Was in Lisbon 12/25/2024 - 12/29/2024. Some info:
Sintra
- We started at Quinta da Regaleira, with 10AM timed entry. The house is a let-down; not really anything worth seeing. On the other hand, it's not a big house so also should not take too long. The grounds however are great. Suggest exploring the grottos when you can. Look for grottos ("grutas") with the fall-hazard icon on the map, and you'll be able explore. They are dark (use your phone flashlight) and likely wet/slippery but a lot of fun! We went down the initiation well 1-2 hours after we entered, and the line was only 10 minutes. The walk from the train station to QdaR was hilly. Plenty of folks doing it, but not necessarily an easy stroll. Note that Carris Metropolitana bus 1253 has a stop at QdaR departing from train station, but not one back to town. You'll have to research more on fares, etc for this option
- After QdaR, we went back to town for lunch and souvenirs. We opted for a cab ride to Pena Palace. Due to 30+ minute traffic jam, the cab driver suggested dropping us off at Chapel Santa Eufémia, from where we would hike to Pena Palace. The hike was very hilly, and you initially go downhill before going uphill to the palace. On retrospect, wondering if the total time for us would have been the same if he had dropped us off directly in front... We bought the Pena Park Grounds only ticket (i.e, no entrance to the interior). We were able to visit the terraces and take pictures. Very crowded and honestly not worth it given that we also went to the Moorish Castle and QdaR. For grounds only, there is no reserved time and I was able to purchase my tickets the night before.
- Moorish castle was great and not very crowded when we went there around 2-3PM. If it was packed, I think I'd have a very negative view instead. The views from Moorish castle are awesome and we enjoyed walking the ramparts. The stairs up to the higher parts are steep, so it will be a workout. We hiked from Pena Palace to Moorish Castle through the woods, following the signs. About 30-45 minutes, another hilly workout. I think you can also do this via the road, but it is also hilly, and you'll deal with car traffic. Maybe the road would have taken the estimated 10min? From the Moorish castle exit, we easily got a cab to train station.
- I'm glad we did all of this in the temperate weather of December. All of this hiking in summer would have been very difficult.
Lisbon Airport
- We flew RyanAir to Rome for our next leg, which departs out of Terminal 2. To reach your gate, you have to walk through the Duty-Free gift shop. A bunch of us went to the lounge to the left of security, thinking it was a 1-gate terminal. Luckily we were able to figure it out in time so we didn't miss our boarding.
- If you do fly RyanAir, then the self bag-tag area has a scale to weigh each bag so you can rearrange items if necessary.
Lisbon
- Navegante card for the win. Very easy to use and top-up as necessary.
Belem - Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
- Buy your tickets online! There was a huge line to go see the cloister and it would have been a bummer to get to the front and realize it was the line to get in, and not a line for purchasing tickets. I bought my tickets on my phone while we stood in line.
- The line into the church was only 10 minutes.
Belem - Train and Bus
- We took the metro to Cais Sodre and then got on the bus out to Belem Tower. Walked back as suggested, hitting the Monastery and the Coaches museum. Timeout Market is at Cais Sodre. From Timeout Market, you can do a hilly but reasonable walk to Chiado district. Coaches Museum and Timeout Market were fine, but we felt not worth the time.
- While we were on the bus, two people from the metro authority boarded and checked everyone's ticket to see that they had in fact paid for their ride. Just FYI.