Why the Lisbon Coast Is Europe's Next Hot Spot
Portugal swept the World Travel Awards in 2019, snagging the title of Europe's Leading Travel Destination for the third year in a row and capturing 39 wins in all. Lisbon, Portugal's capital, was named the top city break destination -- the place to go for a short European holiday or long weekend break. With more nonstop flights from the US, it is now easier than ever to get there. In June, TAP Air Portugal added nonstop flights from San Francisco (SFO), Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Dulles (IAD) in Washington, DC.
A short train ride from Lisbon is the Cascais-Sintra-Estoril resort region, a historic retreat for royalty edged with golden beaches and known as Portugal's Riviera.
Portugal's Riviera has long been a favorite retreat for European royalty, from the king of Portugal to exiled royals from Spain, Italy and elsewhere. As a result, there are palaces and grand mansions, golden-sand beaches and architecturally stunning buildings -- reminders that tiny Portugal once ruled colonies in India, China, Africa and Brazil.
What to See
Sintra, an enchanting small town full of palaces and mansions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the favorite summer home of Portugal's kings for centuries, because of its cooler location near the coast. The legacy of Sintra's wealthy visitors includes the Pena Palace, a fairy-tale red and yellow 19th-century palace crowning a hilltop; Quinta da Regaleira, the wedding-cake villa owned by a Brazilian coffee tycoon; Monserrate Palace, the ornate Moorish-Gothic-Oriental mansion of a British merchant with plantings from around the world, and the ruins of a 10th-century Moorish castle.
The Sintra National Palace features 15th- and 16th-century azulejos (hand-painted tiles, a craft of Moorish origin) on walls and ceilings, two ornately-carved ivory and bone pagodas with nine pavilions, an 18th-century gift from Macau, China (an ex-colony). One ceiling in the palace is adorned with swans wearing gold necklaces and there is a chapel with a Moorish-inspired latticework ceiling, dating back to the 15th century.
Cascais is a former fishing village, where the aristocracy built their grand summer villas. Whitewashed houses with orange roofs dot the landscape. The Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum displays 17th-century furnishings and cabinets made of ivory and teak from Goa, India. The Casa de Santa Maria Museum (where Italy's last king plus the Duke and Duchess of Windsor once stayed) has walls covered in 17th-century azulejos.
Also in Cascais is one of Europe's biggest casinos, the Casino Estoril, said to have been frequented by spies and royal refugees during World War II, which also inspired "Casino Royale," one of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels.
The towns are linked by a coastal highway along the Atlantic with a promenade and bike path known as Marginal Road from Estoril to Lisbon. The coastline features miles of beautiful cliffs and beaches: Guincho, Tamariz, Grande, São Pedro, Carcavelos and Adraga -- some of them sites of surfing championships. Nearby is the westernmost point in mainland Europe, Cabo da Roca, and Boca do Inferno (Hell's Mouth), which are known for powerful waves that crash against caves and cliff formations.
Where to Stay
The Farol Hotel in Cascais sits right by the ocean. Its glamorous design includes black walls with white trim, floor-to-ceiling glass windows in a modern wing grafted onto a mansion once owned by a count. Other design flourishes include floral chandeliers by Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, guest rooms styled by Portuguese fashion designers and the faces of Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot and other stars on armchairs. Its restaurants and bars (a jazz band plays on Thursdays) are all next to the Atlantic, but Bar on the Rocks, a curtained pavilion, is inches away from the water.
Palacio Estoril is a grand hotel where Allied spies stayed and socialized in Estoril during World War II. It has a bar where Fleming, then a British Naval Intelligence officer, drank with a Yugoslav double agent and playboy. The setting inspired the James Bond series. Across from Casino Estoril, the 156-room hotel was featured in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." Its current deputy hotel concierge handed Bond his room key in the 1969 film.
The property is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. It's currently one of the SLH properties where you can earn and redeem World Of Hyatt Points. World of Hyatt members also get free breakfast and Wi-Fi. Palacio Estoril is a category 6 property, which means you can redeem 25,000 World of Hyatt points for a free night.
Tivoli Palácio de Seteais in Sintra, a Neoclassical palace built in 1787 for the Dutch consul, is nestled in the countryside with views of Pena Palace and the ruins of a Moorish castle. Old World grandeur prevails. Frescoes, tapestries and 18th-century antiques adorn the interior, along with a victory arch honoring a royal visit long ago. Thirty guest rooms decorated with silk drapes and marquetry-inlay headboards have all modern amenities. Madonna lived there before buying her house in Lisbon. The hotel is a member of Leading Hotels of the World, so members of the Leaders Club can earn and redeem loyalty points here.
A golf resort on a 270-acre estate within Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, Quinta da Marinha has 188 rooms and 10 suites (all with a balcony overlooking mountains or its 18-hole golf course), a health club and spa. It also offers free shuttles to Cascais or Cresmina Beach.
In the same park, a Ritz-Carlton golf resort, Penha Longa, has eight restaurants, from Arola for tapas and Michelin-starred LAB (both from chef Sergi Arola) to Michelin-starred Midori for Japanese food. Penha Longa is a category 5 property in the Marriott Bonvoy program, which means you can score a free night here starting at 35,000 points per night.
Where to Eat
O Pescador, a fisherman's tavern in Cascais filled with ship lanterns, is the spot for paella heaped with lobster, shrimp and mussels, or shrimp in a garlic-ginger piri-piri sauce. Everyone from Mick Jagger to Spanish royals has dined here since it opened in 1964.
Panorama, a contemporary-style seafood spot on Guincho Beach in Cascais, was named Portugal's best seafood restaurant of 2019 in the Travel and Hospitality Awards in the UK. Ultra-juicy fish salt-baked in a bread crust and local lobster are specialties.
Reserva da Villa is a lovely stone mansion built in the French Empire style in Cascais center and much of the hotel interior is decorated in shades of blue. Portuguese wines are dispensed from Enomatic wine machines, and the hotel restaurants serve Portuguese and international cuisine.
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.