Person in a brown coat standing before a wall covered in ornate blue and white tiles in Portugal

Classic Azulejo in Costa de Lisboa

Bite-sized trip

  • Travelife
  • ABTOT
  • ATOL
    • Itinerary:
      Costa de Lisboa
    • Duration:
      3 days / 2 nights
    • Price:
      From £225 per person

    Costa de Lisboa is a rural hide-away half an hour's drive from Lisbon, a perfect end to your Portugal trip or a relaxing stopover on your way south. You can read a good book among the orange trees by the pool of your country house hotel or taste fresh fish in a sea-facing restaurant in Sesimbra. You can even immerse yourself in local art by making your own Portuguese tile in an azulejos factory around the corner.

    Blue and white azulejo tiles bordering a cracked stone ledge in Portugal

    Stone cathedral with twin bell towers, a rose window and overhead wires against a blue sky in Portugal

    Day 1 - Arrive at your country house in Azeitão

    After a 45 minute drive, you will be out of the hustle and bustle of Lisbon and will arrive at your new home for the next two nights, a lovely country house in a picturesque rural village. There is a swimming pool surrounded by orange trees for you to unwind and slip into a slow paced way of life.

    Day 2 - Make your own Azulejo tile

    After breakfast today, you’ll walk to the local tile factory to make your own Portuguese classic azulejo, the blue decorative tiles you see all over the country. You’ll get a short tour of the factory, the workshop and the brick ovens. Then you can get to work yourself, painting the tiles and leaving them to be firing up in the oven, ready to collect the next day. In the afternoon, take a drive to the coastal town of Sesimbra, about a half an hour drive away. With its narrow, cobbled streets, the Moorish castle and the fishermen on the beach, you'll get a glimpse of everyday Portuguese coastal life.

    Evening exterior of a light purple building with a terracotta roof, garden path and blue decorative figures on the façade in Portugal
    Cobbled path lined with autumn trees and ornate black fences leading towards red-roofed buildings in Portugal

    Day 3 - Departure from Costa de Lisboa

    Today you will wake up refreshed, either ready to fly home from Lisbon or to continue your trip. Head inland and get acquainted with lesser-visited parts of Portugal or end your trip with a nice lazy beach break at the rocky golden coves in the Algarve.

    Accommodation

    bedroom
    swimming pool
    outdoor dining table chairs

    This bite-sized trip combines well with