Things to do:
Superb family retreat with great beach access: - Beaches galore all along the nearby coast, great for surfing. Many fine seafood and other restaurants nearby, Excellent golf courses close by with an added option for tennis, riding, mountain biking, or great just to relax by the pool at the property, with its breath-taking mountain views. Historic Lisbon and Sintra nearby, with art galleries and palaces and festivals. Unusually, for Portugal, there are many fabulous walks also nearby, both along the coastal clifftops and in the mountain and on the hilltop mountain of Sintra - An organic farm shop is 10 minutes walk away. Other shops, street markets and supermarkets are all nearby, and tourist shopping is just a short drive away in Sintra. The old and nearby small town of Colares is famous for its wine, and the viticulture cellars and facilities can be visited. There are festivals in the summer in Sintra (arts and music).
Beaches:
The local region is famous for its beaches, restaurants, palaces, walking and golf. And Lisbon is only 30-40 minutes away. The beaches of Sintra's coastline are Praia Grande (great for surfing), Praia das Maçãs, Praia da Adraga, Praia da Ursa and Magoito, all 10 to 20 minutes car trip from the house. There is another really big beach called Guincho along the coastal route to Cascais where the surfing world championships have been held. Around the sandy stretch of the Praia das Maçãs there are several restaurants, cafés, bars, a disco, as well as shops selling local crafts, esplanades and excellent food both in the summer or in the winter. A picturesque tramline connects Praia das Maçãs, Colares and Sintra. There are also a number of excellent restaurants along the Guincho beach coastline.
About Sintra:
Sintra is a great place to visit. The old town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. Scattered on the hillside there are buildings and sites of historical and architectural interest. The most unusual is possibly Palácio da Pena, a 19th Century folly built by D. Fernando II boasting different styles. Within the old town there are several museums, including the famous Museum do Brinquedo showing toys from the past and present. The most interesting old building is the well-preserved medieval Palacio Nacional do Sintra, in the old town, which is well worth a visit. There are many handicraft and antiques shops. The modern art gallery is new and really good. It has new shows all the time. It is located in the newer part of the town. You can see Sintra by horse-drawn carriages, which will take you around the town as well as Sintra's mountains. Overlooking the town are the ruined ramparts of the Castelo dos Mouros & the Palace of Pena.
Golf:
Sintra is also good for golf, there are 8 courses within easy reach, and a driving range. The Penha Longa course (home of the Estoril Open) is 12 km away and hosts several championships. It has an excellent level of maintenance and beautiful panoramic views over the Sintra hills. Also nearby are Estoril Golf, Quinta da Marinha Golf, Quinta da Beloura Golf, Belas Golf – all about 30 minutes drive from the villa. Cascais, an old fishing town has wonderful cafes, restaurants, shops and discotheques and a new marina (with plenty of restaurants) where you can play all of the year. Estoril has, also, to offer you an interesting night life and several golf courses.
