Category: Europe

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world both by area and population, covering an area of 49 hectares (121 acres). This place (religious superpower) have guided millions of people across the globe.

Home of the Roman Catholic Church and its spiritual leader – the Pope, Vatican City was granted a country status to enable the pope to exercise his universal authority.

The euro is the official currency of the Vatican City, although Vatican City is not a member of the Eurozone or the European Union. The euro has been the official currency of Vatican City since 2002.

This country have a population of around 764 (as of 2023) residents, and has its own flag. For many travellers, visiting this religious hub is a bucket list item. Visiting the Vatican is an unforgettable experience not only for lovers of art but also of history, culture, and architecture. 

There are multiple ways to reach here:

• Metro –> Line A (There are two metro stops located near the Vatican Museums entrance: Ottaviano and Cipro)
• Bus –>  Numbers 492, 990 (Via Degli scipioni); 32, 81, 982 (Risorgimento stop)
• 49 (Viale Vaticano / Musei Vaticani stop)
• Tram –> Number 19 (Risorgimento / San Pietro stop)
• Taxi –> Taxi Station Viale Vaticano (in front of the Museum)
• Car –> Payment Parks in Viale Vaticano

Vatican city Trip planning:

Entry to the Vatican City and St. Peter’s Square is free, but to enter the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel you need to take tickets, except on certain occasions.

Vatican Museum:

Keep in mind, that the best time to visit the Vatican Museums is in the morning, as queues begin to form as early as 07:30 am despite the museums opening at 09:00 am. Do not leave this for later in the day as museums close at 6:30 pm hrs and visitors are obligated to leave the premises thirty minutes before closing time.

Book your tours and tickets for Vatican Museum, well in advance as the lines get very very long and it can take hours to get in. Without a skip-the-entrance-line ticket expect the line to be up to 1 to 2 km long (even starting well before 8:30 am)

We did the following to book our tickets:
1) Link : https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html#lnav_shop
2) Once you click the link, you will have to book the tour (We had selected ‘Museums and Vatican collections’).
3) Select the date of your choice and click confirm (you will have to give number of Visitors).
4) The next screen will show all the available ticket types. We had selected
‘Guided Tours for Individuals – Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel’.
5) Select the ticket type of your choice and click ‘Book’.
6) The next screen will show you the price distribution (like Full Ticket, Reduced Ticket (6-18 years including 18 years and students). You also have a option to select ‘Visit Language’ (This is for the earphones, as we had selected Guided Tours).
7) In the same screen, you will get to see the different timings and the corresponding availability. Select your convinient time.
8) If you are happy with all the provided details, click to proceed.
NOTE: In the tour that we seleted, the Guide fees is also included when you see the final ticket price.
9) In the next screen, you can provide your personal details (like name and so on) and proceed to Buy for Payments.
10) You will get the confirmation ticket / voucher in your email. You will have to show that ticket (better to keep a hard copy handy in case if somebody says softcopy is not allowed), when you reach the entrance. NOTE: Good to scroll through the Q&A : https://tickets.museivaticani.va/support

Steps to follow on the day of your visit:

There is a line reserved for the visitors with the booking. Visitors are asked to present themselves 15 minutes before the tour start time. The voucher is Non Transfereble and is valid only for the date / time that is reserved. Online booking allows you to skip the museum entrance line. Simply proceed to the entrance gate to scan your ticket. (NOTE: We somehow reached the entrance gate 15 minutes late, but still they allowed us to join the group tour that we booked online, but try to reach early). There are multiple security checks before entering the Museum.

This Museum is the home to some of the most priceless art collections (around 70,000+) accumulated by the Pope over the centuries.

The Vatican Museums are made up of 26 museums (about 5 miles of wall space) in all and display some dazzling exhibits.

The one thing that can’t be avoided is the crowds. You will be moving as one large mass, from museum to museum spread over two floors to get to the Sistine Chapel.

NOTE: Please note that Museum is not open on all Sundays. Please check the below link for the timings: https://www.thevaticantickets.com/timings/

Sistine Chapel:

This is one of the most famous and beautiful chapels in the world. The most famous part of the Sistine Chapel is, of course, the ceiling, which was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. One of the most interesting things about the Sistine Chapel is that it’s still in use today. The chapel is used for important religious ceremonies and events, including the election of new popes.

Don’t forget that it’s forbidden to film and/or photograph inside the Sistine Chapel (with or without flash)!  I managed a sneaky one (no flash) on my iPhone (OK, am not such a bad guy who breaks rules and regluations all the time, but somehow I couldn’t resist taking a picture)

The Sistine Chapel is located right on the other end of the Vatican Museums and you will have to walk through all the museums and exhibitions before you get to see the masterpiece.

Spiral Staircase:

Every photographer will want to capture the famous and most beautiful spiral staircase. You can find this famous staircase at the very end of the visit as you exit the Vatican Museums. It’s one of the most photographed staircases in the world.

St. Peters Square:

The square is also known as Piazza San Pietro and is located right in front of the basilica.

The square has hundreds of statues. One of the first things you’ll notice about St. Peter’s Square is its size. It’s one of the largest public squares in the world, spanning over 5 hectares (12.5 acres) and capable of holding over 300,000 people.

There are 2 fountains in the square. Located in front of St Peter’s Basilica and the charming Bernini colonnade, the Vatican Obelisk is one of the 13 antique obelisks of Rome.

It is free to visit but the lines might be veeeeery verrrrrrry long, so a skip-the-line ticket is worth getting (there are few different options like guided tours, small group tours and so on).

When the Pope is at home in Vatican City, he gives an audience each Wednesday morning in St. Peter’s Square that is open to anyone who would like to join.

More details here: https://www.vatican.va/various/prefettura/index_en.html

St. Peter’s Basilica:

St Peter’s Basilica is one of the largest amd most famous churches in the world.  It is not a part of the Vatican Museums.  Entry is free but you will have to get through the security, which can take hours. You’ll pass through a metal detector and will have your bags checked when you reach the front.

NOTE: There are some skip the line tickets available in ‘Get Your Guide’, ‘Viator’ and  other websites.

One of the most striking features of St. Paul’s Basilica is the massive 80-metre-long nave, which is one of the largest in the world. The nave is lined with marble columns and features beautiful mosaics and frescoes on the ceiling.

St. Peter’s Basilica was completed after 120+ years of construction.

St. Peters Dome is the tallest in the world and the entrance to the dome is on the right side of the basilica, above the visitor center. Climb the steps for a view of Vatican City (as it was very crowded, we did not do that and hence I don’t have a photo of how it will look like). Please note that you need to take a ticket to get to the top of Basilica. However, it is highly recommended to visit the Dome.

Dressed in their iconic yellow, red and blue uniforms (outside the Basilica), the Vatican’s Swiss Guard might remind you of jesters from Renaissance times.

Other places to see:

• Vatican Gardens
• Castel Sant’Angelo
• Pont Sant’Angelo
• Send a postcard from Vatican City:
• If you want a memento of your travels, sending a postcard from the Vatican post office is not only fun but a cost-effective activity to enjoy. This unique opportunity of mailing a postcard from an independent country to yourself or even friends and families is a novel way to send greetings. The Vatican Post office lies at the exit gate of St Peter’s Basilica to the right.

Important point to note:

• The Vatican has an open-border policy with Italy, so if you have a visa or the right to enter Italy, you can enter the Vatican City too. We had used our Schengen visa to get into Vatican city. Even though it is a country, there’s no need to carry your passport when visiting the Vatican.
• When in Rome make sure to add Vatican City to your itinerary.
• Always budget an extra 20 to 30 minutes if you have a scheduled event like a Guided Tour. This way you don’t have to rush and it’ll give you time.
• The Vatican Museum is immense and full of so many incredible things that booking a tour guide or using an audio guide is strongly recommended. With just a day in Vatican City, you must budget the available time in such a manner to see the best attractions. A typical guided Vatican tour lasts only two to three hours which barely scratches the surface. 
• The Vatican has a strict dress code that requires shoulders and knees to be covered. Avoid shorts, skirts above the knee, and sleeveless tops.
• Like all great Italian museums, you can get coffee and food inside the Vatican Museums.
• Wear comfortable shoes. If you have any issues with walking for a sustained period of time, rent a wheelchair (for free). The Vatican Museums have very few benches where you can rest.
• Pack light, you will not be allowed to take bigger bags with you and have to go through security. The less you carry with you, the better. Food and metal tools (scissors and knives) are not allowed.
• With breaks, some stamina, and the right strategy, a one day visit to Vatican City can certainly be done and enjoyed. Don’t forget to schedule enough free time between sightseeing so you can get a bit of rest and have some food.
• If you know in advance that you are going to travel to both Rome & Vatican City, you should consider getting the Omnia Rome & Vatican Card. It will pay for itself in no time!                      More Details here  –> https://www.omniavaticanrome.org/en

Interesting facts about Vatican city:

• Smallest country in the world.
• One of the countries that is surrounded by a city (in this case, its Rome).
• You can just walk into Vatican City from Rome and you won’t even notice a major difference between when you’re in Rome or Vatican City.
• Latin and Italian are widely spoken.
• Vatican city has its own flag.
• One of the most visited tourist attractions in the world.
• Mondays, Wednesdays and weekends tends to be the busiest.
• Vatican Museums are the second oldest museum in the world.
• Vatican City doesn’t offer passport stamps.
• The Sistine Chapel is one of the final stops when touring the Vatican Museums and can’t be seen without visiting the museums.
• Vatican City ATM’s give you a choice of instructions in Latin.
• The Vatican city is NOT part of the European Union.
• Make sure to pack some snacks and water, especially when visiting with kids. You can easil spend the whole day here and it’s best to be prepared.

As a part of my business trip, I got a chance to visit Copenhagen, Denmark in October 2023 . I tried to sneak in some time to visit a couple of major attractions in Copenhagen.

Copenghagen constantly ranks one among the happiest cities in the world. There are many attractions to explore here in Copenhagen, ideal place for a 2-3 days itinerary.

Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup:

Its is an international airport serving Copenhagen, Denmark. The airport is the largest airport in the Nordic countries. I flew from Dublin to Copenhagen. The outside view from plane was really superb.  If you’re lucky you’ll get a fabulous view of Øresund Bridge (Architectural Masterpiece, bridge between Copenhagen and Sweden) as you fly into Copenhagen.

It’s a nice and modern airport, which is located just eight kilometres from the city centre.

The airport is well connected with lots of international destinations.

One strange thing that I observed in the terminal was the lack of multiple food outlets. I just saw a ‘Burger King’ outlet and its indeed a big one.

Its quite easy to find the Train, Metro, Taxi and Bus Terminals. There are lots of display boards available everywhere.

If you are looking for Train tickets, you will find the DSB ticket machine / Kiosks (quite near to the Burger King outlet). Please note that such tickets are available in 7/11 shops aswell.

DSB, an abbreviation of Danske Statsbaner (Danish State Railways), is the largest Danish train operating company, and the largest in Scandinavia.

NOTE: You can also use sites like OMIO, for booking trains.

You can also use mobile app Viggo, if you are looking for taxis.

The kiosk is quite easy to navigate. English display is also available. Normally, you will also find a DSB employee near the Kiosk to support you (in case if you are confused how to operate the Kiosk).

There are lots of trains (ex: To Lund, Malmo, Stockholm and so on) from the airport. You will see tracks / platforms clearly indicated.

If you are looking for metro, you will see that also, clearly indicated.

The Metro is well connected to different parts of Copenhagen.

By chance if you want to drop off your luggage in the Airport, there is a self service facility available just outside the terminal building (very easy to use).

If you plan to cover a lot of places within Copenhagen, I strongly suggest to take a City pass (I had personally taken a 24 hours city pass large) .

NOTE:

1) City pass is available in different variants like 24, 48, 72,120 hours. The city pass comes with 2 options Small and Large.
The City Pass Small gives you unlimited access to buses, trains, metro and harbour buses in zones 1 – 4, which includes the center of Copenhagen and to and from the airport.
Meanwhile, the City Pass Large let you travel unlimited in zones 1 – 99, which includes Roskilde, Elsinore and other destinations in Northern Zealand.
A more convenient way to buy the City Pass is by getting the “DOT Tickets” app.
Get more information here : https://www.publictransport.dk/tickets/city-pass

2) There is also a Copenhagen Card worth exploring. See the link : https://www.copenhagencard.com/
COPENHAGEN CARD – DISCOVER is a ‘all-inclusive’ card that covers admission to 80+ attractions, includes public transportation including to and from the Airport.
COPENHAGEN CARD – HOP covers admission to 40+ attractions in the city center and Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing buses in Copenhagen.

Central Station:

The first destination I wanted to cover was the ‘Central Station’. It  is quite a big one with lots of platforms.

Both the metro and normal trains run from Copenhagen Airport to the central station. There are direct trains from airport to the copennhagen Central Station (around 15+ minutes). If you are taking Metro, you will have to get down at Kongens Nytorv and connect another Blue/red lines metro to reach the central station. So its obvious that taking a train would be easy/faster, if your destination is central station.

I had taken a train to reach the central station. Cycles play a major role in the life of locals here. You will see dedicated space for cycles in trains and stations. You will also find a lot of bike lanes all over the city. So be careful, while walking and crossing in the roads. You are not expected to walk in the cycle lanes. Copenhagen was ranked as one of the top Bike-Friendly Cities on the Planet. Bycyklen is a good mobile app for the bikes.

In case of you wish to keep your luggage in the Central station, you have self servcie options available.

STROGET Shopping (Walking street)

Once you come out of the central station, walk straight till the main road and turn to right side. If you follow that road (you will pass in front of Tivoli gate), you will get into the walking street which will take you till the famous canals.

If you are going in the corerct direction, you will see Scandic palace hotel on your right.

It’s a very nice walking street (approx 1.1 Kms I guess, It is one of the world’s longest pedestrian street) with lots of shops in both sides. There are lot of souvenir shops (try to get a souvenir from this street) and eateries in both sides. The entire street is also packed with a number of interesting shops, restaurants, and street performers. One of the highlights is Lego’s flagship store which is an excellent place to browse for both the young and young at heart. It is nice to see how many cool Lego structures are available these days in the place where they were invented.

I had tried some Belgian Chips from a shop and it was really tasty.

You will also find lot of important buildings in that road.

After covering some distance, you will start seeing the glimps of Canal.

This Canal and the buildings nearby are famous photography spots, which you would have seen in many wallpapers. There are lots of bars and restaurants here, so it’s a great place to hang out.

Nyvahn Waterfront and Boat ride:

Copenhagen is a waterfront city, and there’s no argument that the most photogenic waterfront spot in the city is Nyhavn. It is the classic picture postcard view that helps everyone recognise Copenhagen. If you are in Copenhagen and would like to cover 1 or 2 main things here, this canal boat ride should be in the Top part of your priority list. I could see 2 companies operating the canal tour (not sure if there are any other companies).

You will find ticket counters in the end part.

The boat jouney is around 45min-1 hour. The boats can acccomodate lot of people and there is also adjustable roof (in case if want to save youself from getting wet during rains). Since the roofs are adjustable and transparent, don’t worry even if you failed to get a window seat.

Onboard, there will be a guide giving you the history and small bits of information about everything you pass by.  It’s a great way to get a feel for the city and to get a general overview. Its quite a relaxing journey and you will love every moment of that.

NOTE: You will get to see lot of important attractions / buildings like Frederik’s Church, Little Mermaid Statue, Church of Our Saviour in Christianshavn, the imposing Kastellet fortress, royal palace, Opera house and so on during this boat trip.

Streets of Copenhagen:

After getting down the boat, I spend some time exploring the beautiful city of Copenhagen. It is considered to be an expensive city to visit but you can cover a lot of places on foot (the main sights of the city centre are all quite close to each other) . Also as discussed earlier, its good to grab a 24/48 hours ticket, so that you can hop-on and hop-off in public transport. Ofcourse you can also hire a bicycle aswell.

NOTE: Renting a car isn’t practical in Copenhagen, because parking is limited and might be expensive aswell.

Copenhagen’s public transportation system is efficient and clean and can take you just about anywhere you need to go in the city. Switching from one form of transport to another is very seamless.

Tivoli Gardens:

Later in the evening, I decided to explore Tivoli. It is an amusement park (Did you know that Walt Disney came to Tivoli to get inspiration for Disneyland?) and pleasure garden, operating since 1843. There are 30+ rides and open-air concerts in the summer.

If you’re visiting Copenhagen with kids, it’s a brilliant place to visit. They’ll love all the various rides and attractions. Everyone will enjoy it too, especially on a warm summer’s day. It’s the ideal place to relax or enjoy the rides.

If you visit in the evening, you’ll be treated to a dazzling light display. Thousands of lights adorn the various rides at night creating a sight that is fairytale-like!

Located in the centre of the city (one gate is opposite to Central Station), Tivoli Gardens is one of the top attractions in the city and it is the third-oldest amusement park in the world.

Tivoli Gardens is the fifth most visited amusement park in all of Europe. The 20-acre property is known for its rollercoasters. The most famous of which is the wooden Rollercoast Rutschebanen, which was built in 1914.

People say it takes 4-6 hours to cover full place. As I dint had much intention to explore all the rides, I was able to cover in 2+ hours.

But it’s a interesting place to visit. When I visisted, there were lot of Halloween decorations (additional lights and pumpkins) aswell.

NOTE: https://www.tivoli.dk/en –> Check website for opening date/time.

It opens in 3 seasons (Ex: 2024 timings below) :

1. 22 March – 22 September (Summer)
2. 10 October – 3 November (Halloween)
3. 15 November – 5 January (Christmas)

Worth Noting:

1. What I dicussed so far is just a 1 day itinenary for Copenhagen. It’s a place worth 3 days, for sure.
2. Copenhagen can be very cold in winter, so prepare yourself by packing a warm coat, hat, scarf and gloves.
3. Check opening times before visiting any attractions. In the winter it’s common for some venues to close a little earlier, so make sure to double check their websites so you don’t miss out.
4. If you want the highest chances of sunny weather, blue skies, and white clouds, aim for visiting in May-September.
5. Don’t foregt to try Danish hotdogs, Waffles and so on.
6. You can also find lot of LEGO stores which usually has a Denmark-specific set or two, since Denmark is where LEGO was created and is still headquartered.

Copenhagen has plenty to offer, you will not run out of idea.

Some other places/options worth exploring (in and around Copenhagen):

Amalienborg Palace (changing guards ceremony aswell)
Copenhagen Zoo
Botanical Gardens
Round Tower (climb the tower)
Aquarium (Den Bla Planet)
Frederiks Kirken – Marble Church
The Forest Tower – Camp Adventure
Kronborg Castle
Canal Tour
Christian’s Harbor (Painted Buildings)
Christiansborg Palace
Frederiksberg Palace
Statens Museum for Kunsk
Gefion Fountain
Walk up the Copenhill
Torvehallerne Market (food market)
Kastellet Fortress
Kronberg Slot (Hamlet’s castle)
Freetown Christiania
National Museum of Denmark
Louisiana Museum of Art
Church of Our Saviour
Reffen Market (street food)
Rosenborg Castle
Amager Strandpark
Roskilde
City Hall Square
Gråbrødretorv Square
Kultorvet Square
Illums Bolighus –Stylish Department Store
Free Walking Tours
Copenhagen Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Malmo (Sweden) : Since you can actually see Sweden from Copenhagen, the temptation to visit a new country is hard to ignore. This is easy to do with a day trip over the Øresund Bridge to Malmö. This Swedish city is full of history and character, and you can see quite a bit of it in just a day. (2 countries in a single trip, who won’t love it). Please note that there are high chances (but not always) that id/passport might get verified.

Best time to visit:

Summer in Copenhagen (June to August) is the best season for good weather and endlessly long evenings, but prepare for the city to be busy with visitors. Spring is also fine.

We did this day tour during a trip to Italy in April 2022.

This was a day trip from Milan, Italy. This is one of the most popular day trips to Swiss alps from Milan. The fascinating journey takes you along the UNESCO World Heritage route of the RhB (Rhaetian Railway).”

We had booked this trip in advance (few weeks before), through Viator.

For 2 adults and 1child (10 years old), we paid 302.5 Euros. The Tour commentary was in English and Spanish.

This was one of the beautiful day trips that we had ever done.

Milan to St. Moritz in Air-conditioned coach:

The trip was conducted by Zani Group. The trip started from Milan Visitor Centre – Zani Viaggi (Largo Cairoli, 18, 20121) around 7.15 AM (we had not opted for Hotel pickup/drop option).

The Zani Group is a collection of multiple companies operating in the tourism and transport sector. It has 2 tourist centres in Milan. You can check out in their website to book directly aswell.

https://www.zaniviaggi.com/tour/swiss-alps-bernina-red-train-and-st-moritz-full-day-trip/

We were staying in Novotel Milano Linate Aeroporto which was a bit far from the pickup point. As the start time was 7.15 AM, we took a taxi from the hotel to Milan Visitor Centre and paid around 30 Euros.

As it was a fully packed day trip (almost 13 hours trip), the tour company started the trip on time. One family lost the bus as they reached the pickup point 5 minutes late. They had to ideally hire a taxi and chase the bus and managed to onboard the bus later after a few kilometres. So, ensure to reach on time.

Route plan: Milan Visitor Centre (Milan, Italy) to St. Moritz (Switzerland) in air-conditioned bus. Journey time is approximately 3 hours (around 170 kms)

St. Moritz to Tirano (Italy) in Bernina Express (the most thrilling part of the journey)

Tirano station to Milano in Bus (same bus in which we went to St. Moritz).

We had a tour guide who accompanied us throughout the trip. An audio unit was also provided during the start of the journey and the same had to be given back upon return.

Enroute, the bus to St. Moritz from Milan, the bus stopped at a cafeteria named ‘Moreschi’ (https://www.moreschichiavenna.it/) for some time in order for the tourists to have some refreshments. Clean restrooms were also available within the building complex.

The route towards St. Moritz is very scenic with lot of photography options. They don’t have any other stops before St. Moritz. There was no cross broder checking (immigration check) during the trip.

Enroute you can also see the St. Moritz lake.

Just as the mountains above St. Moritz draw skiers in the winter, the lake below is the focus of attention for many summer visitors.

After reaching St. Moritz, the guide gave clear instructions around:

1. Places to see
2. Restaurant options for having lunch
3. Return trip details like where and when to come back and so on.

Then, we were left alone to explore the beautiful city of St. Moritz at our own pace.

St. Moritz, Switzerland:

St. Moritz is a luxury resort town with a small lake in the middle of the Alps, with cableways to viewpoints and glaciers. It has hosted the Winter Olympics twice.

The magnificent view from St. Moritz embraces the mountains from Piz Languard in the east to Piz Julier in the west.

There are plenty of places to see and visit around St. Moritz.

In a day trip like this, you will get around 3-3.5 hours and that is more than enough time to stroll through the streets, have a lunch from some restaurant, take some beautiful photographs and grab some Swiss souvenirs and chocolates.

After seeing a few places within the city, we went to the following places:

a) Laderach to buy some chocolates:

b) Wega to buy some souvenirs

c) Galleria Caspar Badrutt to do some shopping

d) Coop to buy some snacks

Return Journey –> St. Moritz to Tirano in Bernina Express (Train Start time :13:48)

We were asked to be back at Railway station at 1:30 PM. The station is sightly at a lower elavation compared to city. There is a series of escalator that will help you to reach station easily.

The train took approximately 2 hrs 15 minutes to reach Tirano station.

(NOTE: The second-class train ticket was already booked by the tour agency, So we just had to follow the guide to the right coach (remember to reach back the station on time that is specified by the guide, else you will loose the train). There were no specific seat numbers. We could sit in any of the available seats in that coach)

Operated by Rhaetian Railway (launched in 1920), the Bernina Express, passes through the Bernina Alps of Switzerland and down into northern Italy. This is a narrow gauge train.

On the highest railway tracks in Europe and the steepest in the world, the Bernina Express takes its passengers on a unique journey through a large number of tunnels and bridges.  

(The actual train route is Chur (Swiss city) –> St. Moritz (Swiss city) –> Torino (Italian city). The overall journey is 4 hours (144 Kms) one way, which has 55 tunnels and 196 bridges)

The Bernina Express train winds up the mountain from an altitude of 2253 to 429. The views were very scenic. You will certainly love this train journey.

Between St. Moritz  and Tirano the train runs round the famous Brusio Spiral Viaduct (single track viaduct), where most of the classic Bernina Express publicity photos are taken. It consists of a 360-degree spiral that enables the train to change the elavation. However, the viaduct is not a feat of engineering only, but an object of beauty. Nine elegant arches with a span of 10 meters made using local stones blend in seamlessly with the surroundings.

Bernina train is a voyage through nature;  from the palm trees and apple orchards of Tirano, passing chestnut trees and forests of fir and larch on the way.

Tirano Railway station to Milan in Air-conditioned coach:

The same bus in which we went to St. Moritz was waiting for us at the Tirano station to take us back to Milan.

The journey time was approximately 2 hrs 15 min (167 Kms).

Enroute, they stop at a restaurant ‘Bracere Tirano’ (https://www.labrace.it/en/)  for refreshments. Clean restrooms were also available within the building complex.

We reached back Milan city centre late evening (around 7PM).  Had our dinner from a restaurant in city centre and went back to our hotel Novotel Milano Linate Aeroporto in a cab (paid 30 Euros)

The trip mentioned above was operated by the tour company Zani Viaggi.

The service provided by Viator / Zani Group was excellent and well orgaized.

In some other companies itinerary, you might find them going from Tirano to St. Moritz in Bernina express and return back by air conditioned coach.

In case if you want to avoid all these tour companies and plan the trip by your own, that is also a possibility and might work out cheaper aswell.

How to book this entire trip by yourself.

(NOTE: You MUST confirm and obtain any visa requirements prior to border crossing. All visa requirements are the sole responsibility of the traveller)

It’s better to book the train tickets well in advance.

Always look out for the related railway websites to get a clarity on the timings and rates.

Onward Journey:

You can book Milan to Tirano train here –> https://www.trenord.it/

Book the 06:20 -09:05 Train

Have your breakfast at/near Tirano station

Leave the Tirano train station and walk across the square to the Bernina station.

And book the Tirano to St. Moritz here –> https://shop.rhb.ch/en/bernina-express

Book the 10:06-12:35 Train (33 Euros)

NOTES:

1) The Bernina express train coaches are designed in a way that you get great views, as they have large panoramic windows. So please feel free to book any seat.

2) You can plan for a second class ticket one direction and a first class ticket in the opposite direction.  (First class tickets are costlier).

In second class, there are 4 seats (2+2) in a row and in the first class, there are only 3 seats (1+2). The seats are more comfortable (leather) and bigger in first class and there are chances that the first class will be less crowded.

The first-class coach is at the last. So, you get to enjoy seeing the train itself traveling through the mountain.

3) There are rest rooms available within the coaches

4) Seat Reservation is mandatory in Bernina express.

5) Children under 6 can travel free. Children aged 6 to 16 pay half the fare.

6) There are special seats available on the Bernina Express for passengers with impaired mobility who cannot leave their wheelchair

7) Dogs are allowed on the Bernina Express and do not require a reservation. Depending on the size of the dog, a dog ticket is required. Please check their website for details.

8) On the Bernina Express, you can use the InfoT(r)ainment free of charge on your own smartphone.

9) There is also a Bernina express bus available from Tirano to Lugano. It’s a 3 hours / 90kms journey and does not operate in Winter. Please check the company website to know more details.

You can spend 3 – 3.5 hours in St. Moritz.

Have your lunch at St. Moritz. Multiple restaurants and café shops are available.

Return Journey:

You can book Tirano to St. Moritz here –> https://shop.rhb.ch/en/bernina-express

Book the 16:14 – 18:39 Train (33 Euros)

Have your dinner at/near Tirano station

And book the Tirano to Milan train here –> https://www.trenord.it/

Book the 19:56 – 22:40 Train (remember that there is another train at 18:56 aswell)

Total train ticket cost for one side per person is around  : 12 + 33 = 45 Euros

Both sides might come around 90 Euros (45+45)

Whereas tour operators might charge you around 139 Euros.

So, you can easily save around 49 Euros per person for the entire trip.

Other things that you might miss when you plan the above train trips are:

1. Commentary by the guide (& audio device)
2. One side journey in Bus (the route is also scenic)
3. Refreshment options (as Bus stops at proper restaurants in both journeys)

Summary:

Bernina Express is without doubt one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. You can certainly include this 1-day trip into your itinerary, if your budget and time permits. Ofcourse this will be a time bound tight full day journey, but it is worth the money and time.

If you have more days in hand,  please try out the entire Chur to Tirano via St. Moritz and think about staying one night at St. Moritz.

There is also another popular route operated by Glacier express, which is a direct train connecting railway stations of the two major mountain resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz via Andermatt in the central Swiss Alps.

Clare is a county in western Ireland with terrain ranging from rolling countryside to craggy Atlantic coastline. Clare is the seventh largest of Ireland’s 32 traditional counties in area and the 19th largest in terms of population.

In this blog, I would like to cover a one-day trip that we did in June 2023, to County Clare.

We started our journey from Saggart, Dublin Ireland around 7:30 AM and returned by around 9:00 PM.

We took the following route. Its approximately 6.5 hour’s drive and 550 Kms.

[Apart from the driving time, you would also need time for sightseeing, refreshments and so on. So, you should certainly consider minimum around 13 hours for the entire journey].

Now let’s get into more details about the various stop overs:

1.Kinvarra: (Google map : Harbour House, The Quay, Dungory West, Kinvarra, County Galway)

From Saggart we started at 7:30 AM, it took around 2 hrs 15 minutes to reach Kinvarra.

Kinvara or Kinvarra is a sea port village in the southwest of County Galway, Ireland. Its a picturesque coastal village on the shores of Galway Bay.

You can also visit Dunguaire Castle enroute (not marked in the above map).  It was told that this castle was build in 16^th Century.

Another place that can be covered is Traught Beach. Its not mentioned in the above map and we have not visited aswell.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 30 minutes

2. Linnalla Irish Ice cream parlour: (Café Linnala):

Kinvarra to Linnalla –> 15 Minutes

This was a surprise stop over in this trip. I managed to see people mentioning about this place, when I was searching in internet to prepare an itinerary for county Clare.

Situated on the stunning Flaggy Shore along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, Bríd Fahy and her husband Roger run Linnalla Ice Cream is one of the few farmer owned and operated ice cream parlours in Ireland.

I would certainly recommend this place. The route to the cafe is quite scenic with tonnes of photography options. You should certainly visit this place to experience the beauty of the place and of course to have few scoops of ice creams aswell.

In google map, this is shown as a ‘unnamed road’ and we will get confused if we are on the correct route. But you can blindly follow google maps and it will take you to the correct destination.

There are enough parking space available near the café and there is also a very clean restroom available within this café.

If you have time, there is a nice walkway near to the café and there are few slides and swings for the little ones aswell.

Visit their website for more details (like opening times and so on)

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 45 minutes (includes time for having ice cream aswell, the time doesn’t include the walking trail)

3. Fanore Beach:

Linnalla to Fanore –> 45 Minutes

The route from Linnalla to Fanore is quite scenic (will cover a lot of costal route aswell)

The small coastal village of Fanore is located where the Caher River enters the Atlantic Ocean on the edge of the world-famous Burren region.

Fanore Beach (holds a blue flag status) is a stunning sandy beach. There is a good view of the Burren from the beach.

During the summer months, the beach is lifeguarded. Don’t forget to check out the beach’s noticeboard for more information. This beach is popular for walkers, swimmers and surfers.

There is a surfing school available with equipment for hire at a reasonable cost.

There’s a large car park right next to Fanore Beach, however, it can be easy to miss when you’re driving the coast road (the scenery is incredible), so make sure to keep an eye out for the parking signs.

Was told that there are Jellyfish in this beach, but we never saw one. Its good to be a bit careful especially if you have dogs or kids with you.

There seems to be laws in place which needs to be taken care of:

• Dog-owners are required to clean up their dog poops in a public place such as public roads, footpaths, parks and beaches. Failure to do so can result in an on-the-spot fine of €150.
• Horse riding and dogs are prohibited between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the summer season.
• Motorised watercraft, surfing and the use of canoes and kayaks is prohibited in close proximity to swimmers.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 30 minutes

4. Doolin Pier Point:

Fanore to Doolin pier –> 30 Minutes

NOTE: Its better to have lunch enroute or near to Doolin Pier. We brought lunch from Home and had the same at the car parking.

Doolin Pier (also known as Ballaghaline Quay) is situated in the Wild Atlantic Way. Doolin is the home of traditional Irish music. Its a nice walk down to the pier, but they’re not great for getting down to the sea itself as there’s no seashore here. Its more like a rocky beach here.

This is not a beach for swimming. But it is a beach for amazing views, listening and watching the waves crash, enjoying the sun, and admiring the dazzling geology of the coastline.

I believe the Sunset view from here will be excellent. There are high chances that you will find some Dolphins here. The pier has well maintained restrooms.

There is also lot of parking space available, and the rates are nominal (1 Euro for 0 – 2 Hours).

You have Ferry Services (operated by Doolin Ferry) from here to Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher (closed during winter). Check their website for more details –> https://www.doolinferry.com/

We took the cliffs of Moher Ferry (2 PM). The total ferry travel time was around 45 – 50 minutes. Its better to book this ticket in advance (few days or week) so that you can avoid last minute surprises like tickets sold out and so on.

Ticket Rates: Adults (28 Euros), Senior Citizens (26 Euros) , Children 5-15 years (15 Euros).

The Cliffs of Moher is one of Ireland’s most popular visitor attractions. People say that until you see them from the ferry, you haven’t really seen them at all. I would also agree to that statement. Its indeed a great view of the cliffs from the ferry.

It is hard to take in their magnificent heights until you see them from sea level. The people walking along the trail high above appear no larger than ants!

The ferry has 2 decks. The upper deck is open and the lower deck is a closed one (except few seats at the back of the ferry). If its raining, you will get exposed to rain if you are sitting in the upper deck or at the back side of the ferry (in the lower deck) as they are open to sky.

One other issue with the open part in the lower deck is that water will splash on your face and head during high tide. There is a commentary available in the ferry, but sometimes (no, most of the times) it is not clear.

The entry route to the ferries is clearly marked. You will have to wait in a queue before boarding the ferry. If you are behind in the queue, there are chances that you might not get a seat in the upper deck. Please note that the ferry has toilet facilities aswell.

There is no requirement to wear life jackets as the ferry is large and high off the sea.  You are allowed to take your own refreshments.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination (Doolin Pier) for photography and lunch: 45 minutes.

Also, you would need another 50 minutes to 1 hour for the ferry trip.

5. Cliffs of Moher:

The initial 2 km or so from Doolin Pier to Cliffs is a challenging one with very narrow and steeper roads. It might take 15 minutes to reach the cliffs from the pier.

One of the important things to be noted is that we need to take tickets to visit the cliffs. The price varies based on the time of the day. Its 7-10 Euros (For adults). For Children up to 12 years, it’s a free ticket.

Admission includes secure car parking, wi-fi, access to all areas including O’Brien’s Tower and the interactive Cliffs exhibition.

If you book online (at least one day in advance), you will get tickets at the discounted price.

Its always better to look into their website https://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/ to see more details like opening hours.

This is one of the most famous destination in the entire scenic wild Atlantic way. The cliffs run for around 14 kms and at some places, it rise to a maximum height of 214 metres (702 feet) above the Atlantic Ocean. It ranks one among the most visited tourist sites in Ireland, with around 1.5 million visits per annum.

You can also visit the Cliffs of Moher visitor’s center (opened in 2007).  This state-of-the-art underground visitor centre features various interactive exhibits, images and displays that can be enjoyed by people of all age groups. There are some restaurants and public toilets available within this center.

There’s also a observatory tower called O’Briens Tower.

The parking area is huge. But you will have to walk a long distance to reach the cliffs from the parking area (Private vehicles).

There are safety barriers which prevents visitors from going near the cliff. However, if you keep walking away from the Visitor’s center, the barrier ends. So be a little careful and dare not to go near the edge. Already many have lost their life here.

Being one of the busiest attractions in Ireland, you are bound to find visitors all year round, however July and August are the peak months.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 2 hours

NOTE: If you have time limitations and can cover Cliffs of Moher only through one of the two options (land or sea), My personal recommendation would be to see it from Land as it gives you to real beauty of this wonderful and ginormous landscape. However if you have people with mobility/walking issues in your group, its good to opt for the sea option as they can sit back and see the cliffs from a ferry (without much walking).

6. Lahinch Beach:

This is the last stop over in this trip

Cliffs to Lahinch Beach : 15 Minutes

This is also a sandy beach will stretches around 1Km or so.

This beach (Lifeguarded) is known for surfing, sea kayaking, kite surfing and so on.

There are also several surf schools in the area, so whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, you can grab a board and catch a wave.

There seems to be laws in place which needs to be taken care of:

• Dog-owners are required to clean up their dog poops in a public place such as public roads, footpaths, parks and beaches. Failure to do so can result in an on-the-spot fine of €150.
• Horse riding and dogs are prohibited between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the summer season.
• Motorised watercraft, surfing and the use of canoes and kayaks is prohibited in close proximity to swimmers

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 30 minutes

Further before heading to Dublin, in  case if you would like to have a dinner, this can be a ideal place as there are many restaurants in this locality.

This concludes the various stops in this trip.  We returned to Saggart, Dublin which was approximately 250 Kms and 2 hours 45 minutes (reached back around 9PM)

I had to do the trip to county Clare in a day and hence had to purposefully avoid few other interesting places in County Clare.

If you have time, I will strongly recommend spending minimum 2 days (&1 night) in County Clare. There are plenty of accommodation options available within the county.

Few other places that you could explore are:

The Burren National Park

Kilfenora Cathedral

Doolin Cave

Poulnabrone Dolmen

Aillwee Cave // Birds of Prey centre

Doonagore Castle

Caherconnell Stone Fort

Leamaneh Castle

Lough Inchiquin

Clare Heritage Centre

Cliffs of Kilkee

Corkscrew Hill

Loophead cliffs/peninsula

Aran Islands

Black Head cliffs

Bridges of Ross

Corcomroe Abbey (Sunset)

Scattery islands

Shannon ferry from Clare to Kerry

There are many walking trails aswell, within county Clare.

Hope you enjoyed reading my blog. I would like you to try out this itinerary and let me know your comments!

Waterford is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Munster and is part of the Southern Region.

From its vibrant city life to its rural charm and stunning coastline, County Waterford have something for everyone.

In this blog, I would like to cover a one-day trip that we did in July 2023, to County Waterford.

We started our journey from Saggart, Dublin Ireland around 8:30 AM and returned by around 8:30 PM.

We took the following route. Its approximately 6 hour’s drive and 450 Kms.

[Apart from the driving time, you would also need time for sightseeing, refreshments and so on. So, you should certainly consider around 12 hours for the entire journey].

Now let’s get into more details about the various stop overs:

1. Kilkenny Castle (Kilkenny, Ireland’s Medieval City):

This castle has been rebuilt, extended, and adapted to suit changing circumstances over a period of 800 years. Kilkenny Castle is open to visitors all year round.

If you wish to see the castle in detail, its better to book a tour (self-guided or guided) in advance. Tickets can be found in https://heritageireland.ie/visit/places-to-visit/kilkenny-castle/

The adult ticket price is around 12 Euros and student price is around 6 Euros.

Other features include 50 acres of rolling parkland with mature trees, a formal terraced rose garden, woodlands, and a man-made lake, which were added in the nineteenth century.

The toughest challenge you will face with this first destination is ‘Parking’.

There is parking exactly in front of the castle, but slots are limited.

In case if you find something even 400-500 meters away from the castle, grab that without a further second thought.

As this is old city, you should certainly spend some time walking around the streets to explore more.

(NOTE: We did not go inside the castle but saw it from outside and explored few streets within the city centre)

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 45 min

2. Mahon Falls:

If you follow the above route, you would ideally be passing through the various sections of Comeragh Drive and Nire valley drive.

The Comeragh Mountains stretch from the coast near Dungarvan as far as Clonmel and this is one route that has spectacular views.

During the Comeragh Drive, you must stop at the ‘MAGIC ROAD’. The magic road is located close to Mahon Falls. A small road, located off the beaten track, where if you stop the car and let the handbrake off, the vehicle will magically roll uphill.

NOTE: Not sure why, I could not figure out this magic road enroute Mahon Falls.

Also, we did not take the walking trail to reach near Mahon Falls.

Mahon Falls is an 80m waterfall situated in the Comeragh Mountains near Lemybrien, Co. Waterford.  The waterfall can be seen from far, but you might have to walk around 20+ minutes (from car park) if you really want to see it from near.

There is a very nice restaurant (Cooney’s Yard) enroute the Mahon Falls. On your way back from the falls, you can have lunch from this restaurant (please note that there are not many restaurants available in this route). We just had coffee and hot chocolate and the rate seems to be nominal. There is enough parking space aswell.

There are clean toilets available, so getting down here for a lunch would be a right time for a biological break aswell.

As the route is quite scenic, you might love to have short breaks for capturing some moments in your Camera. Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination and enroute photography: 1 hour.

As per this itinerary, you can spend around 45 Min for Lunch time.

3. Bunmahon Beach:

Bunmahon Beach is a stretch of sandy beach located on the southeast coast of Ireland in Bunmahon, County Waterford. This beach is slightly off the R675 (one of the most scenic coastal routes in Ireland)

It is backed by sand dunes and is popular with surfers and for canoeing and kayaking.

Swimming at Bunmahon Beach is only suitable for experienced swimmers. The high waves are dangerous. In fact, Bunmahon Beach can be one of the most dangerous beaches on this part of the coast.

The beach is manned by lifeguards during the summer months and has been awarded Blue Flag status. 

There is a caravan park, modern outdoor play park and basketball court located directly behind the beach.

The dedicated parking space is quite limited, but I have seen people parking on both sides of the different nearby roads.

COPPER COAST UNESCO Global geopark (one of the 3 Geoparks in Ireland) is few meters away from this beach. You can also explore the park if you wish to do so.

The area used to be mined for copper and this section of the coast being known as the “Copper Coast”.

NOTE: We have not gone to the Geopark.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 20 min

NOTE: We took lunch from home and had that near the parking area in Bunmahon Beach.

4. Kilmurrin Cove / Beach:

This is a nice viewpoint over this beach, with a decent parking lot facility.

For extra picturesque views walk a bit uphill on the farmland and enjoy the view from there! 

Kilmurrin Beach is an expansive stretch of golden sand that’s perfect for a day out with friends and family. The beach was the location for a stunning piece of sand art created by environmental artist Sean Corcoran, measuring 120ft in height and 200ft wide, higher than Dublin’s Liberty Hall. The artwork was created to encourage people around Ireland to ‘Keep Discovering’ as the country reopens once again.

Kilmurrin Beach is surrounded by two rocky headlands that shelter the soft, powdery sand, leaving the water still and clear, creating perfect swimming conditions.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 20 min

R675 Route is one of the most scenic coastal routes in Ireland.

5. Annestown Beach:

This place is not mentioned in the above map.

There are many beaches in the R675 route. The one that we visited after Kilmurrin was Annestown beach.

Annestown Strand is in Annestown, County Waterford and is an attractive bathing place. It is popular with surfers and swimmers alike.

There is a dedicated parking space available but there is a height clearance restriction to enter the car park.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 10 min

6. Newtown Cove / Beach:

Newtown is a small, sheltered cove with a stony beach, with easy access for swimmers by the slipway or ladder.

The water is very clean generally with good visibility. This place is popular during summertime. There is a lot of parking space available, and this place is nearby metal man statue.

The Metal Man statue stands on one of three pillars near Newtown Cove.

It was constructed as a maritime beacon after the tragic loss of over 350 lives after HMS Seahorse sank back in 1816.

Dressed in traditional British sailor clothing, the Metal Man is on private land with the entrance to the monument blocked due to dangerous cliffs. However, you can see the figure from various points along the coast. 

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 20 min

7. Station House, Kilmeadan  (WSV Railway):

The Waterford Suir Valley Railway starts from this station and ends at this station (journey time is approximately 50 minutes).

This is a heritage narrow gauge railway whihc runs along 10 kilometres of the abandoned Waterford Dungarvan line. We were told that this is Ireland’s longest narrow-gauge railway.

I had my son with me during the trip and hence this place was picked as one of the destinations in this trip. Kids would love this train journey.

There is enough car parking space available in front of this station. The car park and train’s starting point (Kilmeadan) are very near to each other (just a few metres).

There is also a toilet facility and a café shop (Whistlestop Cáfe) available within the station.

Try to book online in advance, if you plan to visit this place as sometimes the seats get filled faster.

I had done an online booking in the WSV website ( https://www.wsvrailway.ie/) a day prior and have opted for the 4PM trip (last trip of the day). By picking 4PM slot, you will get enough time to cover all the places mentioned above in the route map.

Enroute, the train stops at a station for a minute or so. On the left side, watch out for the cormorants resting on the ruins of Kilmeadan Castle and get a glimpse into Mount Congreve Gardens . Make a wish when you see the fairies in the Magic Wood.

NOTE:

1. There are different slots available like 11 AM, 12 Noon, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3PM and 4 PM (last slot)
2. There are 8 small compartments available. Enclosed compartments can hold 12 people and partially open compartments can hold 8 people.
3. You will get better views (River Suir) if you sit on the left-hand side. The right side has view only to the walking track (part of Waterford greenway)
4. If you plan to take photos/videos, I suggest booking a partially open compartment as its quite open (the enclosed ones have fully closed windows).
5. The carriages are wheelchair accessible.

8. Dunmore East / Dunmore Harbour:

Dunmore East is a popular tourist and fishing village in County Waterford, Ireland.

The harbour is one of the five designated National Fishery Harbours and has the second highest figure for fish landings after Killybegs.

Tourism in Dunmore East is supported by boating and sailing facilities, holiday homes, traditional pubs, a golf course, and several hotels.

This place can potentially be a good place for you to have your Dinner.

We tried some Fish and Chips from ‘Fish shop’.  The food was economical and good (taste wise and Quantity wise)

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination (including Dinner):  1 Hour

9. Waterford City Centre:

This place is not mentioned in the above map.

If you are following the above map, you will be passing through Waterford city centre enroute Dublin.

Waterford is the oldest and the fifth most populous city in the Republic of Ireland.

Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city is believed to have been established by the Viking Ragnall (the grandson of Ivar the Boneless) in 914 AD.

Incase if you didn’t have your dinner from Dunmore, this place would be another great option.

Parking can be a problem if you decide to park your car and explore the city by foot.

Waterford is renowned for its exciting festivals and events such as the West Waterford Festival of Food.

This concludes the destinations in this trip.  We returned to Saggart, Dublin which was approximately 150Kms and 1.5 hours.

I had to do the trip to Waterford in a day and hence had to purposefully avoid few other interesting places in Waterford.

If you have time, I will strongly recommend spending 2 days (&1 night) in County Waterford.  There are plenty of accommodation options available within the county.

Few other places that you could explore are:

Waterford crystal Factory, Medieval Museum, Bishops’ Palace

COPPER COAST UNESCO Global geopark

Dungarvan (Davitts Quay),

Tramore Beach

Lismore castle garden

Ardmore Beach

Ardmore farm & Mini Zoo

Goat Island, Ballynamona

Copper Coast Sea Kayaking

Hook Lighhouse

There are many walking trails within county Waterford:

Waterford Greenway

The Mahon Falls Walk

The Coumshingaun Loop Walk

The Ardmore Cliff Walk

The Ballysaggartmore Towers Walk

The Anne Valley Walk

The Dunmore East Cliff Walk

There are also different surfing schools within Waterford that offer lessons for novice surfers and first timers, so don’t worry if you’ve never tried surfing before. If you fancy trying your hand at a bit of surfing, this is an ideal place.     

Hope you enjoyed reading my blog. I would like you to try out this itinerary and let me know your comments!

Victor’s way is an Indian Sculpture Park located in County Wicklow, near Dublin, Ireland. It is a 22-acre park surrounded by lush green forest and typical Irish countryside. The park also has some open green fields, ponds and several small lakes.

We followed the below route:

The entire route is quite scenic.

We had spent some time at the Cloghleagh Bridge and at the Lough Tay Viewing point (and Guinness Lake) before reaching Victor’s way.

Cloghleagh Bridge:

This lovely Single arch bridge (over Shankill River) is surrounded by woodland and is adjacent to a quaint church. It’s a beautiful quiet place surrounded by shady trees, with small waterfalls and large flat rocks. There is also a Walking Trail available here.

Lough Tay Viewing point (and Guinness Lake):

The lake is located along the Sally Gap drive and you’ll be treated to magnificent views of its inky black water. The Guinness Lake, as it’s known, is situated within a private estate, but it can be viewed from above from several viewing points along the Sally Gap.

Victor’s way:

You can either book online or pay as cash (10 Euros for Adults) for the tickets. I have not seen any ticket counter as such. There is a small slot where you deposit the money. When we visited, there was a person available near the car park to collect the cash. I don’t remember them giving us any printed tickets or so.

There is enough parking space available within the park.

The entry to the Victor’s Way is an unusual opening, with two ladies on either side. It is known as Victoria’s Gate and the opening represents the birth canal. The birth canal in other words is the one through which we came through into this world. It’s the first journey we ever make in life, and at this point our world becomes so much bigger.

The birth canal here represents being born again and entering into the park, with all the worries of the world left behind on the other side.

The park was known as Victoria’s Way until 2015, when it was closed by the owner who felt that too many day-trippers were coming into the park for fun activities (for parents & children). It was reopened in 2016 as Victor’s Way with new age restrictions as it was designed as a garden for over 28’s year old only.

Although the park won’t suit everyone’s taste, it’s one of the unique things to discover in Ireland. If you’re looking to escape from your busy daily life, then a trip to the peaceful Victor’s Way Park might just be what you need. In addition, it was created for those between the ages of 28 to 60 years old.

It is indeed a great place for a relaxing walk. You can easily spent a good hour or two, walking around the sculpture gardens and it’s best to follow the arrows to guide you through the different areas. There are lot of sculptures (lot of Indian/Hindu deities aswell) within the campus. Some statues appear stunningly beautiful in their black granite.

Seems that many of the sculptures here were directly carved in Mahabalipuram, India.

Please note that this place is not intended for Family Fun (like other parks). This is more of a meditation park.

There is a lot of walk around. So please plan accordingly if you have small kids or elderly people within your group.

Its always better to check their website for the opening season/timings. Please note that this is not open throughout the year. Also, I believe they don’t encourage pets.

Website: https://victorsway.eu/

The Irishman Victor Langheld designed and created the park. Victor also stays within the campus. So there are high chances that you might see him somewhere within in the park.

One of the most famous sculpture here is The Ferryman’s End.

The Ferryman’s End represents the icon of burnout, is set in algae covered waters.

     The ferryman ferries himself and others from ‘this shore’ to the ‘other shore’ (and where the grass is always greener). In other words, he/she ferries from here (meaning sameness) to there (meaning difference) and so from death to life. (Courtesy: https://victorsway.eu/sculptures/ferryman.htm)

(Note: One personal comment. Don’t underestimate the size of this sculpture after seeing the images in Internet. It is relatively small and is set in algae covered waters)

There is a craft shop onsite selling Indian made products. The interesting thing is that there is nobody available within the shop for selling the items. All items have the amount details mentioned in that. If you liked any item, just check the price, and deposit the money in a small box (Honesty Box) kept at the entrance.

We visited Howth in August 2021.

Howth is in the outer suburb of Dublin, Ireland. The district as a whole occupies the greater part of the peninsula of Howth Head, which forms the northern boundary of Dublin Bay, and includes the island of Ireland’s Eye.

Its stunning location surrounded on three sides by the Irish Sea makes it a favourite with tourists.

One of Dublin’s oldest working harbours, Howth has been a fishing village and port since at least the 14th century.

We took the Public transport (Luas) from Saggart to Connolly (Last stop of the red line)

Other Travel Options:

1. You can get the 31 number bus that will take you to the Howth Harbour. Or you can take the 31A number bus which goes through Howth Village to Howth Summit. Both buses leave from the same location, Eden Quay (just off O’Connell Street).
2. If you are coming from downtown Dublin, follow the R807 road along the coastline. This road will turn into R105 and this will lead you to downtown Howth. It is about 18km and might take about 30 minutes depending on traffic.

Connolly luas (Tram) and the dart (train) stations are quite near to each other.

The Dart station is in the first floor and you can take lift/escalator from the Luas Platform to reach there.

If you are interested, you can use Leap Travel Card. More detail about Leap Visitor card can be found here:

https://about.leapcard.ie/leap-visitor-card

If atall you don’t have leap cards, you can buy it from the shops within or nearby the Luas/Dart stations.

You can touch off your leap card in the machine provided at the entry. Don’t forget to do that at the exit aswell.

Connolly station:

There are around 7 platforms in Connolly (+ 2 Platform for Luas).

The train timing and Platforms are clearly marked in the boards. So you don’t have to panic and there are even sign boards clearly indicating the platform number.

The dart train from Connolly to Howth would take around 30 minutes. Trains are available at regular intervals.

If you are visiting Howth using you own car, there ae plenty of parking space available near to the dart station.

There are multiple trails available in Howth. It’s worth to note that many of these trails get busy over the Weekends / Public holidays.

In the beginning of the cliff paths, there are clear indications of the various paths like Green, Blue, Red, Purple and so on. But there are high chances that you miss the actual path (as colour codes are missing at many places, enroute)

All Trails website will give you a rough idea about the various options.

https://www.alltrails.com/ireland/county-dublin/howth

We had gone with the Cliff walk from the dart Station towards the Howth Summit (Howth head Cliff Walk-lower cliff walk). The distance is around 6 Kms (walking time of 1.5-2 Hours approx)

NOTE: If you have more time, you can try Black Linn Loop Walk that goes through Ben of Howth (highest peak of the peninsula). From the summit, you might get a full 360 degree view overlooking the entire peninsula, Howth Castle, Howth village and so on.

Another option is the Bog of Frogs Loop Walk, which follows the coastline for 12km.

If you are taking the Howth Summit route, the best way is to take Google search option to look for Howth summit (as the destination) . The good thing with that destination is that you can take a Return Bus either to Dublin city centre or back to the ‘Howth’ Dart station.

 The beginning of the cliff walk is relatively very steep.

But you have some parking space available at the end of the steep.

Enroute the way to  the cliff parking, you can also visit Balscadden Bay Beach.

NOTE: When you walk past the village towards Howth Head, walk up the hill until you reach a little gate, behind which there is a set of quite steep steps, that lead you down to this beach.

Please note that the path is quite narrow there is no fence available throughout the cliff walk. So please be careful if there are small children in your group.

The view throughout the cliff walk is excellent. There are tonnes of photography options throughout the walk.

Near to the Summit, you can also see a path going down to the Baily Lighthouse (the last lighthouse in Ireland to be automated). This cottage-style, 13-metre tall lighthouse sits out on the cliffs with a stunning view over the Irish Sea. Baily (built in 1917) is one of Ireland’s most photographed lighthouses on the eastern coastline.

In this trip, we did not go to the Lighthouse.

NOTE: If you really dont have the energy / time for a 6Km walk, you can drive till the Howth Summit and walk down the Baily lighthouse.

Just check out for sign bus board (near the summit) from where you can get the return bus (H3) back to Howth beach or the Dublin City Centre.

There is also enough Car parking space available near the summit.

Compared to the Main Howth City centre, the summit has relatively less number of restaurants/shops.

After the cliff walk, we took the bus back to the Howth beach (Bus H3, which goes to city center via Howth Beach), got down the bus at Howth beach stop and went to the Ferry / Bay area to take a boat service to Ireland’s Eye.

Currently uninhabited, Ireland’s Eye was once home to a monastery, established around 700 AD.

Ireland’s Eye can be visited every day during the summer months and on weekends / bank holidays only during the rest of the year.

There are different companies that are operating ferries here.

A 45 minutes TO and FRO trip to the Ireland’s eye will cost around 25 Euros/person.

We had taken the service of a company named ‘Howth Cliff Cruises’. (http://howthcliffcruises.ie/)

NOTE: I have read in many places that we can get down at the Ireland’s eye and walk around. You can visit the Martello Tower aswell. Landing on the island is at the discretion of the captain depending on weather conditions. Since we had take a evening ferry, such an option was not available for us.

This is a great boat trip, something that should not missed during your journey to Howth. You will see a lot of birds and probably seals, during this journey.

During the return journey in boat, you would also get a chance to see the Howth Harbour Lighthouse from different angles.

NOTE: There are options available to walk down the Howth Pier to see the Lighthouse at a closer distance.

After the boat trip, we returned back to the Howth Dart station and further to the Dublin city centre.

Howth is a very safe destination. Coast guard security is also present at important points.

If you are looking for some food options, there are multiple options available.

We had tried ‘The Bloody Stream’ and the service/food quality/menu items were really good.

Also there are a few Indian restaurants like ‘Okra Green’ in Howth. Due to a tight schedule with a limited time, Personally I did not try any items from Okra.

You need to spend around 6-7 hours to complete the itinerary/places , that I mentioned here.

NOTES:

1.Please note that there are many other places to see like Howth Castle, St. Mary’s Abbey, Howth Market, Howth Village, National Transport Museum, Hurdy Gurdy Vintage Radio Museum and so on.

2.There are some limited accomodation options available like ‘King Sitric’.

We had travelled to Toledo, Madrid (Spain) in April 2019.

Toledo is one of the oldest and most unique cities in Spain. This city has made an important contribution to Spain’s history and heritage.

Toledo is a cute Medieval Spanish city. Before Madrid became the capital of Spain in 1561, the Spanish kings and queens ruled from Toledo. It is surrounded on three sides by water(Tagus River) and the fourth side by walls. Due to its position, it was very easy to defend and hence was the capital of Spain for a long time.

Coaches travelling from Madrid to Toledo (approx. 70 Kms) depart from the Plaza Elíptica transport hub (level -1).

We had bought the ticket from the point of sale in the Eliptica terminal Ground Floor. The travel duration was 1.5 hours (Check for Direct Bus availability). The price of the ticket was around 6 Euros/adult (1 way).

You can also book the return trip from the same ticket counter. You can book the coach in the ALSA website –> https://www.alsa.com/en/web/bus/coach/madrid-toledo

There are trains also running from Madrid (Puerto de Atocha station) to Toledo, which takes only 33 minutes in a high speed train. I think there are trains running every hour. The price is around 12 Euros/adult (one side)

More Details Here –> http://www.renfe.com/

The bus station in Toledo is on the bottom of the city. Once you reach the bus stand, you must come outside the station and walk in the right direction. At the extreme end, you will find an escalator. This is infact a series of elevators which will take you till the top of the hills. This is very convenient for the travellers.

Toledo is known as “the city of three cultures” (Christians, Arabs and Jews lived there together for many years) and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was declared so in 1986 for its extensive monumental and cultural heritage. It boasts 2,000 years of history, and is filled with small hidden squares, winding side streets and historic buildings and monuments at every turn.

Toledo is famous for traditional metal work and the production of blade weapon. That’s still a big industry today and they supply many film sets, including Lord of the Rings with stage weaponry and sell replicas as souvenirs. Toledo is famous for making the best swords in Europe.

You can easily cover the entire place in a single day. However, if you still want to stay and relax in Toledo, hotels are available.

In the interest of time, we decided to take an ‘Hop on Hop off’ bus. The price of the ticket was around 15 Euros/adult. The duration is around 50 minutes and the frequency is around 30 min.

Best time to visit:

Toledo is centrally positioned in a plateau on the Iberian Peninsula and it sits about 500 meters above sea level. It enjoys a continental climate which is mostly dry and sunny throughout the year. With the crazy network of old streets aside, the city is compact enough to be explored on foot. 

Some places of interest:

1) Cathedral

One of Toledo’s standout historical landmarks is The Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo (or simply, Toledo Cathedral)

2) Alcazar

3) Synagogue

4) Museums

5) Walls

6) Plaza Zocodover

7) Jewish Quarter

8) Cristo de la Luz Mosque

9) Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes

10) San Martin’s Bridge

The only challenge is that people are less likely to be able to speak English.

Note: Apart from Toledo, Segovia is another popular day trip from Madrid

Dunluce Castle is a medieval Irish Castle located on a clifftop along the Causeway Coast in County Antrim and is quite near to the Giant’s Causeway UNESCO site. It is about 1 hour drive from Belfast.

Address: 87 Dunluce Road, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, BT57 8UY, Ireland

The scenery in this part of County Antrim is simply spectacular, and Dunluce may be ONE of the most photographed castles on the island of Ireland.

We happened to visit Dunluce castle as a part of the day drip from Dublin to Northern Ireland. The Tour was organised by Wild Rover Tours, which is a Dublin-based family business who arrange tours throughout Ireland.
The normal itinerary for this tour includes Giants causeway, Belfast City and Carrick A Rede Rope Bridge. Carrick A Rede Rope Bridge was closed for maintenance and wildrover group arranged Dunluce castle as an alternative. Entry tickets to Dunluce castle was also included in the package.
We highly recommend this day trip with Wild Rover Tours. They tried everything possible to make this trip a memorable one. The guide and the pilot were very friendly and supportive.

Details : https://wildrovertours.com/activity/giants-causeway-belfast-city-carrick-a-rede-rope-bridge/

Ideally, there are multiple ways to reach this place:

• Train:

You can get trains (Derry Direction) from Belfast Lanyon or Great Victoria Street Train station. You will reach a station (around 1.45 hours) named Coleraine. From there you can hire a taxi (around 15 min)

• Bus:

You can get bus 218a from Great Victoria Bus station to Coleraine Bus Stand. From there you can hire a taxi (around 15 min)

• Car:

This might be the most preferred means of travel as the route is very scenic. (around 1.25 Hours)

Take the M2 motorway / A26 Combination from Belfast.

The route towards Dunluce Castle from Belfast city is quite scenic.

Please note that there are very less parking (means really less 😊) options available near Dunluce castle.

The castle stands mostly in ruins today, but the walls and remains of some of the buildings can still be seen. This castle was mainly built out of local basalt stone, known for its strength and durability.

There is a path beside the castle which takes you down towards the sea. As the title says there are 109 steps which was fine going down a little challenging on the way back.

Dunluce Castle has been a location for many movies like Game of Thrones.

Its also said that the castle was once owned by Winston Churchill.

This castle is a great place to enjoy the history of Ireland and to take in the beautiful scenery of the land.

There is a huge history behind this place. So its worth spending some time in google (Key word 😊 : MacQuillan family ) , if you are really interested to know that.

Points worth to note:

• Opening hours:
  • February to November : Daily 9.30am to 5pm.
  • December/January : Daily 9.30am to 4pm.
  • Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
  • Adult 18+ Years – £6 per ticket
  • Child 5-17 Years – £4 per ticket
  • Child Under 5 – Free

• It is excellent for visitors of all ages.
• Restrooms are available.
• There is a little gift shop available.

The closest town is Bushmills, home to the world-famous Old Bushmills Distillery.

The tour company had guided us for lunch to a restaurant named ‘The Giants Barn’, which was just 8 minutes drive from the Dunluce Castle.  

This restaurant is also located in a very scenic location.

Some places nearby:

• Bushmills Distillery (around 10 minutes’ drive)

This is the oldest whiskey distillery in the world.

• Few of the Antrim coast attractions like Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-rede, Ballintoy Harbour and so on

• Portrush Beach

SUMMARY : Dunluce castle is a great tourist destination and you should never miss this place if you are preparing a Northern Ireland or County Antrim itinerary.

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”

Anonymous

We visited Lisbon in April 2019.

Lisbon is one of the fastest growing cities in Europe and there is plenty to do and see here in this beautiful city.

If you’ve never visited Lisbon, or Portugal for that matter, you’re in for a treat.

Budget airlines fly there from all over Europe, and you can even find very affordable flights from the US. We traveled via TAP Air Portugal.

Some Facts about Lisbon:

Lisbon is home to more than 500,000 (as of 2016) people and is the capital of Portugal.

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe.

Lisbon was built on seven hills ,so be prepared for lots of uphill walking!

Lisbon sits at the mouth of the Tagus River.

The city is one of the sunniest in all of Europe.

Day 1—Sintra

Day 1, we went for a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon.

This place is gorgeous. Around 30 minutes from the city, it’s an incredible area to see the historic palaces and castles that sit elegantly on the hills.

If you take the rail from Rossio Railway Station, you can easily reach to Sintra.

Day 2 – Hop on Hop Off

Day 2, we took a Hop on Hop Off city tour to cover the places.

https://www.hop-on-hop-off-bus.com/lisbon-bus-tours

Following places were covered in that trip

1) Torre de Belem / Belem Tower

This tower was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

The Belém Tower is situated on the northern bank of the Tagus River.

It was built to protect the port and was the point where lots of explorers started their journey to the new world. It would have been the last part of Portugal which many sailors and navigators saw, as they set out on their voyages of discovery.

NOTE: You will always see a lot of queue in from of the Belem tower, waiting for their entry to the tower. There is nothing much to see inside the tower. Personal recommendation would be to see it from outside.

2) Monument to the Discoveries, with Henry the Navigator at the front

Make sure to plan your trip early (and if you’re not keen on crowds, maybe avoid weekends), it’s a very popular site and can be a good place to visit first thing in the morning (just to avoid crowds)

The Portuguese were excellent navigators and ship builders (Christopher Columbus came to study navigation here in Lisbon), and reached many parts of the world first.

This stunning monument was designed to commemorate the Age of Discoveries in Portugal and was inaugurated in 1960.

Monument to the Discoveries and Belem tower are very close to each other.

3) Hieronymites Monastery

Its also known as Jeronimos Monastery.

It’s a symbol of wealth and power during the Age of Discovery.

This is near to the Monument to the Discoveries and the Belem tower.

This tower was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 (along with Belem tower)

4) Santa Justa Elevator

This is one of my favourite places to see in Lisbon. Although not iconic as, say, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it really is integral to the identity of Lisbon and a truly beautiful lift.

We normally attribute the word ‘Beautiful’ to passenger lifts, but this can be an exception.

It was inaugurated as one of the city’s public transport systems on 10 July 1902 and was called Elevador do Carmo (Carmo Lift). Lisbon’s inhabitants were so excited to try this novelty that on the first day, 3,000 tickets were sold.

The Lift has a stunning observation deck at the top and offers magnificent views over Baixa. This is one of the popular spots and entry queues starts to pile up very early in the morning and will continue almost throughout the day.

There is an access bridge, behind the elevator, that you can use to skip the line completely. Just buy a ticket for €1.50(Don’t recollect fully) so that you can climb to the top, and snag a spectacular panoramic view without waiting in line for more than two minutes.

Ticket Pricing and operation hours here : https://www.lisbon.net/santa-justa-lift

5) Local Street Art:

You will see the local street arts in almost all places in this city. If you want to explore more art works, it will be better to do a walking tour so that you can quickly and easily see as much Lisbon street art as possible.

Details here : https://www.getyourguide.com/lisbon-l42/private-lisbon-street-art-tour-t79244/

6) Rossio Square and Praça do Comércio, or Commerce Square.

This square is always lively and you can see various street performers, shop from local vendors, or grab a bite from a local restaurant.

7) Elevador do Gloria (Funicular)

Lisbon is known for its hills and steep streets – meaning that its historic funiculars are not only highly-photographed, but also regularly used for getting from Point A to Point B. You can easily visit two of the most famous funiculars in the city this afternoon.

Head back up past Rossio Square (either walk, or hop on the metro to Restauradores station), where you’ll find the lower station of the Ascensor da Glória at the corner of the Avenida da Liberdade and Calçada da Glória.

This funicular (also sometimes called Elevador do Gloria) connects Restauradores Square with the Bairro Alto, another of Lisbon’s oldest neighborhoods. It dates back to 1885 and is used by both tourists and locals.

8) Jardin Botanico:

This is one of the best public gardens in Lisbon. In the heart of the city (but hidden away from the surrounding streets) this 10-acre garden is a heaven from the hustle and bustle. Do a picnic or simply wander through and enjoy the exotic plants. It’s open everyday from 9am until 6pm (in the winter) or 8pm (in the summer).

The starting point of Hop on Hop off bus is near to this garden/park.

9) Pink Street:

Pink Street is mostly a regular nightlife area. Many bars and clubs along Pink Street stay open until early morning.

I have seen many people talking about pink street in their vlogs /blogs and we were expecting some thing more than what we saw there, it was just a very small area on road painted in pink and is said to have a great nightlife 

10) Park of Nations (Area created for the Lisbon World Expo 1998):

Constructed for the 1998 Lisbon World Exposition (Expo), this is a space dedicated to leisure, and located in the northeastern part of the city. This modern part of Lisbon has numerous restaurants, bars, theatres, parks, pedestrian areas and a large shopping mall.

One of the most surprising sights in this district is the Oriente train station, designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. This modernist station has a bright glass and steel structure in the form of a tree. This ambitious project includes a metro station, a national and international bus terminal and a high-speed and regional train hub.

You can also take a cable car that travels past the Water Gardens, above the river..

11) National Pantheon

Originally a church, in the 20th century it was converted into the National Pantheon, in which important Portuguese personalities are buried.

If you have time, It would be good to have 3 days (including Sintra) for the Lisbon Itinerary.

Please find below some of the places that you can include in your list:

1) Alfama district

This is the oldest part of Lisbon, where tiled buildings are perched along steep cobbled streets that stretch from the Sao Jorge castle to the Tagus River.

2) Ride Tram 28:

The most famous of all Lisbon Portugal trams is number 28. People will wait hours just to board this tram. I suggest riding the tram either early in the morning or late at night when most people are asleep. This way, you’ll avoid the long wait that is associated with huge crowds.

You can also try to board the tram at a less popular stop (like the one near Lisbon Cathedral).

(Note: Be careful of pickpockets on this tram!)

Try purchasing your tickets before boarding the tram since tickets are much more expensive on board.

There are other Tram tour options available in Lisbon aswell.

3) Explore the Monastery of St Jerome

4) Cascais:

Cascais is about 30 minutes by train (or you can drive over) from the city itself and is a great place to chill out and relax in the town or on the sandy beaches.

A fishing town turned beautiful resort in the summer, Cascais is a dream destination for families and young people.

5) Peniche:

Another coastal town, Peniche is a known destination for Wave Surfing.

6) Pasteis de Belem:

Pastéis de Belém is a bakery that is another beloved staple of Lisbon. Famed for their pastel de nata, this bakery’s delicious custard tarts topped with cinnamon powder have captured the hearts of thousands of tourists.

7) Porto:

If you’re a wine lover, you’d be doing yourself a serious disservice if you skip out on a trip to Porto and the Douro Valley – the most important wine region in Portugal

8) Time Out Market:

Time Out Market is one of the most famous places to go to eat in Lisbon and for good reason. There are tons of different options, so if you’re looking for famous Portuguese bacalhau (cod fish), nuts, or a pizza.

This food hall is packed with a variety of restaurants serving fresh local cuisine. Try taking your friends as well, so that you can try a few different dishes. Also, don’t forget to grab some freshly baked Pastel de Nata pastries on your way out!

9) Lisbon Oceanarium:

It is worth visiting the Oceanarium, one of the largest in Europe, where you can appreciate the flora and fauna of the various oceans of our planet.

10) National Coach museum / Tile Museum:

These two museums are unequalled anywhere in the world. One tells the story of the tile in Portugal from its first uses on 16th century walls to the present day; the other has an unrivalled collection of carriages, with fine examples from the 18th century, exuberantly decorated with paintings and gild work.

11) Beaches:

There are some beaches around. I have not personally visited any of them and hence don’t have much clue about these beaches. If you have time, certainly try exploring them.

Portinho Da Arrabida

Praia da Adgara

Praia da mata

Praia do Meco

Praia da comporta

Best time to visit:

Lisbon is a popular tourist destination between Easter holidays (March/April) and late September. Fall and winter (from October to mid-March) are not very cold, so it’s the perfect season for tourists who don’t mind a little rain and the temperature drop (hardly ever below 10°C/50°F).

June is the most crowded month, especially around the St. Anthony festivities (June 12 and 13). January is the quieter month with far fewer special events than any other time of year.

Other Travel Options:

1) Take a Cruise in the Tagus River

The Tagus River is the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula, and a cruise is the best way to see Lisbon from a different perspective.

Details here: https://www.getyourguide.com/lisbon-l42/sailing-boat-sunset-tour-in-lisbon-for-2-hours-t45788/?

2) Tuk Tuk’s:

The best way to see Lisbon is to walk.

You will see a lot of Tuk Tuk’s around. Mostly targeting the tourists and are expensive.

3) Taxi Bus/Trains/Metro:

Most of our travel were in Buses, but trains/metros are some other available options

Ensure that you always have a valid travel ticket while travelling in public transport. In most of my trips, I have seen officials checking tickets either in the platform or within the bus or train.

Summary:

If you want to include Sintra or Alfama in your Lisbon trip, my personal recommendation will be to keep a minimum of 3 days in the itinerary.

Also don’t forget to taste the Portuguese Egg Tarts. its crisp, flaky crust holding a creamy custard center, blistered on top from the high heat of an oven.