What is So Special About Sintra?

So what is so special about Sintra? A celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Site of significant historical importance and one of the seven wonders of Portugal, Sintra lies just a half hour drive from Lisbon. The most popular day trip from Lisbon, Sintra offers a multitude of magical activities that realistically require more than just one day but we have highlighted our top 5 options and some suggestions on how to combine these together to create the perfect day trip. Sintra’s combination of natural wonders, romantic architecture and rich history really offer something for everyone. A few important things to note about Sintra and why this medieval city is so special:

1. Sintra is not easy to navigate by car. Many roads including the road to Pena Palace are not open to private cars. Traveling by train or parking your car at the train station lot will be your best bet if you choose to explore Sintra at your own pace without a tour. From there use Ubers or Tuk Tuks to get around Sintra. Tuk tuks (cute, small golf cart like vehicles) typically only take Euros not a credit cards so best to ensure you have some Euros with you before arriving in Sintra. 50 euros should be enough to get you around the city for the day. Plan to negotiate a little with your driver to get a reasonable rate. We chose to take a tour of the city via tuk tuk because we did not have a full day. This is an expensive option ($100pp for 2 hours) but allowed us to see a variety of sites and get the knowledge from a guide. Note: You do not get entrance to any of the listed sites but was a nice option to get an overview of the city and we still had time to tour the grounds of Pena Palace in a half day. You will most likely be approached by these tour operators as you walk through town. If you plan to enter at least 2 of the listed sites it is better to simply get an uber or tuk tuk from site to site.

2. Sintra is special because it has its own microclimate. Don’t expect the weather to be the same in Sintra as Lisbon. Bring layers and prepare for the possibility of fog and showers. Don’t be disappointed in the fog, it lends a certain magical quality to Pena and the fog most likely will lift- be patient! This specific microclimate supports a variety of plant growth and allows so many varieties of plants to thrive from all over the world!

3. Sintra continues to gain popularity. Plan your visit ahead of time and purchase tickets before your arrival as many of the attractions will sell out same day. Book as early in the day as possible as the crowds will continue to build throughout the day, especially in high season. We visited in February and May and both were manageable with crowds but there is significant traffic entering and exiting this small city so leave time and be prepared to wait in lines if visiting during high season.

1. Palacio Nacional da Pena a.k.a. Pena Palace

Arguably the most iconic attraction of Sintra is Pena Palace or Palacio Nacional Da Pena. One of the most photographed castles in Europe with its bold red, yellow and blue exterior; Pena Palace is a must see when visiting Sintra. Not to be confused with the National Palace of Sintra, Pena palace sits high above Sintra on a mountain top. On my first visit to Sintra I confused the two palaces and did not allow ample time to get up the mountain. As a result, we missed our timed entrance but after some begging and some puppy eyes were allowed entrance at an alternate time slot. Plan at least an extra hour from the time you arrive in Sintra to reach Pena Palace, especially if you have a timed ticket for the Palace. Even after entrance through the main gate, you will need another 20 minutes to walk up the rest of the way or wait for a shuttle to bring you to the top.

There are two types of tickets that you can purchase to tour Pena Palace. One is a timed ticket that will afford you entrance inside the palace and the second is a ticket that will allow you access to the grounds only. The interior tour can take upwards of an hour and a half so if you are not interested in the history of Ferdinand the II or the royalty story, you may want to forgo the interior tour and add on another attraction to your plans. You can still access key vistas of the castle with the grounds only ticket. See below for some photographs taken with a “Grounds Only” pass.

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Timed Tickets Tour Inside the Palace

If you have never toured a European Castle before and have the time to tour the interior of Pena Palace, you will step back in time into a Portuguese type “Bridgeton” vibe. It is quite fascinating to learn of Ferdinand II and his eccentric and creative hopes and dreams for Pena. Built between 1842 and 1854 by German architect Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege. The castle as a gift to his first wife and the gardens a gift to his second wife.

“Today is the happiest day of my life. Sintra is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. This is a true Garden of Klingsor and there, up above, is the castle of the Holy Grail.”

Composer Richard Strauss

The Gardens of Pena Palace

The gardens of Pena or Parque da Pena are equally impressive to the magnificence of the castle itself. Covering over 500 acres with over 2,000 species of plants and trees from all over the world, the Parque da Pena deserves a few additional hours to explore. Visiting in May offered stunning views of the gardens in full bloom. After visiting the castle/palace, walk down by way of the Camino dos Lagos (Blue trail) that will exit you from the park a short way down the mountain and allow you to grab an uber or Tuk Tuk to return to the town square.

2. Quinta da Regaleira

Our second top pick would be Quinta Da Regaleira for its stunning architecture and initiation well. Owned by a family of wealthy merchants and then sold to Carvalho Monteiro in 1892- this 4 hectare estate reflects symbolism of alchemy, Masonry and the Knights of Templar. Architect Luigi Manini re-created the origins of the Regaleira Estate and its gardens and grounds. The initiation well was not actually a well at all but meant to represent the 9 circles of Dante’s Inferno. Mystical and mysterious, the Quinta Da Regaleira should round out your day in Sintra and offers beautiful gardens and unique architecture.

3. Castle of the Moors

Sitting adjacent to Pena Palace lies the Castle of the Moors. Built by the Moors in the 8th and 9th Century and conquered by the Christians in 1147. Ungoing numerous re-models and refurbishments, the Castle of the Moors remains an icon of history. Unless the history fascinates you, we recommend observing this wonder from afar but taking note of its rich history and resilience through the test of time.

4. Town Square Sintra

Make sure you leave a little time to grab a bite to eat and wander the backroads of this charming town square. Although a little “touristy” in my book, it’s worth grabbing a pastry and cold drink and wandering through the streets for its old world charm.

5. Seteais Palace

No entrance fee or lines but the Seteais Palace, now the Tivoli Palacio de Seteasis Hotel has some nice viewpoints and an archway with a perfect view of Pena Palace.

In Conclusion:

Sintra is certainly worth the hype and a wonderful day trip from Lisbon. With a little planning for navigating through the city, you will have the option of a variety of stops on your adventures through Sintra. If we had more time, I would recommend spending the morning on a tour of Pena Palace Grounds ( I would skip the interior tour) and Quinta da Regaleria with a light lunch in town and then the afternoon on a drive tour of the coastal towns like Caiscais on your way back to Lisbon. We already had a rental car but if we were staying in Lisbon without a car, a full day guided tour is an economical option. We ran out of time and energy for the coastal town option but hope to return to explore some of the surrounding areas near Sintra on a future visit!