Follow in the footsteps of American-based Saul Schwartz and discover what the Portuguese capital has to offer. What is the most important thing when visiting Lisbon and its surroundings? Is Sintra National Park worth a day out of your busy itinerary? Saul suggests free walking tours and further exploration of this World Heritage site.
saul schwarz
My wife Fern and I spent four days in Lisbon and Sintra in October. Two of the days were spent in the historic center of Lisbon, one day in the beautiful Belém region and one day in Sintra National Park. You can read all about what to see in Lisbon and Belem in this article. Here’s our guide to a great day trip to Sintra.
In Sintra, I booked a ‘free’ tour with a tip in advance through the Guru Walk website. Fern and I went to Largo Dr. next to City Hall. We met our guide in Virgílio Horta. We were very happy to see Gabriel again, one of the most informative guides we have ever had on a walking tour. The tour lasted about 2 hours and was an ideal orientation to Sintra. Gabriel provided many tips and recommendations. He also told of legends from the past, including the myth of the secret portal.
Gabriel began the tour by showing us a series of scenic views, from villages to rippling mountains, Romantic architecture and glittering palaces. The entire village has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
fountain
We walked by several beautifully tiled monumental fountains. Built in 1922, the Moorish fountain boasts beautiful blue tiles surrounding an oval spout. Gabriel explained how sound travels from one side of the fountain structure to the other. Located in Volta do Duche. Built in 1931, the Pisoes Fountain is a semicircular structure on Avenida Almeida Garrett. It is decorated with Renaissance-inspired circles, tiled panels and stone reliefs depicting children holding cups and teapots.
Next we spent time learning about the Royal Palace of Sintra. This palace was home to Portuguese monarchs for nearly eight centuries. We ended up taking a walking tour and exploring the palace because Gabrielle recommended it as one of the best historical attractions in Sintra.
The tour ended at the Tivoli Palacio de Seteais, once a palace and now a five-star hotel. It is a romantic space with period architecture that exudes an 18th century atmosphere. We had a packed lunch in the large public garden outside the hotel.
We had time to tour one of the palaces in the afternoon. We decided to tour the Sintra Palace, located in the heart of the old town (Sintra Villas). As we explored the exterior during our walking tour, Gabriel explained that the palace was built in three different periods.
The main section has a Gothic façade and houses a large kitchen beneath two conical chimneys. This area was built in the 14th century. The second area was built by Manuel I in the 16th century in Moorish style. The final section was later built with Portuguese-style architecture. The entrance fee was 10 euros per adult. Although the palace now operates as a museum, it is considered the best-preserved royal palace in Portugal.
We first walked through the walled gardens outside the palace. The garden features colorful tiles. Highlights of the interior include the grand ceiling of the former ballroom, painted in the 17th century, divided by octagonal panels with swans. King Jado I painted a picture of a magpie on the ceiling to reprimand court ladies who spread rumors at the Sala das Pegas, and he felt that the sound was similar to the sound of a magpie. The interior also features beautiful tiled walls and a dramatic chandelier. One of the bathrooms had gorgeous, colorful stained glass windows.
- It was useful to have a guidebook for planning. We used Lisbon – Eyewitness Travel Guide. The Visit a City app was also helpful.
- The weather in October was very sunny but warmer than expected, with highs exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit. A sun hat is highly recommended.
- The maximum fee for using public restrooms is 2 euros. Cafes and restaurants charge a similar fee if you stop by to visit the bathroom rather than eat. For this purpose, it is a good idea to have some change in your pocket.
- Almost everyone in Lisbon and Sintra speaks English. The locals seemed to appreciate it if you could speak a little Portuguese.
- Fern and I had originally planned to stay in Lisbon for five nights, but our original flight was canceled and we missed the first night. We concluded that four nights in Lisbon would have allowed us to see most of the major attractions and still enjoy a day trip to Sintra.
We spent the third day of our trip in Sintra, the most popular day trip for tourists from Lisbon.
We took the train from Rossio train station, which is very close to the Rossio metro stop. Even though I didn’t purchase advance tickets, the line to buy tickets was short. Trains run approximately every 30 minutes and make several stops along the way. Due to unusual delays, my departure time was just over an hour, but my return time was even shorter.
This train ticket is not included in the metro pass, but costs €2.30. The trip was comfortable but crowded in each direction.
If you want to learn more about Sintra, check out the Portuguese Palace: Sintra or the real Jurassic Park in central Portugal, just an hour’s drive from Lisbon.
Saul lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and has lived in the Washington, DC area since 1984. He enjoys traveling throughout Europe with his wife and family, especially interacting with locals and learning about life in those cities and countries.
Saul has previously shared insights about his travels with us. Check out his stories about his travels in the south-west of Ireland (Limerick, Clare and Galway), his tour of modern Athens (beyond the Acropolis) or his fascination with the Vatican: the Pope’s Rome..
