching the variety and originality of the vegetation. Pass by Colares, a demarcated area of wine.
Stop in the medieval Sintra town, with free time to see the most ancient royal palace in Portugal, dating from the XIV century, where we can observe the
curious structure of a medieval building. It's where the Portuguese maritime expeditions were organized and navigators like Vasco da Gama and Columbus
were received by the king. Sintra was once the dwelling place of aristocracy, which built their palaces surrounded by beautiful gardens in the narrow bent
streets with handicraft and wine shops. Taste the typical local pastry like queijadas and travesseiros.
Go up to one of the highest peaks of the mountain through a narrow and crooked road crossing Sintra forest. It’s all roofed by centenary trees and a
beautiful variety of vegetation. Passing close to the mysterious VIII century Moorish castle, we make a stop with free time to visit Pena palace, the fairy
tale like residence of romantic Royalty in Portugal, with splendid views. It’s a XIX century palace with a mixture of several styles: Oriental, Arab, Indian,
Neo-classic, Manueline, Renaissance… and surrounded by a park with 1000 different species of plants.
On the way back to Lisbon, we drive close to the XVIII century Queluz palace, “Portugal Versailles”, once the dwelling palace of Kings and now
Presidents and other special guests.
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Our additional suggestions:
-Moorish castle: also at one of the highest points of the mountain with a spectacular view. But only advisable to people
who don’t mind to walk up the hills through steep stairways…
-Mafra convent and palace (an extra payment fee due to extra mileage): dating from the XVIII century, one of the biggest
constructions in Europe, all made of marble, with 900 rooms and a 200 feet high dome. An impressive building telling about
the wealth of king John V. Close by is “Portugal in miniature” or Franco house, with miniatures of houses and monuments
of Portugal.
-Capuchos convent: the smallest convent in Portugal, dug in the granite rock of Sintra, where monks used to live in the XVI
century.
-Regaleira palace: a revival of Manueline style, made by a Portuguese millionaire in the XIX century.
-Queluz palace: the Portuguese Versailles: palace and gardens tell us about the “rocaille” style and the way of living in the
XVIII century.
-Colares wine lodges: come to see the wine cellars of Sintra, where you can also taste and buy this traditional wine
belonging to a demarcated area.
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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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...One of the most beautiful parts of the Estoril Coast is a succession of hills dotted with pine trees and houses, sweeping down
to the sea and the local villages with their typical houses and the old palatial villas along the sea front. Villas from the Roman
period have been excavated and inscriptions found of family names, names of the Gods they worshipped and names chosen
for their sons. Cascais became a lookout for Lisbon in the great maritime era of discovering new worlds. It was the first place
the navigators saw when they returned from long and adventurous voyages seeking their homeland. It was in Cascais during
the latter part of the XIX century, that the Royal Family first began to bathe. It was a custom which was becoming popular in
Europe and Cascais was an ideal place owing to its mild climate. Over the years, many important families have made Cascais
into a cosmopolitan town...
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