2-Day Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais and Estoril Shore Excursion

Day 1: Lisbon old town and Belém quarter

Lisbon When you arrive in Lisbon, meet your driver at Lisbon Port and start your Lisbon experience. Stand in awe of Lisbon Cathedral, built in 1150 on the site of an old mosque by Portugal's first king. Nearby, visit the Fado Museum to trace the evolution and passion behind Portugal’s famous fado style of music. In the Alfama area, visit St George's Castle (Castelo de Sao Jorge) atop the highest hill in the city. Learn about how the castle changed hands from the ancient Visigoths to the Moors to Portugal's royalty in medieval times. Admire Alfama’s maze of red rooftops and pastel-colored houses from above at Largo das Portas do Sol, the original Moorish gateway.

Stop for lunch (own expense), and then soak up the bohemian atmosphere of the Bairro Alto neighborhood and the newly improved Cais do Sodré district. Wander Lisbon's many plazas, including Restauradores Square, Rossio Square and Comércio Square. Visit the remarkable Tower of Belém and Jerónimos Monastery, designated together as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You’ll also learn about the significance of the Discoveries Monument, honoring Henry the Navigator, who led Portugal’s discovery expeditions into the New World in the 15th century. Finish your day with an Cruise ship drop-off and spend your night at leisure.

Day 2: Lisbon – Sintra – Cascais – Estoril – Lisbon

Start with a morning pickup for a day trip to Sintra. Leave the urban capital behind and venture 35 minutes northwest to Sintra, which brushes up against the Sintra Mountains and beautiful Sintra-Cascais Nature Park. A breakfast stop along the way can be organized at your own expense. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed town became the first center of European Romantic architecture in the 19th century, and its cultural landscape is dotted with royal retreats, estates, castles and buildings from the 8th century and beyond. Visit Sintra’s most renowned attractions like Pena Palace, Castle of the Moors, Sintra National Palace, Queluz National Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. You will visit the Pena Palace inside.

Enjoy a fresh fish lunch at a restaurant on the beach, and spend the rest of your afternoon discovering the other side of the Sintra mountains. Visit the cosmopolitan coastal town of Cascais, a former fishing village that transformed into a cosmopolitan resort town after gaining fame from Portugal's royal family in the 19th century. In the village of Estoril, visit Casino Estoril, the largest casino in Europe that was reputed to be a secret gathering spot during World War II. Just west of Cascais, enjoy views over the cliffs of Cabo da Roca and spot the dramatic Boca do Inferno cliff formation (Hell’s Mouth).