Exploring Portugal

We arrived at Lisbon airport mid morning after a red-eye flight from NYC and rented a car. We drove one hour from the Lisbon airport to Sintra, a town northwest of Lisbon. We arrived late evening, so we decided to stay in after a long day of travel. Sintra is a historic town with estates and castles to tour. You could walk everywhere (it’s very hilly) and see so much without needing transportation. We stayed at a bed and breakfast called Chalet Saudade–we absolutely loved it.

Breakfast, included in our stay, was across the street at a charming café. They delivered our breakfast to our table, full of croissants, hard-boiled eggs, fruit, fresh juices & coffee. A perfect start to our day of walking this historic small city. We visited the gorgeous Pena Palace, Castelo dos Mouros (the top of Sintra, spectacular views), and the Quinta de Regalia, a lavish estate set atop a hill. All three of these stops are a must, and we visit them all in one day! We loved Sintra…my absolute favorite stop of the trip!!

We stopped in Cascais, a coastal town with little shops and restaurants, for lunch and the afternoon on our way to Lisbon. In Lisbon, we stayed at the Torel Palace, a stylish boutique hotel perched above a section of the city. The location was fantastic, just footsteps to one of the famous yellow trams of Lisbon. When we arrived after a long day of driving, we were greeted with hospitality by the staff, soaking in gorgeous city/sunset views from their terrace and enjoying a light dinner while waiting for our room to be ready. If you stay here, I would recommend staying in one of the main converted pink or blue 19th-century mansions, which are considered the main part of the hotel. We were placed in an adjacent property, an apartment that didn’t seem too bad until 1 AM, when their night had just started.

Lisbon was fantastic; a bustling, hilly city with beautiful architecture and sites around every corner. We visited the Torre de Belem (an ancient port-side cavernous fortress), a bit of a wait but worth it. Also many hidden little pedestrian streets with cafes within the Alfama district…absolutely wonderful!! We loved riding the trams that run up steep winding cobblestone streets throughout the city. We lunched at an outdoor cafe in Alfama, which I cannot remember. You will find numerous outdoor cafes to enjoy in the area!

Breakfast was heavenly...what ever you do, don’t forget to visit the famous Pastéis de Belém for their pastéis de nata’s…cream filled airy pastries crispy on the outside. They alone are worth a visit to Lisbon! This was our last stop before heading back to the hotel and heading to the airport. Absolutely loved Lisbon–a beautiful, safe city with so much to see and do!