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Lisbon & the Palaces of Sintra

Architectural treasures of Portugal's capital
 
Combine a stay in Portugal's vibrant capital, Lisbon, with an exploration of the nearby city of Sintra on this cultural break. There’s a wealth of cultural treasures to discover, not least Sintra’s opulent palaces, so we provide notes for self-guided walking tours to help you explore.
Lisbon & the Palaces of Sintra. 4 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Lisbon & the Palaces of Sintra. 4 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A break in Sintra & Lisbon

Warmed by the Gulf Stream and caressed by spring sea breezes, Lisbon has one of the mildest climates in Western Europe and sits majestically at the mouth of the great River Tagus. Portugal’s lively capital is home to remarkable monumental architecture from the Golden Age and its rich cultural heritage demands leisurely investigation and exploration, using our detailed notes to discover both the famous and lesser-known quarters of the city.

North-west of the capital, rolling wooded hills and vineyards characterise the ‘Garden of Lisbon’, where royalty, the aristocracy and the very wealthy attempted to outdo each other in the splendour of their palaces and estates. 
At its heart is hill-top Sintra, famed for its grandeur and amazing architectural heritage. 

Staying in two delightful hotels, this holiday is as much about delving into the region’s rich past, culture and cuisine, as it is about exploring its gentle landscapes.
 
Gallery

 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 15 16 18 19 22 25 28 28 27 23 18 15
    mm 109 110 68 64 39 21 4 5 26 80 111 106
  • Arrival in Lisbon
    Night 1: at Solar do Castelo or Hotel Britania (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of exploration.
  • Explore Lisbon
    You have a full day to explore the Portuguese capital at leisure, perhaps following one of our self-guided city walking tours. The sights vary from the neoclassical grid-patterned streets of the Baixa district, to the sprawling ruins of the hill-top castle, and the metal latticework of the Elevador Santa Justa. Discover museums of ancient and modern art as you follow narrow cobbled streets that wind precariously down through traditional neighbourhoods to meet the river. Sample delicious Portuguese pastries in the many Art Nouveau cafés, ride an old-fashioned tram, and let your ears be seduced by fado, the melancholy melodies of the Lisboetas, the people of Lisbon. (Please note that museums tend to close on Mondays.)
    The Praca da Figueira in Lisbon
  • Travel to Sintra
    As the journey to your second base is very short, you have time to explore Lisbon further before making your way to the station to catch a train north-west to Sintra (pay locally for the inexpensive and frequent service). This is a relaxing day and even if you leave at midday, you can still spend much of the afternoon exploring Sintra, where you spend two nights at the stylish Sintra Boutique Hotel or the venerable Lawrence's Hotel.
  • Explore Sintra
    Today, you have the opportunity to explore the delights of Sintra further. There are many architectural treasures to discover: close to the hotel in the centre of the town is the National Palace, the best preserved medieval royal palace in Portugal and home to the royal family for centuries. Within walking distance – or a short bus ride – are the astonishing Pena Palace (dominated by its golden onion domes) and the imposing Moorish Castle, both set high above the town and worthy of leisurely exploration. Nearby, too, is the Quinta de Regaleira, famed for its luxuriant gardens featuring a remarkable spiral well, and Biester Palace, with its exotic plant and tree collection from around the world. Such is the grandeur and importance of these buildings and monuments that the ‘Cultural Landscape of Sintra’ was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
    The town of Sintra
 

Accommodation

The two locations in which you stay ensure a very varied break.

In some places, we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. All are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation.

Wherever you stay, we recommend adding an extra night in both Lisbon and Sintra, so that you can explore more fully.
 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter

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  • 4 nights: 01 February 2024 - 21 December 2024 & 01 February 2025 - 21 December 2025

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 Feb - 11 Mar 2024 £485 £220
    12 - 31 Mar 2024 £600 £295
    1 Apr - 21 May 2024 £670 £315
    22 May - 3 Jun 2024 £700 £315
    4 - 30 Jun 2024 £730 £330
    1 Jul - 31 Aug 2024 £705 £330
    1 Sep - 31 Oct 2024 £675 £315
    1 Nov - 17 Dec 2024 £540 £250
    1 Feb - 11 Mar 2025 £505 £230
    12 - 31 Mar 2025 £625 £310
    1 Apr - 21 May 2025 £700 £330
    22 May - 3 Jun 2025 £730 £330
    4 - 30 Jun 2025 £760 £345
    1 Jul - 31 Aug 2025 £735 £345
    1 Sep - 31 Oct 2025 £705 £330
    1 Nov - 17 Dec 2025 £565 £260
    3rd & 4th person discount £0
    Single traveller supplement £0

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Pay locally for inexpensive train ticket between Lisbon and Sintra.

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Solar do Castelo, Lisbon
    Superior 'Alfama': 01 Feb - 21 Dec 2024 £36
    Superior 'Alfama': 01 Feb - 21 Dec 2025 £37
    Sintra Boutique Hotel, Sintra
    Deluxe double (no twins): 01 Feb - 21 Dec 2024 £24
    Deluxe double (no twins): 01 Feb - 21 Dec 2025 £25

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Solar do Castelo, Lisbon (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Feb - 13 Mar 2024 £88 £165
    14 Mar - 30 Jun 2024 £121 £222
    01 Jul - 31 Aug 2024 £95 £179
    01 Sep - 31 Oct 2024 £135 £245
    01 Nov - 21 Dec 2024 £101 £189
    01 Feb - 13 Mar 2025 £92 £172
    14 Mar - 30 Jun 2025 £130 £235
    01 Jul - 31 Aug 2025 £99 £186
    01 Sep - 31 Oct 2025 £145 £259
    01 Nov - 21 Dec 2025 £105 £197
    Sintra Boutique Hotel, Sintra (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Feb - 13 Feb 2024 £101 £160
    14 Feb - 22 Feb 2024 £117 £185
    23 Feb - 31 Mar 2024 £101 £160
    01 Apr - 09 Apr 2024 £117 £185
    10 Apr - 06 Jun 2024 £101 £160
    07 Jun - 30 Sep 2024 £117 £185
    01 Oct - 05 Dec 2024 £101 £160
    06 Dec - 21 Dec 2024 £117 £185
    01 Feb - 13 Feb 2025 £105 £166
    14 Feb - 22 Feb 2025 £122 £193
    23 Feb - 31 Mar 2025 £105 £166
    01 Apr - 09 Apr 2025 £122 £193
    10 Apr - 06 Jun 2025 £105 £166
    07 Jun - 30 Sep 2025 £122 £193
    01 Oct - 05 Dec 2025 £105 £166
    06 Dec - 21 Dec 2025 £122 £193
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Lisbon
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Lisbon. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Lisbon (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Lisbon easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Lisbon easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Lisbon easyJet,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Lisbon Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Lisbon (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Lisbon easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Lisbon TAP Air Portugal 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Lisbon Air Europa,  Azores Airlines (SATA),  easyJet,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Lisbon Azores Airlines (SATA),  British Airways,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Lisbon easyJet,  Wizz Air 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Lisbon Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Lisbon easyJet,  Ryanair,  TAP Air Portugal 
    Manchester - Lisbon (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Lisbon (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Lisbon (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Lisbon. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Lisbon

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    own travel arrangements from Lisbon airport to hotel pay locally flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Lisbon airport (0h30) £33-£34 flexible
    walk (0h15) or taxi (0h05, pay locally) to Sintra, rail Sintra to Lisbon Oriente (0h40) pay locally 1000
What is included
  • 4 nights
  • 4 breakfasts
  • detailed documentation
  • notes for self-guided city walking tours
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 11 reviews
  • Mrs N Tompkinson
    London
    28 February 2024

    Highlights in Lisbon were wandering round the Alfama district (despite having purse stolen from rucksack - personal security needs attention!) and visiting the Gulbenkian museum. What an amazing and exquisite collection. If museums and galleries are your "thing", then don't miss this one.

    The many Sintra palaces have much to offer. We particularly loved Monserrate and Regaleira.

  • Venkat
    22 February 2024

    A fantastic holiday with great hotels to stay both in Lisbon and Sintra. And great history and scenery. The walks were easy and interesting. We didn't have time to all do all the walks in Lisbon but we did enough to keep us happy. 

  • Anon
    19 February 2024

    The Solar do Castelo hotel was lovely - the peacocks, all day pastries, tea and coffee and courtesy carafe of port in the room were all unexpected extras. The Lisbon walking notes were very good but unrealistic if you stopped to sightsee anywhere so we adapted parts of these. There needs to be a warning to buy the monastery tickets online before going there and still expect to queue to get in. The grounds of the Pena palace in Sintra deserve a mention - as heavy rain was predicted we took the bus there but walked extensively round the grounds. The weather in Sintra was definitely cooler and wetter than Lisbon and we are told this is usually the case all year round.

  • Anon
    13 February 2024

    The painted ceilings in the Sintra National Palace were spectacular, and Biester was fascinating too. Also very special were the sudden downhill vistas in Lisbon as we passed a funicular or other steep street. Overall a great break, and we were very glad we took an extra day in Lisbon which allowed us to see much more

  • Tony
    21 September 2023

    Overall the holiday was excellent. The Lisbon city tour would be better done in two separate days to do it justice. Sintra again needed more time to take in all the sights.

  • Mr E Bywater
    Chislehurst
    01 September 2023

    Hotel Do Castelo was a personal highlight - free port in our rooms, free champagne, coffee, tea, and pastries every day in the communal area, peacocks wandering about outside, and very welcoming and friendly service. Superb breakfasts. Loved it there. Enjoyed the walks in Lisbon, especially strolling around the Alfama area and wandering around the Castelo de Sao Jorge (definitely worth getting there early!). Recommend the Fado museum. Loved the Pastel de Nata in the shop alongside Casa Brasilera on Rua Augusta. Only complaint? Not enough time to do all we wanted. In Sintra the views from the Moorish castle are superb and we also loved the walk down through the park towards the Villa Sassetti. There is a lovely cafe there near the villa - Casa das Minas. We sat outside with fabulous views of the National Palace sipping red wine. They have artwork you can look at (https://www.instagram.com/ccasadasminas/)    

  • M Smart
    12 July 2023

    Inntravel gave us so much excellent advice and information! The walks were really great and the hotels were excellent! Being big on food, we especially appreciated the restaurant recommendations. One word of advice, even a short walk in Lisbon is a lot of work - there are lots of hills and staircases everywhere! 

  • Anon
    16 June 2023

    Combining Lisbon and Sintra with the Azores really made this a much more memorable holiday. Both are absolute musts and accommodation and guidance were both outstanding. Each of the islands visited in the Azores were very different and accommodation was a bit variable. On the walking side, a lot of the tracks are wide cinder tracks that can get a bit boring, although the 10 volcanoe walk was outstanding with a lot of variety. However, it was hard expecially when humidity is high and its a hot day. The Inntravel walking routes really did make the best of what can be seen on the islands. It was very clear that a lot of thought and planning went into this holiday and that did make it enjoyable and good value for money.

  • Mr M Matthews
    Winchester
    10 May 2023

    Good holiday (Lisbon & Palaces of Sintra and From Cape to Castle Walking holidays) but in first 2 weeks in May there were big crowds particularly in Lisbon and Sintra.

  • Anon. Derbyshire
    21 April 2023

    The holiday exceeded our expectations and we were delighted with the accommodation in both Lisbon and Sintra.  The brochure was really comprehensive and put the holiday within an historical context of Portugal as well as giving useful up to date information. We would certainly use Inntravel again and wouldn't hesitate to recommend the company to others.

     

     

  • John & Ute
    13 November 2022

    As you would expect from Inntravel, this is a gem of a short break holiday that meets high expectations. 
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from A to B, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Portugal, Madeira and the Azores, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official language is Portuguese. The currency is the Euro. Portuguese time is the same as GMT/UTC. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on the same time as BST.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
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