Lisbon & the Portuguese Coast Cultural Stays | School Trips Abroad

Lisbon & the Portuguese Coast with your class

This itinerary makes the most of Portugal's variety, combining Lisbon's Manueline monuments and riverside Belém district with a base on the Atlantic coast near Ericeira, surf lessons on a world-class beach, a fairy-tale day in Sintra, and a coastal excursion to Cascais and Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe.

Yellow Lisbon tram climbing the steep streets of Alfama on a Portugal cultural school trip

Trip highlights

01 A full day in Sintra

A full day in Sintra, the UNESCO-listed palace town in the hills above Lisbon, taking in the colourful Pena Palace, the ruined Moorish Castle, and the mysterious Quinta da Regaleira with its famous initiatic well

02 Surf lessons on the Atlantic coast at Ericeira

Surf lessons on the Atlantic coast at Ericeira, a world-surfing reserve with consistent beginner-friendly waves

03 A coastal excursion to Cascais and Cabo da Roca

A coastal excursion to Cascais and Cabo da Roca, the charming harbour town and its surrounding cliffs, ending at the westernmost point of continental Europe

Curriculum links

History

Geography

Environmental Science

Physical Education

Art & Architecture

Cultural Studies

Practical information

TransportTravel arranged to suit your school's location.

Accommodationa centrally located youth hostel in the coastal town of Ericeira, within easy reach of Lisbon, Sintra, and the Atlantic beaches

Meals: breakfast included; dinner most evenings; lunch at own expense
Local currency is Euro (€); spending money recommended
Spring strongly recommended, May to June for warm weather and manageable waves
On the Move is the officially accredited school trips provider for the European Schools in Belgium; every trip has a dedicated project manager with 24/7 emergency support.

A day by day

Day 1

Arrival & Lisbon Arrive and head directly to Lisbon for a morning and early afternoon in the Belém district, the Torre de Belém, the Jerónimos Monastery, the Monument to the Discoveries, and the famous Pastel de Nata at the original bakery. Afternoon transfer to the hostel on the coast. Welcome dinner.

Day 2

Sintra Full day in Sintra, Pena Palace and the ruined Moorish Castle in the morning. After a packed lunch, the Quinta da Regaleira, with its neo-Gothic gardens, hidden tunnels, and the famous Initiatic Well. Return to the hostel for dinner.

Day 3

Surf Day Full day on the Atlantic. Morning surf lessons with qualified instructors. Afternoon free time on the beach. Group dinner at the hostel.

Day 4

Cascais & Cabo da Roca Coastal excursion west to Cascais, then onward to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe. Return to the hostel for a final group dinner.

Day 5

Departure Final breakfast before the return journey.

✏️ This is an example timetable — we can adapt the destination, programme, duration and budget to suit your group.

Students come home with…

a far richer sense of Portugal's extraordinary history, from the Age of Discovery to the present, and a healthy appreciation for what a wave feels like when you finally stand up on a board.

In pictures

Cultural Stays - your questions

History, art, civics, languages and religious studies all benefit. Bastogne suits primary P5 groups studying WWII; The Hague suits civics and international relations; Berlin, Aachen and Málaga are ideal for secondary history and arts groups.

Yes. We arrange expert local guides for museums, monuments and walking tours, in English or French as you prefer.

The Belgian Ardennes — Bastogne programme is specifically designed for P5 (ages 10–11), with content pitched carefully for that age. Other destinations in this category suit secondary groups.

Return travel, central accommodation, all entries and guided visits, supervision, insurance and your On the Move coordinator.

Cultural trip to Lisbon & the Portuguese Coast