Beautiful place, loaded with wildlife and peaceful trails. I got to see deer, wild boar and many birds; trees are everywhere, so there's a lot of shade for a quick break to hydrate. I do recommend a guided tour, to learn about the history of the park and its heritage; + extra chances to see the animals. Calm and refreshing atmosphere, perfect for a city escape or a walk in the nature.

We spent an afternoon there. We were able to attend the bee keeper event as well as the falconer. It was magical. The staff was so friendly and welcoming, attentive and the kids learned so much. Everything is well kept, prices are reasonable and we really loved it. 🥰 thank you, Tapada team for really making our day!

The park itself is absolutely beautiful — peaceful, well-maintained, full of wildlife and nature. It could have been a wonderful experience for our family. Unfortunately, one situation completely ruined our visit. We came with our 3-year-old daughter. At some point during the walk, she fell asleep in my arms — as small children sometimes do. After carrying her for quite a while, my wife and I were exhausted. We decided to step just two meters off the main trail, onto the grass in the sunshine, to let her sleep for a bit on a folded jacket. It was quiet, calm, and harmless. Then an employee drove up in an electric cart and started shouting at us, saying it was forbidden to leave the trail. I tried to explain the situation — that it was a sleeping child, that we weren’t disturbing anyone or damaging anything. But he was absolutely inflexible and told us to pack up and leave immediately. It was deeply disappointing and upsetting. I’ve lived in Portugal for two years and have always admired how kind and understanding people are here. This was the first time I ever encountered such coldness and lack of empathy. Rules are rules, sure — but sometimes humanity should come first. So yes, the park is wonderful. But that moment — that unnecessary harshness toward a family with a small child — completely destroyed the experience. I’m leaving this one-star review not because the park is bad, but to draw attention to how a bit of kindness could make a huge difference.

A dusk to night time period traversing the beautiful pathways in the Tapada eventually led to the most amazing firefly show I've seen in my life! To repeat and much to discover in this gorgeous natural park!

I loved it. Greatly preserved forest where you can make walks and get in direct contact with deers and wild boars. There is an entrance fee. There's a souvenir shop where you can buy some lical products.

Absolutely gorgeous and well kept place. Ideal for a family visit and picnic. I especially enjoyed the bee atelier with Sr Luís! He is really knowledgeable, passionate and great with kids!

Beautiful forest with many activities and many opportunities to see animals in their natural environment

Mafra Palace is truly unforgettable. The scale is simply beyond imagination – endless corridors that seem to stretch forever, giving you plenty of time to reflect on the grandeur. The rooms are beautifully consistent in their style, so you never get distracted by sudden changes or surprises. The atmosphere is calm and undisturbed, with very few exhibits to clutter the space – a refreshing change from other overcrowded attractions. You can easily spend hours wandering without being interrupted by anything that might break the serene emptiness. Highly recommended for those who appreciate space, silence, and the rare luxury of having so little to look at.

Amazing sight to visit. Cathedral was being renovated but the entrance fee was 50%. Definitely worth a visit…you could see into the cathedral from inside the palace.

Beautiful royal palace massive inside with unique layout like the Basilica on between the king and queens side of the palace which is massive. Definitely worth seeing. 50 minutes driving from Lisbon

The structure is imposing and the most important Baroque style in the country. The long halls and rooms are well laid out. Paintings are fabulous.

Beautiful Palace. My husband is Portuguese so he didn't pay for the entrance and since half of it had just been closed for renovation; literally the day before we went, ticket was half price. Definitely will come back to see the rest of the tour.

This palace is unique in that it is not filled with opulence as others were. It feels real more. Also, it sits right there in the middle of the city. There are docents placed at each room or exhibit. Portugal residents, teachers, military, student researchers, and others do not pay an entry fee.

The building is well-maintained and offers a vast collection. It's a shame you can't walk around the library. Access is limited to a few meters of the entrance.

Fantastic museum! A dream of a man came true to make everyone happy with his Art. Awesome place to spend a day with family! Well care mini farm, thematic museum from back on the days jobs, a brilliant restaurant and bakery with traditional food and fair prices. Small part of the complex restricted to people with mobile disability. Strongly recommend!

This village is unique. In addition to showcasing rooms that represent Portugal’s past (an old barbershop, grocery store, wine cellar, etc.), it also serves as a museum for pieces by the artist José Franco. There is also a café where they sell drinks and traditional bread from the region. The space has its own parking area, so finding a spot is not difficult. It is a place worth visiting alone or with family.

Definitely must visit place, even if you don’t have any children or siblings. The place is full of charm of handmade earthenware and pottery and all those things are beautifully combined with each other creating the atmosphere of village in miniature.

I went with my family. My girls, 7 and 11 ear old, enjoyed everything... The animal is a plus and girls loved feed the rabbits, guinea pigs and goats... The windmills make such lovely pictures... There is a store that sell beautiful pottery... The place is free but you can donate something to help keep the place in good condition...

I wanted to visit this place for a long time and finally it happened ☺️. Its a museum of sculptures portraying portuguese culture, history and lifestyle of ancient civilization. Its a bit outside of Mafra city center. There is a small petting zoo consisting rabbits, guinea pigs and goats. Ideal for both kids and adults.

Amazing place. The whole village was made by the artist to remember is childhood's. They also have an amazing bakery that's is must to try on the visit.

To the reply of Aldeia: I understand that Aldeia Museu José Franco aims to preserve the “Saloia” culture — and I appreciate the value of cultural heritage. However, historical traditions should never justify inadequate animal welfare. Times have changed, and we now know that animals — especially social, intelligent beings like donkeys — have physical and emotional needs that must be respected. Keeping a single donkey alone in a small, barren area with no stimulation, or companions is not acceptable, regardless of tradition. If the goal is education, then let’s educate people on how we can honor the past without repeating practices that we now recognize as harmful. I truly hope that your promise of “more news soon” means a significant improvement in how animals are kept. Until then, I cannot support or recommend the site. ‐---‐----------------- I've been visiting this place every year since I was a child and always held fond memories of it. But what I saw this time was simply heartbreaking — and unacceptable. There is a donkey at the entrance, standing alone in a cramped, barren space, no enrichment, and no companion. It’s a tiny area, unfit for any animal, let alone a sensitive, social creature like a donkey. He just stands there, exposed to the sun, with nothing to do and no one to interact with. It feels more like a display than a living being. This is not only outdated — it’s cruel. In 2025, there is no excuse for keeping an animal under such conditions just to entertain visitors. What message does this send to children about respect for animals? Until this situation is addressed and the donkey is either removed or given a proper, enriched environment with companionship and space, I will not be returning — and I strongly urge others to reconsider supporting this place.

Deeply upsetting. The birds are kept in small, outdated cages with bare concrete floors, metal bars, and hardly any natural elements. No enrichment, just lifeless enclosures that resemble prison cells more than habitats. This is not how animals should be treated in 2025. Avoid if you care about animal welfare.

Jardim do Cerco, beside Mafra Palace, is a magical Baroque garden filled with vibrant flowers, historic trees, and peaceful walking paths. The air feels timeless, nature feels sacred — it’s a hidden gem where history and beauty bloom in harmony, perfect for slow strolls and quiet wonder.

Beautiful garden with a lot of open spaces. It has a playground and picnic area making it perfect for a family day. Theres an open area you can lay on the grass and read a book or just relax. There are public toilets. Its free entry and open from 9 am to 7 pm.

Amazing park, Free parking on Sundays (otherwise pay), No entry cost (at least on Sunday), Ponds with koi fish, singing birds and even peacocks. A playground for kids and a picnic area. Water fountains and all next to the amazing church. Highly Recommend. Also has Public Toilets and water fountains.

A garden where you can sit and enjoy the green surroundings. Various plants and flowers as well as an area with birds.

One of my top fav places in Mafra! Super green and well taken care of. Also the staff was super nice and offered me some greens so I could see the birdies up close. It made me very happy!

Excellent infant, toddler, young child playground... area for outside lunch ... surrounded by tall gorgeous trees and a bird collection that’s fun for toddlers.

Awesome place. Great to understanding more of Portugal's history. The library is really something!

Amazing palace and church, but the library is just one of the most amazing ever. Recommend skipping everything and starting from there if you go in the afternoon as it closes earlier. They also have organ and other concerts in the church every Sunday.

Beautiful palace. Good tourist attraction if you love history. They got huge rooms, library, kitchen etc.phtos are allowed in inside but no flash.at5ached with church.we saw the wedding too

This is a huge palace with more than 230 windows. There is a church inside. Very long corridor. We managed to see almost everything in 2.5 hours. The most interesting thing is the library, it is so big and impressive, I really wanted to take a look at a couple of books, there are more than 40,000 thousand of them. I recommend 👍

The library is open until 12 pm and re opens at 2pm not sure if you can actually have a full access or need a special occasion to enter.

This is an amazing structure over 300 years old. It's a World Heritage Site as it is the original building. It's well worth the visit for the kitchen and library, which is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. I must when you visit Lisbon. AM

it's great! here you can see a beautiful baroque basilica, a huge imperial palace and one of the oldest European libraries. best recommendations!!!

A very well decorated restaurant. Believe that it is a kind of traditional Portuguese style. The food is of coz fine and in a big portion. A well done steak is still very soft and the pork chop is well grilled.

First off I want to express how beautiful the restaurant is. We came here for a family dinner, a group of 10, on a very busy night, just a few days after eating at the sister restaurant a few nights before. My steak in peppercorn came to the table blue rare, and that is not an over statement. I like usually eat my steak cooked mid-rare, and this was inedible and i had to send it back, which I never do. Half our table was served and nearly done eatting by the time the other half got their food, and my wife who ordered fries, got them almost near the end of our meal. It is very beautiful but very expensive and im just not sure its worth the price.

Fantastic regional and traditional Portuguese food restaurant right in the centre of Mafra. The restaurant is very close to the convent and the interior does remind you of an old, charming, rustic building. The food is very authentic, the menu has plenty of choice, including fresh meat cuts a fresh fish. The portions are enormous.

The place is very cozy. The food is good. However the prices are a bit high and the portions bring too much food for one. The staff also mixed some of the orders to dietary options.

Delicious food, friendly staff and comfortable environment. Wish to go back again.

Great restaurant and atmosphere in general with good food and service. Needs reservation prior to going.Will definitely comeback. Not to miss!

After an improvised visit to the National Palace of Mafra (next door), wifey and I decided to go for a quick bite in the vicinity. This restaurant is within walking distance to the Palace (250m) and has a beautiful, tall ceiling, ample space and features tissue napkins and good food. I was surprised with the final bill, as we spent less than €30 in two!!! You can be sure that we'll be back there for more soon!

Food: every dish tastes great- I must highlight the razor clam rice, and as a razor clam lover, it was cooked perfectly and this is the only place that make razor clam dish in our 1 month trip in Portugal. If you like shellfish this is must try! Service- mixed feelings. Although the waitress was nice and efficient, the waiting process for a table of 6 (with young kids) couldn’t have handled better: We were told to wait 20-30 mins, ended up waiting over an hour. Not completely the fault of the restaurant, but coincidentally 1 or 2 customers occupied tables for 6 and won’t leave even they have finished their meals being inconsiderate- just keep talking or looking at their phone. The owner/waitress couldn’t have provide bill and politely inform those customers that others are waiting for the table. This could’ve been our best meal (food quality for sure)in Portugal except the waiting table process must improve

We loved our lunch here. The food was the best we’ve eaten in Portugal by far and the service was friendly and efficient.

The food was amazing. A lot of different food. The staff was very friend and good price. I highly recommend it.

We had a great experience with the Portuguese traditional cuisine. Beautifully cooked sea bass and great sides as well. We easily overcame the language barrier of English 😁

Highly recommended. Mr Joåo is a master chef. His granddaughter was very helpful. Made our experience excellent. I recommend making a reservation. It gets busy. Thank you so much

The quality/price ratio is good and probably one of the best restaurants in the region in terms of good, homemade food. The staff is friendly and the portions are well served although some dishes have almost twice as much side dishes than the protein. I believe that the menu has too many options and one third would be more than enough. They compensate the large menu by having a considerable percentage of the dishes having the same sides. In fact, I had so many different sides that my Madeirense skewer had three types of potatoes. The açorda was also tasteless and the cabage needed more vinegar. My point is that this approach does not make any dish special (besides the stews) and could highlight the protein better with specific side dish choices rather than ten sides besides the protein. I have had Galinha Mourisca and Wild Boar Chanfana last time and the dishes were unique and very good. However, if you want grilled meat/fish, the protein loses its highlights and does not pair perfectly with all the sides. The dessert was nice. We had Lemon Pie but it lacked a bit of lemon acidity and had to much merengue on top. I do recommend the place but not to have grilled protein or fish with rice/noodles.

Great traditional restaurant, not easy to get in if you came after 8. Food is very well prepared and plenty, prices are moderate. Very nice staff.

Cozy café with a nice atmosphere. I had a coffee and a slice of pistachio cake — everything was tasty. Although the edge of the cake was a bit dry, the overall flavor was very good. The coffee was great as well. Friendly staff and fast service. Excellent value for money. Definitely recommend!

Loved this place. The best cake with cream we have tried in Portugal. Friendly helpful personnel. Fast satisfying service. Calm easy to talk caffe with sits outside

Best place locally to have breakfast. During our short stay we came back every morning 🥰

The best padaria in the region. Massive selection of beautiful pastry. Everything is fresh and delicious. Mafarricos, their speciality, is out of this world, stuff with dried fruit and nuts.

Fancy & Tasty! With very cool vew to Palácio de Mafra.

Fantastic service, great burgers!

I have eaten any tests mistas in my time. I do not like the ham used in the tests mista I had here. it was more like polony than ham. the rest of the food was ok.

Sensational quality of food for incredible prices and very friendly staff.

The food was really good. I had javali. My brother, octopus, and my partner squid. The lady that was serving wasn't very caring. She looked like she didn't want to serve us. Was a strong atmosphere. But food and price are worthy.

Really testy food for lunch! We had grilled doradas and is was juicy and super tasty! Perfect service. We came with 1 year old kid and everyone was super helpfull and kind. Recommend for lunch 10/10!

Vibrant place with lots of locals. Decent size portions and delicious home food. Octopus was great. Soup of the day is 1.8 euros only and it tastes good as well.

Homemade comfy food, excellent value for money. Delicious dishes. WC was very clean, quite important during the covid-19 crisis. Highly recommend!

Had lunch by chance there one time and now it’s the only place I go to have my meals when I am in town! Service is nice, depending on the time of the day can be hectic at times, sure, but the quality of the food and price is pretty good as you have really interesting meals!

Must see in Mafra. Looks like a family run business. Fast and friendly service. Restaurant was full for lunch. Call ahead to avoid the wait. Food was simple but excellent. Had the grilled bacalhau with potatoes and a local sidedish. I can recommend this place.

Every day different food from one of best restaurants in Mafra. Works just during lunch time.

Great food, nice staff. A simple yet good choice to experience the portuguese cuisine.

Classic Portuguese comfort food for a great price!

Friendly staff and popular place at Sunday lunchtime. The vegetables and beans soup was tasty and the bread, salad and fruit was fresh and yummy. However, the menu is geared towards meat and fish, with few plant based options, and the kitchen was too busy on a Sunday to create anything not on the menu. It would be great to have a plant based main dish with delicious Portuguese ingredients such as lentils, beans or chick peas combined with an assortment of local vegetables and greens.

Amazing traditional food, at a typical restaurant. No frills, but great food experience, a bit off the beaten track. Meals are wholesome and hearty, service is friendly and speedy enough. Do try the homemade desserts! Definitely recommend!

Whe had some warm local snacks with chicken, fish and meat. The where all very tasty.

A nice tasca with friendly staff and generous portions. Would definitely recommend.