Last week I shared my adventures in Lisbon last month, and today I’m sharing my favorite day trips we took while in Portugal. While Lisbon itself is a city full of amazing places to visit, there’s an abundance of beautiful and historic cities that are just 30-45 minutes away by train {and are definitely must-visits while you’re there!} Here are a few from my personal highlights reel…

Cascais: 

Portugal is known for it’s beautiful beaches, so if you happen to be visit Lisbon, it’s worth a day trip to discover one of the best beach towns in the area! The quaint town of Cascais is home to some of Portugal’s most gorgeous beaches, delicious restaurants and pretty places to shop. My family and I took the train from downtown Lisbon to Cascais, which was about $2.50 and a 45 ride – not bad for a day trip! The ride itself it worth the fare alone, and you’re able to see an abundance of Portuguese beach towns, colorful murals and a taste of what it’s like to really live in the country.  Once you’re there, mosey around the downtown area to explore the pretty shops and stalls that boast some beachside inspired pieces. I would have taken ALL these sea shell chandeliers home with me if it wasn’t for having to lug them back in my carry on! How perfect would they be in the summer on a porch, or in the dining room? I’m kicking myself for not sucking it up and buying a few… Even though we were only there for one meal, the restaurants in the area looks phenomenal {and adorable, like the one above!} We ended up grabbing pizza at Cappricciosa for the view overlooking the beaches, but the food was delicious and reasonably priced too. It was definitely worth Instagramming 😉 And last but certainly not least, these beaches…swoon! It made me feel like I was in the French Riviera, but more beautiful and a lot less crowded. The beaches were gorgeous, and on an 85 degree day, just what the doctor ordered for a perfect vacation. I would love to magically transport back right about now because although fall is nice – beach days are much, much nicer.

Sintra: 

Our second day trip was to the historic town of Sintra, about 30 minutes away from downtown Lisbon. The town is famous for having a hand full of castles {casual…} and some of the most gorgeous landmarks you’ve ever seen. While we only had a day there, I could see spending a few days exploring the city in it’s entirety, but here’s a few of my favorite adventures from my trip!  Although I’m not typically a huge fan of spending most of the day in a garden, Sintra’s Quinta da Regaleira surpassed all my expectations. This 20th century built palace with underground passages has to be one of the most incredible places I’ve ever visited, and I couldn’t believe how every winding passage lead you to a place more incredible than the last!There were so many amazing places to stop and take photos, so I’ll spare sharing all 300 of them! But, if you happen to go there, I highly recommend checking out the initiation well, which is 27 meters deep and resembles an inverted tower. Going down all the stairs was a little intimidating, but the underground passageways below {and waterfall you exit out of} makes the adventure totally worth it. If you happen to find yourself in Sintra, definitely make sure to check the gardens out. Next on our day trip was the Pena National Palace, which I knew was supposed to be beautiful but I had no idea how gorgeous it would really be. Built in the 19th century in the romantic style, the castle is bursting with color, charm and beautiful views of the city on Sintra below. I was glued to my camera the whole tour, and every corner you turned was even more incredible then the next. I wish I could say that these photos do the palace justice, but you’ll have to see it for yourself to really get an idea of the place. The view from walking up the side of the palace. The castle sits on the largest view point of Sintra, and we had to take a 30 minute bus ride just to go up it!  I mean, I’m not sure if this is how I’d want to greet my guests over my entrance way, but I’m sure their enemies had a pretty good idea not to mess with them 😉  The view from the back of the castle. Although it’s hard to see, those tiny grey streaks in the background are the city of Sintra below! When can we move in?! The inside of the castle was just as gorgeous as the outside, filled with incredible chandeliers, carved stone walls and seriously gorgeous mosaics. I’d like this teal door to come home with me!And of course they had the world’s prettiest kitchen! I felt like I was in the middle of a Restoration Hardware shoot. It put my kitchen TO SHAME {and I thought mine wasn’t too shabby either!}

Have I convinced you to go to Portugal yet? Clearly, I’m trying really really hard. But I promise, the trip is totally worth it. I’m already itching to plan my next trip there! xx