Arrábida Natural Park and Sesimbra Day Trip from Lisbon
Description
Meet your Around Lisbon guide at your local Lisbon hotel and cross the Tagus River headin South of Lisbon. Head to the Arrábida Natural Park, reaching the cliffs of Meco Beach, where you can admire the beauty of the Western Coastline. Next, head to Cape Espichel, with its Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Cape, with stunning views over the Atlantic Ocean. Next, drive to the charming seaside town of Sesimbra and stroll to the Moorish Castle and discover its medieval roots. Afterward, stop for lunch (own expense) fresh fish in Sesimbra. After lunch, continue driving by unmapped roads to explore the Southern Coastline of the Park, where you'll discover St. Margareth's Cave (moderate walking required) and the charming Portinho da Arrábida harbour. Opt between spending some free time in Arrábida’s hidden golden beaches, or continue to Setúbal, where you'll visit the Casa da Baía Center, an interpretative center about the resident dolphin community, hosting also local products' shop.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Cross over the iconic 25th of April Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril) and, as you travel, feel free to ask your guide any questions you have; the beauty of a private tour is that the commentary is entirely tailored to your interests. Take in the city sights and the breathtaking Cascais coastline, then, after around an hour, find yourself traveling through the luscious Arrábida Natural Park.
Pass by Aldeia do Meco and its beautiful beaches! If the tour is running on time, maybe you can stop for a little.
Make your first stop at Cabo Espichel to visit Santuário de Nossa Senhora do Cabo Espichel, a peaceful sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of the Cape. Explore the religious site with your guide and enjoy sweeping panoramas of the Atlantic Ocean from your clifftop vantage point.
Explore the Castle of Sesimbra and admire the magnificent tiles in its church, while learning about the fishing village of Sesimbra. Admire the amazing views over Sesimbra's bay and the infinitude of the blue ocean.
Have free time in Sesimbra for lunch (own expense), where you can find the freshest fish in Portugal, as this is one of the most important fishing ports of the country.
Drive through the Arrábida Natural Park to Portinho da Arrábida and all the other magnificent beaches in this Natural Park.
Enjoy the views and take some time for a swim, if you prefer. There are several options of beaches you can visit.
Enjoy the views and take some time for a swim, if you prefer. There are several options of beaches you can visit.
Enjoy the views and take some time for a swim, if you prefer. There are several options of beaches you can visit.
Visit Casa da Baía to learn more about the local fauna and, specially, the resident dolphins comunity. You can also find local products like wine and cheese.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We'll pick you up at your Hotel or Apartment, or even the Port or the Airport. Please note that you may need to join us at a nearby meeting point, in some areas of the city where we can't reach your address. Please contact our team previously to assure all necessary arrangements.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Operated by a multi-lingual guide
Reviews(29)
We booked the Arrábida Natural Park private day tour through Mike McHugh at Dream Makers Vacation Services, and it turned out to be one of the best days of our entire Portugal trip. The tour was run by Around Lisbon, and our guide Nuno made the experience truly special. Nuno took us through Arrábida Natural Park, the Albufeira Lagoon, the clifftop sanctuary at Cabo Espichel, and the fishing village of Sesimbra with its Moorish castle. He also led us on a short hike to a hidden cave on the water with a small shrine inside — a spot we never would have found or even known existed without him. We also got to relax on some stunning hidden beaches that aren't in any guidebook. Nuno had an incredible depth of knowledge about the history, culture, and hidden gems of the region. Beyond his expertise, he's genuinely a wonderful person — his storytelling and warm, easygoing personality made the whole day feel less like a tour and more like exploring with a local friend. The van was comfortable, the pace was relaxed, and every stop felt thoughtfully chosen. If you're planning a trip to Lisbon, do yourself a favor: book through Mike McHugh at Dream Makers Vacation Services and request Nuno as your guide. Five stars all around.
Great day out and our guide Nuno was very knowledgeable and flexible to accommodate our plans. Great locations and covered a lot in a day.
Beautiful views and beaches. Different perspective outside the city. Amazing cave but a lot of steps to get there....well worth it!
This was a fantastic day in the countryside that was thanks to our wonderful guide, Nuno. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and really got a "feel" for the countryside south of Lisbon!
This was one of the best trips I have taken. The beauty of the mountains, sea and beaches are beyond expectations and just a short drive from Lisbon. Our guide was great and made it all the more memorable! Just a great day! You can’t go wrong on taking this one.
Excellent day.Our guide Joao did not make a perfect day.He guided us and explained the whole tour.. spectacular beaches.
Our guide John was great - down to earth and shared some interesting info about Portugal. Only suggestion for the tour - would be perfect if the guides were equipped with beach umbrellas in the van. Just small portable ones. Without shade, the beach was too hot to enjoy. Thanks!
The best day. Not only well organized and on time but Pedro was fabulous. So personal and our group of 8 strangers left the day as friends Pedro went above and beyond in every way.
I loved the experience since the begining, excelent guide and he was on time and fufilled my expetetions with good knowledge of the subject
Seeing the junction of the fresh water lagoon with the salt water ocean, a 50 mile long beach and the best sea bass ever in the fishing village Sesimbra … but above all a guide who truly has passion for his land, Nuno!
