If you choose to get to know the Lisbon region better while visiting the city, Mafra is a calm spot you shouldn’t miss. Besides the impressive Baroque palace and the natural wonders of the park, the Tapada de Mafra, you can also wander and relax at the Jardim do Cerco, a Baroque garden that combines nature, agriculture and the sophistication of gardening in a very pleasant and appealing place. The various ponds and small flowerbeds invite you to stroll, while the ancient but still working waterwheel seems to beg for a photo. You can also visit the Horta dos Frades, a garden where you can learn about and identify plants used to make medicinal products back in King João V’s time. This is a great place to visit with kids – the playground is big, safe and very complete.