Anticipating a full day is always a great suggestion. Your trip will start in Lisbon, then depart for the famous sanctuary of Fátima. Behind each monument, there is a history and the history of Fatima is permanently associated with events in which three local children: Lucia and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, saw, on May 13, 1917, a flash and visions of a "lady dressed in white", in the shadow of the holm oaks in a place called Cova da Iria. This place is now called the Chapel of Apparitions. The blessed Virgin Mary said she had been sent by God with a message to every man, woman and child of our century. It appeared at a time when civilization was being punished by war and bloody violence. She promised that Heaven would give peace to the whole world. You can enjoy this free time to attend Mass if you wish. In addition to the Sanctuary of Fatima, you can take advantage of the Monastery of Batalha, which is part of the list of the 7 wonders of Portugal. Known for its old and unfinished but beautiful chapels. Have you met Nazaré? The beach that has become internationally famous for having the biggest waves in the world and as a result is now better known as the mecca of surfing. Nazaré is a charming coastal town full of beaches, seafood and viewpoints with superb sea views. Take the opportunity to enjoy the view and take beautiful photos.

Enjoy a ride through the romantic village of Obidos, the first stop on this 8-hour excursion. Its medieval structures within the castle walls are a definite highlight of the trip. Stop for a taste of ginjinha, which is a traditional liqueur of this region. Afterwards, head to Nazaré, a small fishing village that is now known for its beaches and giant waves. International surfers compete here in one of the world’s largest competitions. In Alcobaça visit the monastery that dates to 1178. It was the first completely Gothic structure ever built in Portugal, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the tombs of royalty, and hear about one of Portugal’s most endearing love stories.

After a pickup from your hotel, start the day with a visit to the Castle and the Convent of Christ in Tomar. Gaze in awe at the various styles of architecture including Romanic, Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance. Learn about the history and legends of the Templar Order and the Christ Order. You will understand the role that the orders played in the creation of the Kingdom of Portugal and in the maritime discoveries. Discover the symbols inscribed in some stones allowing you to get involved in the mysticism of the secret orders. Next, visit the monastery of Holy Mary of Victory. This monastery, usually called Batalha, is not only the largest Portuguese gothic monument but also the birthplace of the Manueline style of architecture and the place where the first Portuguese stained glasses were made. Learn more about the architecture, history, and legends of the ones that started the maritime discoveries, like Henry the navigator, who is buried there. Your last stop will be at the Royal Abbey of Alcobaça where the largest Portuguese gothic church is. In this monument, you can admire the gothic architecture of the twelfth century and discuss the influence of the Order of Cister in the creation of the kingdom of Portugal. Listen to the tragic love story of King Pedro I, the cruel one, and his beloved Inês de Castro, who was murdered by his father's order. In your free time, you'll have the opportunity to savor lunch or a snack, buy souvenirs, and take photos at your own pace.

While heading north (1:30hrs trip), prepare to be dazzled by a masterpiece of Cistercian Gothic art, the 12th-century Monastery of Alcobaça, founded by the first Portuguese king, Afonso Henriques. For its size, purity of architectural style, quality of materials, and the care with which it was built, it was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1989. You will then proceed to Batalha, a 14th-century monastery built as a fulfillment of a promise made by King John I in gratitude for the victory in a battle against Castille. This secured the throne and guaranteed the independence of Portugal. You will witness a national Gothic-style building influenced by Manueline art. Following that, you will have an hour free time for lunch at Batalha town. Finally, at the Convent of Christ at Tomar, you will discover the centuries-old link between the Knights Templar and the Kingdom of Portugal. With your guide, visit the original round church (Charola), built at the end of the 12th century by the first great Master of the Templars. At the conclusion of your experience, you will be returned back to your hotel.

Make a pilgrimage to the shrine of Fátima and see the homes of the 3 little shepherds who saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary. Learn the story of the miracle and get some free time to explore the basilicas and chapel by yourself. Next, visit Batalha Monastery and marvel at the largest Gothic monument in Portugal. Hear the history of the building and learn the legend of Henry the Navigator who helped put the nation on the map. Continue to Alcobaça Monastery, founded by the first Portuguese king, Afonso Henriques, in 1153. Hear the tragic story of King Pedro I and his beloved Inês de Castro, murdered on the orders of his father. Get stunning views from the beach at Nazaré and the clifftop village of Sítio. Enter the basilica of Our Lady of Nazaré to look at the famous black statue of the Virgin. End with a visit to the village of Óbidos and taste a typical cherry liqueur. Stroll the medieval streets of the village or walk up to the historical castle.

After pick-up from your Lisbon hotel, head to Fátima. Visit the Basilica, the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Chapel of Apparitions and the sanctuary of Our Lady Fátima, which is one of the biggest Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. After Fátima, head to rural Batalha to visit the monastery, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and considered the best example of Gothic architecture in Portugal. Next, experience the hospitality of Alcobaça. Visit the tombs of the Alcobaça Monastery, one of the most visited and best-preserved monuments in the country. After lunch, go to the romantic and picturesque town of Óbidos before ending the tour at sunset and heading back to your hotel in Lisbon.

If you've got a day to spare during your trip to Lisbon and want to make the most of your time to explore the town's surroundings accompanied by an italian-speaking guide, our day trips are the perfect option and both of which include hotel pick up, transport by private vehicle and an exclusive italian guide just for you and your group. Check out the itinerary of the private excursions below: Fatima, Alcobaça & Óbidos (8 hours) After picking you up from your hotel in Lisbon, we are going to Fatima. We will visit the sanctuary where the lady appeared in 1917 and later where the 3 shepherd visionaries lived. We'll then continue to the next town on our tour where we'll enter Alcobaça Monastery, home to the tomb of Portuguese King Pedro I. You'll soon realise why this more than 700-year-old monastic complex is a UNESCO world heritage site!. After exploring monastic church, you'll have free time to get some lunch, before we meet back up and continue our excursion to Óbidos. We'll explore this small town, admiring its picturesque medieval buildings and imposing castle, as well as enjoying a tasting of the local liqueur, ginjinha. The itinerary of this private day trip is similar to our group tour of Fatima, Alcobaça & Óbidos.

On this full-day tour from Lisbon, discover the heritage left by the Cistercian order in Portugal and visit the Monastery of Alcobaça. After lunch in Nazaré, a village made famous by its giant’s waves, discover Óbidos, a medieval village completely surrounded by the old castle walls and classified as a literary town by UNESCO. Before leaving, taste the typical gastronomy, chocolate and “Ginja de Óbidos,” a kind of world-famous cherry liqueur. In the middle of the 12th century, the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques agreed with the Religious Order of the Cisterians to build the Royal Abbey of Santa Maria de Alcobaça (UNESCO heritage site), the first entirely Gothic Portuguese construction. Throughout the remaining Middle Ages, the Cistercian monks had a major role diffusing the young Portuguese language and in the development of agricultural techniques. At the abbey, since 1269 the first public school was established and also assistance and work for the less favored. Here, you will also find the remarkable tombs of King Peter I and Ines de Castro, a tragic and beautiful love story, now lovers side by side for eternity. Upon arrival, it is strongly recommended to drink a cup of coffee and try the famous monastic pastries at the Alcoa pastry coffee shop. After the visit to the Abbey, you will pay a short visit to SPAL Ceramics. Afterwards, enjoy free time for lunch at the fishing village of Nazaré, outstanding for its sea related traditions and sightseeing. Stanley Kubrik and Cartier-Bresson were some of the world famous photographers that lost their way photographing the village and its traditions. The giant 30 meter waves that Garrett McNamara surfed are also famous worldwide. After lunch, stroll through the narrow alleys of Óbidos, a medieval wall surrounding the village conquered from the Moors in 1148, and taste the famous Óbidos cherry liqueur, a cultural heritage from that era.   

Your day will start with a private transfer to Nazaré or to Mafra. What do you prefer? A guided visit to Mafra National Palace (unesco site) for get involved with the Portuguese history and the way the Royal family use to live; or A short presentation of Nazaré beach and plenty of time for explore it by yourself and to have lunch facing the Atlantic Ocean. Óbidos medieval walls will be on the afternoon. Talking a little bit about the 3 cities to visit and what you can expect, let´s start by Nazaré. Picturesque Nazaré, famous for it's popular beach and the views over Atlantic Ocean from the cliff. Land of fishermen, miracles and legends. And now also on the Surf world map because of the biggest waves. Nazaré is the perfect place for you to walk on the boulevard having an ice cream, shopping or taking a beer/lunch. If you like to walk it´s strongly recommend to descend to Saint Michael Fort (where is the Surf museum) to see the place where the big waves can appear. A magnificent spot for pictures. In Óbidos, we will present the place to you in 10 minutes and after that you will have the chance of walking in the medieval streets, shopping a souvenir, climb to the top of the castle walls, and for sure to take a lot of pictures. And you can not forget to taste the famous Ginja liqueur in a chocolate cup. Mafra National Palace was classified, in 2019, by unesco as a World Heritage Site. The Basilica - with its six organs - and its, no less famous, Library - with about 40.000 volumes - will help us to understand why. It´s a wonderful opportunity to walk through the room of the King and the one of the Queen and plenty of other living rooms, magnificent decorated with paintings, tapestries and ceramics. A place full of history that you will get the chance to visit with a private guide. About the time to spend in each location, we recommend 1 hour in Mafra and 1 hour in Óbidos and the remain (about 3h30) in Nazaré. But the decision is yours. It's a private tour and we can readjust the time if you want it.

Travel to the charming town of Óbidos and the coastal town Nazaré on a day trip from Lisbon. Expand your knowledge of Portuguese history as you explore these ancient settlements. Stop by the Gothic monastery of Batalha and the Baroque monastery of Alcobaça. Be picked up from your accommodation in Lisbon and relax in a comfortable, air-conditioned car as you drive to the town of Óbidos. Admire the well-preserved examples of medieval architecture in this hilltop town which is surrounded by fortifications. Travel to the picturesque seaside village of Nazaré. Take in sweeping views of its long sandy beaches and white buildings with red roofs. Watch as surfers try to catch one of the large waves that the town is famous for. Drive to the 12th century monastery of Alcobaça. View the rose window and see the catholic monastic complex where Portuguese royalty was once laid to rest. Continue to the monastery of Batalha to see its imposing Manueline Gothic architecture before returning to Lisbon.