Last Day in Sintra and Lisbon, Portugal - Day 5

March 31, 2020 in Lisbon, Sintra, Portugal

Castelo dos Mouros

On our last day, we had some time in the morning to see the Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors) before heading back to Lisbon. It is a hilltop medieval castle that was built during the 8th century and is also called The Great Wall of Portugal (it looks like a mini version of the Great Wall of China). There is a really nice walk through the forest to get into the main area.

DSCF0746.jpgSintra portugal Castelo dos Mouros medieval castle of moors moorish

After getting past the main walls, there are flower lined walkways that take you to the outer wall. Walking along the wall is the main draw of the Castelo dos Mouros.

The Castle of the Moors is built on one of the highest points in the area to protect Sintra from attack

Back to Lisbon

We left Sintra in a taxi to head back to Lisbon to check into our last hotel for the trip.

This was our last time to walk around and take in the city.

Royale Cafe

Our last dinner was at Royale Cafe. It got a lot of great reviews and definitely did not disappoint. We sat outside in the small patio in the back and got to enjoy our meal with the great weather.

And this ends our first trip with Maddox, which I’ve been calling a multi-city, multi-country international trip. We were able to see London, Paris, Lisbon, and Sintra all in one go. Traveling with a baby means you have to make adjustments to your itinerary and accommodations to make sure your baby is entertained and has enough time for rest as well. Luckily we put in a lot of work and planning to make sure our trip went off without a hitch. Definitely looking forward to our next trip!

Sintra, Portugal - Day 4 - Cabo da Roca

March 28, 2020 in Sintra, Portugal

Cabo da Roca

After leaving Quinta da Regaleira, we took a short drive to Cabo da Roca. This cape is the westernmost point of mainland Europe and sits about 140 meters above the Atlantic. Up until the late 14th century, Cabo de Roca was believed to be the edge of the world. Other than a lighthouse, a coffee shop and a gift shop, there’s nothing else but cliffs and ocean views.

The stone monument - “Where the land ends and the sea begins”

Heading south from the lighthouse and the stone monument, there are paths that follow the cliffs. It narrows from a wide paved path into small trails that follow the coastline. It can be a bit steep and windy so be sure to watch your step out here.

Sintra, Portugal - Day 4 - Quinta da Regaleira

March 27, 2020 in Portugal, Sintra

It was the day of the wedding, but we had some time in the morning to go see what Sintra had to offer. We grabbed a quick breakfast at the resort and headed out to see the Quinta da Regaleira.

sintra portugal penha longa resort breakfast

Quinta da Regaleira

Quinta da Regaleira is a palace that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is so much to see at this site including lakes, grottos, wells, fountains, gardens, and a palace. The estate sits on about 4 hectares of land that is filled with trees and footpaths.

The Initiation Wells are two wells that that resemble underground towers. A winding staircase leads down to underground tunnels and the wells were used for secretive initiation ceremonies.

sintra portugal Quinta da Regaleira initiation well tunnels labyrinth

The system of tunnels have multiple entry points that connect the lower entrance of the Initiation Well and the Waterfall.

You can see the Castelo dos Mouros in the distance

Traveling with a Baby to Lisbon, Portugal - Day 2

March 18, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal

Pau de Canela Pastelarias

On our second day in Lisbon, we had a full day to explore Lisbon and some activities planned for the guests of the wedding. We started the day by getting breakfast at a nearby pastry shop.

We took the metro out to see the Padrao dos Descobrimentos and Torre de Belem. Maddox loved riding the subway and going up and down the escalators.

Padrao dos Descobrimentos

The Padrao dos Descobrimentos (Monument of the Discoveries) is a monument on the right on Tagus River. There is a main statue of Henry the Navigator and 33 other figures on both sides from the history of the Portuguese Age of Discovery.

Belem Tower

Torre de Belem (Belem Tower) served as a point for embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers in the 16th century. It was a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon. It was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1983 by UNESCO. The line was way too long for us to go inside, so we just walked around the outside.

Monumento aos Combatentes do Ultramar

The Monumento aos Combatentes do Ultramar (Monument to Overseas Combatants) is just a short walk away from the Belem Tower. It is a war memorial dedicated to the soldiers of the Portuguese army who lost their lives during the Overseas War of 1961 to 1974.

Jardim da Torre de Belem

We found a bench in the Belem Tower Garden to relax and let Maddox stretch his legs.

Time Out Market

On our way back, we stopped at Time Out Market to grab a quick bite to eat. This time for a quick burger before we met with the bride and groom for a tour of the city.

Tram 28 Tour

The bride and groom set up a private tram tour on the famous Tram 28 line. This tour lasted for about 2 hours and passed through the most popular tourist districts of Lisbon.

LX Factory

LX Factory is the site of an old fabric production plant that has now been turned into a space with more than 50 restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. It is like an outdoor mall with art installations throughout the grounds.

lx factory lisbon portugal art installation

Stopped for a quick drink before dinner.

1300 Taberna

Traveling with a Baby to Lisbon, Portugal - Day 1

March 13, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal

We left Paris and headed to Lisbon, Portugal. This is the last country we’re visiting on our multi-city international trip.

Maddox loves looking out of the window on flights

We checked into our hotel and hung out for a bit just to get some rest and to let Maddox get used to our new room.

We decided to just walk around our area to see what was in our neighborhood. Right around the corner from our hotel was the Elevador de Santa Justa. It served as a great landmark to easily make it back to our hotel.

Praca do Comercio

This is one of Europe’s largest squares with the large stone Rua Augusta Arch that commemorates the city’s reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake. The centerpiece of the square is a large statue of King Jose I.

Mercado da Ribeira - Time Out Market

lisbon portugal time out market Mercado da Ribeira

The Time Out Market is a short walk away from the Praca do Comercio and has lots of options for food. We ended up coming here multiple times during our trip.

lisbon portugal time out market Mercado da Ribeira manteigaria pasteis de nata custard tart

lisbon portugal time out market Mercado da Ribeira pasteles de bacalao olho bacalhau

Pasteis de bacalhau -Salted cod fritters

Jardim Dom Luis

After eating at Time Out Market, there’s a little park right next to the Mercado da Ribeira. They had a children’s playground where Maddox loved the swings.

lisbon portugal international travel with baby

Rua do Carmo

Praca Dom Pedro IV

Praca Dom Pedro IV is a large central square located in the Baixa district and is usually just referred to as Rossio.

Cervejaria Ramiro

I heard from multiple people that Ramiro is some of the best seafood in Lisbon and it did not disappoint. If you go at peak times, be ready to wait, but they do have a beer station where you can grab an quick beer while you’re waiting. The seafood was fresh and it was one of the best seafood dinners that I’ve ever had. Don’t forget the prego at the end of the meal!