19 Best Things to Do in Sintra

Colourful, whimsical Sintra must be one of Portugal's most unusual destinations. While just a short distance from Lisbon and Cascais, it has an atmosphere all of its own. This is largely a result of the city's extraordinary assortment of castles, palaces and green spaces. So special are they, that much of Sintra has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The one that is sure to bring a smile to your face is the Romanticist design of Pena National Palace, which stands proud on a hill overlooking the town. In form it lies somewhere between a child's fantasy and Disney fairy-tale castle. Visible from Lisbon on clear days, it also acts as a perfect introduction to the natural beauty of the 145 square kilometre Sintra-Cascais Nature Park, which includes some simply exquisite beaches whether you're looking for family-friendly sands or tiny hidden coves and the rocks.

Showing 1 - 15 of 19

1. Pena National Palace

Pena Palace
IPPA/António Sacchetti

No visit to Sintra would be complete without spending some time marvelling at the enchanting Palacio Nacional da Pena. This canary-yellow and terracotta coloured former palace is perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the town and is an eclectic mix of different styles of architecture which somehow or other manage to blend beautifully together.
In the 16th century the building that stood here was a relatively humble monastery, dedicated to the Order of Saint Jerome and housing only 18 monks. The monastery was all but flattened by the powerful...
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2. Castle of the Moors

Set high on the Serra de Sintra is the towns oldest monument, the Castleo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle). The ruined ramparts of this ancient castle hug the hilltop, spanning two of its highest pinnacles and incorporating the rocky outcrops into its walls. The castle is believed to date back to the 8th or 9th century when large swathes of Portugal were occupied by the Moors. However, the castle fell back under Christian rule when Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques, reconquered it 1147. Aided by Scandinavian crusaders this was a major victory in the reconquest of Portugal and can't have...
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3. Quinta da Regaleira

Quinta da Regaleira
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This lavish, gothic-style mansion, set in equally fascinating grounds is close to the historic centre of Sintra. Known locally as the “palace of Monteiro the millionaire”, the estate was bought by Antonio Carvalho Monteiro, an altruistic, if rather eccentric entomologist with a fascination for all things esoteric. With the help of Italian architect Luigi Manini, he set about transforming the villa and surrounding estate into the intriguing place we see today.
The Regaleira Palace itself is built in the Neo-Manueline architectural style;...
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4. Sintra National Palace

National Palace - Sintra
IPPA/Jose Manuel

The Sintra National Palace sits in the historic town of Sintra, about 10 kilometres north of the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. It is the only royally-owned medieval palace in Portugal which has survived until the present day. This is the place which Portuguese Royals would have called home for more of their history than anywhere else; they resided here from its construction in the early 15th century until the late 19th century.
Originally this was the site of a Moorish palace dating back to the time when North African Muslims dominated the...
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5. Elétrico de Sintra Trams

Sintra - Praia das Macas Tram
Alain GAVILLET | BY-SA

This vintage narrow-gauge tramway connects Sintra with the lively coastal resort of Praia das Macas, 14 kilometres to the west. The line dates back to 1904 and the open red, wooden carriages are a favourite with younger visitors.
Don't expect modern comforts or an efficient journey. In the height of the summer season there can be a long wait to board the tram and queue jumpers can be an annoyance. The journey itself can be quite hair-raising, with plenty of sudden jolts and stops accompanied by the screech of noisy...
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Sintra

Railways
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6. Sintra Town Hall

Sintra Town Hall

Visitors flock to the UNESCO-protected World Heritage Site town of Sintra to admire the stunning collection of palaces and villas built as country retreats for the wealthy, amongst the wooded hills and beautiful vistas of the Serra de Sintra. Just below the Palacio Nacional de Sintra stands a lavish Neo-Gothic building with elaborately decorated spires. Is this yet another castle, or maybe a church? No, it’s simply the Câmara Municipal de Sintra - the local town hall.
Looking more like a...
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7. Monserrate Palace

Monserrate Palace
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This exotic palace was Built in 1858 for English nobleman, Sir Francis Cook. The Moghul-inspired features are not out of place alongside other examples Romanticism in Sintra
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8. Seteais Palace

Palacio de Seteais - Sintra
Can Stock Photo Inc

This 18th century neoclassical palace was built for the then Dutch Consul. It later came into the hands of the 5th Marquis of Marialva who extended it significantly, adding the arch in 1802.
The Seteais Palace occupies a prime position on the edge of the Serra de Sintra overlooking the countryside and town. It is surounded by extensive gardens with many fruit trees and features inspired by the then popular Romantic movement.
In 1946 the Palacio de Seteais was acquired by the Portuguese government becoming a hotel in 1954. It is now the five star Tivoli-Palacio de Seteais...
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9. Convento dos Capuchos

Convento dos Capuchos
User:W.Rebel | BY-SA

If you’re looking to escape from Sintra's well-trodden tourist hotspots, and find a quiet, contemplative spot, this former monastery is just the spot. Almost hidden in a shroud of greenery, it gives a glimpse of the simple lifestyle of 16th century Franciscan monks and an opportunity to get away from it all.
The Convento dos Capuchos in the Serra de Sintra National Park was founded in 1560 and provided a place of retreat and penance. In the 1830's, anti-clerical reforms led to the banning of many Portuguese religious orders and their assets were...
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10. Cabo da Roca

Cabo da Roca
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The rocky headland of Cabo da Roca , 40 kilometres southwest of Lisbon, has the distinction of being the most westerly point of mainland Europe and the Eurasian landmass and there is a monument here to tell you just that. To make sure you are still in no doubt, certificates to prove you have been here can be bought from the souvenir shop.
The stunning view from the 144 metre-high (500ft) granite cliffs takes in the Serra de Sintra, the big open sky and the crashing waves of the seemingly endless Atlantic Ocean. No wonder it was once thought that this place...
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11. Estoril Casino

Casino do Estoril
kenward | BY-SA

Whilst maybe not quite as glitzy as Las Vegas the Casino in Estoril is reputed to be the largest in Europe. Whether or not this is still case the casino is definitely big, offering over 1,000 slot machines. Game tables include roulette, blackjack, banca francesa, punto banco, baccarat and poker.
In addition to the gambling on offer the casino is also an entertainment venue with events held in the 1,000 seat Salão Preto e Prata There is also an auditorium where concerts are held and an art gallery with permanent painting and sculpture exhibitions.
Estoril Casino is also home...
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12. Mafra National Palace

Mafra National Palace

Built in the Baroque and neoclassical style the enormous palace / monastery dwarfs the town of Mafra. At the time of its construction in the 18th century this was one of the largest buildings in Europe
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13. Queluz National Palace

Queluz National Palace

The Palace at Queluz was built in the latter half of the 18th century from a design by two of the periods most esteemed architects; Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Robillon and the Portuguese Mateus Vicente de Oliveira. Together they created this "Portuguese Versailles" in the Rococo style as a manor house for King Pedro II.
During the reign of Maria I (1777-99) Queluz becamethe official residence of the Royal family. Unfortunately for Maria I she is largely remembered for her bouts of mania followed by slumps into prolonged depressions.
The main façade of the palace is relatively...
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14. Museum of the Sea

Museu do Mar

The Museu do Mar, Rei D. Carlos, to give it its full name; or the King Carlos Museum of the Sea is set near the centre of Cascais. It is a modern museum (opened in 1992) that embraces both traditional and modern multimedia style exhibitions.
Much of the museum's content relates to Cascais' relationship with the sea, although a good deal of this applies to the sea in general.
The museum is split into several themed rooms set over a couple of floors. Amongst the more local themes is the Cascais shipwrecks theme with exhibits recovered from some of the numerous wrecks along this...
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15. Cidadela de Cascais

Cidadela de Cascais

This 15th century citadel, overlooking Cascais marina at the mouth of the Tejo Estuary, has played a crucial role in the history of Portugal, having witnessed fights against pirates as well as battles against Spanish and French forces.
The original fort and tower, Torre de Santo Antonio de Cascais was built on the orders of King John II of Portugal and completed in 1490, as part of a series of defensive positions to protect the city of Lisbon from invasion by sea. But in 1580 the defences proved inadequate to resist invasion by the Duke of Alba, who...
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