Sintra - Avril Evans. Date of travel: Jan 2003
Sintra - magical. A small village behind an enormous hill/mountain with spectacular, panoramic views all the way to the coast! I would not expect to stay here, as it would be too far out from other interesting places and the bus service a little slow and meandering, but as a visit, first class. The Portugese Royal family lived in the fairy tale castle, open to the public, with arched windows looking out over lush green gardens and grounds below. The rooms are small but the towers are more Disney than defensive! Wandering around the garden for a while makes more of a day of the visit. You can discover little grottos and pathways. Rather like a small theme park only the real thing! The bus out of Lisborn is not expensive, nor is the return bus to the top of the hill and back. (No singles sold at the time.) I would take a digital camera and aim for a clear day!