I am thinking of flying into Lisbon then going to Sintra and then on to Nazare for a nice 10 day vacay in late Sept. Any tips/advice or anything I shouldn't miss? I'm not opposed to changing cities...just want to see the best of Portugal in the limited time I have. TIA!
Posted by
S.F. Bay Area, CA, United States
1878 posts
Great time to go. We were there in September 2008 and visited all of the places you mentioned. Consider going to Tomar, not too far from Nazare - for the monastery- castle. Also Alcobaca. There is a lot near Nazare that is worthwhile. You need four full days in Lisbon, and you will still leave wanting more time. Sintra overnight is a must-do, one of the top five small town destinations in western Europe as far as I am concerned. With a couple more nights I would add Evora. That said - good for you for not stretching yourself too thin.
Posted by
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.
127 posts
Jill, Portugal is beautiful and its people are friendly. Do consider traveling north to visit Porto; it's hilly, at the mouth of the Douro river where the Douro flows into the Atlantic Ocean-quite dramatic. Porto is the commercial capital of Portugal and the site of the Port wine lodges (where you can tour and sample the range of Port wines.)
Posted by
San Diego, CA, USA
28 posts
We spent 5 nights in Lisbon in May 2010....meant to take day trips north but LOVED Lisbon...rented an apt in Barrio Alto/Chiado district right on a plaza....main 28 tram right outside our door...but could walk to tourist center in 5-10 minutes.
By the last day in Lisbon we were ready to travel outward....rained so travelled to nearby town! We can hardly wait to get back! Eileen, San Diego