Lisbon is ideally placed for you to visit the surrounding areas and towns easily during your Lisbon vacation. Apart from all the Lisbon attractions you will enjoy, there are enchanting towns, villages and World Heritage Sites nearby, that are accessible from Lisbon by train, car or bus. Lisbon is very well connected with its neighboring towns and during your Lisbon vacation planning; you can manage to fit in quite a few Lisbon sights.
In addition to Estoril, Cascais, Sintra, Queluz, Mafra, Ericeira, and the places around and in between them, the following places are a must see on your Lisbon travel. These can be achieved as day trips. But for those who wish to experience the real Portugal on their Lisbon vacation, it might be a great idea to stay over, too.
Óbidos
Óbidos looks just like a picture post card with its whitewashed houses, orange tiled roofs, charming cobblestone streets and flower-filled balconies. The castle is very prominent here and a Moorish wall surrounds the town itself. The place used to be a fortress by the sea. Around 1228, when King Dinis came by Obidos his wife was charmed by the town. So he gifted it to her and Obidos came to be called the wedding present town! The whole of Obidos is a national monument. You can explore the entire village on foot. The old castle has been renovated into a magnificent Pousada and for an authentic experience that is very different from a Lisbon hotel, you can actually get to stay there if you reserve well in advance.
Close to Obidos are the towns of Nazare and Peniche. Here you will find fine beaches and seafood. You can also enjoy riding and golfing here. Thanks to the new highway system, Obidos is very well connected to various locations. To the west of Obidos within a few miles is the Estremadura, also called the land of sea and vineyards. The Foz do Arelho here has plenty of street cafes and seafood restaurants, water sports and scenic views of the Atlantic and Obidos Lagoon.
Fátima
Fatima is a world famous shrine. Legend has it that three children saw the Virgin Mary while tending their sheep, in 1917. There is a chapel here to mark the spot. The Basilica of Fatima is huge enough to accommodate 300,000 people inside it. There is also a wax museum here, which depicts the story of the apparitions in 28 scenes with wax figures. People visit here from all over the world with faith.
Setúbal
This is the third largest city in Portugal. There is a wonderful market here, the Antigo Mercado do Liviaments which is a huge indoor market with several rows of vegetable stands, meat and fish. Sesimbra, near Setubal is a thriving seaport with lovelybeaches. Nearby, in Palmela a wine toursim center called the Casa-Mãe Da Rota Dos Vinhos has excellent wines including the famous muscatels of Setubal.
Other places that can be covered while traveling to the above places are the Arrabida, Evora, Alcobaca, Batalha, etc.
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