Visiting Sintra was always in our plan on our 6 week tour of Portugal, but only as a flying visit. But a mishap with a dodgy Airbnb (see my Cascais guide) meant re-shaping our plans and spending 2 days in this historic town and what a happy accident it was! The town of Sintra looks like the setting of a Disney fairytale and offers so much more than the famous yellow and red walls of the Pena Palace. Here’s our mini-guide to a Sintra Stopover.
Where to stay
I couldn’t currently recommend where we stayed which was the NH Collection hotel in Sintra. The service was superlative – attentive, welcoming and warm and the views from many of the rooms were just STUNNING with a location that could not have been more central. However, the rooms and a number of the public areas were really quite dated and in need of some TLC. I do know that the hotel is due a renovation so with such strong bare bones it’s one to watch. Villa Bela Vista is a great central accommodation option or just outside of Sintra you have the sumptuous Ritz Carlton Penha Longa or the poolside Dream Guincho.
Another recommendation is to base yourself in Cascais and take the 15 minute drive into Sintra town.
Things to do
Sintra was put on the map by the Pena Palace, where the red and yellow castle walls drew viral social media attention but this town offers so much more in terms of palaces and castles. Here’s the need to know information on where to visit in Sintra:
Quinta de Regaleira: This intricate UNESCO heritage stately home is famous for the Well of Initiation but is truly a beautiful spot to spend half a day. The gardens offer views down into the town of Sintra and beyond and the gardens are so peaceful.
Monserrate: Another ornate palace in the mountains, Monserrate has lush green gardens and an intricate mosaic clad castle. Exploring both the grounds and the ornate palace is well worth a half day of your agenda.
Pena Palace: This is a controversial opinion perhaps, but Pena was not my favourite site in Sintra. There is no doubt that the exterior was breathtaking with the bright primary colours against a cloudless sky. However, it is a long windy bus journey and then another shuttle bus or long uphill walk to reach it so is not roundly accessible and the house itself isn’t particularly stand out. It is definitely worth a visit but not at the expense of the other attractions noted here.
Moorish Castle: High on the clifftops is an 8th century fortress which has views all the way to the sea on a clear day. A great one for history lovers.
Top Tip
Sintra offers a 24 hour hop-on-hop-off bus service which will drop you at the main sites in the mountains for 15 euros.
Where to eat
The town itself reminded me of a small French village with its bistros around a small central square and town hall. The eateries offer local Portuguese fare where we had stand out meals at:
Tascatinga: tucked away on a winding back street, with a queue you will want to join at the start of lunch and dinner service to guarantee a spot, Tascatinga offers Portuguese sharing plates and a great shelter from the midday sun.
Aurora Queijadas de Sintra: when you have long days of sightseeing, there’s no better way to set yourself up for the day than a famous local pastry from Aurora!
Taberna Criativa: if fine dining is more your thing than the Portuguese fare at Taberna Criativa is a must visit – dive straight into the baked duck rice….
Leaning into the happy travel accident that was two full days to explore Sintra gave us the opportunity for gentle sun-filled days exploring some of the best of Portuguese history. Extending the well trodden trip to Pena Palace to see more of the beauty in this town is well worth it.
That Holiday Mum x