Sintra or Lisbon as a Base for Cabo da Roca / Cascais?
Mar 10th, 2017, 04:54 AM
#1
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Sintra or Lisbon as a Base for Cabo da Roca / Cascais?
We are planning on visiting Sintra,Cabo Da Roca and Cascais during our visit to Portugal. I understand these can be visited as a day trip from Lisbon using trains and buses. I'd rather not rush through the day seeing these. Debating whether I should spend a day or two in Sintra as a base or just do this as a day trip from Lisbon? I will be spending four nights in Lisbon as well. Appreciate advice from those who've visited these locations -- is it easily covered in a day or would you recommend an overnight or two?
Mar 10th, 2017, 05:32 AM
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On our visit we stayed in Cascais - it was late May - we stayed at a lovely hotel with a pool so we mixed sightseeing with sunworship. That being said, it was quite easy to get into Lisbon from Cascais. We liked Cascais because it was not nearly as hectic as Lisbon, and perhpas a bit more temperate. - had a nice number of pleasant restaurants to chose from.
We did a day trip from Cascais to Sintra by bus. We got a late start - the buses are not super-frequent - should have checked the schedule ahead of time. The bus route went along the coast and I think you could get off at Cabo, but again, since the buses were not frequent we stayed on. The scenery was fascinating tho - other worldly. I think we ended the day returning to Lisbon by train and then on Cascais which was quicker than waiting for and taking the bus.
I really liked staying in Cascais esp. if you want to relax a bit. For maximum sightseeing, Lisbon may be a better choice.
We did a day trip from Cascais to Sintra by bus. We got a late start - the buses are not super-frequent - should have checked the schedule ahead of time. The bus route went along the coast and I think you could get off at Cabo, but again, since the buses were not frequent we stayed on. The scenery was fascinating tho - other worldly. I think we ended the day returning to Lisbon by train and then on Cascais which was quicker than waiting for and taking the bus.
I really liked staying in Cascais esp. if you want to relax a bit. For maximum sightseeing, Lisbon may be a better choice.
Mar 10th, 2017, 07:47 AM
#3
I would stay in Lisboa. More to see and do.
Cascais (pronounced Cash-Kaish)
is a sleepy little beach town. Not a lot to do there.
Sintra is very beautiful. I do recommend the Pena Palace.
My ex-huband was born and lives in Lisboa.
Thin
Cascais (pronounced Cash-Kaish)
is a sleepy little beach town. Not a lot to do there.
Sintra is very beautiful. I do recommend the Pena Palace.
My ex-huband was born and lives in Lisboa.
Thin
Mar 10th, 2017, 08:55 AM
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To put Cascais in perspective:
We stayed in Belém which is the first stop from Lisbon (Cais do Sodre station) on the train line to Cascais. It was an unhurried day trip, with a stop and walk-around in Estoril (the second-to-last stop before Cascais).
In Cascais, you walk from the station to the Boca Inferno ("Hell's Mouth") rock formation where the wind throws up impressive white waves, at least at high tide. A nice walk, no more no less, and on the way back we had a nice lunch on the terrasse of the hotel Villa Cascais - overlooking the square and out into the harbor.
Didn't get to see the rooms, but the halls and stairs look very nice in an antique classy sort of way, I would stay there for a relaxed do-little-of-anything vacation.
Lovely, but not overwhelming. Recommended, but not an outright "must" imho.
We stayed in Belém which is the first stop from Lisbon (Cais do Sodre station) on the train line to Cascais. It was an unhurried day trip, with a stop and walk-around in Estoril (the second-to-last stop before Cascais).
In Cascais, you walk from the station to the Boca Inferno ("Hell's Mouth") rock formation where the wind throws up impressive white waves, at least at high tide. A nice walk, no more no less, and on the way back we had a nice lunch on the terrasse of the hotel Villa Cascais - overlooking the square and out into the harbor.
Didn't get to see the rooms, but the halls and stairs look very nice in an antique classy sort of way, I would stay there for a relaxed do-little-of-anything vacation.
Lovely, but not overwhelming. Recommended, but not an outright "must" imho.
Mar 10th, 2017, 11:41 AM
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We split our time, staying in both Lisbon as well as Cascais. For us it worked perfectly. We loved Cascais and how laid back it was. It was a perfect location from which to do a day trip to Sintra.
Mar 11th, 2017, 12:16 PM
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I agree with those who say stay in Lisbon. Cascais is no longer a sleepy little beach town but a car-choked Lisbon suburb. With your time limitations, I would skip it, but you may have your reasons for going there.
If you already have four nights in Lisbon, I would consider spending a couple of nights in Sintra and doing a day trip to Cabo da Roca from there. Sintra is also an extremely crowded tourist destination, but at night it empties out and you can really enjoy its beauty. There is a lot to see in Sintra, beyond the three palaces. Look at this site for more places to visit, I particularly like Montserrate and the Convent of the Capuchos. http://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/
Look here for bus schedule between Sintra and Cabo da Roca.
http://www.scotturb.com/ You will take the 403 bus to get out to the Cabo.
If there is any way at all to do this, one of my favorite restaurants in the Lisbon area is between Sintra and Cabo da Roca, the Adraga http://restaurantedaadraga.com/ It is on a very tiny beach, all there is is a small parking lot, the restaurant and the sand. All fish caught within a few hours of being cooked. It is great -- simple but delicious. You do really need a car though.
If you already have four nights in Lisbon, I would consider spending a couple of nights in Sintra and doing a day trip to Cabo da Roca from there. Sintra is also an extremely crowded tourist destination, but at night it empties out and you can really enjoy its beauty. There is a lot to see in Sintra, beyond the three palaces. Look at this site for more places to visit, I particularly like Montserrate and the Convent of the Capuchos. http://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/
Look here for bus schedule between Sintra and Cabo da Roca.
http://www.scotturb.com/ You will take the 403 bus to get out to the Cabo.
If there is any way at all to do this, one of my favorite restaurants in the Lisbon area is between Sintra and Cabo da Roca, the Adraga http://restaurantedaadraga.com/ It is on a very tiny beach, all there is is a small parking lot, the restaurant and the sand. All fish caught within a few hours of being cooked. It is great -- simple but delicious. You do really need a car though.
