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Trip Report
A week discovering Portugal
Taking advantage of a business trip to travel around story-like places
+ 11
EuropePortugal7 days / September - October 2017
Highs & Lows
Visiting the castles in Sintra.
Missing our connection in Madrid and having to look for a flight that wouldn’t be too expensive.
Itinerary Overview
Every year, my father had a business meeting from his office somewhere around the world and on this year it coincided with my fall break, which meant I got the chance to travel with him and not only relax during the trip but enjoy time with my father while visiting incredible places.
I started the trip with my father, taking a flight to Lisbon via Madrid; we had just enough time for our connection and everything was perfectly planned, until there was a slight setback and we took off around thirty minutes later. This caused us to lose our connecting flight and we had to run around the airport for a while looking for a flight. Once we managed to, it was worth all the stress once we landed in Lisbon.
Lisbon is a gorgeous city, with nice places to walk and visit, amazing food, really nice hotels and a lot of things to do nearby the city itself. Feeling so near the sea in a beautiful city like that is one of the most magical experiences. On the city, we stayed at the Epic Sana Lisboa Hotel, a very pretty hotel with a gorgeous terrace that looks over the city. Even though it was late September the weather was still pretty warm and it was great for walking around the city and all the way to the Torre de Belém, enjoy a pastel de bacalao with wine while enjoying the sunset, or find a place to eat in the Bairro Alto. Since some of the time my dad was busy with business meeting, I took the time to enjoy the beaches and when he had time, we took a couple of trips outside the city.
The first outing was to Sintra, a beautiful town that is home to various castles that make you feel like you’re in a fantasy. Some of the best places to visit in Sintra are the Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle and La Quinta de Regaleira; this last one was my favorite because of all the small nooks and surprising spots it had, like the Well of Initiation. The second daytrip we took was to Fatima, one of the most important catholic sites. Fatima is famous due to the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. This place has a wonderful energy and is very very beautiful, it’s a great place to take a day and visit. Both of these places were unforgettable, each with such wonderful details and each making you feel like you’re inside a book.
Q & A
What would you have changed?
Maybe get to visit some other cities around Lisbon.
Anything go wrong during the trip?
Missing our connecting flight for Lisbon.
How was the food?
The food was great, there was a bit of everything in the trip, you can find any type of food in all cities, more than enough options. I recommend the Belem cakes, which you can find practically anywhere in Lisbon.
What tips would you give a friend?
Check the weather the days before you go so you know what type of clothing its best to pack.
Packing tips?
Depends a bit on when you’re travelling since it depends on the seasons, but it its late September, make sure you check how the weathers been the days before; pack light clothing but a nice jacket in case it gets colder. Aside from that, just make sure you have comfortable shoes.
Transportation Tips?
I am a fan of walking, so mainly that. If you’re able to, rent a car, it will be worth it.
Booking details?
I make most of my reservations on Expedia or directly on the hotel websites.
Lodging
Epic Sana Lisboa Hotel