Hi everyone,
I’m (40s F) on a Virgin Voyages with my parents (70s) in September and the ship overnights in Lisbon - it arrives 6pm and leaves the next day at 6pm. I was thinking of doing some Rick Steves Walks on the first night and make my way over to Sintra the next morning, would it be too busy? Or should I just spend the full 24 hours in Lisbon?
Won’t be doing the ship tour for this or other private tours as it seems doable as DIY.
A couple of years back, I took a cruise and we disembarked in Lisbon. I spent three or four nights in Lisbon. I did go to Sintra one of the days that I was in Lisbon.
Lisbon is wonderful. I would suggest just staying in Lisbon the entire time. There is a lot to see and do close to and around the cruise port.
You write about arriving 6 pm and leaving 6 am but I assume that there is a full day in Lisbon
Sintra is also wonderful but it sounds like you are trying to do too much in the time that you have in Lisbon.
I do not know anything about R S walks in Lisbon. Maybe someone else can advise you.
In my opinion, Sintra needs a full day so I would spend your day in Lisbon.
Lisbon is a great city, I’m jealous. We followed a couple of Rick Steve’s walks in Lisbon. They were well laid out and well worth doing.
Lisbon is pretty hilly. In a couple of cases, we took a taxi up to something and walked back down.
As a side note, these pastries live up to their reputation https://pasteisdebelem.pt/es/.
Enjoy your trip
As others mentioned there's plenty to see in Lisbon but if you want to go to Sintra on your own , some helpful info.
Assuming the ship docks at the main cruise terminal in Lisbon ( there's another in Alcantara) opposite Santa Apolonia train station:
-walk across the street to Santa Apolonia train station, go downstairs to the Metro ( subway)
- buy a Navegante Ocasional card and load it with money for zapping at the Metro and train to Sintra
- take the Metro blue line , get off at Restauradores, not counting the start station at Santa Apolonia it's 3 stops.
- at Restauradores you can use the escalator but if it seems confusing go to street level walk south 1 building, you'll be in front of the Rossio train station building ( the entrance looks like 2 inverted horse shoe arches)
- take the train to Sintra, use the Navegante Ocasional card zapping, Sintra will be the last station
-reverse on the way back
You can also take a taxi from the cruise terminal to Rossio train station, about 10 minutes.
Navegante Ocasional card is non refundable and one per person.
Most Sintra attractions require pre purchased (online), timed tickets ( go as early as possible, timing is more of a suggestion, you'll have to wait in line).
In Sintra it's easier to use a taxi to reach the attractions ( some people prefer Tuk Tuks, ) agree on a price estimate before using.
When cruise ships are in town it's thousands of people going to the same attractions at the same time, expect line ups and delays.
Metro site
https://www.metrolisboa.pt/viajar/mapas-e-diagramas/
Navegante Ocasional card info
https://www.metrolisboa.pt/en/buy/
Diagram of Metro and train
https://www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/Passageiros/3_viajar/0_servicos/lx/ligacao-cp-metro-lisboa-baixa.pdf
Thank you everyone! It seems like the consensus is to stay in Lisbon so I won't try to overburden myself and my parents. I'm definitely checking out the pasteis de Belem George H - I love my desserts :)
A quick note about the Pasteis de Nata. If you don’t want to go to Belem, my favorite Nata is at Manteigaria. There are several shops around town. One at the Time Out Market and one in Chiado. I like them better than the ones in Belem and easier to access.
