Historic landmarks
Main monuments, best viewpoints, and what’s worth your time in Mafra.
Private Transfers in Mafra — Airport & Day Trips
Private and reliable transfers in Mafra – airport, hotel, business travel and day trips across Portugal.
Explore the best of Mafra
Mafra is in the Lisbon & Surroundings region of Portugal, about 31 km from Lisbon Airport.
Weather
20°C
Clear
Lisbon time 14:30 • 19 Oct 2026
Nearest airport
LIS
31 km
Lisbon Airport (LIS) · 31 km
Region
Lisbon & Surroundings
Portugal
Population
86,515
Residents
Overview
Plan your visit: the sights of Mafra, what to eat and where to stay.
Landmarks · Cuisine · Hotels
Hotels & stays
Book the right stay in Mafra: best areas, smart picks, and options for every budget.
Mafra National Palace
A vast 18th-century baroque palace, basilica and convent, UNESCO-listed, with royal apartments and one of the most beautiful libraries in Europe.
Mafra Basilica
The marble basilica at the centre of the palace, with six historic organs and two towers holding large carillons.
Tapada Nacional de Mafra
The former royal hunting park behind the palace, a walled forest with deer and wild boar, walking trails and guided tours.
Jardim do Cerco
The palace's former kitchen garden, now a calm park with tall trees, a lake and a playground.
José Franco Village
A miniature traditional village built by the potter José Franco in Sobreiro, with old trades, a bakery and a children's favourite.
Pão de Mafra
A rustic loaf with a thick, floury crust and a soft, airy crumb, baked in wood ovens and sold across the region.
Trouxas da Malveira
Sweet parcels of thin egg-yolk sheets in syrup, a speciality of Malveira, just east of Mafra.
Roast suckling pig
Suckling pig roasted until the skin crackles, a favourite in the restaurants between Mafra and Sintra.
Colares wine
A rare wine from ungrafted vines planted in the sand near the coast, a short drive south of Mafra.
Ericeira seafood
Mafra's coast is Ericeira: seafood rice, goose barnacles and sea urchins, ten minutes from the palace.
Mafra travel guide & FAQ
Mafra travel guide
Mafra is a small town north of Lisbon built around a huge palace. King João V ordered it in the 18th century, paid for with Brazilian gold: a palace, a basilica and a convent under one roof, with a façade over 200 metres long. It is listed by UNESCO and is one of the most impressive sights near Lisbon, yet rarely crowded.
What to see
Tour the Mafra National Palace, with its royal apartments and the magnificent library of 36,000 books, still protected at night by a colony of bats. The basilica has six organs and two bell towers with large carillons. Behind the palace, the Tapada Nacional is the old royal hunting park, with deer, wild boar and walking trails. The Jardim do Cerco is a peaceful garden next to the palace, and children love the miniature José Franco village in Sobreiro.
What to eat
Mafra is famous for its pão de Mafra, a rustic bread with a thick crust. In nearby Malveira, try the trouxas, sweet egg-yolk parcels. Roast suckling pig is a regional favourite, and fresh seafood is 10 minutes away in Ericeira.
Nearby
The surf town of Ericeira is 10 km away, and Sintra about 25 km. Mafra combines well with both in one day from Lisbon.
Getting there
Mafra is about 40 km from Lisbon Airport. GoToo drives you door to door at a fixed price per vehicle, and can combine Mafra, Ericeira and Sintra in a day.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers, so you can book with confidence.
Yes. It is one of the largest baroque buildings in Europe, and the library alone is worth the trip. It is also far less crowded than Sintra.
A small colony lives in the library and eats insects at night, helping to protect the old books.
Yes. Ericeira is only 10 km away, perfect for lunch by the sea after the palace.
GoToo runs private transfers, about 40 km, at a fixed price per vehicle.
Map of Mafra
Highlights
Landmarks, food and day trips worth your time in Mafra.
Private transfers in Mafra
- ✓ Fixed price · no surprises
- ✓ Up to 90 min airport waiting included
- ✓ Professional licensed driver
Getting to Mafra
Mafra sits about 31 km from Lisbon Airport, roughly 25 minutes by road. Public transport often means changes and waiting, and may leave you a walk from where you want to be. A private transfer takes you door-to-door, with a fixed price and no connections — from €28 from Lisbon Airport.
