Things to do in Colares: wine, the vintage tram and village life

Taste Colares wine

Colares is one of the rarest wines in Portugal. The vines grow in sand near the sea, in small plots protected from the Atlantic wind by low fences of cane. The main grapes are Ramisco for reds and Malvasia for whites. The whites are fresh and almost salty, and the reds are firm and tannic and get better with years in the bottle. Because the vines grow in sand, they survived the phylloxera plague that destroyed most of Europe's vineyards in the 19th century.

Only a handful of producers still make it. The best place to start is the Adega Regional de Colares, the regional cooperative, which offers visits and tastings.

Ride the Sintra tram

The Sintra tram has run between Sintra and the coast since 1904. Today it runs from Sintra to Praia das Maçãs in spring and summer, through the Colares countryside. In 2026 a ticket cost €5 for adults, with reduced fares for young people and seniors. It is a lovely way to arrive at the beach with children.

Explore the villages

• Almoçageme, the village above Praia Grande and Adraga, with a café-lined square and a local feel.
• Azenhas do Mar, white houses on a cliff above an ocean pool.
• Praia das Maçãs, a seaside village with restaurants and the tram terminus.
• Várzea de Colares, the old centre of the parish, in the green valley below the hills.

Go to the beach

Colares has some of the best beaches near Lisbon. See our guides to Praia Grande, the best beaches near Sintra and the new boardwalks between Adraga and Praia Grande.

Eat seafood by the sea

The coastal villages are known for grilled fish and seafood. Restaurants on the beaches at Adraga, Praia Grande, Praia das Maçãs and Azenhas do Mar are classic places for a long Sunday lunch.