Lisbon, Sintra and Cascais – Travel to the heart of Portugal

What can I say about Portugal? It’s not as big of a destination as other titans in Europe such as Spain, Italy, France or Greece. Although many people think of it as a Mediterranean country, the whole Portuguese coastline is actually Atlantic. It may not be as popular but personally, I’d rather it stays that way because Portugal is amazing!

I remember the first time I visited Portugal I was truly impressed. It is a very charming country, with a lot of things to see albeit being quite small. The coastline is very nice and the people are very polite and welcoming. The weather is an interesting point as it is very warm and sunny during summer time but at night it tends to be fresher. Quite nice during summer time! Portugal’s culture is very much family and food oriented and that is noticeable. You will very quickly feel at home and you will eat amazing food in Portugal and you will eat it cheaper than in most European countries.

While there are different options to visit in Portugal, people generally go to Lisbon first and tend to have the Algarve south coast or Porto as a second (posterior) option.

If you are looking for alternative options in the Iberian Peninsula please check the following post: Where should I go to in Spain and Portugal

Lisbon is a very nice city but to me, part of what it has to offer is its great location and some very interesting nearby places.

So there you go… Hope you find it interesting and useful.

Lisbon and surrounding in a nutshell

Fly or drive to Lisbon, visit the city and discover two quick getaways from Lisbon. Sintra, where you will see the gorgeous Quinta da Regaleira castle and Cascais, where you can enjoy a charming beach and fishermen town on the Atlantic coast. Both getaways within 30 minutes of Lisbon.

The details

Lisbon

Interesting facts about Lisbon

So the adventure begins in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. I always enjoy learning some interesting facts about the places I visit. Here are some:

• Lisbon is the largest city in Portugal and one of the oldest cities in the whole world.
• Lisbon has one of the nicest climates in Europe with about 3K annual average hours of sunshine.
• The Tagus River is the largest river in the Iberian Peninsula and although it starts in Spain, its estuary is in Lisbon. It is 14 km wide!
• Lisbon is known to be built on seven hills. It makes it similar to cities like Rome or Istanbul.
• Lisbon has its own Christo Rei (Christ the King statue), a Catholic monument overlooking the city, which was inspired by the one in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
• One of the most popular attractions in Lisbon is the tram. Even though it is part of the public transport system, it is very frequented by tourists.
• The city is home to the Torre de Belem, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an admirable monument representing the map of Portuguese conquests.
• Lisbon is big on graffiti. You will see them all over the city and there are loads of graffiti buildings around the city that are remarkable.

What to do in Lisbon

There are loads of things to visit in Lisbon. To me, a full day is the least you will need and possibly a couple of days will allow you to check more stuff. I suggest you look at the TripAdvisor list of things to do to make your choice on what to do.

My must-dos would be to take a long walk around the city, visit the Bairro Alto, the Praca do Comercio and the Alfama. Also, I would check out some of the main tourist attractions like the Torre de Belem, which I mentioned earlier, or the Castelo de San Jorge. There are also some amazing churches and cathedrals in the city center.

Also, Lisbon has a ton of hills and is pretty steep in general. As such, you can find several really nice lookout points called “Miradouros”. You can find the best ones in this link: Lisbon Lookout Points.

One more useful link to make sure you don’t miss on anything while in Lisbon: Lisbon Top 10 Hot Spots

Nightlife and bars

Apart from the more touristy spots, I find it very nice to take a walk in the following neighborhoods: Cais do Sodre (Cais do Sodre), Bairro Alto (Barrio Alto and Chiado), Bica and Graca (Alfama and Graca). These are all filled with bars and restaurants and have a very nice atmosphere.

If you are looking for some party, I strongly suggest Lux (Lux Lisbon). This club is actually owned by John Malkovich. It is right by the river and it has an amazing vibe. Perfect spot to see the sunrise if the night got a little too long…

Lastly, my list of favorite bars:

• Lounge (night)
• O Bom o Mau e o Vilao (night)
• Pensao Amor, Viking, and Musicbox in Cais do Sodre
• Topo (end of the afternoon)
• Park, Hotel do Barrio Alto rooftop and Agito in Barrio Alto
• Miradouro de Graca
• Eka Palace (Beato)
• Incognito (Santos)

Eating – Thing to bear in mind

For eating, there are a ton of options. I personally recommend seafood options in Portugal as it is clearly their local specialty. I know it is very tempting to improvise and just get inside the first place that looks nice. However, be a little bit careful, as there are a few places with low-quality food and exorbitant prices where they live out of scamming tourists. It is not the norm at all but some research on Yelp or TripAdvisor won’t cause you any harm.

Some great options are the following:

• Chiado: Cantinho do Avillez and Palacio do Chiado
• Barrio Alto: Principe do Calhariz
• Cais do Sobre: Mercado da Ribeira
• Miradouro Adamastor: Damas and Pharmacia
• Principe Real: Tascardoso, Chevicheria and Prego da Peixaria
• Other: Rio Maravilha, Casa Nostra, Taberna das Flores, Pinoquio, Ramiro, Ultimo Porto, Atira-te ao Rio, Damas, Carvoaria and Taberna Ideal.

Where to stay in Lisbon

I would stay in Baixa/Chiado or in Alfama as a second option. These are by far the most typical and quaint neighborhoods in Lisbon.

To me, Lisbon has a bit of an old vibe and look that makes it extremely charming and a bit decadent at the same time. An absolute bonus of Lisbon is the suburbs, where you will find cozy towns along the ocean shore with breathtaking views.

So here we go, let’s check out the suburbs. My top picks would be Cascais and Sintra. If you have some extra time, I think Parede and Oeiras are also worth visiting.

Both Cascais and Sintra are about a half an hour drive from Lisbon (check the logistics section of the post below for all the details).

Cascais

Cascais is one of those (few) places that has a bit of everything in a very small space. It is a coastal town that has amazing cliffs and rock formations, sandy beaches, and a cool marina. On top of that, there are some amazing historical and cultural sites like the medieval fort Nossa Senhora de Luz or the Citadel Palace, where the royalty used to retreat. There is also a park called Marechal Carmona, which is very nice and elegant.

When you get hungry, you can find several restaurants with local food that are absolutely delicious. My two top picks would be Fortaleza do Guincho, if you want something scenic, with amazing views but also quite pricey or the Taberna Clandestina Cascais if you are looking for something a bit more casual.

Next stop Sintra!

Sintra

It’s quite remarkable how much the climate and landscape can change in such a short distance. Sintra is in the foothills of the Sintra Mountains and consequently, it is much more green, humid and foresty than the surrounding areas.

I remember how amazed I was when I first visited Sintra and beheld the beauty of some of its monuments for the first time.

Quinta da Regaleira was classified as World Heritage by UNESCO and comprises a palace, a chapel and extremely beautiful gardens with grottos. I don’t want to ruin the experience with more details so good luck with the exploration!

Other amazing spots are the Palace and the Park of Monserrate, the park and National Palace of Pena, and the Castelo dos Mouros. This last site is a Moorish castle resulting from the Islamic presence in Portugal, which was built around the ninth century.

All these sites are close by, so you can park your car and get your legs ready to do some walking. Beware of the elevation gain…

So that’s all the time we have for Portugal for the moment… Timewise, I wouldn’t spend more than 2 full days for both Sintra and Cascais. It could be done in one full day but for some, it may be a bit of a stretch.

The Logistics – How to move around in Portugal

Within Portugal, both Sintra and Cascais are within a 30 minutes’ drive from Lisbon. It’s quite easy to take a taxi or a Cabify (local Uber) there.

If you can rent a car, I’d say that’s the best option as you can move around freely and flexible. Portuguese drivers may not be as gentle and conservative as Swiss but it is totally safe to drive in Portugal. Fine roads and decent rental cars.

You can find most of the major international car rental companies in the airport and other locations. There are pretty good deals. I’d suggest you check Kayak.com or a similar website.

If you are traveling from Portugal to Spain

If your next stop is Madrid (or somewhere else in Spain), you can either fly or drive. There are loads of cheap flights that take a bit longer than an hour every day. Consequently, flying is possibly the most practical approach.

By car, it will take you about 5.5 to 6 hours. I personally like driving because you get to see the views and the countryside. However, rental companies charge a considerable premium when dropping the car in a different city. Something worth considering…

A few useful links or the Google Maps itineraries by car:

1. Driving from Lisbon to Sintra: Lisbon to Sintra
2. And from Lisbon to Cascais: Lisbon to Cascais
3. Lisbon to Madrid by car: Madrid to Lisbon

*Thanks to my dear friend Diana, a true Lisboeta, that shared with me very useful intel of such an amazing city!