Follow US resident Saul Schwartz as he explores what Portugal’s capital has to offer. What are the top places to visit in and around Lisbon? Is Sintra National Park really worth taking a full day out of your busy travel schedule? Saul suggests a free walking tour and further exploration of this World Heritage site.
By Saul Schwartz
My wife Fern and I spent four days in Lisbon and Sintra during October, spending two days in the historic center of Lisbon, one day in the beautiful Belém area, and one day in Sintra National Park. You can read all about What to see in Lisbon and Belem in this articleHere’s our guide to a great day trip to Sintra:
In Sintra, we booked another “free” tour with advance gratuities through the Guru Walk website. Fern and I met our guide at Largo Dr. Virgílio Horta next to the town hall. We were so happy to see Gabriel again, who was one of the most helpful guides we have ever used on a walking tour. The tour took about two hours and was a perfect orientation of Sintra. Gabriel offered lots of tips and recommendations. He also told us some legends from times past, including the legend of the secret gates.
Gabriel began the tour by showing us a series of stunning views, from the city to the rolling mountains, romantic architecture and sparkling palaces. The entire city is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Fountains
We walked past several large, beautifully tiled fountains. The Moorish Fountain, built in 1922, has beautiful blue tiles surrounding its oval spout. Gabriel explained how sound travels from one side of the fountain structure to the other. It is located in the Volta de Duce. The Bezois Fountain, built in 1931, is a semicircular structure on Avenida Almeida Garret. It is decorated with a Renaissance-inspired circle, a tile panel and a stone relief of children holding cups and pitchers.
Afterwards, we spent some time getting to know the National Palace of Sintra. The palace was inhabited by the Portuguese monarchy for almost eight centuries. Since Gabriel had recommended this as the most important historical landmark in Sintra, we finished with a walking tour of the palace.
The tour ended at the Tivoli Palacio de Setias, formerly a palace and now a five-star hotel. It is a romantic place with period architecture and an 18th-century atmosphere. We had a packed lunch in the large public gardens outside the hotel.
We had time in the afternoon to visit one of the palaces. We chose to visit the National Palace of Sintra located in the heart of the old town (Sintra Vila). During the walking tour, as we looked outside, Gabriel explained that the palace was built in three different periods.
The main section has a Gothic façade, with large kitchens beneath two conical chimneys. This section was built in the 14th century. A second section is in Moorish style and this addition was built in the 16th century by Manuel I. The final section was built later in Portuguese architectural style. The entrance fee was 10 euros per adult. The palace now serves as a museum but is considered the best preserved royal palace in Portugal.
We first wandered through the walled gardens outside the palace. The gardens feature colorful tiles. A highlight of the interior is the magnificent ceiling of the former banquet hall, painted in the 17th century and divided into octagonal panels depicting swans. In the Sala das Pegas, King Gado I had the ceiling painted with images of magpies as a rebuke to the ladies of the court for indulging in gossip, which he felt sounded like the cry of a magpie. The interior also features beautiful tiled walls and dramatic chandeliers. One of the bathrooms has a lavish stained glass window.
- It was helpful to have one guide for planning purposes. We used Lisbon – Eyewitness Travel Guides. The Visit a City app was also helpful.
- In October, the weather was very sunny, but warmer than expected with temperatures exceeding 80 degrees F. Sun hats are highly recommended.
- There is a fee of up to 2 euros in public toilets. Cafes and restaurants charge a similar fee if you are just stopping to visit the toilet and not to eat. It is a good idea to have change in your pocket for this purpose.
- Almost everyone in Lisbon and Sintra speaks English. Speaking a little Portuguese seems to be appreciated by the locals.
- Fern and I had originally planned to stay in Lisbon for five nights, but our original flight was cancelled, and we lost the first day. We concluded that four nights in Lisbon allowed us to see most of the major sights and enjoy a day trip to Sintra.
We spent the third full day of our trip in Sintra, which is the most popular day trip from Lisbon for tourists.
We boarded the train from Rossio train station, which is very close to Rossio metro station. Although we didn’t buy tickets in advance, the line to buy tickets was short. Trains run about every 30 minutes and make several stops along the way. Due to the unusual delay, the journey took just over an hour going, but less coming back.
This train ticket was not included in our metro card, but it only cost 2.30 euros. The ride was comfortable but crowded in both directions.
If you want to discover more about Sintra, check out: Palaces of Portugal: Sintra or A real Jurassic park in the middle of Portugal – Only one hour drive from Lisbon.
Saul lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and has lived in the Washington, D.C. area since 1984. He loves traveling throughout Europe with his wife and family, and especially enjoys interacting with the locals and learning about life in their city and country.
Saul has previously shared his thoughts on travel. Learn his story about Tour of South West Ireland – Limerick, Clare and Galway Or check out his trip to Modern Athens – Beyond the Acropolis Or his infatuation with Vatican: Rome of the Popes.
