Sintra is often a day trip for tourists staying in Lisbon, but actually the sights and sounds of Sintra are well worth a weekend visit, or even longer. Sintra covers several small towns and a large slice of the Portuguese coastline, offering amazing views throughout the year.
It is often referred to as the capital of romance, and with its often-surreal qualities you can certainly see why. Each palace looks completely unique, set amongst beautiful wooded landscapes littered with exotic plants. A stunning place to explore.
The small the town is very pretty and offers some incredible views of the surrounding countryside with lovely restaurants and quaint cafes – you could easily fritter the day away here.
If you’re into art then you’ll love the Sintra Museum of Modern Art, with lots of eye-catching works. Or head along the road towards Sintra-Cascais Natural Park where contemporary pieces line the streets. Sintra is a great place to go souvenir shopping too, or to try the speciality local pastry – the scrumptiously delicious Queijida de Sintra.
You might even discover hidden gardens, and yet more palaces throughout the town centre. Everything is accessible by foot, but wear comfortable walking shoes to really enjoy the local vicinity. Although the Monserrate Palace and Park is a little further out of the town it’s still worth a visit with its gothic, Asian and Arabic influences.
If you have a head for heights go along to the Moorish Castle where spectacular views add to the atmosphere. Pena Palace is also close by and worth visiting but bear in mind it can be very windy, so dress warm!
In our opinion, Sintra is one of the very best places to visit in Portugal. It is a popular tourist destination, so it’s busy. But if you don’t mind sharing it’s a place that wont disappoint.
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