Lisbon and Madeira: City break meets island road trip

Sunglasses on and into the sun! Welcome to Lisbon, a city that's been on your bucket list for ages and one that you're finally going to explore at length. You quickly redeem your Lisboa Card at the airport, hop on the metro, tram or another mode of transport of your choice and catch a lift to your accommodation. A quick check-in later, and nothing stands in the way of your city adventure!
Colourfully tiled houses and the salty Atlantic breeze on the seemingly endless waterfront promenade – your expectations of Lisbon are exceeded with every step you take through its winding alleyways. At Praça do Comércio, the triumphal arch Arco da Rua Augusta and the Equestrian Statue of King José I pose for your camera and lead you to Bairro Alto. Not only does wacky street art await you in this lively district but also a vibrant selection of restaurants, bars and clubs – the perfect opportunity to raise a glass to your dream trip. 'Saúde!'

The bright-blue morning sky lures you out of bed better than any alarm clock ever could, and you're ready to be shook by the city. The famous Tram 28 is a photo motif in itself, and its old-fashioned yellow carriages take you to the highlights of the Old Town before you change lines and head west to the Ajuda district, where the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda awaits. Its exterior alone suggests a magnificent interior, but what you actually find inside takes your breath away – Versailles who? You wander through the rooms like the country's kings once did, and then you're drawn away to the Belém district. Just the name of it makes your foodie heart beat faster. And no wonder, because nowhere else do the country's famous custard tarts taste as good as here! You grab a few of the sweet treats for the road and walk from the impressive Mosteiro dos Jerónimos monastery to Lisbon's most famous landmark, the Torre de Belém. Then you find a spot for your picnic and savour your pastéis de Belém as the sun sets over the Atlantic.

It's morning, and your rumbling stomach drives you out into Lisbon's colourful streets. Fortunately, the city is home to countless hip breakfast spots, such as the famous Fauna & Flora. After fuelling up for the day, you either keep exploring the city's other highlights or head to Rossio Railway Station, from where you make your way to Sintra on your own. Magnificent palaces, timeworn castles and historic monasteries nestled against a blooming green landscape of hills – on the road to the historic old town, you quickly realise why Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. First stop: Palácio Nacional de Sintra. As you walk to the palace, its two conical chimneys already catch your eye from afar. Once inside, you see swans and magpies adorning the ceilings of the various halls, which tell centuries-old stories from the lives of the royal families. A beautiful green hiking trail then leads you up to the impressive Palácio Nacional da Pena. One tower gleaming in bright yellow, another in bright red, and a dreamy lilac facade tucked right between them – just a look at its exterior, and you know exactly why this place is so popular.

The time has come: your dream of an epic island adventure starts now! Above the clouds, it begins to take shape, and as you descend into the green volcanic landscape, it finally becomes reality. One second, the airport looks like a tiny model, and the next, you can already feel the jolt as your plane makes its landing.
As soon as you make it to arrivals, you pick up your hire car and drive towards the sun in the direction of Porto Moniz. And soon, you see the glistening Atlantic in the distance, beckoning you to your stay by the sea.
When you arrive at your hotel, everything happens in a flash. You check in, put your bags away, slip into your swimsuit and get going! You won't find white sandy beaches on Madeira, but the island does have a very special highlight: volcanic tide pools. Because Madeira was formed by volcanic activity, the island boasts tons of natural swimming pools made of hardened lava right by the Atlantic Ocean. And the best thing about it: your accommodation owns one of the most beautiful of them all. So you seize the opportunity and dive right in!