First trip to Portugal

Hi,
I like the plan, it is sound. A few comments:
- Porto: if you want to go to Aveiro AND Douro valley, I'd advise for 5 nights. But I think Aveiro, cute as it is, is entirely optional in late November. I would skip it, and spend the extra night in Lisbon
- Fatima: unless it is spiritually important to you, I would rather go to the monastery of Batalha - or do a tour that includes both?
- Evora is worth it!

Many thanks for the quick response. We are Catholics so looking forward to the visit to Fatima. The plan is to book a tour so will definitely take into consideration your suggestion. There are some tours that include Nazare and Obidos are those worthwhile?

Just an FYI about going from Sintra to Porto. There is a new express bus that costs under €6. You can find info at Scotturb website. It would be much easier and cheaper than training back into Lisbon then training to Porto.

I really like Porto but be aware there may be rain during that time of the year. If you take the train back from Porto to Lisbon, it may be possible to stop for a bit in Aveiro, as the train does make a stop there.

Evora would be a much better day trip from Lisbon than Fatima, unless you are going for religious reasons.

For myself, I could have skipped Evora. It was the neothelic rock formations and their history that was interesting. I also arrange to see the real cave paintings.

Your child will mostly enjoy sites in Sintra. They have a magical feeling to them. Hard to see more than 2 in a day. Maybe a 3rd night stay. The bus ride out to the one of the most westerly points is pretty. You look back at the sites on the hills in Sintra. Again, it is magical.

Thanks, everyone for the great suggestions. We are planning to check out the new express bus from Sintra to Porto. Just wondering if they have toilet stops!

As for Faro and the beach areas, I am sure the scenery is breathtaking but we will leave that for another time since it is winter.

We are from Singapore so not familiar driving on the right side and the hilly terrain hence not keen to drive on our first family vacation to Europe. Perhaps my husband will change his mind after this trip!

If you're flying in from Singapore, consider taking Uber to Sintra. If you take the train, you have to buy tickets for the metro to Lisbon, then get through the confusing Oriente train station (with one small, hard to find elevator between floors) to find where to buy your train tickets to Sintra, then find the train platform. When you get to Sintra you'll want to take a taxi to your hotel. Hotels tell you it's a 10 minute walk, it's probably more and mostly on cobblestones. It's probably around €30-35 by Uber. At least that's about what I paid from Sintra to Lisbon is May this year.

Yes we are looking to book a private transfer for sure. We won't have the energy after a commute of almost 20 hours.

Any suggestions on where to stay in Sintra and Lisbon? We are ok with homestays or B&B but prefer a place with ensuite bathroom not too far from town.

Is it easy to move around in Sintra on buses or taxis say to go out for dinner?

Martha- I have this company bookmarked. Haven't had a chance to check reviews but if good we plan to use them for transfer from LIS to Sintra, Sintra to Lisbon then back to LIS to pickup our car. I like that it is a prepaid/flat rate.

https://www.welcomepickups.com/lisbon/

Martha, the info on the express buses says they have bathrooms on the buses!

Has anyone found out whether the bus from Sintra is first come, first serve or reserved?

Martha, I stayed at Casa da Pendoa in Sintra, in a ground-level studio apartment. It had a fully equipped but tiny kitchen and a modern bathroom with walk-in shower (no tub). The room was spacious, large double bed plus sofa. The staff are available from about 8-9 am to 8 pm in the main building, around the corner. Sintra is very hilly but I walked everywhere except to the Pena Palace/Moorish Castle. To get there, you can take a bus, taxi or tuktuk. The tuktuk is best in my opinion.

Thanks, Chani. Is it easy to get a taxi or tuk tuk back down to town from the sights? Understand that the public buses can get very crowded.