Lovely Lisbon
Spread across steep hillsides that overlook the Rio Tejo, Lisbon offers all the delights youd expect of Portugals star attraction, yet with half the fuss of other European capitals.
Gothic cathedrals, majestic monasteries and quaintmuseums are all part of the colourful cityscape, but the real delights of discovery lie in wandering the narrow lanes of Lisbons lovely backstreets.
As bright yellow trams wind their way through curvy tree-lined streets, Lisboetas stroll through the old quarters, much as theyve done for centuries. Village-life gossip in oldAlfama is exchanged at the public baths or over fresh bread and wine at tiny patio restaurants, as fadistas (proponents of fado, Portugals traditional melancholic singing) perform in the background.
Meanwhile, in other parts of town, visitors and locals chase the ghosts of Pessoa in warmly lit 1930s-era cafés or walk along the seaside that once saw the celebrated return of Vasco da Gama. Yet, while history is very much alive in centuries-old Lisbon, its spirit is undeniably youthful.
In the hilltop district of Bairro Alto, dozens of restaurants and bars line the narrow streets, with jazz, reggae, electronica and fado filling the air and revellers partying until dawn. Nightclubs scattered all over town make fine use of old spaces, whether on riverside docks or tucked away in 18th-century mansions.
The Lisbon experience encompasses so many things, from enjoying a fresh pastry and bica (espresso) on a petite leafy plaza to window-shopping in elegant Chiado. Its mingling with Lisboetas at a neighbourhood festival or watching the sunset from the old Moorish castle.
Just outside Lisbon, theres more to explore: the magical setting of Sintra, glorious beaches and traditionalfishing villages.
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In the Beauty of Sintra
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the mountainous region ofSintra on this day trip from Lisbon.
With your guide, visit the fairytale-like Pena Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a traditional Portugueselunch in Sintra and have free time to explore the village or visit Sintra National Palace.
Visit Colares and wander around this beautiful village with your guide.
Take in views of the Atlantic Ocean on the drive along the picturesque Estoril Coast, see the fishing port of Cascais Bay, and watch the waves breaking at the cliff at Hells Mouth (Boca do Inferno) and Guincho Beach.
Admire the lush Portuguese countryside on the drive back to Lisbon.
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Fátima and the Sanctuary Basílica
Fátima, one of the most important places of pilgrimage in the Catholic World.
Youll visit the sites where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared, and learn more about this incredibly spiritual place.
The tour includes a visit to the Sanctuary Basílica, a place of worship for more than four million pilgrims each year. It is here you will find the tombstones of Jacinta and Francisco, two of the shepherd children who claimed to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1917.
The main focus of the Basilica is the Chapel of Apparitions, which marks the exact spot where the Virgin Mary appeared. Many devotees kneel at this spot and pray, light candles or make offerings such as flowers. There will also be an opportunity for you to attend mass if you wish.
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Cascais
The attractive seaside town of Cascais, with its lovelybeaches and youthful air, is a favourite among weekending Lisboetas and travellers.
While its resort status is undisputed – many shops and cafés cater largely to summertime crowds – it remains an activefishing port, with an appealing old town full of narrow, winding lanes.
Cascais was once a fishing village, but in 1870 the royal court came here for the summer, with a trail of nobility in its wake. Such patronage has left it with some grand pastel-coloured buildings and a striking citadel. Apart from beaches,Cascais has a few quirky museums, some wild gardensand a lively fish market.
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Medieval Óbidos
Encased in neatly elliptical medieval walls and set atop limestone heights, Óbidos looks forbidding from the plains it watches over. But enter its dreamy lanes and youll instantly be disarmed.
Chalk-white houses are bordered in zinging blue and yellow and, in summer, draped with roses and lilacs.
Refined architectural elements, from the Renaissance church to the elaborate gates, add their own flourish.
Portugals prettiest town? Its definitely way up there. Its charms pull in an increasing number of day-trippers, and souvenir and craft shops await the waves. But backstreets remain surprisingly serene. If you can, stay on to absorb the quiet of the night.
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Évora
One of Portugals most beautifully preserved medieval towns, Évora is an enchanting place to delve into the past.
Inside the 14th-century walls, Évoras narrow, winding lanes lead to striking architectural works: an elaboratemedieval cathedral and cloisters; the cinematic columns of the Templo Romano (near the intriguing Roman baths); and a picturesque town square, once the sight of some rather gruesome episodes courtesy of the Inquisition.
Aside from its historic and aesthetic virtues, Évora is also alively university town, whose students nicely dilute the tourist population, and there are a number of attractiverestaurants serving up hearty Alentejan cuisine. Outside of town, Neolithic monuments and rustic wineries make for fine day trips.
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Algarve
The Algarve is Portugals premier holiday destination, with pretty beaches, brash resorts and picturesque whitewashed towns that flood with foreigners when summer arrives.
While the party atmosphere isnt for everyone, the setting is undeniably beautiful: breathtaking cliffs, wide goldensands, natural bays, scalloped beaches and long sandyislands with waves lapping at the shore.
Outside the touristy enclaves, there are quiet castle towns, flower-covered hillsides and enchanting stretches ofshoreline still untouched by development.
The towns themselves arent as varied as the coastline, but still offer a wide range of personalities. Lagos, with its cobbled streets, young crowd and abundant nightlife, is the carnival queen of the Algarve.
Monchique is a quaint town with fine views over the steep wooded countryside.
Tavira, set along a peaceful river, remains elegant and laid-back, with a history dating back to the Romans.
The capital of the region, Faro, has a more Portuguese feel than some, and a fascinating medieval quarter.
Out on the rugged west coast, small, charming towns like Sagres and Carrapateira attract a surf-loving crowd, while cliffside Albufeira sees a wider mix of travellers.
If youre not keen on crowds and high-season prices, avoid coming from July to mid-September. This is when most Portuguese and other Europeans take their holidays: spring and autumn are lovely alternatives (though the water will be a bit nippy).
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Alcobaça
Head to Alcobaça to visit the famous Monastery of Santa Maria dAlcobaça, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the biggest Gothic-style church in Portugal.
The Monastery that proudly presents a long and sombre façade with 18th Century embellishments.
This austerity is further emphasized in the cloisters with its apt name of Cloister of Silence.
A few kilometers to the north of Alcobaça is another wondrous building constructed in memory of a different important battle, that of Aljubarrota in 1385, when Dom João I defeated the Castilians and ensuring two hundred years of independence from the Spanish invaders. The construction of the Abbey at Batalha commenced in 1388 and was added to by various Portuguese Kings over these next two centuries
In contrast within the Abbey is the massive kitchen with a running stream specially diverted to pass through as a supply of fresh water. The open area of the kitchen chimney is large enough to take a whole ox for roasting. The surround to the sacristy doorway is an outstanding example of Manueline decoration. In 1794, Lord Beckford visited the Abbey and commented that he found some 300 monks living in a very splendid manner!