We are not alone on our trip in Portugal, Blogger Bea, better known as ‘Con Botas de Agua’, has been following in our footsteps with her family. Today, we’ll tell you all about her experiences and recommendations for visiting Sintra & the surrounding area.
Sintra can be found close to the capital city Lisbon, in the foothills of Portugal’s Sintra Mountains. Whereas the town has an abundance of tourist attractions, the neighborhood is at least as delightful. The region is definitely worth a visit! Bea's daughters Lola & Martina would, without a doubt, confirm this.
Let’s start at the beginning of the trip in Praia das Maçãs, directly one of the little girls’ favorite places. It is a small village with a beautiful beach. This beach has a stream that flows into the sea which gave the girls & Kenya (the family dog) an amazing playground to enjoy. Plus, if you stay a little longer at this beach, you might be able to enjoy a perfect sunset here.
Into surfing? Praia Grande is, as the name suggests, the biggest beach in this neighborhood with a very nice and surfer like atmosphere. It is the place where surfers can light up their heart thanks to the favorable weather, wind, and sea conditions. Bea's advice when you are here, surfer or not, climb the cliff to enjoy the wonderful panoramic view! At the end of the beach there is an excellent place to have a sit and catch the sunset while enjoying a drink or having dinner. The food is very tasty and the views… indescribably beautiful!
Another recommended spot to eat is located at the Adraga beach. Best to reserve a table as it is often full. If you like fish you have to go here and try the local fish-dish “zapateira”!
But this trip is not all about beaches so get the sand out of your shoes, it is time to discover some new places!
Another recommendation of Bea is to stroll down the colorful streets of the town ‘Almoçageme’ and visit the decoration store ‘Coisas da Terra’. Save some place in your luggage!
Sintra is a small town but has a lot to offer. You will find typical Portuguese houses with traditional glazed colored tiles, ‘azulejos’, on the facades. After walking up the streets of this small town (a bit more like climbing for the girls) you get in the center, take some time to relax and enjoy an ice cream at the square.
Don’t miss out on Palacio da Pena : a magical palace filled with colors and offering an incredible view. According to the girls, it feels like entering a palace similar to the story of 1001 nights. Let the storytelling begin!
Our travel guides in the making decide where to go next, and last on this trip, and this stop it… Cascais!
Located on the South Coast, the city made it’s way from a sleepy fishing village to a lively, attractive place. Take a look at the large yacht harbor and discover the historic center, you won't get bored.
Pictures: Con Botas de Agua
