More than a tour company, we share a passion, called Lisbon. Prepare yourself for riding around the best places the city has to offer and to be an explorer of its secrets. Nothing is ever predictable with us.
You are invited to explore the central-west part of Portugal. We will start in Fatima, one of Catholicism’s major shrines (read more here), and a town visited by 6 million people every year, where it is said that the Virgin Mary appeared to three children – Lúcia (10 years old), Francisco (9 years old) and Jacinta (7 years old) – every single month from May 13th, 1917 until October 13th, 1917. There were several prophetic messages and many stories shared with these three shepherd children (‘pastorinhos’). This is commonly known as the three secrets of Fatima. At the sanctuary, there is a segment of the Berlin Wall, a tribute to ‘God’s part’ in the fall of communism.After leaving Fatima, we will ride west to Nazaré for a lunch break, embracing the cliffs and providing stunning views. In Nazaré we will also perceive the smell of grilled fish and realize that we are in a fishing village. Nazare is one of the most picturesque Portuguese coastal cities and is now also one of the most popular places to surf in the world. In 2011, the biggest wave in the world (nearly 24m; 79ft) was surfed here by Garrett McNamara, an American professional big wave surfer.This tour continues throughout the historic town of Obidos. The town was taken from the Moorish army in 1148 and since that time was part of the dowry of several queens of Portugal, that’s why it is often called the Queen´s town. Nowadays Obidos still has a medieval town completely inside the old walls, with cobblestone streets and flower-bedecked houses. Obidos is also known for the Ginjinha, a sweet cherry liquor that you will have the opportunity to taste. After that, you will have some free time on your own to explore the scenic town before going back to Lisbon. We are pretty sure that you will fall in love with this small town.Finally, it is time to go back to Lisbon.
Departing from Lisbon, we will head towards the enchanting Sintra Mountain. We will begin our day by visiting the stunning village of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995. After our guided exploration, you will have some free time to discover this fairy tale village, historically known as the “Mountain of the Moon” by the Greeks and Romans, and rich in Moorish influences.To start the day off right, we’ll visit a family-run bakery that has been operating since 1862, where you can enjoy the famous travesseiros (pillows). These delightful pastries are made by turning, rolling, and folding the dough seven times before filling them with a delicious almond-and-egg-yolk cream and lightly dusting them with sugar. Alternatively, you might try the Sintra cheesecakes, which date back to the 13th century, when they were used as a form of rent payment.Next, we will cross the mystical mountain of Sintra on our way to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the journey, we will pass through the charming village of Colares, where you can learn about local wines that have been produced since the 13th century. We will make a stop at Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, featuring a breathtaking sheer cliff that rises 150 meters above the ocean.It will then be time for a lunch break as we drive toward Cascais. Once a humble fishing village, Cascais became popular as a resort for Portugal’s royal family in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, it is a favored vacation spot for both locals and international tourists, boasting small museums, picturesque gardens, a sparkling marina, and a charming pedestrian old town. While in Cascais, you will have the chance to taste the renowned ice cream from Santini’s Gelati, often considered the best ice cream in the world! Santini’s has been delighting taste buds since 1947.After lunch, we’ll embark on an unforgettable experience as we visit the Pena Palace. Admission to the palace and its park is included in the price if the option is selected. The palace’s origins trace back to the Middle Ages, when a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena was built atop the Sintra Mountain following a reported apparition of the Virgin Mary. The current palace, dating back to 1839, was commissioned by King Ferdinand II, who transformed the ruins of the 500-year-old Hieronymite Monastery into a residence that reflected his romantic aesthetic. Today, the palace stands as one of the foremost examples of 19th-century romanticism in the world, resembling a scene straight out of a Disney fairy tale (read more here).Finally, we will return to Lisbon, concluding our wonderful day of exploration.
Starting in Lisbon, you will embark on a small group tour (with a maximum of 8 people) heading south. Your journey begins with a crossing of the April 25th Bridge, which resembles the Golden Gate Bridge. This impressive suspension bridge connects the northern and southern parts of Lisbon and was named in honor of the revolution that took place on April 25, 1974, which ended the Salazar dictatorship.Your first stop will be the Azulejos de Azeitao, a workshop that employs traditional European tile-making techniques and recreates antique designs from Europe, as well as Islamic and Chinese cultures. Here, you can explore flat hand-painted tiles and relief tiles with various color glazes, inspired by 16th-century Hispano-Moorish tiles. This workshop is one of the most renowned in the southern region of Lisbon.Next, you’ll explore Arrabida UNESCO Park, a protected area known for its unique Mediterranean plants, including olives, pistachios, strawberries, lavender, thyme, and chamomile. As you drive along the Atlantic coast, you’ll stop at several points to enjoy breathtaking views of stunning beaches and azure waters. In the heart of Arrabida UNESCO Park, you’ll find the Convento da Arrabida (Arrabida Monastery), founded in 1542 by Friar Martinho de Santa Maria, a Castilian Franciscan. This remarkable building is completely isolated in the mountains.This journey will then take you to the Quinta de Catralvos winery, a family-owned establishment offering spectacular views of its vineyards. Here, you can enjoy local wines (5 wines) and appetizers (cheese and pastries) while being guided through the winery and cellars. You’ll learn about the entire wine production process, from the vine to the glass.Afterward, you’ll arrive at Sesimbra, a charming fishing village on the Atlantic coast. Nestled around a bay and surrounded by towering cliffs, turquoise waters, and beautiful sandy beaches, Sesimbra is home to exceptional seafood that is always delicious. In the town center, you’ll find narrow streets lined with terracotta-roofed houses and a picturesque promenade adorned with palm trees. You may choose to have lunch, visit the Santiago Fortress (Fortaleza de Santiago)—part of Portugal’s coastal defenses and a summer retreat for Portuguese kings—or relax on the beautiful California and Ouro beaches, known for their soft sands and crystal-clear waters.Your journey continues at the Jose Maria da Fonseca winery, a family-owned winery that has been in operation for nearly 200 years, established in 1834 by six generations of the same family. The guided visit begins in the owner’s house and continues through the ancient wine cellars. Some of the wines you will discover here are over 100 years old, and at the end of the tour, you will have the opportunity to taste some of their exceptional wines (2 wines).Finally, you’ll visit the site of the Christ the King Statue (Cristo Rei), which offers the best viewpoint of Lisbon. From here, you can enjoy stunning views of the city and the Tagus River. Inspired by the statue in Brazil, this monument was erected in 1959 to express gratitude to God for sparing Portugal from the horrors of World War II. There is an entrance fee for going up to the statue, but the view from the bottom is quite similar.At the end of your tour, you’ll head back to Lisbon, crossing the Tagus River again via the April 25th Bridge.
Olá! You wiOlá! You will learn about the City of Seven Hills, enjoy the amazing views and vibes that Lisbon has to offer and experience the best viewpoints of the city – we call them miradouros, which means ‘golden views’ – you will understand why! For example, the miradouro of Nossa Senhora do Monte is where we will get an amazing perspective of the Castle of Lisbon and of the old town which embraces the river. We will tour the most typical neighborhoods in Lisbon, such as Baixa, Chiado, Alfama, Graça, or Mouraria.After all the up and down (it’s a very hilly city!), we will go south and cross the bridge that was named after the revolution day (25th of April Bridge) that finished the Salazar dictatorship in 1974. This bridge is often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA (it’s our Golden Gate). On the south side we will enjoy the best view of Lisbon at the Christ the King Statue. The statue was erected in 1959 to thank God for sparing Portugal from the horrors of World War II and it was inspired by the Brazilian version of this statue. You will be amazed by this astonishing view as well as be able to identify all of the places where we stopped.Then is time to go back to the 15th century to learn about all of the adventures of the brave Portuguese navigators. We will have the opportunity to appreciate different monuments, such as the magnificent Monastery of Jeronimos (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos), classified by UNESCO, which was built to celebrate the discovery of a sea route to India in 1498 by our most important navigator, Vasco da Gama. You can enjoy the outside and visit the church. We will also appreciate the remarkable Torre de Belem (outside only) or the beautiful Padrao dos Descobrimentos also known as Discoveries Monument (outside only).Last but not least, we will taste the best well-kept secret of the Portuguese pastry, the Pastéis de Belém! It’s a secret recipe invented by the monks in 1837 and it is still kept a secret. There is a local ritual to eating these delicacies that we will share with you (Pasteis de Belem are included in the price; 1 per person). This is the best way to end this introduction to Lisbon.Bem-vindo!
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