Trip to the City of Sintra and Its Surroundings
General
Sintra is one of the most visited cities in Portugal. This is due both to its proximity to Lisbon (about a forty-minute drive by car or train) and to the many impressive palaces in the town and its immediate surroundings. The abundance of palaces stems from the fact that during Portugal's monarchy, Sintra served as the summer resort for the royal family and nobility.
The town and its cultural landscape were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995.
Recommended Accommodations in Sintra
I recommend staying two to three days at a hotel near Sintra to explore it and its surrounding area leisurely. Recommended hotels:
♦ Penha Longa Resort - The best and most stunning hotel in Sintra, where staying is an experience in itself. A luxurious 5-star resort belonging to The Ritz-Carlton (of the Marriott chain). The resort spreads across a vast area and was built on a historic site featuring numerous antiquities and a monastery. The hotel offers three swimming pools (one indoor), golf courses, tennis courts, a kids' club, playgrounds, plenty of restaurants (including two with Michelin stars), beautiful gardens, a well-preserved historic monastery, and many walking trails among antiquities and lush vegetation with magnificent views. Spending time and walking through the grounds is just as enjoyable as visiting the palaces of Sintra. The hotel features an abundance of charming statues and lovely paintings. Free Wi-Fi and parking.
It is recommended to stay here for several days as there is so much to see and do in the immediate area around Sintra within less than an hour's drive.
♦ Tivoli Palácio de Seteais Sintra Hotel - The Leading Hotels of the World – A luxurious and elegant 5-star spa hotel in a perfect location: opposite Quinta da Regaleira, near the town of Sintra. The hotel features a swimming pool and tennis courts, and offers a wide variety of activities for guests. It also features a spa with a range of treatments, a restaurant, and is surrounded by expansive gardens. Free Wi-Fi and parking.
♦ Arribas Sintra Hotel – A 4-star hotel located right on Praia Grande, the closest beach to Sintra. The hotel features a huge swimming pool (with seawater) right on a vast beach, as well as a children's pool, spacious rooms overlooking the sea, a restaurant, and a gym. Free Wi-Fi and parking.
♦ Villa Bela Vista – A high-quality bed and breakfast in an excellent location in Sintra close to some of the palaces, offering a variety of rooms including family and accessible rooms. The property features a games room, terrace, gardens, and scenic views. Free Wi-Fi. Parking available for an extra charge.
♦ Storytellers Villas – A boutique aparthotel immersed in greenery in the town of Sintra in a great location, featuring one-bedroom apartments, two-bedroom apartments, and a two-bedroom villa suitable for 4–7 guests. Each apartment has a fully equipped kitchen. The hotel includes a bar and offers guests excellent breakfasts and a variety of activities. Free Wi-Fi and parking.
Getting There:
You can reach Sintra by train, rental car, or on a half-day or full-day guided tour from Lisbon.
Since the entire Sintra area has serious parking problems, it is advisable to stay in the Sintra area and take a guided tour locally.
For those staying in Lisbon, it is best to travel to Sintra on a guided tour from Lisbon, or take the train to Sintra and hire a tuk-tuk or other transport on-site to take you between the castles and main attractions.
Recommended Guided Tours in Sintra:
♦ To book through Viator: Small-group guided day trip from Lisbon to Sintra and Cascais:
Sintra and Cascais Small-Group Day Trip from Lisbon, the tour departs from central Lisbon and lasts about 8 hours.
♦ Tour from Lisbon to Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira estate (including admission tickets), Sintra town center, Cabo da Roca, and the beach: Sintra Tour with Pena Palace & Regaleira Tickets Included
This is a small-group tour of up to 8 people departing from Lisbon and lasting about 8 hours.
Sintra's Most Famous Palaces:
Pena Palace (Palácio da Pena)
The most famous and visited of all is the colorful Pena Palace.
The palace, painted entirely in bright yellow and pink, looks like something straight out of a children's fairy tale. Indeed, visiting the palace and its surrounding park evokes a magical atmosphere: wooden bridges, numerous statues, lush greenery, gorgeous gardens, and small ponds with swans are all part of the site's charm. In addition, you can tour the palace interior and its lavish rooms. A visit to the palace and park takes about two to three hours. You can purchase a ticket for just the park or a combined ticket for both the park and the palace itself. Tickets must be booked online in advance for a specific time slot, which designates your entry time into the palace. Keep in mind that it takes about half an hour to walk from the park entrance up to the palace. Entry into the palace is not allowed before or after your booked time slot.
The palace is located about a fifteen-minute drive south of Sintra's center and about 45 minutes from Lisbon.
In recent years, lines for this palace have become quite long, and there are severe parking issues around it.
For those who prefer less crowded spots (or those who have already visited Pena Palace), it is recommended to visit one of the other palaces in the Sintra area. All the palaces are surrounded by beautiful gardens, and it is well worth dedicating time to the grounds as well as the buildings themselves. Two recommended palaces, each requiring at least two to three hours (book tickets in advance to save time in line), are:
Monserrate Palace (Palácio de Monserrate)
Monserrate Palace is located about a fifteen-minute drive west of Sintra.
The palace and its beautiful surrounding gardens were built in the 19th century by wealthy British industrialist and art collector Francis Cook. The site features botanical gardens with diverse plant life from across the globe, signposted walking trails leading to rose gardens, Mexican gardens, a fern valley, a café, and of course the impressive hilltop palace itself.
Quinta da Regaleira Estate
The estate is located about one kilometer (a 15-minute walk) west of the historic center of Sintra.
The estate is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It features an impressive five-story palace with ornate turrets, a beautiful chapel decorated with frescoes and stained-glass windows, and a park primarily filled with mature trees, gardens, ancient structures, and a remarkable deep well (considered the main attraction of the site).
National Palace of Sintra (Palácio Nacional de Sintra)
Palace enthusiasts can also combine a visit to the Palácio Nacional de Sintra, located in the historic town center, which served as a royal palace until the early 20th century. The palace features an "Armory Room" containing numerous historical weapons belonging to the royal family.
It is also worth visiting the Moorish Castle located in the town, whose defensive walls offer magnificent panoramic views stretching all the way to the sea.
The Old Town of Sintra
After visiting the palaces, it is lovely to wander through the narrow alleyways of the Old Town, which are lined with an assortment of cafés, restaurants, and shops.
It is well worth tasting the local cherry liqueur served in a chocolate cup (available on almost every corner in town for 1 to 1.50 Euros), and enjoying a traditional pastry at the historic bakery named Piriquita. It usually has long lines, but if so, just about 50 meters up the same street there is a second branch called Piriquita 2. Be sure to order Travesseiros ("pillows" — puff pastries filled with sweet egg and almond cream) and Queijadinha (a delicious sweet cheese tart).
Jeep Tour in the Sintra Area:
A fantastic way to explore the Sintra region is on a 4-hour guided jeep tour. You travel up through the mountains along tracks accessible only to off-road vehicles, driving through forests with scenic vistas of palaces and castles on one side, and ocean beaches and cliffs on the other.
The tour reaches hidden beaches that are difficult to access by standard car. Just as importantly: during the tour, you can visit one of the palaces near Sintra without having to search for parking (which is no simple feat).
A reliable and high-quality company for booking tours across Portugal, including the Sintra jeep tour, is:
Portugal Travel Center – Excellent guides, comfortable vehicles, and outstanding service!
Cabo da Roca
About a half-hour drive (17 km) west of the town of Sintra lies the westernmost point of mainland Europe. It is a historic site featuring a lighthouse (closed to visitors), a monument, and a short walking trail offering sweeping views over the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding coastal cliffs. A charming stop that pairs perfectly with a visit to Sintra or nearby coastal towns.
The Coastal Town of Ericeira
Ericeira is a delightful seaside resort town in western Portugal with about 10,000 residents, renowned for its prime surfing beaches. The town is located about a half-hour drive (25 km) north of Sintra and 45 minutes (50 km) northwest of Lisbon.
The town has a comfortable pedestrian trail connecting its scenic beaches, which also passes along hotels and seaside cafés.
The town center is situated right next to the beaches, and it is a pleasure to stroll along the bustling pedestrian mall among a variety of shops and wonderful (and affordable) bakeries. Most buildings in town are whitewashed with blue trim, and some are decorated with traditional Portuguese tiles (azulejos). It is a sweet seaside town that pairs wonderfully with a visit to Sintra or Óbidos, and an especially rewarding destination for surfers and beach lovers.
Decorated houses in Ericeira:
Murals in Ericeira:
Square: Praça da República
For more information on other guided tours in Lisbon and outside the city, see the article: Guided Tours and Excursions in Lisbon and Its Surroundings
Or for information about Lisbon itself, see the article: The Traveler's Guide to Lisbon