Hello there, Travel Friends!
I hope everyone is having an amazing day today!
I’m writing to you from Portugal! Currently on the train from Sintra to Lisbon. Pretty packed train but at least I have a seat!
Today was amazing. I saw all the castles in Sintra and walked all the way to the very top and back down. Walking up was probably like an hour and a half, and back down maybe 45 minutes or so. It was a pretty intense walk—definitely fair to call it a hike.
The walk starts off in a very urban setting and out of nowhere everything pretty much becomes a jungle. The whole thing is paved and has steps, but the setting completely changes from one minute to the next.
For all my hikers, this is a GREAT one to do! Even if you don’t end up paying the €8 to get into the castles (which you absolutely should do, more on this below), the hike itself is amazing. You’re completely surrounded by trees and random signs with a bit of history.
There’s also a bunch of spots where you can sit for a bit and soak it all in. I totally recommend packing sandwiches so you can kick back and eat while you rest.
Side note: for anyone who doesn’t want to walk or may have difficulty with the steep incline, you can take Tuk-Tuks up there. They go for about €5 per person, do not let them charge you more!
But now, probably the best part about this whole experience: the castle!
When I tell you this is something you don’t want to miss, I am not exaggerating! I’m definitely a budget traveler and was thinking about not paying it, but it was sooo worth it! I would even pay more just because it was so stunning. There’s about 6 or 7 actual castles all over, each with different views and at different altitudes. It’s by far the highest viewing point in the area. You can see Lisbon, the sea to the west, and all of Lisbon’s surrounding neighborhoods.
With good weather you can easily plan to spend at least an hour up there just in awe of the views. Even if you’re not someone who meditates regularly, it’s hard not to feel like you’re in a meditative state just because of how jaw-dropping everything is.
As far as logistics that I haven’t yet covered, I recommend choosing the time to go wisely. If possible, like most tourist attractions, you do want to try going during the off-peak season. If you’re unable to do that, however, I recommend going early or later in the day. The only drawback with later is that you’ll need to take a tuk-tuk down because the roads can be quite dangerous in the dark. The upside is that the sunset is insane, as part of the view is facing west toward the Atlantic Ocean! Though the sun was starting to set, if I could change one thing, it would probably be staying on top of the castle during the actual sunset.
I have nothing negative to say about Sintra. And I didn’t even get to visit the entire town and the old historical center in the city. Additionally, the guide from our walking tour the next day told us that one of the world’s oldest wineries is in Sintra and because of the micro-climate of that area, the wine produced is amazing! Another thing for next time!
One other thing: outside of the castle, at the bottom of the hill, there’s a really nice restaurant. I am SO sorry but I forgot the name of it. You’ll know it when you see it, though, because the views are spectacular. It was nice sitting there after a long day having a tasty glass of white wine with “Arroz Do Mar” and cheeses. It’s the simple things…
All in all, if you can’t already tell, Sintra is a must! In some ways it’s a tourist attraction, but these types of sites are exactly the reason I’m sure many of us travel. Castles from the 8th century, views of the Atlantic Ocean and great hikes, what more could you ask for from a day trip out of Lisbon?!
That’s all for now. Until next time Travel Friends!
