1

I spent 4 days in magical Sintra. Shoulda been a week.

Trust God but save money like the Devil!

Don't over plan. Let it flow. Keep ears and mind open. Buy a cd of Fado music.

2

I would definitely go to Evora from Lisbon and not Evora to Porto. I would get it out of the way first and then follow the rest of your plan. As for public transportation, well, it is inexpensive and fairly easy however, be VERY cautious about pickpockets and thieves. Especially on the trolleys in Lisbon. The streets are quite narrow and sometimes thieves will literally be on the street and reach into the trolleys through the window from the outside and steal cameras right out of tourists' hands. Be cautious of your belongings on public transportation. Taxis are fairly cheap and during rush hour I would take a taxi over public transport. In Lisbon don't miss the Pasteis de Belem! But if the line is too long, go to their not so touristy competitor who has won the best pastel award. They are located on the corner right alongside the museu dos coches. Also, they have very good Pasteis de bacalhau there. Enjoy your trip!

3

Train will be perfect from Lisbon to Porto, but bus will be better on the Lisbon-Evora-Marvão part. Avoid going to Sintra on the weekend - it really gets crowded. There are many suburban trains going from Lisbon to Sintra, but avoid coming back late in the night. Rede Expressos is the most comprehensive bus operator and they have an english version of their website http://www.rede-expressos.pt/default.aspx If, as it seems, you are travelling with little time, then you should really check the timetables carefully. As for pickpockets, I guess the usual good sense applies... don't put your arms out the window holding your brand new camera to the world, don't carry an open bag or your wallet on your back pocket. The 28 tram line in Lisbon is the typical pickpocket line because it's the most used by tourists. Also, don't panic.

4

So after reading more about Sintra, I think it would be a good idea to do an overnight stay. From Sintra, I was thinking of then heading over to Evora, followed by Porto. Would this be feasible? I know I can take the train from Lisbon to Sintra, but how would I get to Evora from there? Also, if I am heading to Porto from Evora, would I first need to go back to Lisbon?

Again, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Edited by: Aleucard

5

The public transport options to Marvão are limited, and you may find that the only practical way to visit is to stay the night. Considering your limited time I don't think this part of the trip will work. The quickest way from Evora to Porto is to travel via Lisbon.

Your first post seemed to indicate that you are flying in and out of Lisbon. If that is the case, and you want to go to Porto, then I suggest you travel to Porto first, come back to Lisbon and then go to Evora, Or skip the Evora part and concentrate on Lisbon and Porto with a 1 night stay in Sintra.

6

Yes, I am flying in and out of Lisbon. How about this: Lisbon to Evora, Evora to Lisbon, Lisbon to Sintra, Sintra to Lisbon, Lisbon to Porto, then back to Lisbon. I realize it is probably taking on a lot and I could just as well spend the time just focusing on Lisbon and Porto, but I REALLY want to see Sintra and Evora. I may skip Marvao if I find that getting there from Evora and back is going to be a pain.

Edited by: Aleucard

7

Once you are quite short of time, i would sugest that you leave Porto (and several close trips like the one to Braga) for another occasion. Budget airlines, like Ryanair, have great prices to and from Porto.
Based in Lisbon, you can go and come back the same day to Sintra. And what about Óbidos? It deserves the trip.
If you need accomodation in Lisbon in the best part of city's downtown (Alfama), email me back.

Hope to see you in Lisbon,
Paulo