There are so many issues to do in Sintra, Portugal. The historical past of the world 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 world 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 produce it again to life.
Top Things To Do In Sintra, Portugal
Sintra is situated 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 delightful areas, which provide panoramic views of the encircling space.
In addition to its castles and palaces, Sintra can also be recognized for its charming streets and neighborhoods, that are crammed with colourful homes, quaint outlets, and funky eating places. This picturesque city has a relaxed, laid-back environment, and it’s a widespread 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 points of interest in Sintra, the Pena Palace is a shocking 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 liked the colourful colours and mixture of architectural kinds, 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 vegetation and flowers. The Park is a good place to take a leisurely stroll and benefit from the gorgeous 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 associated fee is €6.50. A household ticket can also be out there for €26. Sintra gives a bus to take you from the doorway via the gardens and can drop you off in entrance of the Pena Palace. Or you possibly can e-book skip-the-line tickets right here.
Or you possibly can select to do what we did, which was stroll via the gardens (uphill) to get to Pena Palace. If you select to stroll, make certain to put on snug sneakers and provides your self an hour to attain the highest.
2. Explore the Moorish Castle
The Moorish Castle is a well-preserved medieval fort situated on a hill above Sintra, Portugal. This fort dates again to the ninth century and was utilized by the Portuguese royal household as a summer season palace. The Moorish Castle is likely one of the hottest vacationer points of interest in Sintra, recognized for its well-preserved partitions and gorgeous views.
The fort is a mixture of architectural kinds, together with Gothic and Mudéjar, and contains a sequence of defensive partitions and towers. Visitors to the fort can discover the fort’s inside, together with the royal flats, chapel, and cistern. The fort additionally has a small museum, the place guests can study extra about its historical past and the position it performed in the area.
In addition to touring the fort, guests can even get pleasure from quite a lot of outside actions in the encircling space, together with mountain 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 quick drive from Sintra, Cabo da Roca is the westernmost level of mainland Europe and is a well-liked vacationer vacation spot recognized for its gorgeous 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 also 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 it is going to be value 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 an exquisite Fifteenth-century palace situated 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 understood for its mixture of architectural kinds, 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 class. 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 contains a chapel, which continues to be used for spiritual ceremonies at this time, and an exquisite backyard crammed with unique vegetation and flowers. As you permit the palace, you’ll be struck by the sense of historical past and tradition that surrounds you.
The Palacio Nacional de Sintra is open on daily basis from 9:30 till 19:00 and the final entrance at 18:30. The entrance charge is €10.00/€8.50/€8.50/€33.00 (grownup/little one/senior/household). We advocate you seize a Fast Track Ticket to keep away from the lengthy lineups.
5. Visit Quinta da Regaleira
By far probably 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 vegetation 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 gorgeous 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 today. 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 artificial wonders meet.
If you drive, there may be parking down the road from the primary entrance and the charge to enter is €10.00/€5.00/€4.00/€25.00 (grownup/little one/senior/household), and this consists of 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 kinds, 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 class. 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 vegetation and flowers, a paradise on earth. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll via the gardens, admiring the great thing about nature and the grandeur of the palace.
The entrance charge is €8.00/€6.50/€6.50 (grownup/little one/senior). The opening hours are 9.30-18.30, and the final ticket is offered 1 hour earlier than the closing time. We advocate avoiding the crowds with this ticket.
7. Praia da Ursa
The Praia da Ursa is an exquisite seaside situated only a quick drive from Sintra. The seaside is surrounded by rugged cliffs and luxurious 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 seaside can also be a well-liked spot for exploring the hidden coves and caves alongside the shore.
After marveling at probably the most spectacular seashores in Portugal, guests can even take in the gorgeous views of the encircling panorama from the cliffs above the seaside. It’s a terrific 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 an exquisite mountain vary situated simply exterior of Sintra, Portugal. The mountain vary is understood for its mountain 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 quite a lot of trails that wind via the mountains and supply breathtaking views.
The Serra de Sintra can also be residence to quite a lot of historic websites, together with castles and palaces, that are widespread vacationer points of interest.
9. Learn concerning the Knights Templar
The Knights Templar was a army order of knights based in the twelfth century to shield Christian pilgrims touring to the Holy Land. Visitors can study extra about their position 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 an exquisite spot situated on the western coast of the nation, and it gives quite a lot of actions and points of interest for guests. Praia das Maçãs
One of the primary causes to go to the Praia das Maçãs is for its pure magnificence. The seaside is surrounded by rugged cliffs and luxurious greenery on one aspect with a picturesque city on the opposite. The seaside is a well-liked spot for swimming and sunbathing, and its crystal-clear waters and the lengthy stretch of sandy seaside make it a terrific place to calm down and unwind.
In addition to having fun with the seaside and the water, guests can even take in the gorgeous views of the from the cliffs above the seaside. The Praia das Maçãs can also be a terrific 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 consists of quite a lot of sandy seashores and dunes, together with the Praia da Adraga, an exquisite seaside with an extended stretch of sand and dunes that’s widespread for swimming and sunbathing. The seaside is situated close to the city of Almoçageme, which is a few 20-minute drive from Sintra.
One of the primary causes to hike in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park is for its pure magnificence. The park is residence to quite a lot of plant and animal species, and the surroundings is breathtaking. In addition to its pure magnificence, the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park can also be residence to quite a lot of historic and cultural websites, together with castles, palaces, and different landmarks.
Hiking in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park can also be a good way to get some train and benefit from the recent air. The park gives quite a lot of trails for hikers of all talent ranges, starting from straightforward, well-marked paths to more difficult 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 the event you go to the town for greater than a day journey. It normally consists of stops at quite a lot of landmarks, such because the Cabo da Roca, the westernmost level of mainland Europe, and the Praia da Ursa, a secluded seaside that may solely be accessed by boat.
You can e-book a ship tour if you end up in the town. The excursions normally final a couple of hours and will embody commentary from a information or native historian. We discover this can be a good way to expertise the great thing about the Sintra Coast and study concerning the area’s historical past and tradition.
13. Try some native delicacies
Sintra is residence to quite a lot of wonderful eating places that serve conventional Portuguese dishes. Visitors can strive some native favorites similar to pastel de nata (custard tarts), bacalhau (salted cod), or cozido à portuguesa (a standard stew).
The Portuguese love their sardines. You can discover them in most shops, and even on the bike and automotive rental outlets in Sintra. In Lisbon, it appears like they’re on each nook!
They will not be for everybody, however it’s a great 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 season retreat of the Portuguese royal household. (That Portuguese Royal Family acquired round!)
The museum’s assortment consists of works by Portuguese and worldwide artists from the Nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with a concentrate on trendy and up to date artwork. The assortment consists of work, sculptures, images, and different artistic endeavors, and it’s recognized for its sturdy illustration of Portuguese modernism.
In addition to its everlasting assortment, the Sintra Museum of Modern Art additionally hosts momentary exhibitions and occasions, similar to lectures, workshops, and concert events. If you’re keen on artwork you aren’t going to need to miss visiting probably the most vital cultural establishments in Portugal.
The museum go to is certainly free for folks beneath 17 or over 60 years outdated and for scholar card holders. Everyone else pays 1 (one) euro.
Conclusion
Sintra is an exquisite and historic city with quite a lot 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 outside, or stress-free on one of many area’s lovely seashores, there’s one thing for everybody if you go to Sintra.
This submit was initially written by Gina of Jet Set and Forget and has been up to date by The Planet D for probably the most up-to-date info.