This is a medieval town, still with its old fortifications in place that is an absolute marvel and…read morea must-do whenever you're visiting Portugal. There are so many cute shops to choose from and the entire walking experience was both picturesque and relaxing. The town is full of shops that offer good items at very reasonable prices. Among all of the towns that I visited, the souvenirs here were definitely among the best and very unique. There are lots of historic sites to visit and cobblestone streets are everywhere. The one thing to keep in mind is given a lot of roads are uneven for obvious reasons, older people should take notice when walking. I saw quite a few older folks in my group have trouble navigating the walk, that is something to watch out for.

Quaint little medieval town inside castle walls. There's lots of venders, restaurants, and a…read moretheater with stage. There's also restrooms for guests to use. A definite must when visiting Portugal.

UNESCO World Heritage Site…read more The palace is also known as "The Palace of Monteiro the Millionaire." The exterior is a sight to behold. Beyond the palace, there is an extensive park that features lakes, grottoes, wells, fountains, etc. The initiation well is a must. It consists of a spiral staircase with 9 platforms. I enjoyed our visit here, but wished I had more time exploring the grounds.

This was an enchanting and somewhat otherworldly property with mystical grounds, initiation wells…read moreand hidden paths. This quinta, or manor house, is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its cultural homage to freemasonry, the Knights Templar, and Gothic/Roman/Renaissance architecture. We weren't entirely sure what to expect, but I felt like this could be the setting for a new Dan Brown novel. The four-hectare grounds included the palace, a chapel, a 9-story initiation well (apparently used by free masons for ritualistic purposes, and also meant to represent Dante's 9 levels of hell?), and other mystical oddities. We spent the next two hours exploring the ins and outs of the forest, walking down the well and doing our own sort of initiation, exploring underground tunnels and grottos, and walking through the manor house. It was a unique experience and would definitely recommend as one of the attractions to do on a Sintra day trip

Don't expect huge waves during the summer, it's apparently more impressive later in the year in…read moreoct/nov. Great view though and still gives you bragging rights for having been to the place where the infamous huge waves were filmed.

Cabo Da Roca is the westernmost point of mainland Europe. It looks out into the Atlantic Ocean…read more There is also a lighthouse and hiking trails. The place was crowded with tourist buses. We had about 20 minutes here, so no hiking along the cliffs for us. We spent half that time in the bathroom line (.50€).

This place almost has a mythic quality to it - being it's the westernmost point of continental…read moreEurope and all. It's a little bit of a schlep to get here but it's worth the effort once you arrive. As I just described, this is basically where you stand and look at the ocean - the same ocean where people sailed hundreds of years ago west with no idea where they were headed other than the promise of a new land. That's the kind of feeling you get when you stand here. Or if you're not nostalgic or into history - you're going to stand here take nice photos and complain nonstop about how windy this place is because it will literally blow your hats off the second you walk to the ocean side area. There are a few monuments and memorial areas that you can take photos at, but the real draw here is the sense of vastness before you as you stand there and take in the vibes. Again it is WINDY as hell here - so if you're wearing very little clothing or lots of loose clothing, you've been warned. Plus, the weather here changes fast and it's not unusual to see rain just sweep in which is what I encountered when I was there. Take the wind and rain together and it's not a lot of fun so just be mindful of what you're wearing.

Great place to wander around in. This is a huge castle, then the interpretation in English is…read morepretty good. There are tiles from the 17th century inside. You get to wander all over, looking at the dorm rooms that the monks lived in. You also get to see their kitchen and eating area as well as gardens. And of course the church inside is very very beautiful. I do not know much about the Templars before coming here, but they were a very interesting group.

If you like the story of the Knights Templar you should come here…read more This was Called the Convent of Christ. It was the temple where the Knights Templar lived when they were betrayed by the king of France and disbanded by the pope and fled France. Those who survived fled to Portugal where King Dinis reamed them the Knights of Christ. The symbol of the Knights of Christ is slightly different than the Knights Templar but you can see the similarity. The inner chapel is very ornate and beautiful which showed the money that they had. I loved putting the history together with the actual place.

This is a special part of the area because what appears to be a thin road separating two beaches…read morewas once not a road and separated Baleal as an island. It's quite scenic to overlook into the distance and see two completely different beaches directly facing each other with a thin one way road that cars and pedestrians share to cross into the beach. Primarily known for surfing, Baleal and it's southern neighbor Peniche are big spots where surfers visit to get their wave on. Easily the Surfing capital of Europe, this little tiny island is the classier spot that sets it apart from the southern strips which lack such scenic cliffs and architecture. All of Portugal is heavenly but Baleal and it's history seem to strike me on a different level. If you find your way as westbound as you can, there's some cliffs in the rear of some massive oceanfront homes which with the right gear can be easily climbed. It's also a lively spot to see the sundown in all its glory. When Baleal first was incorporated all that existed was the Surfcastle and the Church on the edge of the cliff. It's quite a scenic little town now bustling with several restaurants and shops. I do recommend this beach...or should I say beaches. Bring a wetsuit as it can be very cold in those waters.

The older of the 2 cathedrals in Coimbra, built primarily in a Romanesque style. Lots of historic…read morearchitecture and art, with a sumptuous altarpiece. The portals (outside doors) are lovely. The Gothic cloister is small but makes for a nice walk.

Gorgeous, Manuelline-style architecture…read more Two Euros for admission Beautifully maintained grounds Tours available