I am back with yet another travel post and this one has been highly requested. If you follow my Instagram you would have seen myself and Martijn went away in the middle of August to Portugal. The holiday was incredible from start to finish and because I documented it on Instagram so many of you wanted to know the details so here they are.
In the past, we liked to be a little spontaneous with our travels, however, because we only had 10 days this year I made sure to pre-book everything bar our last night to make sure we could relax as much as possible. Once we flew into Lisbon airport we took public transport to our first stop which was Cascais. You can take an Uber but we opted for the metro route which was perfect and only around €4 altogether. After six days in Cascais, we went onto Sintra and finally finished up with a city trip to Lisbon. I couldn't recommend all three places enough but below I will run through each destination in a lot more detail.
LISBON
ACCOMMODATION
We actually only slept in Lisbon for one night at the very end of our trip but we did manage to pay the city a visit during our time in Cascais also. As our flight back home was at 6am from Lisbon airport we only needed somewhere really cheap to sleep for a couple of hours. I booked an Airbnb and I have to say it was perfect for anyone needing somewhere affordable to stay in Lisbon. Our host was so accommodating and really friendly! Of course, there are so many luxurious hotels to choose from but for what we needed this was perfect! We were still broke students during this trip but I have added some Lisbon hotel recommendations below.
- Browns Avenue
- Bairro Alto Hotel
- The FH Hotel
- The One Palácia da Anunciada
FOOD & DRINKS
- Brunch at Dear Breakfast - The definition of an Insta-friendly brekkie/brunch spot but the food really is as good as it looks! It can have a bit of a queue but so worth the wait.
- Drinks with a view at Park Bar - A slightly tricky one to find but a MUST for rooftop drinks with an incredible view. We ended up staying here for hours!
- Topo Chiado - I absolutely loved this rooftop bar & I know a lot of people do. They also served food which looked delicious but we went onto the next spot for dinner.
- Local style tapas at Casa do Alentejo - My good friend who happens to be Portuguese met us for our last day/night and brought us to this incredible local spot in the city. We sat in a little outdoor area and had fab local tapas. There is also a more formal restaurant upstairs but we were happy with the casual setting to have a chat and nibbles.
- A wander around Time Out Market - Such a cool spot with so many different food options. We went to Confraria SUSHI and loved the poke bowls.
- Cool off with a drink at Portas Do Sol - A really nice food & drink spot for a picturesque view of the city. We just stopped there for a drink during the day to take a break from the heat.
- Finally, you NEED to try a Pastel de Nata at Manteigaria in Baixa Chiado...you will thank me for this one.
THE AREA
Lisbon is just one of those cities that has so much to offer. It seems impossible to be bored and for the time we had there we filled with incredible places to eat, drink and explore. Just to note for anyone looking to head to one of our next destinations (Cascais & Sintra) but don't have the option to stay over do not let that stop you! Both Cascais and Sintra are really close to Lisbon and can be reached on public transport for really cheap.
CASCAIS
ACCOMMODATION
Cascais is home to some incredible high-end resorts and can be known as a luxury area, therefore, it can be slightly harder to find something if you are on a budget. I did find an Airbnb a little out of the city which was perfect for our stay. It is important to note if you do go with this option you either need a car or be prepared to spend five euros on an Uber in each time. We had no problem with this but you do need to be aware of it especially if you are not renting a car like us. Our host was incredible and couldn't do enough for us throughout our stay in Cascais.
FOOD & DRINKS
Cascais is home to some incredible high-end resorts and can be known as a luxury area, therefore, it can be slightly harder to find something if you are on a budget. I did find an Airbnb a little out of the city which was perfect for our stay. It is important to note if you do go with this option you either need a car or be prepared to spend five euros on an Uber in each time. We had no problem with this but you do need to be aware of it especially if you are not renting a car like us. Our host was incredible and couldn't do enough for us throughout our stay in Cascais.
FOOD & DRINKS
- Dinner at Hífen - I have to say I just loved this place! It is extremely popular in the summer months so if you can I would make a reservation. The vibe, food, and cocktails were so all so nice, highly recommend!
- Grab a quick bite at Capitan Wrap - This place was so cute on one of the little streets in Cascais. They made really nice wraps and was very affordable if you are looking for something to grab and go.
- Live music and a good G&T at O'Neills Irish bar - I may be biased but the atmosphere at night was the best in the city + they make a good G&T!
- Dinner with a view at Casa da Guia - We walked from the city center to Casa da Guia and not only are the views incredible on the way but the actual place itself offers the most picturesque views. We treated ourselves to dinner and wine at Grelhas restaurant and soaked it all up.
- Pizza at Caffé Italia - We actually went here twice during our stay in Cascais and really liked it! Good value and nice Italian food but do note it can be very busy during the summer months.
- Bar da Praia - We popped in here with our friends for a drink before heading to Lisbon and the service was really nice. We didn't have a proper meal but such a handy spot if you are having a beach day.
- Maria Pia - We did hear the actual seafood restaurant is incredible but we just went to the casual part for a quick bite and drink in the sun. Perfect for an affordable lunch and the views were fab!
- An ice cream voted the best of the best from Santini ice cream parlor, Cascais...this is really a must if you are in the area.
THE AREA
Martijn and I really wanted a relaxing holiday with an element of exploring so we kicked off the trip with six nights in Cascais. This was perfect for us to have time to explore the area, pop into Lisbon and also have time to just relax at the beach.
Martijn and I really wanted a relaxing holiday with an element of exploring so we kicked off the trip with six nights in Cascais. This was perfect for us to have time to explore the area, pop into Lisbon and also have time to just relax at the beach.
- We took the train right from Cascais train station to Lisbon and it was perfect! You can of course also get an Uber which we did coming home one night but it is around the thirty euro mark.
- Walk along the coast to Boca do Inferno and enjoy the views! This is a really popular spot and is essentially a collapsed cave. You can continue from here to get to Casa da Guia which I already mentioned.
- Cascais has such a fab coastline with a number of popular beaches. We didn't wander too far to relax and soak up the weather but there are a number of beaches in the area.
SINTRA
ACCOMMODATION
We booked Lanui Guest House, Sintra which location wise was absolutely perfect however my expectations were a little too high if I am honest because the online reviews were so good! It is definitely on the basic side in terms of the rooms or maybe we were just unlucky with our booking however the price and location are hard to beat in Sintra.
FOOD & DRINKS
- A drink with a view at Sintra terrace tapas and bar - We actually stumbled across this place when we were out for a walk and the views were so nice we stayed and had a drink.
- The best in town Café Saudade - We absolutely loved this spot and couldn't recommend it enough. We went every day for brunch/lunch before exploring the area. They had the most incredible pastries and their staff were so friendly which just added to the experience.
- Santo Bife, Sintra - We had dinner here on our first night and loved it!
- Dinner at Incomum by Louis Santos - This may have been our best meal on the whole trip! The food and service was top-class. Definitely more on the pricey side but so worth it. We rang and reserved a table a few hours prior because it is so well known.
- Tapas at Tascantiga - We ended the trip with a meal at Tascantiga and it certainly didn't disappoint. They had something for everyone and the food was delicious.
THE AREA
You don't necessarily need to stay in Sintra in order to tick it off your list properly especially if you are staying somewhere like Cascais or Lisbon. We really wanted to take our time and decided to stay for three nights. I would say two nights is plenty but it really depends on what you want to see and the time you have overall. We got everything done in two so we used the third day to explore a little outside. Sintra really is like a fairytale and is just as beautiful as it looks on Instagram which is not the case for a lot of places.
You don't necessarily need to stay in Sintra in order to tick it off your list properly especially if you are staying somewhere like Cascais or Lisbon. We really wanted to take our time and decided to stay for three nights. I would say two nights is plenty but it really depends on what you want to see and the time you have overall. We got everything done in two so we used the third day to explore a little outside. Sintra really is like a fairytale and is just as beautiful as it looks on Instagram which is not the case for a lot of places.
- Pena National Palace was just incredible and something I was really excited to see! The visibility on the day we went wasn't great but it didn't take away from how impressive the palace and grounds are. You can get your tickets when you get there + an Uber up was only around five euro.
- We also made sure to visit Quinta de Regaleira which was also very impressive. When you arrive make sure to scan the QR code and order your tickets online, this just allows you to skip all of the crazy queues.
- We went to Cabo da Roca with two of our friends in their rented car which was such a treat however you can easily take the bus or an Uber. Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of mainland Europe. It is very windy so bring a jumper ;)
- I have to say Praia da Ursa was my favourite thing to see, I was just blown away. It is a hidden beach which isn't the easiest to get to but the walk down is so worth it. The definition of a hidden gem and one of the nicest beaches I have ever seen especially in Europe.
- Once we left Pena palace we made our way to Castle of the Moors which is only a five-minute walk away. Once we got up to the top we were advised not to pay as the visibility was so bad but we did walk around the grounds and made our way back by foot to the centre so no need for an Uber back.
- If you are paying Sintra a visit even just for the day you won't miss Sintra's National Palace which is right in the historic town centre.
We couldn't have been happier with how this trip went! I really hope it gave you all some tips for your upcoming trips to Portugal or some inspiration to get a booking :)
Until next time,
Éadaoin