Tina & Ankur
Things To Do/ Places to See
Park and National Palace of Pena- SINTRA
A Must See for Everyone! Sintra is a delightful Portuguese town with an abundance of wonderful attractions, which range from ancient castles, to elaborate palaces. The wedding hotel is located in Sintra so its easily accessible for a day trip. Make sure to make the hike, take a rickshaw, or bus to the World Famous Pena Palace. Other attractions include: Monserrate Palace, Castle of the Moors, and Sintra National Palace We recommend taking a Half Day Sintra Tour with a small group, the tour guide will pick you up from the hotel. For more information and to book, click below!
Time Out Market Lisbon
Foodie Heaven! The Mercado da Ribeira has become one of the liveliest culinary spots in Lisbon since it was converted into a food court by Time Out Lisbon in 2014. It’s 24 restaurants, eight bars, a dozen shops and a high-end music venue—from the best burger and the top steak joint to the best sushi restaurant—Lisbon’s finest eateries are all represented. This unique mix of traditional and trendy is what you’ll only find at Time Out Market Lisbon.
Estrada do Cabo da Roca
Cape Roca is a cape which forms the westernmost point of the Sintra Mountain Range, of mainland Portugal, of continental Europe, and of the Eurasian land mass. It is situated in the municipality of Sintra, near Azóia, in the southwest of the district of Lisbon. This was probably one of our favorite sites on our trip to Portugal. The beauty of this cape and views it offers is truly a sight to see.
Cascais and Estoril
Surrounding the outskirts of Lisbon are stunning coastlines, which offer a variety of lovely sandy beaches, many of which are easily accessible from the capital by public transportation. One of these beach towns is called, Cascais, popular with locals. Once we stopped in Cascais, it was the moment we knew we wanted to get married in Portugal. While the sangeet will be held in this area, it is worthwhile to go visit the beach side during the day. If you enjoy gambling, there is a casino in the city that golden eye was filmed at.
Belem/ Belem Tower
Most famous for the Tower of Belém & the must try Egg Custard Tarts!! ( Make sure to put some cinnamon on it) Tower of Belem(25 min uber from Penha Longa): Fortress built in the middle of the river (1515-1521) to control access to the river. It is regarded as the starting point for the navigators who set out to discover the trade routes. Pasteis de Belém : This coffee house is to Lisbon what Café du Monde is to New Orleans. Since 1837, the small warm custard pastries have drawn crowds daily to the café which is just a short walk from the Jerónimos Monastery ( a must visit).
Lisbon: Castelo de S. Jorge, Bairro Alto, Alfama
With picturesque cobblestone streets, unique museums, and delicious restaurants, serving traditional Portuguese cuisine, there's something to do and see tucked around every corner in Lisbon. There's many different neighborhoods to explore, here are the highlights of each: Bairro Alto- home to many of the hippest bars in town! Where you go to party, we found some of the greatest spots in this area. Alfama- explore the different chapels and cathedrals, surrounded by quaint little shops and sidewalk cafes, and steep yourself in local culture and history. Baixa Chiado- some of Lisbon’s exclusive shopping, filled with both large, international brands, and small, unique boutiques.
Avenida da Liberdade
SHOPPING AT IT'S FINEST IN THE HEART OF LISBON! The boulevard is home to some of the most famous fashion brands in the world: Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Boss plus other haute couture heavyweights all have a presence here. It also is a beautiful cobblestone street surrounded by greenery that leads you to the unique squares of Lisbon and ultimately the riverfront at Commerce Square. Ankur and I would start our day at the pastry shop, a Padaria Portuguesa, in Marques de Pombal- the beginning of the avenue and would walk down this avenue where I would window shop because he wouldn't allow me into any of the stores :-(
Porto
Porto is a coastal city in northwest Portugal known for its stately bridges and port wine production. It's only a hour flight from Lisbon! Highly recommend going for a few days before/after the wedding, it is only a 2 and half hour train ride away.
Douro
Again another favorite of our trip and something we highly recommend to do if you have an extra 2 days around the wedding. We visited the douro valley as a day trip from Porto, and it was one of our most memorable days in Portugal. The Douro Valley could as easily be called the enchanted valley, such is the beauty and magic that its landscapes offer. This wine region up to Barca de Alva, is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. It is a World Heritage Site that can be visited via boat or car ( We did both)
Algarve/ Faro District
The Algarve is the beautiful southern coastline of Portugal. It is a region blessed with stunning beaches, picturesque fishing towns and a glorious climate, all of which combine to create the perfect getaway. We will be heading here shortly after the wedding for some R & R after the festivities. This city is wonderfully varied, and able to appeal to a wide cross-section of people; there are pristine beaches for families, water parks and theme parks for thrill-seekers, a great nightlife for partying, and historic towns for cultural visitors.
Azores
Known as Portugal's best kept secret, the Azores is an undiscovered gem. It has been stated to be the next Iceland as far as popularity in travel destinations, and definitely on our list of places to visit. The Azores is a remote nine-island archipelago off the coast of Portugal, and is an Eden all its own. It has been called “Europe’s Hawaii,” sitting 1,000 miles or so west of mainland Portugal and under five hours by plane from the US East Coast. Volcanic mountain peaks. Ancient fishing villages. Bubbling hot springs. Vast, untouched landscapes-This is a hikers or avid travelers dream destination!