Our last day in Lisbon was spent day-tripping to Sintra, a longtime royal sanctuary nestled in the foothills of Portugal’s Sintra Mountains.
Spur of the moment, we jumped on a train from Lisbon and ventured about 50 mins out of the city.
We heard rumours that it was possible to hike up to the Moorish-style Palácio da Pena. But upon seeing the tuk-tuks bombing around the narrow, winding roads up the mountain (and a little nostalgia from our time in Thailand), we foolishly threw €20 at the driver, buckled up, and took the ride of our lives up the twisting paths.
Worth every penny.
I was in a Portuguese fairy tale.
From the whimsical fortress above, a 360° view of dewy forests thick with ferns and lichen, rippling mountains dotted with pastel-hued manors, exotic gardens, and the castle of the Moors folded into hills that rolled down to the blue Atlantic.
Loving the colourful, ornate Islamic-inspired architecture and vibrant tiles.
Prices were a bit steep for the (somewhat) budget-conscious backpackers we are. We opted out of visiting Castelo dos Mouros, but viewing it from the palace was nothing short of jaw-dropping.
After our trek down the mountain (there is a public bus that comes every so-often, costing about €2, so if you had your adrenaline-fill from the tuk-tuk ride up, it’s a great option to get back to the centre), I was famished.
Of course, I didn’t come prepared with snacks. Hangry was overtaking, full-force.
The Pizza Hut on the main drag was calling my name. Veggie pizza, hold the cheese.
All carbed up, plus a couple beer, and I was ready to be re-introduced to society.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to pack your day bag full of snacks: fruit, crackers, granola bars. The last thing you want is to wait til that breaking point. Your travelling partner will thank you 😉
Next stop: Nazare, Portugal.
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