Sintra

1. Quinta da Regaleira

Having been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, Quinta da Regaleira has a history that dates back to the 1800s. The quinta, or estate, is one of Sintra’s most popular tourist attractions and allows people to step back in time and better understand the rich history.

You’ll be able to explore key aspects such as the Gothic-style palace which has five floors of rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, game rooms, and more.

Other features include a chapel and a luxurious park with fountains, grottoes, lakes, wells, sculptures, and an aquarium. A unique feature is the estate park’s extensive system of tunnels which has multiple entry points from the chapel, cave, and lake.

Address: R. Barbosa du Bocage 5, 2710-567 Sintra, Portugal, Phone: +35-12-19-10-66-50

2. Park and National Palace of Pena

The Park and National Palace of Pena can be found standing tall on top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains. On a clear day, you can see the palace from Lisbon and a majority of the metropolitan area, but it’s beauty can only truly be appreciated up close.

The inside of the national monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site is filled with amazing stuccos, various revetments in tile from the 19th century, and painted walls in trompe-l’oeil.

Visitors usually spend hours afterwards exploring the surrounding forested area, Pena Park, which spans for over 200 hectares and a vast array of terrain.

Address: Estrada da Pena, 2710-609 Sintra, Portugal, Phone: +35-12-19-23-73-00

3. Moorish Castle

The Moorish Castle can be found in the heart of Sintra’s central Portuguese civil parish of Santa Maria e Sao Miguel.

The medieval castle was built by the Moors in the 8th and 9th century to be used as an important strategic point during Reconquista.

Over the years the castle had been lost to invading Almoravid, surrendered to Christian forces, and even housed a chapel which became the parish seat. Today, the castle is one of Sintra’s most visited attractions.

You will be able to see the double line of granite military walls, the stunning chapel ruins with its arched doorway, and some stunning animal motifs on gryphons and basilisks.

Address: 2710-405 Sintra, Portugal, Phone: +35-12-19-23-73-00

4. Park and Palace of Monserrate

Situated on the banks of the Portuguese Riviera, Park and Palace of Monserrate is a palatial villa used as the traditional summer resort of the Portuguese court.

Renowned British architect, James Thomas Knowles, began working on the eclectic architectural structure in 1863; prior to that the site was said to house a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Visitors love learning about Monserrate’s history and taking in design aspects such as the Mudejar Moorish Revival architecture and Neo-Gothic elements.

Afterwards, take a walk around the surrounding park which is filled with grottoes, fountains, lakes, and springs. You’ll also see tons of trees and plants like tree ferns from New Zealand and yuccas from Mexico in the flourishing gardens.

Address: 2710-405 Sintra, Portugal, Phone: +35-12-19-23-73-00

5. Casa Piriquita

Casa Piriquita was originally opened in 1862 as a bakery owned and operated by husband and wife team Amaro dos Santos and Constancia Gomes. Today, over five generations of the family have maintained the secrets of their products, ingredients, and techniques which make their concoctions so renowned.

Be sure to try their travesseiros, which was developed by Constancia Cunha, the granddaughter of the family, and is a pastry stuffed with sweet eggs and has a hint of almonds. Other popular Piriquita pastries and sweets are the queijadas, the nozes douradas, and the pasteis de cruz alta.

Address: Rua das Padarias 1/18, 2710-603 Sintra, Phone: +35-12-19-23-06-26

6. Beaches in Sintra

Sintra is home to so many wonderful beaches where you can spend the day basking in the sun, take a dip in the water to cool off, or test your limits with some exhilarating water activities.

Praia das Macas, or Apple Beach, is one of the most popular choices as you can take in striking views of Lisbon from the beach. Praia Grande is a good choice if you’re traveling with little kids and prefer amenities such as nearby shops and restaurants.

For a more secluded and romantic experience, try out Praia da Adraga which is a little cove surrounded by deep valleys, high cliffs, and a stunning panorama of the water.

7. Cabo da Roca

Cabo da Roca is a gorgeous cape which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. It can be found on the westernmost point of the Sintra Mountain Range and within the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.

Be sure to take along your camera because you’ll want to take pictures of the stunning panoramic views of towering granite boulders and sea cliffs that surround you. Other aspects also include a beautiful monument which marks the westernmost point of continental Europe and the breathtaking and historic Cabo da Roca lighthouse.

You’ll run into a lot of the local flora and fauna during your visit to Cabo da Roca as well - keep an eye out for unique residential and migratory marine birds.

Address: Estrada do Cabo da Roca s/n, 2705-001 Colares, Portugal, Phone: +35-12-19-28-00-81

8. Curral dos Caprinos

No vacation is complete without indulging in the local cuisine, and there’s no better or more authentic restaurant to try the best of Portuguese food than at Curral dos Caprinos.

The restaurant initially opened in 1971 and has kept its doors open to locals and visitors since then. The restaurant itself is beautiful and is surrounded by the lush pastures of the Sintra Hills.

All of their dishes are inspired by traditional Portuguese cuisine, using only original ingredients and techniques.

Some of their specialty dishes are their fried mushrooms and prawns tossed in a creamy sauce, the grilled alheira which is a type of Portuguese sausage, and the Special House Kebab which has prawns, pork, and beef tenderloin cutlets.

Address: R. 28 de Setembro, 2710-125 Sintra, Portugal, Phone: +35-12-19-23-31-13