Less than an hour from Lisbon lies Sintra, home to Pena Palace, the brainchild of the Romanticism-loving D. Fernando II. You can also explore the unique architecture of the eccentric Quinta da Regaleira. As you wander through the winding streets of the village centre, be sure to stop by Piriquita to sample some of the traditional sweets. Due to its location between the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, Sintra has a unique microclimate. If the weather permits, why not have lunch near the beach? You could also visit Azenhas do Mar, a village nestled into the hillsides.

On the way back to Lisbon, you will travel along the coast, stopping at Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in Europe, and the picturesque fishing village of Cascais. In the second half of the 19th century, sea bathing became more popular, and when King D. Luís I made the Cascais fortress his summer residence, the nobility turned the fishing village into a seaside resort complete with palaces and grand villas.