8 nights in Portugal Itinerary

I applaud you for keeping it simple and not rushing madly to several places in such a short time. Sounds like a good plan to me.

FYI - there are many opportunities for hiking in the Sintra hills, if you can fit it in.

I agree with kathrynj's comments. We spent 5 nights in Lisbon which included a day trip to Sintra, and it was perfect. While I admit it would be nice to spend a night or two in Sintra, we didn't have the time. We were also at the end of a 3-week trip (spending a bit over 2 weeks with our daughter and her family in France) so we wanted to keep the Lisbon/Sintra trip simple and easy. Didn't want to pack and unpack and rush around.

For art museums, I highly recommend the Gulbenkian, a private collection. We also enjoyed the Coach Museum. The day we spent visiting Castelo De Sao Jorge and wandering through the Alfama was one of the best days of our trip. And we really liked the Mosteiro De Sao Vicente De Fora with its gorgeous blue and white tiles. Be sure to go to the rooftop terrace for stunning views of Lisbon and the river. And there are plenty of outdoor cafes at the Miradouros (viewpoints)!

Kathryn, would love any tips on a hike. Thinking it would be a different day than our visit to see a couple palaces, right?

KMK, you know me! I am such a fan of Aix, Provence and area. Difficult to go anywhere else 🤣

CaliMom, Yes, I know who you are as soon as you mentioned Aix!!! :-)

When is your trip to Portugal and Spain?

We are aiming for August and September 2023, but we shall see. Every time I think we have a clear window, something comes up!

If you Google ‘hikes Sintra’, a number of sites pop up. You can hike around Peña Palace and the moorish castle. And, if you go to Montserrat, its a bit of a hike from the gate to the palace if you take the longer route. This is lovely with water features along the way. Btw - Montserrat and Quinta de Reguleira are my favorites in Sintra.

Thanks all for some great tips!