Hello all:
I've changed my itinerary and very happy with what I have so far.

Newark to Lisbon to Funchal, Madiera for four nights
three nights in Sintra or Evora
Two nights in Lisbon

After flying into Lisbon from Funchal, we plan to rent a car and drive to either Sintra or Evora. I'm favoring Evora but Sintra is closer. Is the drive to Evora straight highway? Sintra itself sounds lovely as does the coast but after Madeira I think I would rather see hilltop villages. Or maybe a day trip from Sintra to Obidos (sp).

Thanks (once again)

Not been to Evora but Sintra was absolutely the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life (and my husband even agrees!) I'd go back in a heartbeat.

We did the drive from Lisbon to Evora about 6 years ago. It was a good highway, can't remember how straight it was, but drove past many, many cork trees. The town of Evora is a walled, medieval city with a vibrant town square. Not sure I would spend 3 nights there. We spent one night on our way to the Algarve after seeing the town and Chapel of Bones.

Definitely Sintra. There's a lot more sightseeing (and more beautiful sightseeing) in Sintra than in Evora. You can also take the train to the beach.

However, I would suggest 2 nights in Sintra and add the extra night to Lisbon. You don't need a car to visit either Sintra or Evora; both are very accessible via public transportation.

Agree with Adrienne - 2 nights Sintra is enough and add the days to Lisbon. We just spent 2 weeks in Portugal - I;ll post our trip report.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...l-20102011.cfm

Actually my plan is to explore the surrounding areas with a car and have Evora or Sintra as as home base. In Evora we plan on visiting Marvao, Estremoz (and some others I can;t remember right now) and in Sintra, Cascais, Estoril, Guincho. there seems to be more sightseeing areas near Evora but I could be wrong. Both nice towns with good restaurants and hotels.

Well, you've got two great choices.

Sintra is lovely and well worth two days -- here's a nice site with descriptions of some things in and around the town,
http://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/

Add on a visit to the National Palace (in the main part of town) and some walking around time (much better done after the hoards of tourists have left) and you've got your time filled.

Evora is a great option too. I personally am not a huge fan of the city itself (many others disagree) but I love the Alentejo area around it. I would add Arraiolos and Monsaraz to the list, and if you are willing to drive a bit more, there's Beja, Serpa, and the list goes on. Obviously way over a three day schedule.

For me, the bottom line is that I like Sintra a lot more than Evora, but I would much prefer to do day trips from Evora.

One last plug for Sintra would be that that would give you an opportunity to eat in the Restaurante d'Adraga, an absolutely terrific fresh fish restaurant right on a tiny beach, where there are rocks, sand, water, a small parking lot, and this restaurant, nothing else. I always tell my US friends -- if they go, you have to abandon all caution and just go ahead and order a whole fish. If you absolutely can't figure out how to debone it, the waiters will very graciously do it for you. It would be a tragedy to go to Adraga and eat some slab of pre-cut fish, they may have some bacalhao and one or two other things, but the whole fish is just unbelievable. http://www.restaurantedaadraga.com/

Hard choice, but you can't go wrong!

I saw Marvao, Castello-de-Vide, Estremoz, Vila Vicosa, and Monsaroz and I fell in love with Sintra. It was my favorite town and had the best sightseeing.

If you go to Estremoz do it on a Saturday for the big flea market. It takes about an hour to completely see Marvao (walking slowly) and a couple of hours for Castello-de-Vide. They're 15 minutes from each other but quite a drive from Evora. There's lots to do in Vila Vicosa.

The landscape between Evora and Marvao is very dull - dry and brown with some olive trees along the road. It's not until you get near the Spanish border (after Portolegre) that the landscape becomes lush. The Atlantic coast is much prettier.

...couldn't agree more, Adrienne (How are you??)

Shazie Z: Suggest Sintra and vicinity....from there you can visit Obidos, Nazare', Cabo da Roca, Cascais, Estoril etc...here are my Portugal pix..just scroll down to near the end: Obidos/Nazare', Sintra and Cascais...the Tivoli in Sintra Center is a good choice for lodgings without breaking the bank.

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/Portugal2008#

stu

A lot of Sintra fans! How difficult is driving out of Sintra?
My husband LOVES a whole fish and Restaurant D'Adraga is definitely on my list

Very easy to drive in and out of Sintra. The only "problem" I had was in the middle of town, near the TI and National palace. Lots of traffic and pedestrians. Once in Sintra park your car and walk. Take the bus to the Pena Palace as there is almost no parking there (the bus leaves from in front of the TI).

SashieZ. I also have been to Restaurant D"Adraga and let me tell you that when you drive it will seem that you are going to drive into the water because you go down, down, down to the beach.
Parking is tricky as there isn't a lot of it but we were there in August which might make a difference.
One of the dishes we had were those tiny little clams and they were delicious.
I also had grilled fish but I don't remember what exactly it was. Anyway, if you can do it go.

Sintra is an unusual and fun place. The parking in the middle of town is ridiculous. Evora is quite nice but three days in either place is too much.

Whatever you do, you must go on a Levada walk when on Madeira. And you will not be able to escape the ugliest fish in the world, Espada.

http://www.madeiraisland.com/eng/mad...es/espada_fish

You really have to go out of your way not to have a wonderful time in all three places.

Based on your recommendations (thank you, thank you), I'm leaning towards Sintra. Is three days in Sintra too much even with day trips? My plan is to spend the first day exploring Sintra and the next two days driving to Cascais, Estoril and Obidos and environs. Come back to Sintra early evening to relax a bit and then dinner and walking and exploring the town.

Should I stay on the outskirts of Sintra for easy driving in/out of town? We are thinking of staying at the Tivoli.

Now I really want to go to D'Adraga. I thought I would take a taxi so we can enjoy a bottle of wine and madeira dessert wine. Is the restaurant far from the old town? Possible to walk one way and take a cab back?

Yes the espada is damn ugly but does he taste good????

Thank you all for your help and suggestions.

Sashie...if you do stay at Tivoli, it has a large parking garage, easy access...the town is asy to walk everywhere...and as suggested, the Pena Palace bus is conveniently boarded at the TI.

The Espada tastes fine. Portuguese bread is fabulous.

Why do you even need a car after you return from Madeira to Lisbon? You can stay in Lisbon and go to Sintra twice or Evora (1.5 hrs by bus) if you you choose. Train to Sintra is about 3.50 euro round trip; takes 45 min. Also parking in Sintra is not cheap. Lisbon daily transit pass (metro, bus, tram) is 3.95 per day.

To see everything in Sintra you'll need at least 2 days. There are 4 palaces run by Parques Sintra (need bus or taxi to get there) http://www.parquesdesintra.pt/ plus Quinta da Regaleira palace & Sintra National Palace (both can be reached by foot from train station)

Last summer we choose a hotel (Novotel Lisboa) that was convenient for both city sightseeing and out of town trips. It's located in 10 min walk from metro (Jardim Zoologico), bus terminal (Sete Rios) and rail station with the same name. There are other good hotels in the area (Corinthia looked very nice).

Hi, Sashie,

Sintra to the beach at Adraga is about 8-10 miles. It's about a km or so from the tiny village of Almocageme. I think a cab would cost you about 15 euros, but I'm just basing that on the "1 euro a km" estimate. If you did it with a cab, I would make sure you had a return trip arranged ahead of time, because you wouldn't be likely to come across a cab either at the beach or in the small village. Of course, a call from the village would be easy enough.

I think that the equally tasty tamboril (in English, monkfish, aka, "poor man's lobster") gives the espada a run for the money in the beauty department. http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&s...i=g10&aql=&oq=

Hi,

I live in Sintra and I really love it. I'm never tired of looking at the castle and the mountain, it's different everyday. I love the beach from Lisbon to Peniche. I really like the several seaside restaurants, but I'd choose Évora region!
Why, because some of the things you'll got in Sintra region, you'll got in Madeira, meaning, seaside restaurants with great fish and wine, great walks up and down the mountains, great seaside sightseeing, etc.
But Évora region, with lots of castles in hilltop villages, are different. People are different, food is different and time also. Things last longer in Alentejo (province where évora is the capital city).
If I had three nights in Alentejo I'd stay in Estremoz or Vila Viçosa Pousadas. This cities are the center of many great hilltop villages like Monsarraz (great, beautifull), Marvao, Evora, Redondo, Evoramonte, etc.
I loved this place http://www.pateosolares.com/index.php?LANG=2. Ask for a half board. The chef here is wonderful, best food ever in Alentejo.

If staying in Sintra, although so many people are saying good things about the Adraga Restaurant, I think there's so many others better than this. This restaurant seems empty all the time, unless in the Summer.

Sesimbra and Peniche are the best cities for fish, but if you go to Costa da Caparica in the Summer months you'll get wonderfull sea food in wonderful settings, look at this for example (see the photos) http://www.bordadagua.com.pt/.

In Sintra, Lisbon and Evora you'll have a great time.
Why not 3 nights in Lisbon, seeing Sintra and two nights in Estremoz.

Regards,
Sergio