Peep

We're flying in and out of Lisbon and will stay for a week around Easter. So, what do you think, should we stay at one hotel in Lisbon (any recommendations for under 100 euros for double?) or should we spend a few days there and a few somewhere else? Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks!

Amy

Siiiiinnnntrrrraaaa! siiiiinnnnttrrrraaa...
sinnnntrraaa...
(Oh, hi, Peep. I suggest staying in the old part of Sintra and going into Lisbon by train. And hiking up to the Moor's Castle and looking down over the valley and then on to Pena Palace...and the spooky gardens of Monserrat and the Cork Capuchin monastery...)
I stayed in the Explorer apartments there for two weeks and had a great time; Cabo da Roca and Obidos were two good trips out from there as well.

Peep

Hi Amy! Is Sintra a much better pick than Cascais?

Amy

Well, I liked it better! Cascais is a "beach town" and has lots more of the atmosphere of the Monty Python travel agent sketch (if you're familiar with that one).

Sintra, to me, has a lot more character and charm, especially the old part. You can take a bus into Cascais--I'm not sure if the open top ones would be operating then, but if so, wear sunscreen! (I didn't. Ouch.) Sintra does get daytrippers, but in the evenings it's really not crowded and the surroundings are lovely. It's a nice walk down to the train from the old part, and you can be in Lisbon in about 45 minutes.

Happy planning! I'm jealous

Peep

Thanks! Where are you off to next?? We're going to South Africa next month!

bobthenavigator

Peep, I agree with the idea of staying outside Lisbon, but we have chosen Cascais twice because of the ease of the commuter train into Lisbon. If I had a week, I would spend at least 2 nites in Obidos with a car and see that area as well--including Nazare, Batahla etc.

NEDSIRELAND

I think you should spend a few days there and a few somewhere else (Estoril, Cascais or Sintra; Coimbra or Porto if you're willing to travel that far). The Alfa expres train takes 3-hours to Porto. It also stops at Coimbra.

I don't do hotels: Residenciales are more my 'speed' & priced better for my budget. In Lisbon I like Estrela do Saldanha Avda. de la Republica, 17. It's at Metro Saldanha (Duque de Avila exit) and it's next door to Pasteleria Versailles, one of Lisbon's 'golden oldies.' Centraly located, clean and comfortable!
Carlos Ferreira, co-owner/manager speaks pretty good English.

Peep

I hadn't thought about Porto or Coimbra. Where is Obidos? Of all the places we could take the train to for say 3 days, which would you recommend? We've never been to Portugal except a week on Madeira. Thanks!

PVB

We spent two full days in Lisbon and one in Sintra and that was enough. Loved Obidos...tiny and picturesque. It's north of Lisbon via the A8. We stayed at Estalagem do Convento there. We had a car, so I don't know if you can get there via train. I also agree with bobthenavigator that Batalha is worth a visit.

misscarol

We traveled Lisbon 2 years ago. WE spent 2 days in Sintra, took the bus to Cascais(did not care for here) then took the train to Lisbon for 3 days. Train travel between Lisbon and Sintra is very easy. Have fun!

Peep

How about this idea?

2 days Lisbon
2 days Nazare
2 days Sintra

Obidos sounds cool, but is it overrun with tourists?

lobo_mau

hi peep

I'm sure you don't want to stay 2 days at Nazare. A better split would be:

Lisbon - 3 days
Nazare and (Obidos or Alcobaça or Batalha) - 1 day
Sintra - 2 days

Obidos has a train station however is not a major stop. Check carefully which are the trains that stop there, because only regional (slow) trains should do that.

Obidos is in the Oeste line. The head station in Lisbon is Rossio train station (the same you should use to catch trains to Sintra, except the actual trains are obviously diferent).

If you wish I could email my very favourites spots in Lisbon. To get the taste of Lisbon, 3 days are not too much.

ThinGorjus

Are you daft?? Nazare will be freezing in early April. It is cool in early September, let only April. Nazare is a beach community and there is very little to do if you aren't going to lie on the beach or swim.

You would be better off staying the extra days in Sintra or Lisbon. You could do Nazare as a day trip along with Bathala/Fatima (which you should visit for its spookiness and kitsch factor).

Peep

Freezing?? I wasn't planning to lounge on the beach. Isn't Nazare a cool little fishing village? Are you saying it's not worth spending a day there just to wander around?

Lobo_mau, thanks for the offer! My e-mail is [email protected].

Obidos sounds cool, but is it too touristy? Is every street lined with tourist shops?

ThinGorjus

Nazare is a beach resort. Many well-heeled Portuguese have summer homes there. Yes, there is a fishing village behind the beach. However, I wouldn't spend two days wandering around. It is worth no more than two-three hours. It would be a different story if you were there to sun yourself.

When I was in Nazare in early September, 2000, it was no more than 65F (and VERY windy), even though it was 90F in Lisboa. You couldn't even stick your feet in the water it was so cold. My ex-husband, Rogerio, lives in Lisboa and we went there for the day to sun. He told me it would be too cold, but I wanted to go anyway because it was on the way home from Bathala. Also, because it was off season, there were very few people around, just tour buses filled with day-trippers who come to shop at the stores that line the beach.

I am just giving you my experienced opinion, which you ASKED FOR in your posting. Do whatever you like, I don't care. Happy Travels.

Peep

No need to get your panties in a wad! I appreciate your opinion and have decided against Nazare. I think we'll spend a few days in Sintra and a few in Lisbon, and maybe one in Cascais.

ThinGorjus

Actually, I don't wear panties, but if I did they would be Chanel.

My posting was not meant to be bitchy. I must always state "IMO" in my postings or others jump on my back screaming, "We were in Nazare in April and it was 110F and the sea was like bathwater."

Last month some shrew jumped on me because I dared to say that it is wet and dreary in Lisboa in February. She and her husband were there in February and it was sunny, which is an anomaly. This woman was to Lisboa ONCE IN HER LIFE, yet my Rogerio is a native, and he said it is not a good time to visit Lisboa in February. Now, who would you take advice from?????

magellan98

I was in Lisbon for a week over new year's holiday last year and stayed three nights in Lisbon, two nights in Cascais, and another two nights in Lisbon. Stayed at a wonderful boutique hotel called the Estelagem do Farol which I would return to in a heartbeat. Its a bit of a splurge but well worth it if you get one of the master suites with jacuzzi and balcony opening out to the sea. Its just a walk from the town center and on the main road to the beaches of Guincho. Rent a car and visit sintra and cabo de roca from cascais and maybe make it up to Mafra one afternoon. There should be a few local festivals going on for the holiday which may be nice if you can find one. In Lisbon I recommend the Americano hotel. It's right in the Baixa district central to everything and clean and cheap. For dinner Pap Acorda is a great place. My only warning is to stay away from fado houses that attract throngs of tourists. Ask a local for a good reccomendation for a Fado house if this really interests you. Other places not to miss in lisbon include the ferry ride to Cristo Rei in Almada - great vistas of lisbon and the Ponte 25 of abril. the statue of christ himself is a bit stark though. ALso visit the monestary and monuments in Belem, the aquaduct of aguas livres,, just wander around the alfama and the castelo de sao joao. Also, if you like modrn architecture visit the site of the world's fair in 1998. It now houses an interesting aquarium and the park of nations.( iwould only go here if you run out of other thing to do though).

SydneySteve

Can anyone recommend Tivoli Palacio de Seteais in Sintra ? their two day packages sound good.

Peep

Is anyone familiar with these hotels in Sintra?

Miradouro
Quinta da Paderna
Residencial Sintra
Villa das Rosas

Miradouro has availability but at 125 euros, it's a bit more than I really want to pay (may anyway, though). We're not planning to rent a car (might for a day) so we want to be able to walk to the sights and restaurants.

Is it feasible to take a daytrip from Sintra to Obidos and Nazare, without a car? Or would it be a million times easier and faster with a car?

How about the Hotel Almirante in Lisbon?

I'm still undecided about this small matter: spend an extra night in Sintra and maybe daytrip to Cascais or somewhere else, or spend 1 night in Cascais, before heading to Lisbon for 3 days. Any thoughts? I like the idea of spending a night right by the water.

Thanks!