Things to see & do in Sintra

Once a favoured retreat from Lisbon and Cascais for Portuguese royalty, the nobility and the artistic set for centuries on account of its cool Atlantic microclimate, Sintra is a wonderfully attractive little town dotted with prestigious monuments including some of Portugal’s most glamorous palaces. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is perhaps best known for the extravagantly colourful Pena Palace and the charming, cobbled main street that is lined with traditional restaurants, cafes and shops.

Beyond the most famous sights there are many other landmarks such as the atmospheric Quinta da Regaleira estate and the Capuchin Convent that are worth seeking out. And, further afield beyond the town of Sintra itself you have superb walking trails and a fantastic range of relaxing activities to enjoy including yoga, kayaking, wine tasting and mountain biking, not to mention some of Portugal’s most dramatically beautiful beaches within the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.

To fully do Sintra justice then, allow yourself several days to explore it. That’s easily done if you stay at a rural guesthouse on the outskirts of the natural park, giving you the opportunity to get into Sintra town nice and early and also enjoy a very peaceful atmosphere you don’t get in either Lisbon or Cascais. You don’t even need a hire car, as most accommodations can be very flexible when it comes to helping you get around.

Sintra’s most famous landmark, certainly its most eye-catching, the vibrantly colourful Pena Palace was built in the 19th century Romanticist style, and is set within attractive grounds on a hill. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal, but it does get very busy, so aim to see it earlier in the day before the big tour groups arrive in mid-afternoon.

Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of the European mainland and until the 14th century when Portuguese explorers led by Henry the Navigator and Vasco da Gama began their incredible Age of Discovery, many believed it to be the edge of the world. A lighthouse marks the windswept headland, which is a popular spot for a photo opportunity.

Sintra town is just ridiculously busy in summer. There are so many cars and tour buses that if you don’t arrive first thing it can take a long time just to get in, let alone find a place to park, if you’re driving. If you are visiting in summer then, stay just on the outside of the park so you can get in early but also explore the winder Sintra-Cascais Natural Park in a far more relaxed fashion.

The winter on this part of the coast gets pretty damp and windy too; Sintra’s climate is quite distinct to that of Lisbon, and indeed resorts just a little further along the coast, usually a few degrees cooler. Which leaves spring and autumn as the best time to visit Sintra, when the vegetation is at its most lush, the weather is usually fine for walking, mountain biking or kayaking. Other activities such as wine tasting or yoga that are available in this area can of course be done year round.