Looking at Lisbon from its waterfront gives you a different perspective. You may discover Lisbon street by street and district by district but to have a complete view of the city you should have a look at it from the Tagus River. Take a short cruise before sunset as the warm summer light colours the city in yellowish and pinkish shades. Belém Tower, the 25th of April Bridge, Jerónimos Monastery, the Christ the King monument and other astonishing attractions of Lisbon will never be the same for you. The tours run all year round, two hours prior to sunset, so check the exact departure times on the websites of tour providers.

We strongly recommend that you take Tram number 28.

This is the classic tram route of Lisbon, giving tourists the opportunity to visit the city’s finest old neighbourhoods and to see medieval Lisbon, with its narrow, winding streets and alleys that are constantly buzzing with life.

Avant-garde avid shoppers will be pleased by the list of trendy shops available in the city. Avenida da Liberdade, Rua Augusta – which leads into the historic downtown from Praça do Comércio – and Rua Garrett in Chiado, are full of top shopping opportunities. From Fashion Clinic, Yves Saint Laurent and Prada, to Embaixada (featuring an array of Portuguese brands), other trendy boutiques and contemporary galleries and design ateliers, the city's cutting-edge fashion and design haunts lure visitors who are after more than just souvenir magnets of custard tarts and vintage trams.

Costa da Caparica’s seemingly never-ending beach attracts sun-worshipping Lisboêtas, surfers keen to ride Atlantic waves and day-tripping families seeking clean sea and soft sand. Some of the most renowned chefs have also made this their summer ‘hot-spot’; such as Olivier’s ‘Praia’, a beach club at São João da Caparica beach, with a vibrant atmosphere and modern decoration. Ideal for lazy lunches with one foot on the sand or late afternoon snacks after a dip in the sea. Discover the charming Princesa beach with a relaxed atmosphere and delicious restaurant.

Alternatively, wander further south until you reach a feast of pine forests and mellow beach-shack cafes; Thickly green, hilly and edged by gleaming, clean, golden beaches and chiselled cliffs, the Parque Natural da Arrábida stretches along the south-eastern coast of the Setúbal Peninsula from Setúbal to Sesimbra.

Enjoy time away from Lisbon on a small group day trip to Arrábida and Sesimbra. Enjoy a drive along the Vasco da Gama Bridge, the longest in Europe. Visit Palmela Castle, then sample four wines at a local winery. Enjoy the fishing village of Sesimbra and visit Arrábida Natural Park where you can soak in spectacular views of the Atlantic. Relax as you sample two local wines at Casa Museu Jose Maria da Fonseca, one of the oldest wine producers in Portugal, before heading to the Cristo-Rei Sanctuary to admire Lisbon from afar.

Parque natural de Arrabida, Praia dos Galopinhos, Troia, Comporta, Melides, Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, Praia da Arrifana and Praia de Odeceixe.

The Troia Golf Championship Course, designed by the famous American golf architect Robert Trent Jones Senior, is a stunning course and one of the most fascinating golf challenges in Portugal. Located along the Troia Peninsula, a region of rare natural beauty and one of the most paradisiacal places in Portugal, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Sado Estuary, it has an imposing view of the Arrábida Mountains.

An extraordinary "work of art", it is integrated in the natural landscape, a wonderful pine forest, surrounded by dunes and sea. The white sand is present, not only in the "bunkers" that protect small and narrow greens, but also in the surrounding areas, where natural plants are found in abundance, showcasing extraordinary beauty.

Getting to know the Comporta and Troia beaches is a must, but another experience not to be missed is to explore this area, along with the endless beaches, over sand dunes and gleaming-green rice fields and onto tree-covered hills, on horseback.

Cavalos na Areia >

Passeios a cavalo Melides >

For a unique and fun experience, The Getaway Collection recommends you to get to know Comporta on board a Kayak, paddling along the Royal Vala rice irrigation channels. This source of water supply to the various rice fields found all over Comporta, features various animal and bird species and a great way to spend your afternoon discovering it all is certainly on board a kayak.

Located in Vila Nova de Santo André, just over an hour from Lisbon and 40 minutes from Comporta, between the plain and the sea, is the Badoca Safari Park, a natural park which provides a unique experience. The park has 90 hectares of nature to discover, 600 wildlife animals and a total of 75 different species. The beauty of this park lies in the fact that one can see wild animals in full freedom. In addition to going on a safari, one can also see a raptor show and find various recreational and educational facilities, such as the Kangaroo and Coati Park, the Flamingo Lake, the Exotic Bird Garden and a Children's Park, amongst others.

Guincho, Tamariz, Praia Grande, Azenhas do Mar and Adraga.

Surrounding the towns of Cascais and Estoril is a stunning coastline of varied beaches, ranging from wild surfing through to calm and family friendly beaches. Nearly all of these are easily accessible by public or private transport. Several stops and accesses link these suburbs to each other along a 'Paredão', a scenic promenade which is lit up at night and features public benches, bars and exercise stations. Beaches include Praia da Conceição, Praia da Duquesa and Praia do Tamariz. If you wander further towards Malveira da Serra, Praia do Guincho is a must visit; characterized by a strong swell and strong winds, it is one of the best beaches for extreme sports and windsurfing, where several international competitions are held in the summer.

Cascais and Estoril offer a range of boating experiences from powerboat rentals, sailboat charters, fishing charters, jet-ski rentals and yacht hires. Enjoy land views from the sea or explore local beaches by boat. These two towns are the perfect place to rent a sailboat for a Lisbon day trip or a sunset cruise along the coast. Enjoy the gentle breeze in your hair, a glass of fine wine and the breathtaking view of the sun going down over the sea. Sail along the coast and and prepare to be amazed by the beautiful panorama of Cascais lit up at night.

On the sandy soils of the Cascais hinterland. Oitavos Dunes is a smouldering beauty, waiting on the rocky coastline like a siren to passing golfers. This links-style course is undoubtedly one of the finest courses in Portugal. The routing is a continuous loop of holes, nine out nine in, similar to linksland courses in Scotland. The sequence is an undisturbed golf experience from start to finish. Distant views of the Atlantic Ocean and the nearby Sintra mountain are distinguishable from every hole. See more >

Ranked in the top 30 Courses in Continental Europe, the Atlantic Course designed in Penha Longa, by the famed Robert Trent Jones Jr, is escapist golf at its best. With its bold drives, courageous with approaches and artful greens, it is both an adrenalin rush and a soothing journey through one of Portugal's most inspiring landscapes. The opening holes and the final flourish share a wooded vale in the shadow of the rocky mountains, while others arc and plunge over mountains and scented hillsides. See more >

There are water sport activities on the Tagus River in Lisbon, but for an extensive choice and some of the best conditions for water sports in Europe, head towards Cascais and especially Guincho Beach. Water sports enthusiasts can enjoy the most diverse activities, from windsurfing and sailing to waterskiing, kite surfing and parascending.

Angel Surf School >

Moana Surf School > 

Be it riding through a forest trail, along the Atlantic Coast and natural sand dunes, or participating in an activity and class offered by one of the five existing equestrian schools, discovering Cascais and Estoril on horseback is a unique experience. Furthermore, the prestigious Municipal Hippodrome is the main stage for trouts and international high-level equestrian championships, for those who enjoy participating or watching worldwide famous riders and events.

Quinta do Lago has been at the forefront of international golf since its creation. Today the resort’s three courses are among Europe’s best and are joined by world-class golf facilities such as the Paul McGinley Golf Academy and Southern Europe’s only TaylorMade Performance Centre.

These exceptional golfing credentials, including being named ‘Europe’s Best Golf Destination’ at the World Golf Awards in 2015 and 2016, and being given the ‘Editors’ Choice Award for Best International Resorts’ in 2016 and 2017, by Golf Digest, ensure Quinta do Lago’s place among the world’s golfing elite.

Spending a day at one of the Algarve’s water parks is certainly a fun day out both for children and adults. There are plenty of slides, tunnels, free falls (almost), inflatable mattresses, giant buoys, wave pools and fountains. Everything is a reason to refresh the body and liven up the day.

The Algarve offers an array of boating experiences, from enjoying an entire day cruise to, half a day basking in sunset charters. Experiences also include tailor-made boat trips to suit your requirements. Enjoy a glass of champagne as you depart from Vilamoura Marina on a fantastic cruise along the southern coast of Portugal.

The Algarve Jeep Safari is guaranteed to be one of your best days out. It's fun, informative and takes you to parts of the Algarve that you would never find on your own. This comes highly recommended.

Algarve Tennis and Fitness Club, Carvoeiro Clube de Ténis, Vale do Lobo Tennis Academy, Vilamoura Tennis Academy, Academia de Ténis Annabel Croft and the Associação de Ténis do Algarve.

If you were asked to name three things you associate with the Algarve what would they be? Golf, sunshine and beaches perhaps? While Portugal’s popular southern spot is world-renowned for its beautiful beaches, almost year-round sunshine and being a haven for golfers, its penchant to cater for the tennis player is considerably less well documented. If you consider yourself a bit of a tennis player, regardless of your ability or age, then you might want to head to the sunny Algarve, which is home to a number of fantastic tennis courts and facilities.