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We've compiled the best of the best in South of the River - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
For a close look at the wine business, visit the manor house and cellars of the José Maria da Fonseca Company. The intriguing tours cover the winery's long history and allow you to see all stages of production, including a peek into its dark and mysterious prized Moscatel cellars, where 100-plus-year-old bottles are still aging gracefully. End the tour with a choice of wine-tasting experiences. There's a JMF wine bar nearby too.
Frequently cited as one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal, Galapinhos has such white sand and crystalline water that it appears almost Caribbean. Surrounded by the wild nature of Arrábida's hills (wild boar have been spotted taking a dip here during the heat of summer), it's best visited outside the July–September summer season, when things get busy and access to vehicles is restricted. There's parking nearby for the rest of the year, but you'll need to follow a rough path to reach the beach itself. Amenities: food and drink (summer). Best for: snorkeling; solitude; swimming; walking.
Calm and clear water, a workout station, and a diving platform make the western stretch of Sesimbra Beach a favorite with families and athletic young folk. Boats docking here in the summer whisk beach-hoppers off to hard-to-reach strands, but with the pine-covered hills stretching right down to the sand and a café-bar doing a brisk trade in wine, ice cream, and seafood, there's plenty of reason to stay put. The beach has wheelchairs and an access point during the July–September high season and has won national awards for accessibility. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (summer); parking (fee); showers; toilets (summer). Best for: snorkeling; swimming.
Lisbon's answer to Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer was inaugurated in 1959 as a mark of thanks for Portugal's safety during the violence of World War II. Today, it's an important religious site, but most casual visitors come here for the spectacular views from the free lookout or the 262-foot-high viewing platform, reached by elevator.
