Although, it’s a little late, I finally got my act together and as promised, it’s here! 

Today, I am sharing Part 1 of a multi-series travel diary of my family’s trip to Europe this past June.  In this post, I am sharing all the spots we visited and favorite photos from Portugal specifically Lisbon, Sintra & Belem!

So, without further ado, let’s get started…

Portugal is a diverse and beautiful country.  There is so much to experience and savor. We spent 12 days exploring different cities in Portugal and to say we did a lot is an understatement! From wandering the narrow-cobbled streets and exploring ancient castles in Lisbon, to tasting port wine in Porto, to relaxing in sunny beaches and cliffsides in Lagos, this small country has a lot to see.  So, whether it’s an actioned-packed adventure or a serene beach get away that you are looking for, Portugal has it all and is a travel destination not to be missed.  

LISBON

In Lisbon, we stayed at the Otilia Hotel and Apartments for four days.  The apartment was spacious and had everything you could possibly want including a balcony to take in the views.  It was also centrally located to a variety of shops, restaurants, tourist spots and we enjoyed calling it home for a couple days.  The only downside to this place is the lack of an elevator.  We were on the fifth floor and it’s not fun with luggage going up on stairs that were quite steep, but the hubby made it work! 

(*A few side notes: If you cannot find the hotel, it is because it is located through a lingerie shop! Secondly, you won’t need a car to get around while in the city, but we rented a car for our family travel in Portugal because we wanted to explore beyond Lisbon and a lot of what we wanted to see was easier to access via car.  Not to mention, a lot more comfortable and convenient with a little guy in tow).

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Castelo de Sao Jorge

On our first full day in Lisbon, our first stop was the Castelo de Sao Jorge.  It’s an old Moorish castle and located on the historic Alfama district in Portugal.  It requires a bit of a hike to get there but we took the Elevador Castelo, situated on Rua dos Franqueiros street, which got us half-way there.  When you have little legs alongside you, this is a blessing in disguise.  It saved us from a lot of walking and climbing or rather my husband’s back from a half day of piggy-back rides!

We got to the castle an hour after it had opened and while there was already a queue, it wasn’t long. The castle itself was not extravagant.  There are no pretty colors or interior castle grandeur, there are just old stone walls and staircases plus a few cannons, but you get undeniably the best views of Lisbon from the lookout points.  

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Cristo Rei

Although this was not on our itinerary, we were glad to have stumbled upon the Cristo Rei monument in Almada.  This is such a majestic statue of Christ overlooking Lisbon and given its location, the views from the statue are simply breathtaking.  My husband and I are big on scenic views and this place did not disappoint.  We arrived a little bit past 4 pm and it wasn’t very crowded at all.  The grounds and buildings around the monument are being updated but are still very beautiful and clean.  At the monument, you’ll find a library, snack bar, two small chapels and a gift shop.  Not to mention, if the view from the viewing platform at the foot of the statue isn’t enough for you, there is also a viewing platform at the top of the statue.  

At the end of our visit, we drove back to our hotel as our little guy was clearly done with sightseeing and we went straight to dinner at a nearby restaurant a few feet away from our place called Grilled and Company. If you ask me, not at all a shabby way to end our day!

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SINTRA

Palacio de Pena

The following morning, we drove to Sintra and we got there in no time – 30 minutes! Sintra is such a small but charming town that is situated on top of a mountain and everything about this place was beautiful.  It is one of the highlights of our trip to Portugal and I wish we had more time to explore.  We visited the grounds and explored Palacio de Pena and it is an absolute must see! The palace is massive, and you could easily spend hours here.  The brightly colored architecture is really the star of the show and is unlike anything that we have ever seen in any of our travels.  Pictures really won’t do it justice and you just need take it all in.  

The only downside, when we arrived at Palacio de Pena, it was already so crowded and the line to get into the palace was long.  We spent more time queuing than exploring the palace and when everything was all said and done, we all had been on our feet for over 3 hours! With that said, my husband and I couldn’t justify dragging our son to, yet another castle let alone in the heat, especially since he was already asking to go home, so we settled on grabbing lunch instead!

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Praca do Comercio/Arco da Rua Augusta

After a leisurely lunch at Santo Bife in downtown Sintra, we drove back to our apartment and spent the rest of the day walking around the town square in Lisbon, Praca do Comercio.  We admired the Arco da Rua Augusta and paused in the town square to take in the scenery.  We listened to a street artist play his electric guitar which our son really enjoyed.  Afterward, we walked to a nearby restaurant called Can Can to enjoy a shot of Ginjinha before heading to Cafeteria Sao Nicolau for dinner and calling it a night.  

BELEM

Torre de Belem

Our last full day in Lisbon was spent exploring Belem.  Just like Sintra, Belem’s beauty is breathtaking in its own unique way.  Even though we had a car, we chose to take the tram instead.   The total ride time was 30 minutes and it was nice to enjoy the scenes from a different point of view.  Once we arrived, we went straight to see Torre de Belem and what a sight it was! It is a beautiful tower right on the water.  We were the very first ones in the queue for tickets and it was a nice change for once not to have to wait in line.  We went up the 90+ narrow staircase steps to the top to take a bird’s eye view of Belem and to be honest, the views of the outside of the tower is way better than what you will see from the inside or at the top.  

Unfortunately, it had also been a particularly warm day when we visited Belem and it was evident with all that walking in direct sun that everyone was exhausted.  So, to avoid a meltdown from our son or myself, we decided to cut our trip to Belem short.  

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Padrao dos Descobrimentos

On our way back to the tram stop, we discovered Padrao dos Descobrimentos by accident.  Our original route would be to head back towards the Jeronimos Monastery but the hubby suggested we walk along the waterfront.  It was a fantastic decision! The sculptures of the explorers on the monument are impressive and made for a great photo op.  Inside the monument there is a small museum and access to the rooftop terrace.  We did not do this, however, and just admired the view from the outside. 

Once we got back to the apartment, everyone took a much-needed siesta.  After having recharged our batteries, we ventured downstairs in search of souvenirs and dinner. We ate at Restaurante O Portas before we headed back to our place for a cozy night in because in the morning, it will be time to say goodbye to Lisbon.

Next stop Porto!

Have you ever been to Portugal? What are your favorite sites in Portugal? 

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out my travel page for more tips and vacation ideas!

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