Perhaps your trip is not complete without a stop at Sintra and Cascais, two unmissable places only half an hour away from Lisbon. The coast harbours many secrets – come and discover them along the coastal avenue connecting the Estoril bay to Cascais. Luxury hotels, a Casino, Renaissance fortresses and 19th and 20th century palaces will feed your eyes. Meet Cascais, a village of fishermen that became the refuge of aristocrats and artists. We then head towards the coast of wild beaches and cliffs until we arrive at the westernmost point of Europe, Cabo da Roca.

Here the landscape becomes a blend of sea and mountain – and through the mountain we go and meet the historical centre of Sintra, part of Unesco’s Cultural Heritage. Sintra was one of the first centres of European Romantic architecture, where the royal family lived and English aristocrats sought shelter during the French Invasions. What is unique about it is the way the heritage was built in harmony with the natural landscape – they are pearls of landscape architecture concentrated in one same village. We will stop at the enigmatic, mystical Quinta da Regaleira (spoiler alert: for Masonry fans), the unusual Pena Palace and the magnificent Mozarabic National Palace with its 10 centuries of history. The food of the region will be tasted at “Refúgio da Roca”.