The Alcobaça Monastery

.. is one of the first foundations of the Cistercian Order in Portugal. It was founded in 1153 as a gift to Bernard of Clairvaux, shortly before his death, from the first Portuguese King, Afonso Henriques, to commemorate his victory over the Moors at Santarém in March 1147. The foundation of the monastery was part of the strategy by Afonso Henriques to consolidate his authority in the new kingdom and promote the colonisation of areas recently taken from the Moors during the Reconquista. Alcobaça is about 40 minutes from Praia Del Rey.

Sailing Lisbon

A trip aboard the yacht Moonfleet is unforgettable. It could be a few hours or a few days - the choice is yours. The skipper is happy to take your initiative. From a short trip along the waterfront to discover Lisbon 's famous monuments in close up and from a new perspective... to a leisurely cruise up the coast to Estoril and Cascais with lunch at the beautiful marina. Perhaps a trip to Setubal and the Sado Esturary - home to a family of dolphins - or overnight to Lagos to explore the Altentejo coast and the wilder water offshore. You may choose the trip you want and it will be tailor-made for you and your budget.

The Caves at Alvados

The Alvados Caves and the Santo António Caves, are located in the Aire and Candeeiros Mountains Natural Park in Alvados, Porto de Mós. They are part of the Estremadura province’s Central Portugal limestone massif. The caves, and there are three locations to visit, are spectacular. The third one has a lift from the caves to a waterpark. A great day out and about an hour from Praia del Rey.

Go Karting at Bombarral

KartoDromo near Bombarral is exit 11 from the A8 going towards Lisbon and about 20 minutes from Praia Del Rey. When you exit the A8 you will see KartoDromo signposted at every intersection. The track is professionally run and hosts various national and international karting events. The lap record is around one minute five seconds. Better get some practice in...

The Convent at Tomar

The mysterious tales of the Templar knights are interwoven throughout the history of Western civilization. Militarily they were a formidable fighting force. Financially they are credited with the birth of modern day banking practices. Their notoriety gained worldwide exposure during the past decade with Dan Brown's best seller The Da Vinci Code. Here in Portugal you can visit the site of their headquarters in Tomar - at the Convent of Christ. Their magnificent fortified monastery still dominates the town. Its chapel is octagonal, a shape the Templars took to represent harmony between God and Man. The monks, emphasising their constant military preparedness, used to attend Mass in the chapel on horseback. Tomar is about one hour from Praia d'el Rey.

The Golega National Horse Fair

.. was founded in the 18th century and is now considered one the most important events of its kind in Portugal. Golega attracts horse lovers, breeders and riders from around the world who all share a passion for the genuine Lusitano horse. Horses exhibited in Golega are sold all over the world from Japan to South America. People come to Golega to admire the horses, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the local cuisine, wine and night events. Golega is described as the Horse Capital of Portugal. The entire economy of the town, and the area, depends on breeding Lusitano horses, growing grapes and making wine. For many that would be the ideal combination. The next Fair is from the 6th to the 15th of November.