PORTUGAL 2023 - LISBON, CASCAIS & SINTRA

 LISBON, CASCAIS & SINTRA

September 2023

Albufeira

We drove from Spain to Lisbon via Albufeira in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. The Algarve is popular with British travellers who can fly from London and be on the beach in under three hours. The region also has many internationally acclaimed golf courses, along with resorts, fabulous food, cycle trails and boat tours. It would be very easy to spend a week or two exploring the area. 

Arriving in Lisbon late afternoon, we dropped our car off at the airport and ubered to the Wine & Books Hotel in Belem. Located within walking distance of Belem Tower, the Maritime Museum, the Archaeology Museum, Jeronimos Monastery and of course the famous Pasteis de Belem (home of the original and best Portuguese custard tarts), the suburb of Belem is a good half hour drive from Lisbon city centre. 

CASCAIS

Cascais is about an hour west of Lisbon and regarded as the Portuguese Riviera. Easily reachable by train from Cais de Sodre, it was at the Casino Estoril, where Ian Fleming first penned James Bond. 

If you can afford more than just a daytrip, then you can hire bikes and cycle the coastline to Guincho beach. Alternatively, visit on a Wednesday or Saturday when the Mercado da Vila is on and just enjoy people watching, the beach and resort town.

Mercado da Vila

SINTRA

Sintra would have to be the number one, day trip destination for people visiting Lisbon. Easily accessible by train, once you get there you will need to source transport to navigate the very steep hills to visit the many tourist attractions. Hiring e-bikes from Park-e-bike is a fabulous option and when you book, you will gain access to the Routzz self-guided tour app, which makes visiting ultra easy.

When visiting Sintra, plan your route and timing well and where possible purchase your tickets online in advance. Entry to see the inside of the Pena Palace is timed, therefore if you miss your designated window, then you won't be able to visit (unless you buy another ticket). If you're not keen on long queues and dawdlers, then just purchase a ticket to visit the beautiful palace gardens.

Within walking distance of the Pena Palace is the Castelo dos Mouros or Moorish Castle. The fortification snakes across the hills with spectacular views across to the Atlantic Ocean. The parks surrounding the castle are as stunning as the Pena Palace gardens. Be prepared for lots of stairs to test your fitness.

There is so much to see and do around Sintra, that navigating the narrow windy roads heaving with tourist buses, tuk-tuks and taxi's makes for hungry and thirsty peddlers. We stopped for lunch at Taverna dos Trovadores before heading to the 19th Century villa Quinta da Regaleira. In the parks of the palace, you will find an initiation well, which used for ceremonial purposes, but never as a water souce. Again, the gardens alone are spectacular and a great place to wander or picnic.

Feeling exhausted our last palace was Monserrate. Fortunately, there was a transfer vehicle to take us through the magnificent gardens from the gate to the palace entrance. The interior of the palace is incredible with hand painted tiles and plaster work resembling lace. This was definitely one of my favourite places.

Thank you Sintra for a truly memorable day. I loved e-biking around all the different sites and how amazing to have so much beauty in one place. It was one of the best days on our trip.

LISBON

Commerce Square, Lisbon

We caught the train from Cascais along the coast to Cais de Sodre which not only serves the train and metro system but is also the main ferry terminal across to Cacilhas. Lisbon is made up of a collection of neighbourhoods, each with their own unique points of interest. 

Cais de Sodre is very popular, as its close to the Tagus River boasting the urban beach Ribeira das Naus, the Rua Nova do Carvalho or Pink Street and Mercado da Ribeira - also known as the Time Out Market where we enjoyed a very pleasant lunch and glass of local wine at Sea Me.

We stayed at the Epic Sana Marques Hotel. Located atop one of Lisbon's many hills, we found we could wander down and transport back up either by uber, taxi or one of the famous yellow trams.

Having travelled through Spain and absorbing its history, we didn't book to see many paid attractions in Lisbon. We were more than happy to just wander the streets and absorb the atmosphere. We did, however, visit the Quake Museum. In 1755 Lisbon experienced a 7.7 magnitude earthquake which devastated the city, killing 30,000 - 40,000 people. The city was ablaze as people scrambled to safety. Forty minutes after the quake (which lasted between 3.5 and 6 minutes) a 12 metre high tsunami struck, pushing more debris and wood onto the fires which then raged for over five days.

The Quake Museum is an interactive experience which reenacts the earthquake and explains the devastation caused to the city and its population. It also highlights how Lisbon became one of the first cities to be built using an earthquake-proof building design.

Eating is much easier in Portugal with restaurant times being more along the lines of what we are used to at home. We had some really delicious meals at: Officio, Da noi, Sala de Corte, Gunpowder and Cervejaria Ribadouro. Don't forget to book.

We will definitely visit Lisbon again. There is so much to see and do such as the Sao Jorge Castle, Museu de Aljube and the Museu Nacional do Azulejo (National Tile Museum). Not to mention a day trip to Cacilhas and the elevator to the Cristo Rei Statue.