If you’re heading to Lisbon and looking for attractions nearby, you’ll definitely come across Sintra. I know many tourists wonder whether to visit Sintra, mainly because of its numerous palaces but also its incredibly beautiful surroundings. Sintra rightfully earned its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Surrounding the town is the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, which encompasses the picturesque Sintra Mountains, so besides the historic sites, you can also expect numerous hiking trails.
Welcome to my guide to Sintra and its surroundings. However, I’d like to point out that this place holds many more attractions that are less known but equally interesting.
Table of Contents
Sintra – Old Town
The Old Town in Sintra has an extraordinary atmosphere. I know, you could use that phrase for thousands of other cities, so let me explain what makes Sintra special. Sintra’s Old Town, also known as Vila Velha, is the historical center of the city. The Sintra Town Hall is a beautiful neo-Gothic building with a clock tower adorned with the Portuguese coat of arms. Here, you can admire sculptures by local artists and find numerous cafes and restaurants. But Sintra is not just about stunning architecture; it’s about the atmosphere. In autumn, the scent of roasted chestnuts fills the air, and life flows slowly. No one is rushing anywhere. You feel like you’ve stepped back in time, as if nothing has changed on this old square for hundreds of years. It may not be much, but for me, it’s reason enough to go back there.
Sintra National Palace
The Sintra Palace is now a historic museum in Sintra. It was restored in the 1940s by the architect Raul Lino. Today, it is considered the best-preserved medieval royal residence in Portugal. It’s no wonder it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Royal Chapel, dating back to the 14th century, is the oldest surviving part of the palace. Its richly decorated interiors feature many elements of Arabic design, and the cones you can admire from the outside are kitchen chimneys.
The palace is located in the Old Town, so you definitely won’t miss it.
Pena Palace
This is the most recognizable palace in Portugal, known for its vibrant colors, and it has been recognized as one of the seven wonders of Portugal. Pena Palace is incredibly rich, blending a variety of styles, which perfectly fits the exotic tastes of romanticism. The deliberate mix of styles includes neo-Gothic, neo-Moorish, and neo-Renaissance. It also features references to other Portuguese buildings, such as the Belém Tower.
Quinta da Regaleira
It’s not the most popular palace-park complex in Sintra, but it’s definitely worth a visit. I mean, Quinta da Regaleira is known, but it’s less recognized than Pena Palace. In my opinion, this place is magical, especially on cloudy or slightly rainy days. The place is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The palace was designed by Luigi Manini, a renowned Italian architect. It’s amazing, but it’s just the icing on the cake. There’s also a chapel, and what amazed me the most was the park, where you can feel like you’re in an enchanted world, although some consider it kitschy. You’ll find artificial grottos with mysterious, even underground passages, wells that are like inverted towers (you can descend into them), fountains, lakes. Everything is decorated and maintained in a romantic style.
Moorish Castle
As the name suggests, the construction of this castle was started by the Moors. Built on two rocky ridges of the Serra de Sintra mountains, the castle dates back to the 8th century. It was a strategic point during the Reconquista. Today, the castle, in its preserved ruinous form, is also a national monument and part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, inscribed on the UNESCO list. Its picturesque ruins attract tourists from all over the world.
Other Attractions in Sintra
These are not all the attractions of Sintra, so if you’re planning to visit, one day will definitely not be enough. We visited only a part of the attractions, and there’s also the surrounding area, which is incredibly picturesque. I’ll list a few interesting places below.
Not everyone knows that Madonna has a residence in Sintra. She bought it for 7.5 million euros, and today its value is much higher. Quinta do Relógio is located in the center of Sintra. The property has seven bedrooms, three living rooms, and a large garden, but of course, you can’t enter its grounds. 😊
Other Castles and Palaces in Sintra:
• Monserrate Palace
• Seteais Palace
• Quinta do Relógio
• Queluz Royal Palace
Nossa Senhora da Peninha Chapel
There are plenty of attractions around Sintra. And if you want to see something extraordinary, mark this place on your map. Nossa Senhora da Peninha Chapel is a place of worship that continues not only religious but also magical traditions. It’s worth reading about the legend associated with this place, about the poor shepherd who saved the local community from famine. The chapel also serves as a picturesque viewpoint offering the most extensive panoramas of Cascais and the ocean.
Quinta do Pisão Farm
This place covers an area of about 380 hectares within the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. A visit to Quinta do Pisão farm is an unforgettable experience. The farm specializes in agriculture and animal husbandry. We have the opportunity to explore vast areas, following designated paths, and also to meet animals: farm animals like donkeys, but also wild ones, described on individual informational signs.
Barreira Megalithic Complex
Located on a wooded hill, this complex consists of about twenty menhirs and other monumental stones. The central menhir reaches about four meters in height, while the other stones gradually decrease in height. Although no carved or painted symbols were found, several small round indentations, probably representing eyes, were discovered.
Cabo da Roca
If you’re in Sintra, it’s worth heading to the coast to see Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe. Here is also the second oldest lighthouse on the Portuguese coast, dating back to 1772.
Where to Eat in Sintra?
For lunch, we went to Café Paris restaurant, right next to Sintra National Palace. It’s the most famous restaurant in Sintra, operating since 1945. It has hosted members of royal families from various European countries, heads of states, writers, artists, and now it can host us, tourists. The dining room retains the French palace style from the 18th century.
Prices here are, of course, higher; it’s a tourist spot, but everything was really delicious.
For appetizers, I recommend crispy shrimp and olives. For the main course, I recommend the cod with roasted potatoes. And for dessert, I don’t remember what I had, but it was delicious! Plus, verde wine (my favorite type in Portugal).
Where to Stay in Sintra?
In Sintra and its surroundings, you’ll find a variety of accommodations: hotels, guesthouses, or apartments. There are plenty of them, but in the summer season, it’s better to book in advance, especially if you want a good quality-to-price ratio.
You’ll find the best accommodations in Sintra here:
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