This tour will take you to Mafra, where a world heritage famous convent-palace takes place. The National Palace of Mafra, a complex consisting of a Royal Palace, a Basilica and a Convent, was completed in 1735, by the will of King D. João V by virtue of a promise he had made on behalf of the descendants he would obtain from the queen. It was the residence of the royal family for a few years, until the king's death, but never ceased to be one of the court's favorite places. Mafra's greatest treasure is the library. Here are kept books that are unique and rare examples of knowledge produced between the 15th and 19th centuries. After visiting the palace, head to the coast and arrive at Ericeira, a pretty fishing village. Its connection to the sea is undeniable, which you can enjoy exploring its narrow streets located in the Historic Center that take us back to other times. The cliffs along the shores of Ericeira beach also give it a unique beauty, as do the fishermen's boats that bring the best and freshest fish to land that can be tasted in many of the village's restaurants. Onwards, you will travel towards the interior, to discover Queluz National Palace, not infrequently called the Portuguese Versailles. It is an 18th century palace and was built as a summer retreat. Among the various rooms and other divisions of the palace such as the throne room, music room, ambassador's room, D. Quixote's room, among others, it is here where you will find the most interesting and important historical gardens in Portugal, present the most significant set of statues by the British sculptor John Cheere, outside English territory, which gives it great importance in the international art scene.

First stop will be Azenhas do Mar, a scenic village on the coast built in the "Portuguese Soft Style". Continue along the coast, passing by steep cliffs and wild beaches. Arrive in Ericeira, a village known for its blue and white buildings, as well as its lively food scene. Enjoy free time to explore the village at your own pace and have lunch. After lunch, head to Jose Franco, a working village and open-air museum that showcases the traditional culture and handicrafts of the área. End your tour with a visit to the magnificent Palace of Mafra, a masterpiece from the eighteenth century and one of the most important buildings in the Portuguese Baroque style. The palace is home to 92 bells, 1200 rooms, and over 4,700 doors and windows. It also hosts the oldest library in Portugal with about 36,000 volumes. Enjoy a tour of the site with your dedicated guide, who will share interesting facts and stories about the monument.

Make the most of your visit to Portugal by visiting the Palace of Mafra. Book your entry ticket and soak up the Neoclassical and Baroque architecture of this 18th-century masterpiece. Your ticket grants you access to the royal palace, convent, and basilica. The palace complex has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019. During your visit, travel back in time to the 18th century when the palace was regularly visited by kings and members of the royal family to attend religious feasts or hunt in the game reserve. The palace also boasts important collections of Italian sculptures, Italian and Portuguese paintings, a unique library with over 36,000 volumes, two carillons, six historical organs, and an 18th-century hospital.

Two hundred and fifty years ago Napoleon ordered his armies to invade Portugal as punishment the country for not having joined the blockage of all European ports to English navigation. Portugal asked for aid to England and a joint force of British and Portuguese commanded by Arthur Wellesley, future Duke of Wellington, was created to tackle the situation. To prepare the defense of the third and last invasion, Wellington's ingenious vision and his defensive strategy in theatres of war led to the construction in 1809, in record time, of a gigantic and impregnable defensive structure, covering twice the 40 km distance between the waters of the River Tagus and the Atlantic Ocean. Two parallel defensive lines were built along this route and 152 redoubts were created, equipped with 600 pieces of artillery, 140 thousand soldiers and an optical communication system with 10 stations. The mountains north of Lisbon were the key to this extraordinary defensive system. Marshal Massena exclaimed perplexed on arrival "What the devil! Wellington did not build these mountains!". Thirty-three days after several defeats and other unsuccessful attempts to break through the lines, Massena withdrew his troops from their positions in front of the lines in November 1810. In March 1811 he abandoned Portugal. The worst was yet to come for the invading armies. In this tour you will explore three of the main fortifications of the Defensive Lines: Alhandra Fort and Memorial, Zambujal Fort in Mafra and St. Vincent Fort in Torres Vedras. In Mafra, you will visit the magnificent Basilica of the baroque complex Palace and Convent built with the large amounts of gold brought from Brazil in the 18th century. This palace was the last residence of King João VI before the escape of the royal family to Brazil. Later it would be the headquarters of the French army during the first invasion commanded by Junot. The Lines of Wellington were subject to archaeological recovery, all the sites are properly documented in Portuguese and English, some forts have modern interpretation centers equipped with audiovisual aids, photos, videos, brochures, models and books about the Lines of Torres Vedras and the Peninsular War in Portugal.

Explore the Royal Palaces in Lisbon and their surroundings, which are filled with stories, myths, and legends. See wonderful monuments during an amazing day of sightseeing. Start at the National Palace of Queluz. Then head to the Park and National Palace of Pena in the Sintra Municipality. Finally, end at the Palacio Nacional de Mafra.

Your private full-day tour is designed to take you on a journey of history, beauty and indulgence as you explore the best of Mafra and its surroundings. The tour begins with a convenient pick-up from your Lisbon accommodation, after which you will embark on a drive to Mafra to visit the magnificent Mafra National Palace. This grand palace-monastery was built by King João V in 1717 to celebrate the birth of his first child, and is considered one of the most stunning architectural masterpieces in the world. On your tour, you will marvel at the palace's grand details, including over 5000 doorways, 2500 windows, 880 rooms, 154 grand staircases, 29 courtyards and 330 monks' cells. You will also have the chance to admire the palace's stunning library, which is considered one of Europe's finest, housing over 40,000 rare volumes, including the earliest edition of Homer in Greek, a trilingual bible from the early 16th century, and a first edition of Os Lusíadas by Luís de Camões. After your tour of the Mafra National Palace, you will travel to the nearby Olaria Típica João Franco (Typical Village of José Franco). This miniature working village showcases the traditional culture and handicrafts of the region, crafted using traditional techniques by renowned Portuguese potter and sculptor José Silos Franco. This is a fascinating and surreal experience, depicting the true story of the region and arousing the curiosity of travelers of all ages. You will also have the opportunity to taste traditional bread with sausage (pão com chouriço) and buy handmade pottery from the on-site shop. After your visit to Olaria Típica João Franco, you will travel to the charming fishing village of Ericeira. This authentic fisherman town is famous for its history, cliffs, sandy beaches, surfing, fresh seafood and fresh fish. Here, you will take a leisurely stroll and taste the local gastronomy, getting a glimpse into the rich history of the town. It is the perfect place for a fresh fish lunch and a chance to admire the beauty of the region. In conclusion, this full-day tour is a unique opportunity to experience the best of Mafra and its surroundings, combining history, culture, architecture, food, and natural beauty.

In a quiet environment a few minutes from the capital, explore a great selection of the best villages near Sintra. The fact that these villages continue to have unusual life habits, they recreate the way of life of Portugal's ancestors, preserved through smells, colors, and traditions. Visit the charming Azenhas do Mar, a village that has become one of the most famous Portuguese tourist spots. Discover the village of Penedo, perched high on a hillside still home to traditional houses. Walk along its steep and winding streets and alleys. It is a treasure of the traditional architecture of the saloia region. Visit secret villages where you will feel like you are in an open-air museum, where the way of life of Portugal's ancestors is preserved. Travel back in time in the village of José Franco. Get to know a local man's dream that recreated a village of ethnographic character, a testimony to the way of life of the ancient local people.

Step back in time and enjoy a private tour through streets of the walled town of Óbidos, the best-preserved "museum village" in Portugal. Also, visit the Palácio Nacional de Mafra, one of the biggest 18th-century baroque palaces in Europe. Explore Óbidos, which was conquered by Portugal´s first king, D. Afonso Henriques, on January 11th, 1148. Since then, Óbidos continues to be part of Portugal’s history. Here you will visit the various highlights of the Fortified village of Óbidos. Walking inside the village also allows you to taste the Ginjinha and other local goods and crafts. Discover the palace of Mafra. A magnificent building that was only possible due to the Brazilian gold that poured into the country, allowing King João V to carry out the building of the biggest baroque palaces from the 18th century. Learn about its construction, which began on November 17, 1717, integrating four buildings in one: the palace, the convent, the basilica, and a library. The complex covers an area of almost four hectares (37.790 sqm2). It includes an incredible 1,200 rooms, more than 4,700 doors and windows, 156 stairways, and 29 inner yards and courtyards. Walkthrough the longest corridor ever built in a palace (232 m long) that is made of limestone and marble from the Óbidos, Pêro Pinheiro, and Sintra regions.  Go inside the library, one of the most important in Europe. The impressive library has an enormous variety of books, more than 30.000 volumes, from the XVth to the XVIIIth century. Look up to see two massive towers flanking the palace. Next, see the basilica, a “centerpiece” of the facade having been designed by the German architect Johann Friedrich Ludwig, commissioned by D. João V. Note that If you are visiting in July, Óbidos castle hosts a traditional ‘Medieval Market’. For two weeks the castle and the surrounding town recreate the spirit of medieval Europe. Flowing banners and heraldic flags set the mood together with daily parades, hundreds of entertainers and stall workers dressed as traditional merchants, jugglers, jesters, wandering minstrels, soldiers, and more. There are also displays of jousting knights and armed combat.

After being picked up from your accommodation, it is an hours drive, roof down, up the motorway to the stunning town of Orbidos. Admire the views from the motorway and as we approach down the hill. You will get an opportunity to spend about 2 hours here, exploring the narrow streets, shops and cafes, take in the views from the city walls, drink Ginjinha de Óbidos (sour cherry brandy) or coffee if you like!! Once you have finished exploring you can either remain here for lunch or head to the coast and the gorgeous town of Foz do Arelho. You can lunch at one of the shoreline cafes, whilst admiring the views across the sand to the lagoon in one direction and the Atlantic Ocean in the other. Take a walk along the beach, spend time soaking up the sun, the time is yours. When you have had enough it is back in the car and onto Mafia with it's stunning palace.. You will be amazed at it's size and beauty as we approach Mafra. Be stunned as we approach the palace. Here you will get about 2 hours to explore the palace in all it's glory. When your legs can take no more, it's time for a coffee before returning to your accommodation either by motorway (Lisbon) or the coastal road (Cascais/Sintra).

Heading just outside of Lisbon make your first stop at Queluz National Palace and Gardens. Known as little Versailles, enjoy the opportunity to explore French style garden and a cell room of a troubled queen. Continuing northwest of Lisbon reach Ericeira, a small fishing town nowadays very famous because of the surf culture. There are only 3 surfing reserves in the world and one of them it's Ericeira. Relax and unwind as you explore the town and the coastline. Finish your tour with a stop at Mafra, a small town built in front of an 18th century Convent. This monument is also a church, a palace, a library and a garden. Discover the many charms of this impressive and unforgettable place before heading back to Lisbon.