Azenhas do Mar
Azenhas do Mar is very famous for it’s fresh fish, seafood and wine from Colares region. Local fisherman will be spotted along the shore either fishing or picking up barnacles or octopus. No wonder the local gastronomy is a must. The wines are made from the native Ramisco grape, which produces rich and concentrated red wines with plenty of tannins and good acidity.The region is best known for its distinctive location. Because of the sandy soil, the vines in Colares managed to survive the phylloxera that devastated European vineyards in the 19th century, which makes Colares one of the rare European regions with ungrafted vines—the vines that are not grafted to American rootstock.
Sintra
Sintra is often described as "Portugal's Disneyland" due to its whimsical architecture and fairytale atmosphere that attract thousands of visitors every year. As the New York Times put it, it's "a verdant world of castles and palaces ," and its World Heritage status and recognition as one of Europe’s most romantic towns has made it a popular honeymoon destination.
Through the following links you may buy tickets in advance and skip the lines at some of the attractions:
- Sintra National Palace Skip-the-Line Ticket
- Monserrate Palace Skip-the-Line Ticket
- Queluz Palace Skip-the-Line Ticket
- Capuchos Convent Skip-the-Line Ticket
Beaches
Walking up the coastal road from Azenhas do Mar, you’ll see a sign pointing to Praia da Aguda, a wild beach. That’s a wild beach about 15 minutes away, reached via a staircase. From there it’s another 15 minutes over rocks and tidal pools to Praia do Magoito, a beach mostly frequented by locals and surfers. To the south of Azenhas do Mar is Sintra’s most popular beach, Praia das Maçãs and after you have the surfers paradise, Praia Pequena (also a wild beach) and praia grande are very famous for surfing. A trip to Cabo da Roca lighthouse is also a must, the most western point of Europe is next to a beautiful wild beach with 2 rocks standing alone in the ocean, Ursa beach is worth a day trip.