Planning a Day Trip to Sintra (Portugal Day 2)

“Obrigada,” I wispered for the umteenth time as the waitress staked another plate of steaming-cinnamon-topped-custard-tarts precariously on top of our already full breakfast table. If anything were to make getting out of my (surprisingly) comfy hostel bed at 5am, this was it.

One weekend during my study abroad in Madrid, Spain, four other students and I had decided to take a quick trip to Portugal. After one day in Lisbon (read about it here!), we decided to travel an hour from the city and visit Sintra, Portugal.

As college students, my friends and I had a few goals: we wanted to eat well, experience the culture, and not feel like an army unit of tourists being corralled from point A to B…. all while saving a pretty penny.

Sintra knocked it out of the park. Let me tell you why.

Sintra is about an hour from Lisbon. The drive there passes two equally famous stops: el Padrāo dos Descubiertos (The Monument of Discoveries) and the bakery, Pastéis de Belem. We arrived just as it opened and enjoyed plates of pastries while sipping coffee pilled high with fresh whipped cream. Fully equipped to start the day, we walked ten minutes to el Padrāo dos Descubiertos before grabbing an Uber to Sintra.

Tips:

Pastéis de Nata is a delicate, custard tart that is unique to Portugal. Therefore, make sure you try it somewhere good and eat your fill! While Pastéis de Belem is a little outside the city of Lisbon, it has been around since 1837 and is one of the most famous bakeries. I’ve heard wonderful things about Pastelaria Santo Antonio and Mantegiaria, as well.
If you’re are traveling from the Alfama area in Lisbon and want to save a penny, Tram 15 will take you to Belem tower.

Our struggling Uber driver finally dropped us off at Pena Palace. (Contrary to what you may be thinking, the bright yellow and red castle situation on top of a mountain is not difficult to find. I think he was just having a bad day.) I highly recommend this palace. I have visited many palaces throughout Europe, but there is absolutely nothing like it.

Tip:

Visit the gardens. While the map of the castle grounds looks overwhelming, it is walkable. It took us less than an hour to explore. Because we refused to take the shuttle, we stumbled upon horses, Hansel and Grettle’s house (aka the booshy gardener’s residence), and impeccable views.

Take a cab up the mountain, however, don’t waste money taking one down. There is a marked path down the side of the mountain that will lead you straight into the town of Sintra.

The sugar from our morning pastries had long since worn off, and by 3pm we were ready for food. We soon found ourselves digging into classic Portuguese steak, egg, and potato bread sandwiches smothered in garlic sauce with a side of thick cut fries. (We pulled the American and asked for ketchup. No regrets.)

Tip:

Make sure to avoid the “tourist trap” restaurants. Authentic restaurants are often off the beaten path and don’t post images of their food on the outdoor menu. (This is true for most cities and towns.)
We ate at Tasca Salona. The food was fabulous (I mean look at it!) and had many classic Portugese dishes.