Aguamel

Rooms

Continuing the honey-related theme, the 5 rooms are named after different pollen-producing flowers, with patterns and colour schemes to match. They’re all calming and uncluttered, with brushed-wood floors, silky fabrics that reflect the light pouring in through shuttered windows, and a smattering of well-chosen furniture (some new, some vintage). Bathrooms are open-plan, with in-room sinks, plus toilets and powerful showers hidden behind sheets of frosted glass. You also get flat-screen TVs, hairdryers and big bottles of shampoo and shower gel.

We stayed in Jasmine, one of the 3 double-bedded Standard Rooms which are nestled under the eaves at the top of the house and feature unusual textured wallpaper in delicate shades of grey, cream and aquamarine. Ours was the most spacious of the trio, with a bank of sleek white wardrobes and a Scandi-style chair in one corner; Wildflower and Rosemary are a little smaller, with beds pushed up against one wall, but they’re fine for a night or two. Comfy mattresses and wonderfully soft linens meant we slept well.

If you can, we’d recommend paying a bit more for one of the 2 Superior Rooms on the floor beneath. These are larger, with kingsize beds and French doors opening onto a shared balcony dotted with tables, chairs and flower-filled pots - the perfect spot to sit back, drink up your free wine and drink in the view. Heather is decked out in masculine greys and tartans, with a working fireplace for chilly evenings, while Orange Blossom comes in elegant blue and orange with mid-century modern pieces. Both rooms can be set up as twins if required.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• WiFi

Eating

Wander downstairs each morning and you’ll find an extensive buffet spread laid out in the breakfast room, which is decorated in soft-but-striking greys and yellows, with jazzy gold pendant lights hanging low over marble-topped tables. There are cereals and pastries, cold cuts and cheeses, jams and membrillo, fruits and yoghurts (including soya-based options), a daily changing juice (pineapple and strawberry when we stayed), and fresh tea and coffee. The highlight for us was the range of local herb-infused honeys - delicious when drizzled over a chunk of still-warm bread. Sink into an easy chair as scented candles glow around you, or take your plate out to the patio and eat under the sun; either way, it’s a lovely start to the day.

No other meals are served at Aguamel, but free homemade cake is provided every afternoon (the signature honey cake is particularly tempting), and complimentary coffee is always available. You can also help yourself to soft drinks from the fridge (there's an honesty system in place), and you're welcome to store your own wine and snacks here, too.

When it comes to eating out, Sintra is packed with choices. We headed a couple of doors along to Restaurante Dona Maria, where tables spill out from frescoed dining rooms onto a pretty terrace strung with fairylights. Here, we tucked into bacalhau, crisp vinho verde and a local version of fondue made from herb-laden cheese, and watched the sun dip behind the rooftops into the distant sea - an unforgettable evening.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Wander Sintra’s steep, cobbled streets, lined with pastel-coloured houses dripping with jacaranda flowers, and browse the shops selling reclaimed azulejos and lace-fringed linens
  
• There are a couple of interesting little museums to look out for on your way around: the Museu de Arte Moderna, and the Museu de História Natural (fossilised dinosaur eggs and flying reptiles)
  
• Visit the 14th-century Palácio Nacional, whose conical chimneys dominate the town’s skyline; highlights include the ornately tiled Arab Room and the Magpie Room, painted with hundreds of rose-bearing birds
  
• Spend a few hours getting lost in Quinta da Regaleira, a rambling garden hiding grottos, moss-covered towers, waterfalls and secret underground passageways that look like they’ve come straight out of a Harry Potter novel
  
• Hop on a bus (or, if you’re feeling romantic, a horse-drawn carriage) and wind your way up to Castelo dos Mouros behind town, whose jagged ramparts offer views that stretch for miles
  
• Head to the pink and yellow Palácio da Pena on the next hill. Its gargoyle-covered 19th-century façade is quite a sight
  
• Visit the eerie Convento dos Capuchos, an abandoned monastery just outside town with cork-lined cells and derelict chapels scattered across silent woodland
  
• Take a trip to the nearby coast, strung with surf-pounded beaches (including Praia da Ursa, famed for its wind-sculpted rock formations) and pretty seaside towns such as Azenhas do Mar, which clings to a cliff above the waves
  
• Cooking classes, wine tasting, horse riding and mountain biking are all available nearby, too

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Mountain biking
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Wine tasting

Kids

The peaceful, romantic atmosphere at Aguamel is best suited to couples, but children are allowed. There are no extra beds, so they’ll need their own room. Guests must inform the owners if they are bringing their children.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Aguamel is located on a cobbled pedestrianised square in the heart of Sintra, 30km northwest of Lisbon and 12km from the coast.

By Air:
Lisbon Portela Airport is only 29km away and is served by flights from across Europe and beyond - click on the links below for a list of airlines.

From the Airport
Hire a car (see below) or book an airport transfer (see Rates). If you’re visiting in summer, it’s worth considering the latter, as parking on Sintra’s narrow streets can be very difficult.

By Train:
Sintra is served by regular trains from Lisbon’s Rossio, Sete Rios, Entre Campos and Roma-Areeiro stations. The journey takes less than 45 minutes.

By Car:
Having a car can be useful for exploring the wider area, but Sintra is clogged with traffic in summer, and most local sights are easily explored on foot or by public transport. If you do want to hire a car, see our car rental recommendations. The B&B has no parking, so you’ll need to find a space on the road nearby and walk a short way to the entrance.

Detailed directions will be provided when you confirm a booking through i-escape.

More on getting to Portugal and getting around