Palmela is a traditional Portuguese town that is situated high in the hills of the Serra da Arrabida. From this commanding position stands the Castelo de Palmela, a mighty fortification as well as the historic religious centre for the Order of Santiago. Below the castle, cobbled streets meander down the steep hill, through the charming historic centre of Palmela.

Palmela is far from the normal tourist routes, and part of the attraction of the town is visiting somewhere completely different. This lack of tourism is surprising, considering how close Palmela is Lisbon, and that the Castelo de Palmela is an outstanding tourist attraction. The town of Palmela has a charming (if semi-delipidated) Portuguese appeal, which very closely resembles Evora.

Apart from the Castelo de Palmela, there are only a few other minor sights and the whole town (including the castle) can be fully discovered in 2-3 hours. Visitors using public transport should only consider Palmela as a short-day trip. A rental car allows to explore the region, which has a lot to see