Lisbon Excursions
Aside from the many attractions within Lisbon, one of the advantages of
visiting Portugal's capital is that most of the rest of the country is within
reach. Taking day trips to the surrounding towns and cities near Lisbon will
give you a taste of the many faces of Portugal and make you feel like you've
experienced the whole country in its entirety. Via short rides from the city,
you can visit gorgeous beaches, medieval castles, a town where apparitions of
the Blessed Virgin were supposed to have taken place, and the biggest casino in
Europe.
Sintra
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, Sintra was immortalized by Lord Byron
as "Glorious Eden." Living up to the legend, Sintra contains many unique and
breathtaking attractions, most popularly the Moorish Castle and the Pena Palace,
which are considered the two peaks of the town, from which amazing views of the
municipality and beyond can be seen. Other important places to visit include
Palácio Nacional de Sintra, the Quinta da Regaleira, the Monserrate gardens and
the Convento dos Capuchos.
Visiting Sintra may take all day, but there are also packages for day trips
that include visits to Cascais, Estoril, and perhaps the Roca Cape or Queluz.
Queluz
Queluz is home to one of the most magnificent palaces in Europe, the Palácio
de Queluz, which in its heyday saw the staging of grand operas in its halls, and
festivals, jousts and fireworks displays in its courtyards. Today, the palace is
an important museum with royal collections in their actual settings, displaying
the styles of Portuguese furniture and interior design from the rococo to the
neo-classical period.
Queluz can be reached by train through the Lisbon-Sintra line, getting off at
the Queluz/Belas stop. A day package that includes Queluz would mainly visit
Sintra and Estoril.
Estoril
Fifteen kilometers from Lisbon is the gorgeous town of Estoril, famous for
the largest casino in Europe, the Casino de Estoril. It is said to be the
inspiration for Ian Fleming's Casino Royale. Crowning the Central Parque do
Estoril, the Casino's surroundings seem otherworldly – lush greenery and
beautiful water fountains enveloping the restaurants, bars and other commercial
establishments.
Although so close to Lisbon, you may opt to stay overnight at Estoril –
thanks to the casino, there's a burgeoning nightlife you won't want to miss.
Retire into one of its luxury hotels, and spend the next day at one of several
prime golf courses or at the beach.
Cascais
During the era of the conquistadores, the harbour town of Cascais was a
lookout for Lisbon and tradition has it that the Royal family first began to
bathe in the sea on Cascais' glorious beaches. Today, the harbour is filled with
yachts and the beaches filled with tourists and locals, who are also privileged
to visit local castle ruins and a sea park. The most popular sea cliff in town
is the Boca do Inferno or Hell Mouth.
Only 30 km from Lisbon, Cascais may be visited with day tour packages that
include Sintra and Estoril.
Carcavelos and Oeiras
While formerly known for its wine, the town of Carcavelos is now more popular
as a haven for surfers. Many surfing enthusiasts visit Carcavelos beach from all
over the world to catch its substantial waves. Body surfing is starting to
become popular here as well. On the east side of the beach is the Forte de São
Julião da Barra in Oeiras, an enormous fort built to protect the Tagus River
from invaders. In recent times, it is more used as a government facility.
Fatima
In 1917, Our Lady of the Rosary was said to have appeared to three shepherd
children just outside the town of Fatima. This miracle is paid tribute to in a
great basilica, whose esplanade is even larger than St. Peter's in Rome, which
also houses the tombs of the three children, Jacinta and Francisco Marto and
their cousin Lucia Santos.
Day trips to Fatima will include a grand tour of the basilica, as well as
visits to the houses of the three shepherd children, an ethnographic museum,
several monuments and the chapel at the Cova de Iria, where Our Lady of Fatima,
was said to have appeared. You could opt for a full day trip, or a package tour
that includes the nearby towns of Nazare and Obidos. Pilgrimages are scheduled
every 13th of the month, with buses only taking an hour and a half from Lisbon.
Evora
The city of Evora is a UNESCO world heritage site, being home to several
monuments, each in a plethora of styles, such as the Agua de Prata Aqueduct, the
Giraldo Square, the Diana Temple, the Palace of Vasco de Gama and the Cathedral
of Evora, to name just a few. The city is surrounded by beautifully
well-preserved medieval walls and was named the third most livable city in
Portugal.
Nazare
A very well preserved fishing village, one of Nazare's charms is you will
find fisherfolk drying their day's catch just yards away from sunbathing
tourists. On the sea, you will find the unique and colorful Phoenician style
fishing boats, which remain in tradition to this day due to the belief that the
colors and paintings of eyes have magical properties against storms. Along the
beach, on the Avenida Marginal, are an assortment of cafes and stores where an
assortment of local food and trinkets can be tasted. Nazare is usually included
in day trips to Fatima and Obidos.
Obidos
Obidos is a charming medieval town on a hill, well preserved through the
years, making the town a prime tourist location. Completely surrounded by a
wall, Obidos is said to be derived from the Latin "oppidum," which means
"citadel." Once belonging to the moors, the castle was taken by Afonso
Henriques, the first king of Portugal. His grandson, King Afonso II, gave Obidos
to his wife as a wedding present, starting a tradition where the town was given
to the Queen of Portugal, many of whom generously lavished the town with
donations.
Obidos can be visited by two bus rides from Lisbon, together taking around
two hours. It can also be visited with a package tour that includes Fatima,
Navare, Batalha and Alcobaça. |
