Alicia & John
Things To Do
Casino Estoril
Casino Estoril is a great gaming and leisure complex distinguished by its ability to boost the arts and entertainment, and which no tourists fail to visit. Located accross the street from our venue, Casino Estoril is the largest in Europe, consolidating, year after year, a worldwide prestige. Casino Estoril also has a modern auditorium with capacity for 350 people, which can host congresses, as well as jazz, theater, classical music or concerts. The art gallery is one of the most prestigious in the country, with permanent painting and sculpture exhibitions. Meanwhile, the Chinese restaurant Estoril Mandarim has been distinguished as one of the most elegant in Europe, offering its customers the authentic art of cooking in the region of Guangdong, made with imported products.
Park and National Palace of Pena
Located just north of the Estoril in Sintra, the Pena National Palace is like a sacred jewel that crowns the Serra de Sintra. The surrounding park, in tune with the palace's magical character, awakens emotions of mystery and discovery. In its nooks and crannies, eyes are lost in charm. The colorful tones of the palace, the greatest exponent of Romanticism in Portugal and the eternal work of D. Fernando II, King-Artist, open doors to the imagination of all who arrive there, and the infinite shades of green that paint the surrounding park constitute a backdrop idyllic, often under the veil of the characteristic fog of the Sintra mountains. As if out of a fairy tale, this place makes all generations of those who pass by and are dazzled by it.
Castelo de São Jorge
The most recognized of Lisbon's major attractions, St. George's Castle commands a glorious position near Alfama on the crown of a hill overlooking the Portuguese capital. This is one of Lisbon's most popular tourist destinations. Its impressive battlements, engaging museum, and fascinating archaeological site combine to make the castle a rewarding experience for the whole family, and kids especially will love clambering over the sturdy walls and towers that encircle the grounds. There's been a stronghold on this site since the Iron Age, but it was a castle that the Moors defended against invading Christian forces before finally being overrun in 1147 by Afonso Henriques. The victorious king built the Aláçova Palace, home to subsequent monarchs until a new royal residence was constructed near the river. (The palace foundations form part of the excavations seen today.)
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
A highlight of any Lisbon sightseeing tour, the 16th-century Jerónimos monastery is one of the great landmarks of Portugal, a stunning monument of immense historic and cultural significance deserving of its UNESCO World Heritage Site accolade. Near the riverfront in Lisbon's attractive Belém neighborhood, the monastery, also known as the Hieronymite convent, was commissioned by King Manuel I in 1501. Built to honor Vasco da Gama's epic 1498 voyage to India, Jerónimos is as much a symbol of the wealth of the Age of Discovery as it is a house of worship (construction was mostly funded by trade in the spices brought back by da Gama). Star features of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos include the fantastically elaborate south portal and the beautiful and serene Manueline cloister. Vasco da Gama's tomb lies just inside the entrance to Santa Maria church.
Oceanário de Lisboa
The Lisbon Oceanarium is one of Europe's finest aquariums, and one of the largest in the world. It's also arguably the most family-orientated of all the city's visitor attractions. Designed by Peter Chermayeff and built for the Expo 98 World Exposition in an area now known as Parque das Nações, the oceanarium is home to a mind-boggling array of fish and marine animals, including dozens of different species of birds. The ingenious layout represents four separate sea- and landscapes, effectively the habitats of the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Antarctic oceans. These surround an enormous central tank teeming with fish of all shapes and sizes including graceful rays, bulbous sunfish, and sleek sharks — kids' favorite denizens of the deep.
Museu Calouste Gulbenkian
A sparkling gem in Lisbon's cultural crown, the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian is also one of the most celebrated museums in Europe. The facility, sited in a lush, verdant park in the north of the city, is named after Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian, an Armenian oil magnate born in 1869, who bequeathed his vast private art collection to Portugal shortly before his death in 1955. Following the terms of this endowment a foundation was created, the centerpiece of which is this purpose-built arts complex. Gulbenkian's astonishing hoard features priceless artworks from around the world, which span 4000 years, from ancient Egyptian times to the late 20th century. With so many pieces from so many different periods in history to absorb, you can easily spend half a day browsing the exhibition galleries, but your patience will be rewarded with a mesmerizing journey through one of the finest collections of art on the continent.
Golfing
Lisbon and it's surrounding areas are full of World class golf courses. Established layouts such as Aroeira and Penha Longa have been joined by terrific new developments like West Cliffs & Praia D'El Rey in the North and Oitavos Dunes in the South. The Lisbon coast now offers a variety of superb golf courses to accompany the genuine taste of Portugal's great culture.
Surfing
Lisbon, as a capital city, is unique due to its blessed location next to the Tagus River and the Atlantic. The weather in Lisbon is also an attraction. The weather and the Atlantic make Lisbon a true surfing Paradise. Surfing in Lisbon is growing. For many reasons surf in Lisbon is becoming more and more popular. Locals do it after their work by catching a train to one of the nearby beaches. For visitors there are many surf tours in Lisbon too. Surf tours in Lisbon can be found for all kind of budgets. The budget to go surfing in Lisbon depends on transfers, duration of the lesson, size of the group, equipment included or not, food included or not, etc.