Anonymous wrote:Skip Sintra. Tourist trap and crowded.

Totally agree

Loved our Porto hotel!
Castelo Santa Catarina: https://www.castelosantacatarina.com/

Also in Porto—fado concert was fun. Enjoy!

Any hotel recommendations in central Porto?

NP who just made reservations for a similar trip in the fall, but with one more day. We’re going to Coimbra for one night between Lisbon and Porto. Also plan on a day trip to Sinatra. It looks amazing and hope I’m not disappointed.

Please keep any more tips coming.

Do NOT skip Sintra! It was a highlight for us.

I loved Coimbra, between Lisbon and Porto, too. 7 days might be tight. Also the sardine cannery tour in Porto is fun. I loved museums in Belem near Lisbon and the tile museum in Lisbon. I could skip Sintra, too. Both cities have walking tours.

We loved Sintra. We took the train, went to the Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle (the castle is all outside it is just crumbling ruins on the top of the hill), had a snack in town and took the train back in time for dinner at Lisbon. Any more than that would have been too much for us!

https://travelnotesandbeyond.com/castles-palaces-sintra-portugal/

Consider staying a night at one of the beautiful wineries in the Douro and taking a tour from there to visit some others. I wish we had done this when we were on the day tour.

The WOW complex in Vila Nova de Gaia is spectacular.

Explore both sides of the river, ride the gondola, take the incline, walk the top and bottom of the bridge.

I didn't love the food so no big recommendations there. If you eat along the river in Porto at the touristy restaurants get there early to avoid crowds.

Anonymous wrote:Skip Sintra. Tourist trap and crowded.

Agree

Porto > Lisbon

Tourist trap??? Ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:Skip Sintra. Tourist trap and crowded.

Idiotic post of the day.

Skip Sintra. Tourist trap and crowded.

Plan to spend at least one day (preferably two) visiting port houses in Porto - go for the smaller ones, not the big ones you can get in the US - my favorite is Kopke. If you have a day, go to Sintra and visit the castles.

I have just a week to explore these cities! Want to do a Douro Valley wine tour. What else is a must do with only 6 days on the ground?