Lisbon vs. Sintra: A Journey Through Portugal

After leaving Guimarães, I went to Lisbon. I spent a few days in Lisbon and visited Sintra. Here are my opinions and experiences.

Lisbon

The capital city of Portugal. I was very excited to come here, I saw a lot on the internet and heard from people that were there. My expectations were high. Yet again I learned to rather not have expectations. It is safe to say that my trip in Portugal didn’t go as expected. Here are my reasons why my trip didn’t go so well and things I did with the places I visited.

Things to see:

Lisbon Cathedral

This cathedral is located on a hill. There is an amazing view to the streets of Lisbon. It is a huge monument, it kinda reminded me of Notre Dam. This cathedral is the oldest and the most important church in the city of Lisbon. I sadly haven’t been inside, but I recommend you to do so, as it might be stunning. To get there you can walk or take the famous yellow tram.

Tram 28

This is the famous yellow tram. Very big tourist attraction and the symbol of the city (and possibly of the whole Portugal). The tram drives between Graça and Prazeres, it passes some of the nicest places of the city. As mentioned already the tram is bright yellow, it has a retro look and sound. It is also small but that is the reason it can drive through the narrow streets and to the hills. Getting on the tram during the main season requires a lot of patience tho. You can buy a ticket or use the travel transport card. It is affordable and it drives every day during the whole day. 

Praça do Comércio

This is an enormous square overlooking the harbor and the Arch of Triumph. It has a big historical meaning. In the middle there is a statue of José I, the king of Portugal. This square was crowded with many artists and entertainers during the summer. 

Arco do Triunfo da Rua Augusta

Another famous monument of the country. It is located on the pedestrian street, as already mentioned, in front of the huge square. It is the symbol of the rebirth of Lisbon after a line of natural catastrophes. It is possible to climb up on the top and enjoy the view of the city.

Pink Street

This is a very instagramable place in Lisbon. The pink street was the red light district in the past, now it is the party location. Many pubs and bars, music, the pink road and many decorations are making this place perfect to hang out. The so-called umbrella street is also located here.

Miradouro de Santa Luzia

This is possibly the most beautiful viewing point in Lisbon. Don’t forget it is on the hill. There is an amazing view on the city and the river. It is decorated with beautifully painted tiles and many flowers. It is surrounded by a garden and many churches and cafes. You can hear and see the trams driving by. It is definitely a magical place. 

Note: During summer it is overcrowded with people, making it impossible to enjoy this place. I recommend going out of the season or early in the morning. 

Ponte 25 de Abril

This is one of the longest bridges out there. This bridge connects two parts of the city. It is an enormous bridge that made an appearance in some movies and it is very picturesque. This bridge is not pedestrian but you can take a bus to the other part of the city, enjoying the view of the river.

Sanctuary of Christ the King

This monument is a Catholic shrine. It is located in Almada, where you can get, by crossing the bridge mentioned above. It is inspired by the Christ statue of Rio de Janeiro. It is overlooking the city of Lisbon and it is a place you shouldn’t miss.

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

This monastery is located in Belém, another part of Lisbon. The architecture is stunning and it is huge. Sadly I didn’t get in there once again because of the way too long queue of people. This monastery is also listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Belém Tower

A fortress built in the 16th century. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is lying on the river Tagus and it is close to the monastery. It has an important historical meaning and it is a beautiful place to visit.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos

This monument is lying on the riverside at Belém. It is dedicated to the discoveries. The figures are Prince Henry the Navigator followed by 32 leading figures from the Era of the Discoveries. The square is decorated in beautiful ornaments and a world map. It is possible to climb up on the top if you like to.

Everything wrong with Lisbon:

1. Overcrowded. Once again, same as Porto. The city was so crowded that I wasn’t even in the mood to go out. Everywhere were queues. No chance to make nice pictures, getting to a museum or even a tram would take hours. The hot weather made it even worse.
2. Big city. This is not a bad thing but you can’t walk it so you need some transport. The metro was not so terrible even tho it was also crowded and hot. You again have to think about the different tickets and zones. The city also has many hills.
3. Messsssy bus station. We used the bus station two times. Let me tell you, finding a bus there could be an olympic discipline. The buses are standing all over the place and there is no information board or office. We didn’t know who to ask where to find the bus so we were just walking around and asking other people.
4. Accommodation. I’ve been to two places. The hotel was messy. We got a room where people were already accommodated. We got the code from the door and we just came into the room with someone’s stuff in there. After a complicated change we got a different room, but we were quite worried that someone else could just come in because of a mistake. The other apartment was nice but it was hidden in a very small street looking like a ghetto. The surroundings didn’t look safe. Young men were just sitting or standing around, talking, listening to loud music and drinking (and possibly doing other illegal sh*t). This also brings me to the next point.
5.  Immigration. This is a big problem in Europe in general. I felt it in Portugal as well. I came out of the metro station to a square fully occupied. There were immigrants hanging around, living in tents and being loud. Let me point out that this was relatively close to the center. This makes you feel a bit less safe. 

Note: I believe that if I would visit after the season, it would be a bit better. Keep it in mind.

Sintra

This is a lovely fairy tale city. Very famous because of its attractions. It is very easy to get there from Lisbon with a train. There are many trains there and back and you can easily make a day trip out of it. The train ticket is cheap and it takes around 30 minutes. You can use the transport card from Lisbon but don’t forget to check the zones.

Things to see:

Palácio Nacional da Pena

This colorful fairytale castle is standing high on a hill surrounded by a forest. It also has a very interesting architecture and a museum. I didn’t have a chance to visit it sadly. You have a nice view from Castelo dos Mouros on this palace tho. 

Castelo dos Mouros

This castle is more like a fortress. Basically it is only a few walls you can walk all around. It is also located on a hill in the forest. To enter the fortress you have to pay a fee, but before entering there is a small exhibition for free. To get up there is quite a hike tho.

Quinta da Regaleira

This place is magical. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a huge park with a palace, chapel, initiation well and tunnels. This place is 100% worth visiting. The palace is absolutely magical. It is small but furnished with beautiful paintings on the walls and a very interesting architecture. The initiation well is a famous monument. You can walk down the well and enter the tunnels. There are other towers as well. The park is big and has many paths. There are also lakes and small waterfalls. Everything is in the price of the ticket. You can buy tickets online or at the kassa. It is very famous among the tourists and it is in high demand during summer. 

Note: I arrived half an hour before opening and there was already a small queue of people. Until it opened there was an incredibly long line of people waiting. I recommend coming early and buying the tickets online for faster entry. 

Sintra National Palace

This palace is also a very important museum in Sintra. It is very well kept with stunning architecture and interior. 

There is so much to see in Portugal. Lisbon is a huge city and Sintra also offers many attractions. I personally liked Sintra a lot. With Lisbon I didn’t have the best experience but I believe that next time it’s gonna be better. There is still so much to see and maybe if I visit after the main season it is gonna be more enjoyable. 

I’ll give this trip ⭐⭐⭐

How would you rate this trip?