City-Hopping Around Portugal: Lisbon, Sintra and Porto, Done Differently
Culture Trip brings you City Loops, Done Differently – the trending multi-destination routes for 2020 with a twist. Deep-dive into the culture of a destination and discover how to get the most out of your itinerary, from what to see and do to what to tuck into and where to stay.
Time it right to sidestep flocks of tourists (avoiding July and August), and you can get into the groove of the Portuguese happy-go-lucky pace of life in just five days.
Starting out in Portugal’s capital of Lisbon, getting around this Southern European country can be either a train, bus or plane affair. Expect fado music, port wine and pastéis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts) to make frequent appearances on this trip…
Lisbon
1. Soak up art at Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
Museum
2. Enjoy a drink with a view at the Park Bar Lisbon
Bar, Portuguese
3. Stay at Hub New Lisbon Hostel
Hostel
Situated in the northern end of Bairro Alto – meaning you can stumble back after drinks at the nearby Park Bar Lisbon – Hub New Lisbon Hostel is a great place to connect with fellow travellers. With a large projector screen to watch movies, a ‘pool’ filled with 70,000 plastic balls, and an artisanal cocktail bar, it’s all about socialising.
Sintra
A UNESCO World Heritage site for its traditional castles, monasteries and villages, Sintra is a place of romance – so much so that it’s known by many as the Capital of Romanticism in Portugal.
4. Explore Pena Palace
Building, Monastery, Park
Refuel at Harko’s
After you’ve wrapped up exploring, Harko’s is a great place to grab a bite to eat. A Japanese restaurant, it specialises in soup with tofu and leeks, yakisoba yasai noodles and sushi.
5. Stay at Lawrence’s Hotel
Boutique Hotel, Hotel
In keeping with Sintra’s picturesque feel, Lawrence’s Hotel is a charming establishment with old-world decor that lends an ornate feel to its rooms. Within a mile you’ll find Pena Palace, Moors Castle and Sintra National Palace, while walking trails grace the nearby Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais, which is one of the 13 Natural Parks of Portugal.
Porto
Portugal’s second-largest city, the seaside destination of Porto boasts both classic architecture (like the Palácio da Bolsa) and contemporary art (at the Serralves Museum), along with great wine, being a stone’s throw from the Douro Valley.
6. Livraria Lello
Bookstore
7. Vila Nova de Gaia
Wine Seller, Wine
8. Stay at 1872 River House
Boutique Hotel
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
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