Above: View of Castelo de Palmela

Coastal Day Trip From Lisbon: Castles, Beaches, Wine and Art

For residents of Lisbon, the Setúbal Peninsula is a favorite quick escape from the city. It has several notable wineries, but most Lisboetas come for the beaches backdropped by dramatic green mountains. We spent two days exploring the peninsula, but you could squeeze the highlights into one memorable day trip.

Start with a visit to the medieval Castelo de Palmela, which affords panoramic views of the surrounding countryside (the castle’s interior is not especially interesting). Don’t miss the terrace below the pousada, which presents another lovely vista.

It’s a short drive from there to the Tide Mill of Moorish — which has no Moorish connection whatsoever. The mill’s wetland location, in the Sado Estuary, is extremely picturesque, but a restoration of the interior was overly aggressive.

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