Car Rental Lisbon - Exploring Lisbon

Still very much part of Lisbon, and a 15 minute tram ride or drive west is Belém, central to Portugal's Age of Discoveries. Two monuments, the older Torre de Belém, and newer limestone Monument to the Discoveries commemorate Portugal's maritime glory. Today this leafy riverside precinct is a giant monument to the nation’s pride. The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, a Manueline masterpiece, is arguably the city’s greatest treasure, having survived the 1755 earthquake. Look around the Centro Cultural de Belém, one of Lisbon's main cultural venues, which houses the Museo do Design, a collection of 20th-century mind-bogglers.

Cristo Rei, over the river in Cacilhas (southside) is a smaller version of Brazil's giant Jesus, it is a slightly kitch religious icon with arms outstretched, drawing the camera-toting crowds.

Sintra is a World Heritage Site, 45-minutes drive west. Once the hangout of kings and queens, along with many other nobility and writers (such as Byron), it’s prettily set among forest against a backdrop of hills. The main attraction is the Palácio Nacional da Pena, a Disney-style folly built by King Ferdinand in the 19th century. Alternatively the peaceful Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish castle) is quieter and offers panoramic views of the town. The Palácio Nacional de Sintra, in the heart of the old town is also recommended.