Sintra walking tour & city guide
Fairytale palaces and mysterious gardens in the hills near Lisbon.
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Sintra, in the forested hills about 40 minutes from Lisbon, looks like something from a storybook. Portuguese kings and aristocrats built colorful palaces, castles and romantic gardens here, and the whole area is a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape.
Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle
Pena Palace, perched on a hilltop, is one of the most famous buildings in Portugal. Built in the 19th century for King Ferdinand II, it mixes Gothic, Manueline and Moorish styles in bright red and yellow, surrounded by a vast park of exotic trees and lakes.
On a neighboring ridge, the Moorish Castle, built in the 8th and 9th centuries, winds along the rocks with battlements offering sweeping views to the Atlantic.
Quinta da Regaleira and the town
Quinta da Regaleira is a mysterious estate filled with grottoes, tunnels, towers and symbolic gardens. Its most famous feature is the Initiation Well, a spiral staircase descending deep into the ground, linked to legends of Freemasons and the Knights Templar.
In the historic center, the Sintra National Palace is recognizable by its two giant conical chimneys. The narrow lanes around it are full of cafés and shops selling local pastries. Nearby, Monserrate Palace has exotic gardens and an ornate interior.
Visiting tips
Trains run from Lisbon's Rossio station. Sintra is very popular, so go early, book palace tickets online and use the local buses to reach the hilltop sights. Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, is a short drive away.
Top sights in Sintra
- 1
Pena Palace
A colorful Romanticist palace on a hilltop.
- 2
Quinta da Regaleira
Mysterious gardens and the Initiation Well.
- 3
Moorish Castle
Ancient walls with sweeping views.
- 4
Sintra National Palace
A palace with giant conical chimneys.
- 5
Monserrate Palace
An exotic palace and gardens.
- 6
Cabo da Roca
The westernmost point of continental Europe.
Food markets & where to eat in Sintra
Rua das Padarias
A short street of bakeries famous for Sintra's pastries.
Historic center cafés
Pastries and coffee near the National Palace.
Traditional tascas
Small restaurants with Portuguese home cooking.
Azenhas do Mar
Seafood restaurants in a cliffside village nearby.
Food to try in Sintra
Travesseiros
Puff pastry pillows filled with almond and egg cream.
Queijadas de Sintra
Small cheese tarts with cinnamon.
Grilled fish
From the nearby Atlantic coast.
Ginjinha
A Portuguese cherry liqueur.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Sintra
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in SintraCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Sintra.
- eSIM for PortugalStay online from the moment you land.
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