A Daytrip to Sintra
With Lisbon as my base, I can explore another
UNESCO World Heritage Site, just
a 30-minute train ride from Rossio station. A train leaves every 20 minutes so
I didn’t pre-book a ticket. My hostel was just 5 minutes away from the station. Had to
purchase a separate train ticket for this one.
The grounds of Sintra are vast. If you want to explore everything, it
would take more than a day trip. But I didn’t have the luxury of long travel so
I had to make the most out of a day trip.
From the train station, I followed the signs until I
reached the bus stop. Paid €5 for a round trip bus ride. Alternatively, you can
reach the old Sintra castle by walking for 20 minutes – uphill. They said this
is just around 1.5km. The hostel said you’ll pass by a shop selling some
awesome pastries. If you are a slave to the sweets, it may be worth it – or so
my hostelmates said.
A full bus |
The hostel gave me great directions and tips how to
reach Sintra. The girl was very enthusiastic, but I didn’t take note of all the
details. Harharhar! I just remembered that if I decide to walk, I will be
tired. Easy decision. I paid the €5,00 bus fare for a round trip ride. Remember
to keep the ticket for your trip back.
I decided to stop at Moors Castle first, go to Pena
Palace, then visit Palcio Nacional last. I chose the combo ticket to these
three historical sites which costs €25,00. Quite pricey for a tourist spot, but
Sintra is huge.
The ticket price was so well worth it. Here's a load of photos showing its worth.
Ticketing office outside Moors Castle |
I doubted if this was the entrance. But it was. |
Exploring a castle solo is challenging – in terms of
getting someone to take your photo. I was able to explore Prague Castle with my travel buddy so photos came easier.
Please stop for a moment and take my photo. |
I found trail markers. Really useful guides. |
The scene is very Game-of-Thrones-ish. I’m not sure
which castle though, the Vale perhaps?
I knew it would be inconvenient to tour the castle
walks with my flowyyyy dress. But hey, vanity won. So I had to hold on to my skirt
while my photo was taken.
Enchanting ruins.
Moors Castle, Torre de Belem, were all structures
built to protect and defend some centuries ago. I wonder what everyone will say
about the malls a couple of centuries from now.
Exploring the place, as awesome as it is, can be
tiresome. You have to be a tad fit (which I was) to be able to climb up and
down the walls. I had to refill my water bottle from a drinking fountain before
I proceeded to Pena Palace.
I doused my hunger with water and my Oreo pack. I
didn’t want to eat just yet. First, I woke up late (what’s new) and arrived in
Sintra at almost 11am. I didn’t want to waste time finding some place to eat.
I waited for the bus that took me from Moors Castle
going to Pena Palace. It wasn’t that crowded (Yay!). I walked all the way up
Pena Palace, I didn’t want to pay for a train ride up (kuripot lang no). It was
a manageable climb.
Pena Palace is… I have no words.
I couldn't even take a photo of the entire thing in a single frame.
Too magnificent for one frame only |
I had to get proper timing here. Get someone to take my photo without a crowd in the background. |
The place felt like a palace out of a coloring book.
It is colorful for a castle but it just works! I think I spent an hour just
outside taking photos, and finding kind strangers who would take my photos. I
was in no hurry to explore the grounds because the castle’s structure is very
intriguing.
Anyway, the interiors were nice, but I found
the exteriors more amusing, and interesting.
How many hairbrushes do you need? |
Icky wallpapers. |
he rooms were grand, the ceilings were art
themselves, and the wallpapers were, well, ancient.
As huge and nice as the structure is, I would still
prefer a smaller residence that I can manage. I don’t think I can live in such
a huge place without an army of helpers at my beck and call.
I rode the bus back to Palacio Nacional. Hunger
pangs came again, it was almost 4pm. I ignored the pangs. I think the palace
closes at 5pm so I went inside and enjoyed it quickly. Hehehehe. Different, but
not that notable.
So after visiting those three sites, I was very
hungry. I found a nice resto with a Tripadvisor sticker. Not a lot of people
because it was way past lunch. A set fish meal costs €15,00.
Delicious. At this point, anything would be
delicious.
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