Beautiful Holidays in Costa de Lisboa, Portugal

When planning your holiday in Portugal, the Costa de Lisboa is an area you simply can’t miss visiting. The Coast of Lisbon is dotted with scenic sights that you will fall in love with as you travel through. In addition, there are many towns in the district of Lisbon that have wonderful vacation villas to make your stay comfortable. These holiday rentals can be found either right on the coast or a little farther inland.

A gem of the Lisbon region is the Costa Azul, which literally translates to Blue Coast. The Costa Azul wraps around the peninsula formed by the Serra da Arrabida. This mountain is nearly five hundred metres in height and is located within the Arrabida Natural Park. While visiting the Costa Azul, you’ll find the seafood irresistible. The local waters are so populated with specialties such as eel and swordfish that these dishes are abundantly available. The Costa Azul is a region steeped in history and home to many churches and Romanesque sites that are a tribute to a time long past.

For outdoor adventures while on holiday on the Costa de Lisboa, the Arrabida Natural Park is home to not only the Serra da Arrabida but also several beautiful beaches, including the Portinho da Arrabida and Figueirinha. The area formed on the Costa Azul by these scenic beaches and the Serra da Arrabida is called the Setubal peninsula. Only forty kilometres south of Lisbon, Setubal is on the Rio Sado. One best known historic ruin to visit in Setubal is the ancient Roman town of Cetobriga, which is now partially submerged. A once prosperous fishing town, the Cetobriga has lain in ruins for many centuries. You can easily find comfortable and affordable accommodation while visiting Setubal, as it is so easily accessible from Lisbon and is a large area. In fact, Setubal is the third largest port in Portugal.

At the base of the Serra da Arrabida, you can find the municipality of Sesimbra, on the bay of Setubal. A famous tourist town, Sesimbra offers delicious seafood, an exciting nightlife and beautiful beaches. A small area, you can nevertheless find beautiful vacation apartments for your stay along the Costa Azul.

Another town you simply cannot miss during your holiday in Portugal is Sintra, located just a short distance from Lisbon. With nearly a half million residents, Sintra is really a fair-sized city, but prefers to be known as a town. The Serra de Sintra, or Sintra Mountain Range, is one of the most beautiful outdoor attractions in the region. Sintra has played host to quite a variety of visitors over the past millennia, including an invasion of Moors, the return to Portuguese rule with the help of the Crusaders, a docking by Christopher Columbus when his ships experienced troubles, and a contingent of both French and Portuguese rulers who in 1808 signed the Convention of Sintra which brought an end to the French occupation of Portugal. Because of the amount of historic Roman architecture in Sintra, it is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The municipality of Sintra contains the city of Queluz, which is home to the beautiful Queluz Palace, as well as the Pousada de Dona Maria. The Pousada, which originally housed the servants to the residents of the Palace, is now a hotel offering holiday rentals to give your stay a taste of history.

Two other towns in the Costa de Lisboa area include Cascais and Ericeira. Both lie only thirty kilometres from Lisbon and are costal towns. Cascais, which is easily reached by auto or train from Lisbon, is known by tourists for its yacht harbour, its golf courses, as well as its beautiful beaches. Ericeira is famous for its waters, which provide challenges even to the most experienced surfers. Lovely St. Sebastian Beach is a must-see when visiting Ericeira. You will be able to find a variety of rentals options in these towns, from low-cost apartments to high end villas.

No matter which towns and sights on your itinerary throughout the Costa de Lisboa, you will find many beautiful attractions and will be able to find accordable and comfortable accommodations for your stay.