Solo Weekend - Lisbon or Cascais ?

[rookiemere]

So due to the change in quarantine I've booked flights to Lisbon next weekend for 3 nights.

My friend was meant to come but might not be able to so have suggested that she changes her flights to later in the year and (covid willing) I will go again with her.

I've never been to Lisbon and it looks fantastic, but I've also found a lovely seaview hotel in Cascais and really fancy the idea of relaxing with a sea view and saving Lisbon to visit with my friend. But maybe I'm being silly and Lisbon is a much better place to go.

I know there's no right or wrong answers but input appreciated other than don't travel in a pandemic.

I'm going to say Lisbon.
I gave been meaning to go there fir ages by myself and haven't yet.
My friend went on his own and loved it
Funny enough I was looking at flights last night to Lisbon for September or October.
However, which ever you decide, have a fabulous time.
If you di go to Lisbon come back with some tips!

I’ve been to both and would say Lisbon. There is so much to see and do. You could always go to Cascais for the day, it’s very easy and cheap on the train.

Ah that's good as I've already booked a hotel in Lisbon although it is cancellable. I'll maybe have a look for a more luxurious one as I'm on my own and might be spending a bit more time there than if sightseeing with friend.

Lisbon- try and visit Sintra too. Lisbon is a lovely city.

As above, you can easily visit for the day. Lisbon has much more to do and see.

I’d also say Lisbon and Cascais for a day out. Train is good.

Another Lisbon vote - I’ve stayed in Cascais, it’s an attractive sea side town but you’ll find a lot more to do in Lisbon

Lisbon for sure! It's a lovely city to visit alone. Have a great time!

I've ordered my guide book and I'm trying to decide if any other hotels would be better for a solo traveler than the one I've booked now. So excited- big birthday year for me and so many things have been cancelled due to Covid.

As above - Lisbon and day trip to Cascais

Ok so I'm looking at this hotel www.palacio-ramalhete.com/en/the-palace-today/ because it looks gorgeous and is not expensive. Is it close enough to touristy bits ?

From TripAdvisor -

@SJaneS48 thank you ! Not sure about the dodgy monkey nuts though . Seriously hadn't seen that review and now sounds perfect for me.

No worries - after taking our elder then teenage DDs to a what sounded lovely hotel in Prague that turned out to rent rooms to hookers and had a strip club in the basement with live screens outside the hotel showing the action, I always do a TripAdvisor double check! Your hotel sounds nice OP, have a lovely trip!

Lisbon and day trip to both Sintra and Cascais.

I prefer the more relaxed and cultural vibe of Lisbon which is similar (from a non expert tourist but intrepid adventurer) to over commercialised and super touristy Barcelona. Barcelona has Antoni Gaudí of course!

Amongst all the sights and sounds go on the tram and enjoy the original Belém Pastel de Nata the world famous Portuguese custard tart. The various neighbourhood (including near tourist spots) traditional understated family run bars, cafes and restaurants are rustic and relaxed and offers a great gastronomic introduction to rustic "simple and honest" Portuguese cuisine and wine especially with Fado. Enjoy!

Thank you. I'll only have 2 full days there so I'll probably not do a day trip, but if I'm going back later in the year can take the sightseeing very slowly, interspersed with lots of local gastronomy!

Have a wonderful trip as very exciting. But to keep it safe and exiting just a word of warning (and no offence to really welcoming and friendly locals) but there are your usual tourist spotting super slick and efficient petty pick pockets. Sorry to bring this up but has happened to many I know and they were couples with children so possibly distracted with child etc but yes make sure you (as solo) closely guard your belongings. This of course is common sense and applies to all big amazing beautiful tourist cities such as London, Edinburgh and Paris nearer to home as there are all sorts and the last thing you want is to have unnecessarily and easily avoidable issues. Have a great trip!

@ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia useful advice which I will heed. Thankfully one of the advantages of being a middle aged lady is my near invisibility, but also you spot some tourists doing silly things like going round with their phones and wallets in their back packs.

Amazingly so far we've visited Barcelona, Madrid, Rome and even Naples train station without incident- although I dis make DS cry there with my overblown insistence on keeping all valuables close to hand at all time. Fingers crossed Lisbon will be the same .

When we went, we done a bus sightseeing tour which was a big mistake. I usually think it’s a great way of seeing the city and hearing general history, but that one was absolutely terrible. It took forever and took us out of Lisbon to what can only be described as an industrial estate This was the official tour as well.

@AllTheCakes thanks that's really useful to know as I was thinking of getting the tourist bus.

I used to love a good tourist bus as well but got rather put off when we had a 10 hour stopover in Sydney and tour bus - which was not cheap - ended up with us stuck in traffic for almost an hour. In the end we sacked it off and hailed an Uber to Bondi beach.

I might get the Lisbon pass as that covers public transport as well as some attractions.