Charming Costa de Lisboa and rural Alentejo

The Costa de Lisboa is known for its elegant seaside resorts and gorgeous bays. A stark contrast to the untouched natural beauty in the stunning interior of the Alentejo region. On this experience trip, you will get a taste of both.

Your trip starts with a touch of luxury in Sintra, a town with unique palaces, ruins and lush gardens. And Estoril and Cascais will seduce you with their sandy beaches and beautiful villas.

Then you will head to the unspoilt Alentejo. En route, you'll visit walled towns full of winding alleys, gleaming white houses and medieval palaces. Enjoy breathtaking panoramas and unique sunsets. From Roman ruins in a stunning green setting, to an impressive nature reserve of more than 23,000 ha.

Day 1 : Departure to Lisbon - Cascais

You land at Lisbon airport, where you will pick up your rental car. In Cascais, you will stay 2 nights at a Caractère hotel. Get to know this elegant seaside resort.

Day 2 : Costa de Lisboa - Sintra

Along the beautiful coastline, via Cabo da Roca and Praia do Guincho, to Sintra, the favourite residence of Portuguese princes, nobility and bourgeoisie for 600 years. Estoril and Cascais are 2 famous and lively seaside resorts with sandy beaches and beautiful villas.

Day 3 : To the unspoilt Alentejo

Depart for Évora or surroundings, where you will stay 3 nights. Monsaraz is a pretty fortified village perched on a high cliff with stunning views and unique sunsets.

Day 4 : Évora

Definitely one of Portugal's most beautiful cities: a walled town with winding Moorish alleys with arches, brilliant white houses with terraces and flowers, palaces from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and a particularly cosy atmosphere.

Day 5 : Redondo - Vila Viçosa - Elvas and Estremoz

Get to know the untouched nature of Alentejo as well as historic towns: Redondo, famous for its red wine and typical pottery, Vila Viçosa, where dukes and kings often stayed and Elvas, a few kilometres from the Spanish border, with its city wall and aqueduct. On the way back, you will pass through Estremoz, between marble quarries and a Vauban-style city wall, to Évoramonte, beautifully situated on a hill.

Day 6 : To Santiago do Cacém or Grândola

Depart for Santiago do Cacém, where you will meet the Roman ruins of Miróbriga in a beautiful green setting.

Day 7 : Alcácer do Sal + Estuário do Sado natural park

This is where everything revolves around salt, cork and rice. The salt flats and rice fields surrounded by forests of cork oaks are still visible. The Reserva Natural do Estuário do Sado is an impressive nature reserve of more than 23,000 ha.