Sintra is a magnificent town filled with breathtaking historic palaces and castles, all set around the lush tall hills of the Sintra mountains. Once the royal town of the country, Sintra has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status and recognised for its incredible history and cultural importance.
In the 19th century, Sintra became the first centre of European Romantic architecture by Ferdinand II but has an architecture which dates all the way back to the Moorish empire.
Here you can stroll through the cobbly picturesque streets. With some traditional Portuguese cafeterias where you can enjoy a nice coffee with maybe a sweet pastry We recommend trying travesseiro and enjoy the view of this beautiful historic party of town. You can also visit the Museu Anjos Teixeira and the Museu de História Natural to better understand the cultural significance of this town.
A true site alone! Located next to Pena Palace this beautiful garden is packed with life! So many exquisite faunas were brought from North America, Asia, and New Zealand into this park. You can truly get lost in nature here.
Pena Palace is one of Sinatra's biggest tourist attractions (and rightly so). This colorful, romantic palace was designed by the Prussian architect Baron Ludwig von Eshwege and Portuguese architect Possidónio da Silva but the chapel of our lady of Pena attached to the palace originally dates back to the 12th century. You can easily spend a few hours here wandering through the Lush forestry that surrounds the palace before heading inside to be amazed yet again by the outstanding decor and then finish your day at the small outdoor cafe overlooking the hilly forests.
This is the highest point on the Serra mountain at 540 meters, with a unique looking cross created in the early 16th century. Up here you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Serra mountain, the lush forestry surrounding you, and even spot some of the palaces in the distance.
This palace was designed by the British architect James Knowles Junior in the 19th century. The gardens are something of wonder too, with possibly over 3000 exotic species, collected from all parts of the world in it.
One of the oldest castles in Sintra, with evidence of it, used in the 9th century, during the Moorish occupation. Within the castle, you not only get to see amazing views of the town and other castles through the battlements but you can also explore the defensive towers around the castle.
This palace was built in the 20th century and is located in the historic centre. The architecture here is uniquely beautiful with a very gothic feel to it. Home to the famous initiation well, the fact that Quinta da Regaleira is surrounded by woods, caves, lakes, and gardens adds to the appeal of the palace.
This was a functioning royal palace until the early 1900s. Originally built under Moorish rule for sultans, the palace has been remodeled and altered. The palace at a glance looks like something out of a fairytale as it sits next to a river surrounded by lush green forestry.
Queluz National Palace is an 18th-century palace with exuberant architecture. This palace is located a bit further out than the other palaces (22km south) but still worth a visit as its outstanding architecture, monuments and gardens can’t be fully grasped without visiting.
Transportation There are a lot of great transport links in Sintra. The best way to explore the town is by public transport. Busses provide a cheap and great scenic way to see the city. They run very frequently and according to schedule. If you’re up for the challenge walking around this hilly fortress of a town can also be beautiful too! Sintra is in a great location as you’re not too far away from the capital, Lisbon which is only a train ride away.
Weather As Sintra is a region with mountains, vast hills, and along the western coast of Portugal, it can be quite windy, especially the higher up from sea level you are. The average temperature here is 12°. In the summertime temperatures can reach up to 25° whilst in the winter time temperatures can drop to 7°.
Shopping Alegro Sintra is a grand shopping center with a variety of stores. From retail stores, hair and beauty parlors, tech stores, and even grocery stores. This shopping centre should have what you need, It also has a food court, cinema & outdoor playground.
Centro Commercial Beloura is a much quieter shopping centre with a range of more local stores and a good variety of restaurants to lunch, dine or grab a quick bite at.
Restaurants & Bars There are a lot of restaurants and cute cafes scattered around the old town, and they can be quite touristy. We recommend you to try Tulhas or the two Adega do Saloio grill houses.
Airport The closest airport to Sintra is Lisbon international airport which is 35km from Cascais. However, it’s possible to take a train or a taxi to Sintra. There are also direct trains from the airport to Rossio which is where trains to Cascais are available; these scenic train rides typically take around 1 hour
Beaches Praia da Adraga: This is the second-best beach in the town and is said to be one of the best in Portugal! Located on the …. Of Sintra, this beach is the perfect place to go and soak up some sun or surf on those high waves.
Cabo da Roca: Located where the Serra de Sintra sinks dramatically into the ocean. The cape is 140 metres at the top of a granite cliff and with powerful boulders and outcrops pounded by the ocean far below. Though technically not a beach it’s still a pretty sight to see with a beautiful lighthouse.
