A trip along palaces and pristine beaches | Portugal Itinerary

Route

Eight days along the Costa de Lisboa with two bases. You start in Cascais to explore palaces, seaside towns and Sintra, then continue to the northern coast near Praia d’El Rey. Along the way you discover Mafra, Óbidos, Alcobaça, Batalha and Peniche.

Pace

A relaxed pace with two stays. Three nights in Cascais for culture and coastal scenery, followed by four nights on the Atlantic coast for beaches and excursions.

Highlights

The rococo palace of Queluz, the palaces of Sintra and the medieval Castelo dos Mouros. You also visit the Cistercian abbeys of Alcobaça and Batalha, the coast of Guincho and the beaches of Peniche with boat trips to Berlenga Island.

Accommodation

You stay in carefully selected Caractère hotels in Cascais and on the Atlantic coast near Praia d’El Rey.

Profile

For travellers who want to combine culture and coast. Ideal for discovering palaces, historic villages and Atlantic beaches in one journey.

Day 1: Departure to Lisbon - Costa de Lisboa

You will pick up your rental car at Lisbon airport and depart for Cascais. Here you will stay 3 nights in one of our hotels.

Day 2: Costa de Lisboa

On the second day of your trip, you will explore the Costa de Lisboa. The Palácio de Queluz, with its pink facade, in Queluz, is one of Portugal's most beautiful rococo-style palaces, also known as the 'Portuguese Versailles'. In summer, the entire royal family stayed in this 'holiday home'. The palace is particularly luminous, hence its name: 'Que luz!'. Estoril was a haunt of millionaires thanks to its hot springs and is still a popular seaside resort with opulent villas. Cascais, traditionally a fishing village, became a fashionable and elegant resort after World War II, and especially with the rise of tourism, with a marina, a 16th-century church and a Museum of the Sea, ex libris of the fishing tradition of the town and its inhabitants. The coastal road along Boca do Inferno and Praia do Guincho is pleasing to the eye.

Day 3: Sintra

Continue via the Boca do Inferno and the beautiful Guincho beach to Sintra, a town with unique palaces, ruins and lavish gardens that are Unesco World Heritage Sites. This is where the Portuguese monarchs spent their summers. At more than 500 m altitude stands the extravagant fairytale palace Palácio Nacional da Pena, with Moorish influences, Gothic style elements and Renaissance features. On the same mountain, some 100m below, is the Castelo dos Mouros, a defensive fortress from the 8th century, taken by the Portuguese king Afonso Henriques in 1147, and in which he had the first Christian chapel built in the area. In the centre of Sintra, make sure to visit the Palácio Nacional, the Vila Velha and the Old Town too.

Day 4: Mafra - Obidos - Praia d'El Rey

Next you depart towards Mafra, where a visit to the monastery palace cannot be missing from your programme, follow it along the rugged coastal road towards Óbidos. You will pass the fishing village of Ericeira, known for its restaurants serving seafood specialities. You will stay the next 4 nights at a Caractère Hotel.

Day 5: Alcobaça and the Mosteiro da Batalha

This monumental abbey is one of the most beautiful Cistercian abbeys of the Middle Ages. With a detour via the traditional fishing town of Nazaré, you continue to Batalha, with its impressive monastery which is also a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Day 6: Peniche and Ilha de Berlenga

Today you have a whole day to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and lovely beaches. Peniche is also known for its numerous seafood restaurants. Some 12 km off the coast is Berlenga Island, accessible by boat, with a bird colony and an impressive 70-metre-long tunnel close to an old fort.

Day 7: A day of relaxation

On the second-to-last day of your trip, spend time relaxing by the sea or by the pool. You rest and recharge after all the beauty you have seen in the past few days.

Day 8: Going home

As the last day of your trip has arrived, it's time to head home. Return your rental car at the Lisbon airport and go home with wonderful memories.

Frequently asked questions about this itinerary

How far apart are the main places in the region?

Distances are relatively short. It takes about 30 minutes to drive from Cascais to Sintra, while Óbidos and Mafra are roughly one hour away. This makes day trips easy and leaves plenty of time for stops along the way.

Is Sintra best visited in half a day or a full day?

Sintra deserves a full day. Its combination of palaces, gardens and panoramic viewpoints makes it one of the most remarkable places in Portugal.

Why is Cascais such a good base for this trip?

Cascais sits perfectly between Lisbon and Sintra and combines the charm of a lively seaside town with a relaxed atmosphere. You will find a marina, restaurants and beaches, while the region’s main sights remain within easy reach.

Is Berlenga Island worth visiting?

Yes. Berlenga Island lies off the coast of Peniche and is known for its rugged landscapes, seabird colonies and the historic São João Baptista fort. In calm weather, a boat trip to the island is a wonderful excursion.