There are so many issues to do in Sintra, Portugal. The historical past of the realm dates again to the 1400s when a single monastery was positioned on a hilltop in Sintra throughout medieval instances. When the Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 destroyed many of the metropolis, the realm sat untouched and empty for a few years. It wasn’t till the mid-1800s when one of many King’s sons was so fascinated by the forested space, that his father determined to purchase all the encircling land, and convey it again to life.
Top Things To Do In Sintra, Portugal
Sintra is positioned simply 45 minutes north of the capital metropolis of Portugal, Lisbon. The city has a wealthy historical past and cultural significance, which is mirrored in its many historic castles and palaces, such because the Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle. These buildings are recognized for his or her ornate ornament, historical past, and exquisite places, which supply panoramic views of the encircling space.
In addition to its castles and palaces, Sintra can be recognized for its charming streets and neighborhoods, that are crammed with colourful homes, quaint retailers, and funky eating places. This picturesque city has a relaxed, laid-back ambiance, and it’s a well-liked vacation spot for people who find themselves trying to expertise a extra genuine and conventional aspect of Portugal.
1. Visit Pena Palace
One of the most well-liked sights in Sintra, the Pena Palace is a surprising Nineteenth-century Romantic palace that sits atop a hill overlooking the city. The lavish palace was commissioned by King Ferdinand II and stands proudly over the panorama. We beloved the colourful colours and mixture of architectural types, together with Gothic, Manueline, and Moorish.
Visitors to the Pena Palace can discover the palace’s fantastically embellished rooms, together with the throne room, eating room, and bedrooms. Its setting excessive on a hill will remind you of Ludwig II’s Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. But Pena Castle was truly constructed first!
Pena Park
Pena Palace is surrounded by Pena Park, a fantastically landscaped backyard crammed with unique crops and flowers. The Park is a good place to take a leisurely stroll and benefit from the beautiful views of the encircling countryside.
Tickets for Pena Palace price €7.50 for adults. For guests aged 65 and over and youngsters between the ages of 6 and 17, the fee is €6.50. A household ticket can be accessible for €26. Sintra gives a bus to take you from the doorway by way of the gardens and can drop you off in entrance of the Pena Palace. Or you’ll be able to e-book skip-the-line tickets right here.
Or you’ll be able to select to do what we did, which was stroll by way of the gardens (uphill) to get to Pena Palace. If you select to stroll, make certain to put on comfy sneakers and provides your self an hour to attain the highest.
2. Explore the Moorish Castle
The Moorish Castle is a well-preserved medieval citadel positioned on a hill above Sintra, Portugal. This citadel dates again to the ninth century and was utilized by the Portuguese royal household as a summer time palace. The Moorish Castle is without doubt one of the hottest vacationer sights in Sintra, recognized for its well-preserved partitions and beautiful views.
The citadel is a mixture of architectural types, together with Gothic and Mudéjar, and incorporates a collection of defensive partitions and towers. Visitors to the citadel can discover the citadel’s inside, together with the royal flats, chapel, and cistern. The citadel additionally has a small museum, the place guests can study extra about its historical past and the function it performed in the area.
In addition to touring the citadel, guests may also get pleasure from a wide range of out of doors actions in the encircling space, together with climbing, picnicking, and birdwatching. The Moorish Castle is a must-see for anybody in medieval historical past and structure.
The price to enter is for Adults: (18 – 64 years) 8 €, (6 – 17 years) 6,5 €, (over 65 years) 6,5 €, Family ticket (2 adults + 2 youths) 26 €. Or you will get the Audio Tour and Skip the Line by reserving right here.
3. Visit Cabo da Roca
Located only a brief drive from Sintra, Cabo da Roca is the westernmost level of mainland Europe and is a well-liked vacationer vacation spot recognized for its beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Cabo da Roca is a rocky promontory that juts out into the ocean, providing breathtaking views of the rugged shoreline and the open ocean. Visitors to the cape can take in the views from the remark deck and benefit from the recent sea air.
Cabo da Roca can be residence to a lighthouse, which was constructed in the seventeenth century to information ships safely into Lisbon. The lighthouse is open to guests and gives panoramic views of the encircling shoreline.
You may have to wait in line to take an image in entrance of the plaque, however will probably be price it to present folks you made it!
4. Tour the Sintra National Palace (Palacio nacional de sintra)
Have you heard of the Sintra National Palace? It’s a ravishing Fifteenth-century palace positioned in the guts of Sintra, Portugal. The palace was as soon as the residence of the Portuguese royal household and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sintra National Palace is thought for its mixture of architectural types, The palace is a mix of Manueline, Gothic, and Mudéjar, and its lovely facade is a sight to behold.
As you step contained in the palace, you’re transported again in time, to an age of opulence and magnificence. The grand halls and spacious rooms are crammed with ornate furnishings, a testomony to the wealth and energy of the royal household.
Visitors can discover the palace’s fantastically embellished rooms, together with the throne room, eating room, and bedrooms, and find out about its wealthy historical past. The palace additionally incorporates a chapel, which remains to be used for spiritual ceremonies at the moment, and a ravishing backyard crammed with unique crops and flowers. As you allow the palace, you’ll be struck by the sense of historical past and tradition that surrounds you.
The Palacio Nacional de Sintra is open every single day from 9:30 till 19:00 and the final entrance at 18:30. The entrance price is €10.00/€8.50/€8.50/€33.00 (grownup/youngster/senior/household). We advocate you seize a Fast Track Ticket to keep away from the lengthy lineups.
5. Visit Quinta da Regaleira
By far essentially the most picturesque spot in Sintra is Quinta da Regaleira. It is the right spot to put down the map and see the place the winding paths take you.
The Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal is a spot of thriller and magic. Nestled in the guts of the city, the Nineteenth-century property is surrounded by lush gardens crammed with unique crops and flowers.
It was constructed in the early twentieth century by a rich Brazilian businessman named António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro. Monteiro was a collector of artwork and uncommon objects, and he used the Quinta da Regaleira as a showcase for his assortment.
At the middle of the Quinta da Regaleira stands the beautiful palace, a masterpiece of structure and design.
But the true attraction of the Quinta da Regaleira is its underground tunnels and caves. These mysterious passages have been as soon as used for initiation rites by secret societies, and their secrets and techniques nonetheless stay hidden to at the present time. Visitors can discover the tunnels and caves, discovering hidden chambers and hidden passageways as they go.
As the solar units over the property, the shadows lengthen and the magic of the Quinta da Regaleira comes alive. It’s a spot the place the previous and current mix collectively, the place the great thing about nature and the grandeur of synthetic wonders meet.
If you drive, there may be parking down the road from the principle entrance and the price to enter is €10.00/€5.00/€4.00/€25.00 (grownup/youngster/senior/household), and this contains entrance to the home and the grounds. OR is you need to skip to the entrance of the road that is the ticket you need. It additionally features a free audio tour.
6. Monserrate Palace
The Monserrate Palace in Sintra, Portugal is a spot of marvel and enchantment. Tucked away in the rolling hills, the Nineteenth-century palace is a hidden gem, a treasure ready to be found.
As you strategy the palace, the grandeur of the constructing turns into obvious. The palace is a mix of architectural types, together with Gothic, Moorish, and Indian, and its grand facade is a sight to behold. It was additionally as soon as the house of Sir Francis Cook, a rich British businessman who was the primary Visconde de Monserrat and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As you step contained in the palace, you’re transported again in time, to an age of opulence and magnificence. The grand halls and spacious rooms are crammed with intricate particulars and ornate furnishings, a testomony to the wealth and energy of the palace’s former proprietor, Francis Cook, a rich English service provider.
But the true attraction of the Monserrate Palace is its gardens. These sprawling, verdant grounds are a wonderland of unique crops and flowers, a paradise on earth. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll by way of the gardens, admiring the great thing about nature and the grandeur of the palace.
The entrance price is €8.00/€6.50/€6.50 (grownup/youngster/senior). The opening hours are 9.30-18.30, and the final ticket is bought 1 hour earlier than the closing time. We advocate avoiding the crowds with this ticket.
7. Praia da Ursa
The Praia da Ursa is a ravishing seashore positioned only a brief drive from Sintra. The seashore is surrounded by rugged cliffs and plush greenery, and the views of the Atlantic Ocean are breathtaking.
The Praia da Ursa is a good spot for swimming and sunbathing, and its secluded location makes it an ideal place to escape the crowds and calm down. The seashore can be a well-liked spot for exploring the hidden coves and caves alongside the shore.
After marveling at one of the vital spectacular seashores in Portugal, guests may also take in the beautiful views of the encircling panorama from the cliffs above the seashore. It’s an incredible place to spend a couple of hours absorbing the solar and having fun with the great thing about nature.
8. Explore the Serra de Sintra
The Serra de Sintra is a ravishing mountain vary positioned simply exterior of Sintra, Portugal. The mountain vary is thought for its climbing trails and its wealthy historical past with castles dotting the panorama.
The Serra de Sintra is a well-liked vacation spot for hikers and nature lovers, with a wide range of trails that wind by way of the mountains and supply breathtaking views.
The Serra de Sintra can be residence to various historic websites, together with castles and palaces, that are well-liked vacationer sights.
9. Learn in regards to the Knights Templar
The Knights Templar was a army order of knights based in the twelfth century to defend Christian pilgrims touring to the Holy Land. Visitors can study extra about their function in the area by visiting the Convent of the Order of Christ, which was as soon as their headquarters in Portugal.
10. Visit the Praia das Maçãs
Praia das Maçãs is a ravishing spot positioned on the western coast of the nation, and it gives a wide range of actions and sights for guests. Praia das Maçãs
One of the principle causes to go to the Praia das Maçãs is for its pure magnificence. The seashore is surrounded by rugged cliffs and plush greenery on one aspect with a picturesque city on the opposite. The seashore is a well-liked spot for swimming and sunbathing, and its crystal-clear waters and the lengthy stretch of sandy seashore make it an incredible place to calm down and unwind.
In addition to having fun with the seashore and the water, guests may also take in the beautiful views of the from the cliffs above the seashore. The Praia das Maçãs can be an incredible place for exploring the hidden coves and caves alongside the shore.
A serene and tranquil spot, Praia das Maçãs is an ideal place to escape the crowds and luxuriate in the great thing about nature. It’s a must-see for anybody visiting Sintra or the western coast of Portugal.
11. Take a hike in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park
The park contains various sandy seashores and dunes, together with the Praia da Adraga, a ravishing seashore with a protracted stretch of sand and dunes that’s well-liked for swimming and sunbathing. The seashore is positioned close to the city of Almoçageme, which is a few 20-minute drive from Sintra.
One of the principle causes to hike in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is for its pure magnificence. The park is residence to a wide range of plant and animal species, and the surroundings is breathtaking. In addition to its pure magnificence, the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park can be residence to various historic and cultural websites, together with castles, palaces, and different landmarks.
Hiking in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park can be a good way to get some train and benefit from the recent air. The park gives a wide range of trails for hikers of all ability ranges, starting from simple, well-marked paths to tougher routes for knowledgeable hikers.
12. Take a ship tour of the Sintra Coast
A ship tour of the Sintra Coast is one thing you may have to do in case you go to the town for greater than a day journey. It often contains stops at various landmarks, such because the Cabo da Roca, the westernmost level of mainland Europe, and the Praia da Ursa, a secluded seashore that may solely be accessed by boat.
You can e-book a ship tour when you find yourself in the town. The excursions often final a couple of hours and should embody commentary from a information or native historian. We discover it is a smart way to expertise the great thing about the Sintra Coast and study in regards to the area’s historical past and tradition.
13. Try some native delicacies
Sintra is residence to various wonderful eating places that serve conventional Portuguese dishes. Visitors can strive some native favorites comparable to pastel de nata (custard tarts), bacalhau (salted cod), or cozido à portuguesa (a conventional stew).
The Portuguese love their sardines. You can discover them in most shops, and even on the bike and automobile rental retailers in Sintra. In Lisbon, it seems like they’re on each nook!
They will not be for everybody, nevertheless it’s an excellent salty snack to take with you as you traverse the grounds and journey to every attraction. There are generally numerous taste choices so take your time studying every label. Read extra: Portuguese Food: 26 Traditional Dishes to strive in Portugal or at residence
14. Visit the Sintra Museum of Modern Art
The Sintra Museum of Modern Art (Museu de Arte Moderna de Sintra) is housed in the previous Palace of the Counts of Edla, a Nineteenth-century constructing that was as soon as the summer time retreat of the Portuguese royal household. (That Portuguese Royal Family obtained round!)
The museum’s assortment contains works by Portuguese and worldwide artists from the Nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with a concentrate on fashionable and modern artwork. The assortment contains work, sculptures, images, and different artistic endeavors, and it’s recognized for its robust illustration of Portuguese modernism.
In addition to its everlasting assortment, the Sintra Museum of Modern Art additionally hosts short-term exhibitions and occasions, comparable to lectures, workshops, and live shows. If you like artwork you aren’t going to need to miss visiting one of the vital vital cultural establishments in Portugal.
The museum go to is certainly free for folks underneath 17 or over 60 years outdated and for scholar card holders. Everyone else pays 1 (one) euro.
Conclusion
Sintra is a ravishing and historic city with a wide range of cultural and leisure actions to supply guests. Whether you’re in exploring the city’s historical past, visiting Pena Palace, having fun with the nice open air, or stress-free on one of many area’s lovely seashores, there’s one thing for everybody whenever you go to Sintra.
This publish was initially written by Gina of Jet Set and Forget and has been up to date by The Planet D for essentially the most up-to-date info.