PORTUGAL

Our visit to Portugal in 2022 concluded the European summer of my dreams. After I returned home from my five week tour with Donavan in June, my family found out that my brother would be performing in a beautiful gala at a Palace in Sintra, Portugal. Naturally, we decided that this was a special moment in my brother's career that we didn't want to miss, and a rare opportunity to travel as a family. We spent a few days in Libson, and a few in Sintra, so I decided to combine all my recommendations from both places in this post (also because Sintra is only 35 minutes outside of Lisbon so it's a great place for a day trip even if you can't commit to multiple days there). This was such a special trip for my family, and I'm so grateful that I had to opportunity to explore yet another country's beauty, culture, and history. 

TukTuk Ride

TukTuk tours are very popular in Lisbon and such a great way to learn about the city in a short amount of time. My family doesn't usually do super touristy activities like this, but we were crunched for time and wanted to make the most of it - and it was definitely worth it! We spent about half the day going around the city, learning about different monuments/historic buildings, listening to the history of Portugal, and stopping for pictures. I highly recommend doing this if you want to learn more about Lisbon's history, and especially if you don't have a lot of time to spread out your site seeing. 

Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Largo de Santa Luzia, 1100-487 Lisboa, Portugal

This terrace sat right above the building where our Airbnb was located and is one of Lisbon's most beloved viewpoints. It has a beautiful garden too; I highly recommend waking up early before the crowds to take some photos here! In the evenings there were some street musicians playing , and many locals sitting and enjoying the view and tunes. A great place for you to do the same!

Quiosque das Portas do Sol, Largo Portas do Sol, 1100-411 Lisboa, Portugal

This was a little stand in the middle of the Alfalma (a neighborhood in Lisbon) and it sat on a very popular square where you can enjoy a beautiful view of Lisbon. We had drinks here a couple nights and they also served coffee, pastries, and fruits, in the morning.

Restaurante A Morgadinha de Alfama, R. da Regueira 48, 1100-435 Lisboa, Portugal

To be completely honest, I can't remember exactly what I ate here, but I remember that my whole family was impressed with the food. The place was packed (I'd make reservations ahead of time) and the little courtyard that we sat in provided the perfect dinner ambience. 

Although Lisbon is a beautiful city, I completely fell in love with Sintra and I would urge anyone to make extra time to visit. It was such a magical, quiet little town and was filled with such gorgeous nature. To this day it's still one of my favorite places I've ever been to. 

Our Stay

My mom, who is also an expert in traveling, found the cutest villa for us to stay in during our time in Sintra. Tucked away off the busy streets, this place was like a mini oasis with a luscious backyard overlooking the nearby residents. We had one room that fit 3 of us perfectly, and a beautiful patio to enjoy the peaceful scenery. I'd definitely book this place again if I ever get the chance to visit Sintra again!

Pena Palace, Estrada da Pena, 2710-609 Sintra, Portugal

The Pena Palace is one of the main tourist attractions in Sintra. The palace, which was used as a summer home for the Portugese royal family, sits atop a hill that over looks Sintra and has the most whimsical architecture. The rooms inside are still decorated as they were in the early 20th century. The grounds also has a huge park that you can walk through. One thing to note is that this place is always packed, so I would definitely book your visit ahead of time! You can also get to the palace by taking a bus from Sintra's main bus station.

Palácio de Seteais, R. Barbosa du Bocage 8, 2710-517 Sintra, Portugal

This was where the gala that my brother was performing in was hosted, and let me just say; watching ballet on stage is one thing, but watching ballet outside during sunset with the view of a remarkable palace behind the stage, is a whole other level of magic. Although this experience was probably once in a lifetime, you can still go visit the grounds and enjoy the gardens which are definitely worth the trip in itself. The inside of the palace was turned into a beautiful 5-star hotel and if you're lucky you can just peek inside the lobby to see the gorgeous interior and get a quick photo in their beautiful front room (this is where I snatched that photo in my blue gown that got a lot of love on my Instagram)!

It was very close to the Quinta da Regaleira, which is another tourist attraction in Sintra, so you can plan to visit both of these in one day! Unfortunately our trip was too short to visit this castle, but if we had time, we would've!

Praia da Conceição

On our last day, we decided to get some sun and head to the beach for a few hours and relax. This beach, in a nearby town called Cascais, was really pleasant - it wasn't too packed, was very clean, and had restaurants along the beach for you to eat at. We easily booked an Uber to take us to and from here!

Incomum by Luis Santos, R. Dr. Alfredo da Costa 22, 2710-523 Sintra, Portugal

This restaurant, which sits on a a beautiful street in Sintra, had a great selection of contemporary dishes and wine. We tried the risotto with asparagus, shrimp appetizer, salad with berries and goat cheese, and squid ink pasta - all were divine! It was also very reasonably priced for the quality of the food.

Taverna do Município, Tv. do Município 8, 2710-592 Sintra, Portugal

We stopped here after coming back to the city after visiting the Pena Palace and were extremely impressed with the dishes. It was a more laid back restaurant and the perfect place for a nice lunch.

Both Lisbon and Sintra were filled with uneven, cobblestone streets and many hills, so the biggest thing is that you want to be comfortable when walking. I would recommend packing your favorite everyday sneaker and a comfortable pair of sandals if you want something a little more chic. I made the mistake of wearing my most uncomfortable loafers to my brother's performance and I fully regretted that later. In September, it was pretty warm during the day but it cooled down in the evening (espeically in Sintra because it's a higher elevation). Definitely pack your favorite staple cardigan, blazer, or leather jacket to throw on any outfit. Besides that, I would pack a mix of midi dresses, your favorite pair of jeans, t-shirts and blouses, a swimsuit, and throw in some color - yes, believe it or not, even I did!. Lisbon especially is very artsy and rich in culture, so don't be afraid to mimic this in what you wear!