Sintra and Regaleira, Then the Coast Road to Guincho, Cascais and Estoril

R. 1º de Dezembro 125, Lisboa

The meeting point is in front of the Rossio Train Station, the Estação do Rossio, at 08:00, right next to the Starbucks. Arrive 5 to 10 minutes early. The itinerary is tight and latecomers cannot be waited for.

Sintra

Sintra sits in wooded hills half an hour from Lisbon, and the whole town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Palaces, castles and old forest, with the views from Pena at one end of the day and the secrets of the Quinta da Regaleira at the other. The historic centre has the pastry shops and the quiet parks, and the romantic reputation the 19th century gave it.

Quinta da Regaleira

The Quinta da Regaleira, the most symbolic of the Sintra estates. With a guide through the gardens, the hidden passages and an architecture that mixes Gothic, Manueline and something harder to name. The spiral Initiation Well goes down into the hill as a symbol of rebirth. The story attached to it is that of Carvalho Monteiro, the collector who built the estate for his wife. Tunnels, a private chapel dense with symbolism, and a design where every detail was meant to carry meaning. A place built for art, nature and philosophy to run into each other.

Costo extra

Park and National Palace of Pena

The Pena Palace, on its hilltop above Sintra, in red, yellow and blue with worked detail on every surface. Inside, the rooms carry decoration drawn from several architectural traditions. The Arab Room has stucco work and geometric design of its own. From the terraces the view runs across the Sintra hills to the Atlantic in the distance. The palace was the summer residence of the Portuguese royal family, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. History, architecture and forest in one place, which is why Pena is the image of Portugal most people have seen before they arrive.

Costo extra

Guincho Beach

Guincho Beach, a long stretch of sand a short drive from Cascais, known for its heavy surf, its wind and the fact that the land behind it was never built on.

Cascais

Cascais, on the coast between the Atlantic and the Sintra mountains. Cobbled streets, cafes and clean beaches, at a pace well below that of Lisbon. It was a fishing village before it was anything else, and the history is still visible in its landmarks and its arts scene. The Cascais Citadel, the sand at Praia da Rainha, and seafood in the restaurants around the bay. The best known town on the Lisbon Riviera.

Estoril

Estoril, a resort town on the Lisbon Riviera, with golden beaches, gardens and long promenades. European royalty and displaced dignitaries made it their retreat, and the town kept the register: good hotels, expensive restaurants, a nightlife that runs late. The Estoril Casino is one of the oldest and most prestigious in Europe. Mediterranean food and a great deal of sun.