A pleasant walk up to the Castle starts in the town at the National Palace and follows the narrow lanes to a Parque das Merendas (picnic area), which weaves through the beautiful gardens towards the recently restored Sasseti Villa. A steep climb takes you up to a shaded hilltop, passing some huge granite boulders, eventually leading to Sintra's main tourist attractions, the Moorish Castle and Pena

It is dotted with secret caves and coves and home to some of the best waters for snorkelling and diving in the whole of Portugal. The whole region is ringed by a national marine park, which has helped to ensure clean seas. For the walker, this region is a paradise that has many interesting trails, fantastic viewpoints and a number of little-explored natural wonders

Cabo da Roca is a truly special place, being the westernmost point of continental Europe. The cape towers approximately 140 metres above sea-level, providing a panoramic view of the Serra de Sintra, the ocean and the coastline. While Cabo da Roca is one of the most visited natural sites in Portugal most people are unaware that it is also home to some of Portugal’s most dramatic and beautiful beaches, which offer unspoilt scenery at the very edge of Europe.

Visitors are often surprised by how close the beaches are to Portugal's capital city. There are over 20 beaches in this area that serve the population of the Greater Lisbon region and most of the beaches are easily accessed by train from Lisbon's Cais do Sodre train station, with many also having their own car park

Arrábida is a stunning national park that has a coastline which stretches from the city of Setúbal to the western-facing beaches north of its famous cape (Cabo Espichel). The south-facing beaches below the Serra da Arrábida are well known for their calm waters and golden sands, making them perfect for families. It has a distinctly Mediterranean feel that is a world away from the westerly-facing beaches of Sintra.

With its massive cliffs, wild landscape, impressive sanctuary and some of the best-preserved dinosaur footprints in Portugal, Cabo Espichel is among the most interesting attractions of the Arrábida National Park. It is located on the westernmost point of the park and offers wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Arrábida hills and, across the sea, the Serra de Sintra. It is also dotted with secret caves and coves and home to some of the best-hidden beaches in the whole of Portugal

We offer alternatives that help you escape the crowds, parking hassles and the summer onshore winds. Four of the most stunning beaches are a walk away from the cape itself, which is an option for those who catch the bus from Cascais to Cabo da Roca. Although the access to most of the beaches is challenging with demanding cliff walks and steep trails, we believe the rewards will speak for themselves.

This protected coastline between the popular seaside resort of Fonte da Telha and the Albufeira Lagoon is one of the most interesting in Europe. Popular with walkers and birdwatchers, all along the coast are rocks and formations of stunning beauty showing how the sea has progressively pulled back over millions of years, producing such magnificent coastal scenery