How to Find Cheap Hotels in Sintra, Portugal

Sintra is an idyllic-looking town located on the west central coast of Portugal near Lisbon. Known mostly for its collection of royal palaces, Sintra is a popular tourist destination and day trip from Lisbon.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Internet access for making reservations

Instructions

Get to Know Sintra

1. Pack appropriately for the season. Visitors in the summer will find warm temperatures ranging between 85 and 90 degrees F on average. In the winter, Sintra can get quite chilly, especially at night.

2. Sintra has many draws for tourists beyond its magnificent palaces. Sintra is home to a large green park, Serra de Sintra, miles of beaches along the coastline and several notable museums including the Sintra Museu de Arte Moderna.

3. Pay in Euros, the official currency of Portugal, to avoid currency conversion fees.

Get to and Around Sintra

1. Take the train from Lisbon to the rail station in Sintra. Trains are frequent, and the trip from Lisbon only takes 45 minutes. Fares are cheap. You can walk from the station to town in about 10 minutes or take the bus.

2. Take the bus that goes from the train station to major palaces, such as the National Palace, Palacio da Pena and Caselo do Mouros. The fare is very reasonable, and on/off privileges are included in the ticket price.

Choose Your Accommodations

1. To book accommodations, contact Turismo de Portugal at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources below).

2. Stay in one of the few hostels in town for cheap accommodations. There are not as many hostels in Sintra as in other tourist cities in Portugal because the town is not very big, but the ones it has offer rooms at good rates.

3. Check for deals. Sintra has some interesting and historic hotels (the poet Byron is said to have stayed in one). Although prices can be more expensive than average, sometimes good deals are available.

4. Consider staying in Lisbon. It is only a short trip from Lisbon to Sintra, and travelers have far more options for cheap accommodations in Libson.

Become Familiar With Local Fare

1. Try "queijadas," a regional favorite. They are small cakes made from fresh cheese and other ingredients.

2. Enjoy the Sintra Festival when visiting between June and August. Check with the local visitor center for information--events usually include things like weekly musical performances.

Tips & Warnings

• Horse drawn carriage rides around Sintra are not cheap, but they complement the fairy tale feel of the city and are a unique way to tour.

• All phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally outside the United States, substitute that "011" with "00." All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.

• Even if you have a car, you won't want to take it to Sintra because parking is horrible. It's better to take the train.