Three nights in Lisbon
Aug 25th, 2012, 05:13 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Three nights in Lisbon
Hello, all. We have abandoned our plan for one night in Porto and two in Lisbon and now plan to stay three nights in Lisbon. I have several questions, and I hope you can help.
My most pressing question is where we should stay. We like to walk a lot, and it would be good to stay in an area where there is a lot to see within walking distance so we could end the evening close to our hotel. Or at least an area with restaurants or a lively plaza where we could wind up our night? (It won't be a late night!)
We plan to go to Sintra one day, but we also would like to see the coast. Is there a day trip that you could recommend for us to go to the coast? We would like to use public transportation, if possible, but we will have a car.
Which brings me to my final big question: What should we expect in regard to driving? Some posters say it's not very difficult, but I also have read that it's terrible. I expect it's somewhere in between. I would like to park the car somewhere and leave it there for the duration of our stay. Any suggestions?
Thank you very much for your help.
My most pressing question is where we should stay. We like to walk a lot, and it would be good to stay in an area where there is a lot to see within walking distance so we could end the evening close to our hotel. Or at least an area with restaurants or a lively plaza where we could wind up our night? (It won't be a late night!)
We plan to go to Sintra one day, but we also would like to see the coast. Is there a day trip that you could recommend for us to go to the coast? We would like to use public transportation, if possible, but we will have a car.
Which brings me to my final big question: What should we expect in regard to driving? Some posters say it's not very difficult, but I also have read that it's terrible. I expect it's somewhere in between. I would like to park the car somewhere and leave it there for the duration of our stay. Any suggestions?
Thank you very much for your help.
Aug 25th, 2012, 05:27 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have some confusion. You're going to Portugal for 3 nights, staying in Lisbon and want to rent a car? Then you say you want to use public transportation and you like to walk. Why rent a car and then park it for the 3 days in Portugal?
Driving in Portugal is very easy but I wouldn't drive in Lisbon.
If you're using Lisbon as a base to visit Sintra and the beach, why don't you stay in Sintra (beautiful town) and take the train from there to the beach? Why stay in Lisbon just to leave it during the day. Unless you want night life which you won't find in Sintra. But then you say that you won't be out late.
All this seems contradictory. Perhaps you could clarify what you're doing.
Driving in Portugal is very easy but I wouldn't drive in Lisbon.
If you're using Lisbon as a base to visit Sintra and the beach, why don't you stay in Sintra (beautiful town) and take the train from there to the beach? Why stay in Lisbon just to leave it during the day. Unless you want night life which you won't find in Sintra. But then you say that you won't be out late.
All this seems contradictory. Perhaps you could clarify what you're doing.
Aug 25th, 2012, 05:38 PM
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I apologize and can see how that was confusing. We'll be driving to Portugal from Spain and then back. I'm thinking of leaving the car at the airport and just going from there, as I have seen someone suggest. It appears that the area around Rossio square might be a good area for us to stay. I am thinking of something comparable to the area around the Puerta del Sol in Madrid.
I didn't know that an option would be to take a train from Sintra to the beach. If you could tell me how that works, I would appreciate that very much.
I didn't know that an option would be to take a train from Sintra to the beach. If you could tell me how that works, I would appreciate that very much.
Aug 25th, 2012, 06:51 PM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can't tell you how to get to the beach from Sintra but when I was in Sintra I met a woman and since we were both on our own we met up in the evening for dinner. She told me that one of the days we were in Sintra she took a train to the beach on the advice of the TI. Don't know what beach she went to (it was about a 30 minute ride) but I'm sure someone else here can help out with the particulars. If no one responds then you can always ask at the TI in Sintra. Or choose some beach towns and see if the train runs to them. I'm sure if the train goes to one beach town it will go to others. I believe Cascais has a train station.
I thought Sintra was such a lovely town. There is about 2 days of sightseeing there but like many small towns there is no night life. There are plenty of restaurants and the most inexpensive ones are near the train station. I stayed just down the hill from the TI and the National Palace.
If you stay in Sintra you can park your car on the street near your hotel or in your hotels parking lot. I had a car and the woman I met did not. We drove to the train station area for dinner as we did not want to walk back to the hotel on dark, narrow, winding roads. We felt it was safer to drive. Other than dinner I didn't use my car in Sintra.
There are several posts here about hotels in Lisbon. Use the country drop down to pull up only Portugal threads and you'll be able to identify the hotel threads. I stayed in an out of the way part of Lisbon and would not recommend doing that.
I thought Sintra was such a lovely town. There is about 2 days of sightseeing there but like many small towns there is no night life. There are plenty of restaurants and the most inexpensive ones are near the train station. I stayed just down the hill from the TI and the National Palace.
If you stay in Sintra you can park your car on the street near your hotel or in your hotels parking lot. I had a car and the woman I met did not. We drove to the train station area for dinner as we did not want to walk back to the hotel on dark, narrow, winding roads. We felt it was safer to drive. Other than dinner I didn't use my car in Sintra.
There are several posts here about hotels in Lisbon. Use the country drop down to pull up only Portugal threads and you'll be able to identify the hotel threads. I stayed in an out of the way part of Lisbon and would not recommend doing that.
Aug 26th, 2012, 06:23 AM
#6
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi, cgreer, I think that you're saying that you are planning to spend one day in Lisbon, one day in Sintra, and one day on the coast? Since you're talking about three nights in Lisbon, I'm assuming there is travel into Lisbon on Day 1 and travel out of Lisbon on Day 3. This really, IMO, isn't enough time to even see Lisbon, much less take two day trips. But here are some comments on what you've asked.
The train from Sintra runs along the road and goes to Praia das Macas. This is not the nicest beach along that coast (that honor belongs to Praia da Adraga, I think) but the train is one of those electric trains and it takes about a half hour. It runs mainly on weekends, not at all on Mondays, and limited hours on other days. Here is a link in Portuguese: http://www.cm-sintra.pt/Artigo.aspx?ID=3193 with a little blurb in English.
As far as the part of Lisbon to stay in, I personally favor the Chiado over the area near the Rossio, but either is central and has lots of opportunities for walking.
I have driven in Portugal a lot and have never had a big problem. Parking is extremely difficult in Sintra, but it's a straight shot from Lisbon and if you get there early in the morning on a weekday, you should be able to find a space right in town near the National Palace. The train from Lisbon might be easier. I've driven up the hills to the Pena and Moorish castles and that also is quite do-able if you are not there on a weekend or holiday. The problem with Sintra, as adrienne says, is that there is so much to do that it's hard to squeeze it into one day. Aside from the National Palace (down in town), there's the Moorish castle (good for walking around and views), the Pena Palace, Monserrate (an English millionaire's 19th century retreat, beautiful) and the Capuchinos monastery (tiny monastery for 6 monks or so, very interesting). So you have to make hard choices. Having a car is really the only way to visit Monserrate or the Capuchinos, but those are probably not going to be on your list for a one day visit. This web site describes those places more: http://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/ind...=23&Menu0Id=23
Looks to me like there are some hard choices in your future!
The train from Sintra runs along the road and goes to Praia das Macas. This is not the nicest beach along that coast (that honor belongs to Praia da Adraga, I think) but the train is one of those electric trains and it takes about a half hour. It runs mainly on weekends, not at all on Mondays, and limited hours on other days. Here is a link in Portuguese: http://www.cm-sintra.pt/Artigo.aspx?ID=3193 with a little blurb in English.
As far as the part of Lisbon to stay in, I personally favor the Chiado over the area near the Rossio, but either is central and has lots of opportunities for walking.
I have driven in Portugal a lot and have never had a big problem. Parking is extremely difficult in Sintra, but it's a straight shot from Lisbon and if you get there early in the morning on a weekday, you should be able to find a space right in town near the National Palace. The train from Lisbon might be easier. I've driven up the hills to the Pena and Moorish castles and that also is quite do-able if you are not there on a weekend or holiday. The problem with Sintra, as adrienne says, is that there is so much to do that it's hard to squeeze it into one day. Aside from the National Palace (down in town), there's the Moorish castle (good for walking around and views), the Pena Palace, Monserrate (an English millionaire's 19th century retreat, beautiful) and the Capuchinos monastery (tiny monastery for 6 monks or so, very interesting). So you have to make hard choices. Having a car is really the only way to visit Monserrate or the Capuchinos, but those are probably not going to be on your list for a one day visit. This web site describes those places more: http://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/ind...=23&Menu0Id=23
Looks to me like there are some hard choices in your future!
Aug 26th, 2012, 08:23 AM
#7
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With only 3 days in Lisbon I suggest you dedicate two days to the city and the third to Sintra and the coast (Cascais). Your best option to save money and time on figuring out how/where to go is going on a daytrip tour: http://www.partner.viator.com/en/422...SCAIS?SUBPUID=
The square in Lisbon most comparable to Madrid'd Puerta Del Sol is Praça do Comercio, the big plaza on the waterfront. It has several restaurants where you can dine at night. The big restaurants area is, however, Bairro Alto. Here's an excellent selection of restaurants to consider: http://www.lisbonlux.com/lisbon-restaurants/
I suggest you look for hotels on Avenida da Liberdade, the main avenue that runs to the main squares (Rossio, Praca do Comercio, etc.). It has some of the city's best hotels at surprisingly reasonable prices. Another area is Chiado although you have much fewer choices there and at higher prices.
Yes, leave the car at the airport. Driving in Lisbon is just as bad as in any big city but the parking is worse.
For the city's main landmarks (monastery and Belem Tower) you have to take tram 15 from Praca do Comercio.
The square in Lisbon most comparable to Madrid'd Puerta Del Sol is Praça do Comercio, the big plaza on the waterfront. It has several restaurants where you can dine at night. The big restaurants area is, however, Bairro Alto. Here's an excellent selection of restaurants to consider: http://www.lisbonlux.com/lisbon-restaurants/
I suggest you look for hotels on Avenida da Liberdade, the main avenue that runs to the main squares (Rossio, Praca do Comercio, etc.). It has some of the city's best hotels at surprisingly reasonable prices. Another area is Chiado although you have much fewer choices there and at higher prices.
Yes, leave the car at the airport. Driving in Lisbon is just as bad as in any big city but the parking is worse.
For the city's main landmarks (monastery and Belem Tower) you have to take tram 15 from Praca do Comercio.
Aug 26th, 2012, 09:34 AM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you for the very helpful advice, lreynold and Ulysses. You're right about making tough choices. We were going to spend one night in Porto and only two in Lisbon, but I thought it would be better to spend three in Lisbon instead of short-changing Porto too! I also like the idea of doing a small group tour to Sintra. I'm normally not a fan of group tours,but they do cover a lot of ground.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
Aug 27th, 2012, 05:20 AM
#9
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 10,556
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We are now in Lisbon, for the first time. We arrived yesterday.
We are staying at the Avenida Palace, which I highly recommend for its location, friendly/helpful staff, old world elegance, and complete hot/cold breakfast served in a beautiful chandeliered room. Our double is just 143eu, including breakfast, A/C, and free wi-fi. Very nice.
I think you are smart to stay in Lisbon 3 nights. We are told it is an easy day-trip by train to Sintra, and the train station is next to our hotel. We also plan to day-trip to Cascais.
We are staying at the Avenida Palace, which I highly recommend for its location, friendly/helpful staff, old world elegance, and complete hot/cold breakfast served in a beautiful chandeliered room. Our double is just 143eu, including breakfast, A/C, and free wi-fi. Very nice.
I think you are smart to stay in Lisbon 3 nights. We are told it is an easy day-trip by train to Sintra, and the train station is next to our hotel. We also plan to day-trip to Cascais.
Aug 27th, 2012, 05:48 AM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,721
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you are looking for a nice beach town not too far from Lisbon, look at Sesimbra, which is about an hour south of the city. It's a very scenic little fishing village/resort town with a great beach, a quaint downtown, and lots of seafood restaurants. We drove from Sesimbra to Lisbon, wasn't too bad - just avoid rush hour.
Aug 28th, 2012, 01:34 PM
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the additional advice. I took Ulysses79's advice and booked the day trip to Sintra and the coast. It looks perfect. I also found a hotel near Avenida de Liberdade. For one thing, it's near the meeting place for our day trip.
The only piece left to figure out is the car rental. I have seen conflicting reports about whether CDW is required. We will have our international driver permits, and I guess we'll figure out the toll roads when the time comes. But if anyone has advice in this regard, I would appreciate it.
The only piece left to figure out is the car rental. I have seen conflicting reports about whether CDW is required. We will have our international driver permits, and I guess we'll figure out the toll roads when the time comes. But if anyone has advice in this regard, I would appreciate it.
Aug 29th, 2012, 05:24 AM
#12
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 10,556
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We traveled to Sintra by train yesterday from Lisbon. It is not a day-trip requiring a tour operator. A short 30 or 40 minute train ride is all. To get to Cascais from there, you can take a bus. Then train back to Lisbon. It's a waste of money to pay someone to take you by the hand and lead you to the train, IMHO. Oh, well, to each his own.
Good luck on your hotel choice.
Good luck on your hotel choice.
Aug 29th, 2012, 06:38 AM
#13
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello,
You should stay somewhere central in the city, including us of course. This would allow you not to use the car when visiting the city you should only use it when visit Sintra, that way you can do the all coast, Guincho, Cascais and Estoril.
Best Regards
You should stay somewhere central in the city, including us of course. This would allow you not to use the car when visiting the city you should only use it when visit Sintra, that way you can do the all coast, Guincho, Cascais and Estoril.
Best Regards
