Help with last-minute planning: SINTRA

Can you figure this out after you arrive, see how you feel? We bought our various tickets when we arrived in Sintra. Our favorite was National Palace dating to
I hope you also are spending at least three nights in Lisbon, hopefully more.

Hi Suki, Thanks!

Can you figure this out after you arrive, see how you feel?

Yes, this is a good plan.

I was just wondering if the crowds would have thinned out in the late afternoon ( around 4pm)

Did you buy your tickets at the TI office?

I’ve been debating whether or not to book our tickets online or just get them at the TI office.

Yes, we’ll be spending our last 5 nights in Lisbon, at the end of our trip, since we’ll be flying home from there.

Do you have restaurant recommendations in Sintra or Lisbon?

Thanks!

We bought tickets at each site but if you can decide on dates, buy ahead online. We traveled there in June, a day trip by train from Lisbon.
Nacional Palace dates to 1500s and had exquisite tile work while Pena Palace is more recent and built with a lot of fantasy.
Portugal dining: Servers will put appetizers on your table. If you do not want them( you will be charged for them) refuse them and ask to have them removed.
Seafood restaurant, Lisbon- Cervejaria Romero
Bom Jardin, Chicken Pirii-piri( African influence)very popular spot.

Also add restaurants in Lisbon- Gambrinus, Solar dos Presuntos.

Thanks Suki!

We'll make sure to check out your recommended restaurants.
Thanks for the tip about the appetizers too!

Hi Priscilla! Glad to see you’re off on another adventure. Hope you have a wonderful trip with your daughter, and please be sure to share a trip report when you return. You write THE BEST trip reports!

Jean

For restaurants, try Culture Trip for recommendations. Any restaurant owned by Jose Avilez will be good, but at least a bit more in price. He has a Michelin starred restaurant if you really want a splurge!
Make time for at least one trip to the Time Out Market. But, go before 12:30 or late afternoon due to the crowds. Have Pastel da Nata at Manteigaria - either at the Time Out Market or in Chiado.

Regarding Pena - plan on it being crowded whenever you go. And, appreciate the outside of the Palace because the interior is somewhat a disappointment (IMO). If you can go when the skies are clear, the views from the palace are amazing.

Thanks Jean!
I will try to keep a journal of our adventure!

Hi Kathryn,
I can’t thank you enough!
You’ve been extremely helpful answering my endless questions via PMs over the last few months, I truly appreciate it, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! 😊

Priscilla

I just booked our Pena Palace tickets online and I was so excited until I noticed that both tickets are in my DH's name.

During the purchasing process I was not given the choice to enter a name other than my email address.

The credit card I used to buy the tickets is also in my name, and I'm the primary on this card.

Will this be a problem?

I sent an email to the "Blue Ticket" office and to the "Parques de Sintra" website, and hopefully they will respond.

Thanks in advance!

Just wanted to add this update for future reference.
I received this reply from the Blue Ticket office:

The person using the tickets to gain entry to the event will have no problems using tickets with another name printed on them. The name that appears on the tickets is the name of the user registered on our site. That information is used when resolving problems such as lost or misplaced tickets.

So we’re all set!

When we stayed in Sintra we ended up eating both nights in Sao Pedro, which was walking distance to where we were staying. We ate at a restaurant called A Mourisca, which we thought was wonderful. It was 4 years ago, but the reviews still look good.

Thanks Lisa!
We will definitely check it out!

Hi, Priscilla - We absolutely loved Romaria de Baco, in Sintra at Rua Gil Vicente n.2. Staff were great, mixed shellfish, and duck breast excellent, many wines (they will let you taste before you choose). Quinta de Regaliera gardens are quirky and beautiful, with towers, caves and wells to explore.

Thanks Linda!
We’ll check out your recommendation!

For any future visitors . . . I bought my tickets online in advance. Inadvertently - undoubtedly my mistake though I thought I was being very careful - I ended up with a child ticket instead of a senior ticket for Pena (they are the same price). They scanned the ticket at the entrance and never even looked at me!

Hi Priscilla - I hope you have a wonderful trip. I'll be traveling to Sintra at Christmas-time as a solo female and would love to hear from you regarding your experiences in Sintra and Cascais if you go there. I'll be doing a tour to other parts of Portugal (including Lisbon) but Sintra will be on my own. Looking forward to any posts you have upon your return. Happy travels.

Connie,

You may be interested in reading about our time in Sintra here.

Happy planning!

When you buy your Pena Palace tickets online, do you have to give a specific date? If not, how long are they good for once you buy them? If we are headed there next month, should I wait to purchase them closer to our leaving?

Gunfried,

When you buy your Pena Palace tickets online, do you have to give a specific date? If not, how long are they good for once you buy them?

You do not need to give a specific date when booking your Pena Palace tickets.

As I recall, tickets are good until the end of this year [December 31, 2019]

Enjoy your trip!

Thank you!

Hi Gunfried!

You're most welcome!

BTW, this is the official website for booking your tickets to any of the monuments in Sintra: Parques de Sintra.com

Wishing you a wonderful trip!