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Lisbon's Coast

Portugal > Tourism > Lisbon's Coast > Accommodation

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This region spreads from the Tagus estuary to the Alentejo coastline, from the sophisticated great metropolis to colourful fishing villages.
Accommodation | Sightseeing Guided Tours | Golf
Places of interest | Regional gastronomy | Festivities | Handicrafts

Boasting springtime temperatures during the winter and cool summers freshened by a breeze blowing in from the Atlantic, Costa de Lisboa, on the southwestern coast, offers a rich and impressively integrated diversity. The capital of Portugal since its conquest from the Moors in 1147, Lisbon is a legendary city with over 20 centuries of History. The Alfama is one of the oldest quarters in Lisboa. Since it largely survived the earthquake of 1755, the area still retains much of its original layout. Adjacent to the Alfama are the likewise old quarters of Castelo and Mouraria, on the western and northern slopes of the hill that is crowned by St. George's Castle. Every year in June, the streets of all three quarters come alive with the feasts in honour of the popular saints. The Graça quarter and the churches of São Vicente de Fora and Santa Engrácia are within walking distance of this area. Radiant skies brighten the monumental city, with its typical tile covered building facades and narrow Medieval streets, where one can hear the fado being played and sung at night. But Lisbon is also the stage for popular festivities, the place for exquisite shopping, exciting nightlife, and interesting museums, a place from where motorways branch off in different directions.
Nearby, Sintra's lush wooded heights and verdant charms invite one to take a ride on a horse-pulled carriage, and gaze at the marvelous manor-houses, located within the grounds of century old farms, as one drives up to Pena Palace, built by Fernando Cobourg Gothas on the ruins of a monastery from the 16th century, the style of the palace is a blend of Gothic, Manueline, and Romantic influences which make for a very explosive combination, and keeps the atmosphere of a royal residence.
To make it a difficult choice for the curious visitor and only slightly farther a field, lie the impressive Mafra Convent, the cosmopolitan seaside resorts on the way to Cascais, the verdant Serra da Arrábida and picturesque Sesimbra, the Sado estuary and the aristocratic farmhouses of Azeitão. Driving south, the ochre and blue unspoiled beaches on the Alentejo coastline open on to a vast Atlantic horizon.
Arrábida Natural Reserve Guided Tour



PLACES OF INTEREST

Cascais - Stylish summer resort. Amongst the numerous restaurants, bars and discotheques, are the following historic places: Castro Guimarães Museum; the 18th century churches of Nossa Senhora da Assunção and Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes; the hermitages of Nossa Senhora da Guia (15th century) and São Sebastião (16th-17th centuries) and the 17th-century fortress. Just a few minutes' away lies Guincho beach (a great place for those who enjoy surfing and windsurfing).

Cascais Tavel Guide
Beaches | Guided Tours | Golf | Hotel Guide | Maps | Shopping | Sightseeing | Visits


Ericeira - A fishing village 50 km (31 miles) northeast of Lisbon, 25 km (16 miles) from Sintra and 10 km (6 miles) from Mafra. It has has the Atlantic Ocean as an eternal companion. The hospitality of its people, the harmony of the "old village" with its narrow cobblestone streets, characteristic housing, singular monuments, the fishing, the cuisine and the multiplicity of cultural programming interlace here in a grand way to welcome its visitors.

Estoril - Renowned worldwide as an important tourism spot (casino, golf course and racing track). The Verdades-Farias Museum which hosts an important collection of musical instruments related to popular music, assembled by Michael Giacometti. The beautiful Santo António Church stands out in this cosmopolitan resort, which also boasts an exciting nightlife.

Estoril Tavel Guide
Beaches | Guided Tours | Golf | Hotel Guide | Maps | Shopping | Sightseeing | Visits



Lisbon - Spreading out along the right bank of the Tagus, its downtown, the Baixa, is located in the 18th-century area around Rossio. East of the arcade Praça do Comércio, are the medieval quarters of Alfama and Mouraria, crowned by the magnificent St. George's Castle. To the west lie Bairro Alto and Madragoa, with their typical streets, and on the western extreme is Belém, with its Belém Tower, (the sentinel over the Tagus river that protects the entrance into Lisbon), the Jerónimos Monastery (masterpieces of Manueline architecture and classified in UNESCO's International Heritage list) and the Cultural Center of Belém.
Museums: Ancient Art, Chiado (Contemporary Art), Tile, Archaeology, Ethnology, Coach, Costume, Theater, Maritime, Military, City, Gulbenkian, Modern Art Center, and the Ricardo Espirito Santo Silva Foundation. Palaces open to the public: Ajuda and Fronteira. Churches: Cathedral (with Treasury); São Vicente de Fora; Conceição Velha (Manueline), São Roque and Sacred Art; Madre Deus; Santa Engrácia Pantheon (Baroque), and the Estrela Basilica.
Shopping: Downtown; Avenida de Roma, Praça de Londres, Avenida Guerra Junqueiro, and Amoreiras.
Nightlife: Bairro Alto and Avenida 24 de Julho.

Lisbon Hotel Guide
Lisbon Guided Tours



Loures - is the county chief-town since July 26, 1886. It borders with Lisbon, Mafra, Sintra, Arruda dos Vinhos and Vila Franca de Xira. Thirty minutes from the capital, its best access roads are A8 or CREL. Its major attraction is, with no doubt, the Quinta do Conventinho (Little Convent Farm), with the Municipal Museum, its beautiful gardens, and the convent that inspires its name. Only three minutes from the city center, it is a culture center, with events for every age set.

Mafra - Palace-Convent built in the 18th century, is the largest Portuguese religious monument. It consists of lavish royal apartments as well as 330 cells for its monks, a magnificent library (which houses about 36.000 collectors books that include a first edition of “Os Lusíadas” by the Portuguese poet Luís de Camõe), carillon, basilica and museums.
Mafra

Montijo - Formerly known as Aldeia Galega do Ribatejo, Montijo was given its present name only in 1930 . Its earliest records date back to the 12th century when it was donated, together with Palmela Castle and the lands between the Tagus and the Sado, to the Knights of the Order of St. James and the Sword by King Sancho I in 1186. As a result of its development and economic capacity the town of Montijo was raised to a city status August 14th 1985.

Palmela - Dominated by a magnificent castle which houses the ancient Santiago Convent (currently a Pousada). The 15th century church of Santiago stands next to the Pousada. Its interior contains the sepulcher of Jorge of Lencastre and a wall decorated with 17th and 18th century tiles. The Igreja de São Pedro - a 17th century church. Its inside walls are entirely covered with azulejos depicting scenes from the life of Saint Peter, Pillory erected in 1645, Capela da Misericórdia - famous for its walls lined with 17th century azulejos. Palmela offers one of the best views in Portugal from an elevation of 1,200 feet (366m). From this vantage point, you can see over sienna-hued valleys and vineyards flush with grapes to the capital in the north and to the estuary of the Sado to the south. Costa Azul Travel Guide
Accommodation: Pousada do Castelo
Guided Tours

Queluz - Summer palace of the kings of Portugal in the 18th century, enclosing a series of rambling and beautiful gardens with lakes and sculptures, and housing an important collection of furniture, paintings, tiles, and decorative arts.
Sintra Travel Guide
Queluz Palace,
Accommodation: The Pousada Dona Maria I is located in the building formerly used by the Royal Guard of the Court


Sesimbra - Picturesque small fishing town, with a medieval castle. Like a sentry the ruins of this 13th Century castle built by Sancho II protectively overlooks the village. Whilst here, do not miss the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora in Cabo Espichel (which was constructed at the turn of the 17th Century as a sanctuary and has often been used as a location for filming due to its singular architectural design) and Lagoa de Albufeira, a favourite spot for wind surfers.
Costa Azul TravelGuide

Setúbal - Opposite to the Tróia Peninsula (18 km of beaches and golf courses) is the city of the Sado river (an important natural reserve). Places of interest: Museum, churches of Jesus and São João (Manueline), São Domingos, Boa Hora, Santa Maria da Graça and São Julião. The castle includes a Pousada, overlooking Setúbal .
Costa Azul Travel Guide
Accommodation: Pousada São Filipe,

Sintra - In the center stands the National Palace, with its beautiful painted rooms and huge pair of conical chimneys, the Village's ex-libris. Other palaces: Pena, Seteais (18th century and currently a luxurious hotel) and Monserrate, renowned for its gardens and water courses. The churches of São Martinho (Romanesque origin), Santa Maria (Roman-Gothic) and São Pedro of Penaferrim (15th - 16th centuries). Nearby are the church of Santo António do Penedo (16th century) and Peninha Hermitage (Baroque tile works). The Toy Museum, with over 20 000 pieces from the 16th to the 20th century. In the suburbs: the Capuchos Convent (16th century) and Cabo da Roca (the westernmost point in continental Europe). Sintra Travel Guide
Accommodation: Palácio Seteais*****, Tivoli Sintra****,  Quinta de São Thiago (Guest House),  Convent São Saturnino (Guest House)
Guided Tours

Other places of interest Alcácer do Sal, Azeitão, Azenhas do Mar, Bombarral, Calda da Rainha, Colares, Ourém (Pousada Conde de Ourém ), Seixal (Eco museum), Serra da Arrábida (beach and convent).

REGIONAL GASTRONOMY

This region is a fish heaven where you can find fresh bass and cockle, and the mussels from Ericeira and Cabo do Roca; the red mullets, clams and oysters from Setúbal; the swordfish from Sesimbra and the crustaceans from Cascais.
Other specialities typical of this area include the goat and sheep cheeses from Sobral de Monte Agraço and from Azeitão, the pastries from Malveira and the "pão de ló" from Loures, the nuts and egg dainties from Cascais, the "zimbros" (gin cakes) from Sesimbra, the "queijadas" (little cheese cakes) from
Sintra; the wines from Colares, Bucelas, Setúbal, Carcavelos and the famous "muscatel" wine from Setúbal. In Lisbon itself, you can try all the specialities of Portuguese cuisine. In this city, you will mainly find typical country dishes like grilled sardines, clams "à Bulhão Pato" style, fish soups "à fragateira" style ... and varied and tasty dishes cooked with codfish. Apart from all the desserts available to you, do not forget to try the local Belém custard pies.

FESTIVITIES

Popular Saints' Celebrations - Lisbon, June
S. Pedro Festival - Montijo, June
Festas do Colete Encarnado - Vila Franca de Xira, July
Estoril Handicrafts Fair - July and August
Santiago Fair - Setúbal, July and August
Sea Festival - Sesimbra, September

HANDICRAFTS

Wicker baskets and other objects
Copper utensils
Embroideries and lace
Pottery, artistic and popular ceramics


Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon

Accommodation | Sightseeing Guided Tours | Golf
Places of interest | Regional gastronomy | Festivities | Handicrafts
Portugal > Tourism > Lisbon's Coast > Accommodation

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Portugal Virtual

Lisbon's Coast
Tourism