Arrábida Natural Park and Sesimbra Day Trip from Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal
Rating: 
Trip Type: Day Trips
Duration: 10 hours
Swap Lisbon’s sights for the quaint charms of Sesimbra and Arrábida Natural Park on this day trip. Travel with an expert guide into the heart of Arrábida Natural Park, a protected area on the shore of the Sado Estuary. Visit Cabo Espichel’s hilltop sanctuary and the Moorish castle in the fishing village of Sesimbra. After, make the most of your free time to laze on Arrábida’s secluded beaches, visit Setúbal Castle and Palmela Castle, or sample local food and wine in Azeitão. Alternatively, upgrade to enjoy a 3-hour dolphin cruise.
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Swap Lisbon’s sights for the quaint charms of Sesimbra and Arrábida Natural Park on this day trip. Travel with an expert guide into the heart of Arrábida Natural Park, a protected area on the shore of the Sado Estuary. Visit Cabo Espichel’s hilltop sanctuary and the Moorish castle in the fishing village of Sesimbra. After, make the most of your free time to laze on Arrábida’s secluded beaches, visit Setúbal Castle and Palmela Castle, or sample local food and wine in Azeitão. Alternatively, upgrade to enjoy a 3-hour dolphin cruise.
Begin with a pickup from your centrally located Lisbon hotel, and then travel by comfortable minivan to Arrábida Natural Park. Cross over the iconic 25th of April Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril) and gaze out the window as the city sights give way to the undulating Cascais coastline.
After around an hour on the road, enter the verdant Arrábida Natural Park. Hear interesting facts and details about the protected region from your expert guide, and drink in breathtaking views of the Albufeira Lagoon (Lagoa de Albufeira) whose swamps are inhabited by ducks and other migratory birds.
Make your first stop at Cabo Espichel to visit Santuário de Nossa Senhora do Cabo Espichel, a peaceful clifftop sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of the Cape. Explore the religious site with your guide and capture postcard-perfect photos of the Atlantic Ocean.
Continue to the pretty fishing village of Sesimbra. Visit the Moorish castle to explore independently. Then, enjoy free time for lunch (own expense) in Sesimbra or the neighboring bay of Portinho da Arrábida.
After lunch, join back up with your guide. If you’ve upgraded, set off on your 3-hour dolphin cruise. Board your luxury catamaran and listen to the live onboard commentary as you scan the waters for dolphins.
Alternatively, spend your time lazing on the golden sands of Arrábida’s hidden beaches, Praia dos Coelhos (Rabbits’ Beach) and Praia do Piloto (Pilot’s Beach). Depending on the group’s preferences, you’ll also have time to visit Setúbal Castle and Palmela Castle, or you can choose to end your day trip with a food and wine tasting in Azeitão village. Visit a local wine cellar and savor two varietals of Portuguese wine, accompanied by Azeitão cheese and tortas de Azeitão (sweet pastry).
When the time comes, return to your minivan and relax on the journey back to Lisbon. Your day trip then concludes with a drop-off at your hotel.
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