Sintra Portugal Holidays
Sintra
Holidays
The most beautiful town in Portugal — a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of extraordinary palaces, Moorish castles, romantic gardens and misty forested hills just 40 minutes from Lisbon, and the finest day trip destination in the Iberian Peninsula
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Flight Time
2h 30m from London (+ 40 min train from Lisbon)
Best Time
March to October
Country
Portugal
Suppliers
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Sintra Holiday Guide
Sintra is the most beautiful and extraordinary town in Portugal — Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, the Moorish Castle and the most magical UNESCO landscape in Europe, just 40 minutes from Lisbon by train.
March to October is ideal. Book palace tickets online in advance.
We search Travelpack and JTA Holidays for the best Portugal deals.
Average Temperatures
Jan
13°C
Feb
14°C
Mar
16°C
Apr
18°C
May
20°C
Jun
23°C
Jul
26°C
Aug
26°C
Sep
24°C
Oct
20°C
Nov
16°C
Dec
13°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Sintra
The extraordinary palaces, the Moorish castle, the romantic gardens, the misty forested hills and the most beautiful and magical landscape in Portugal.
Pena Palace
Pena Palace (Palacio da Pena) is the most extraordinary and colourful palace in Europe — a spectacular 19th-century Romantic palace perched on the highest peak of the Sintra hills, painted in vivid shades of yellow, red and blue, with a mix of Gothic, Moorish, Manueline and Renaissance architectural styles. The palace was built for King Ferdinand II in the 1840s and is the finest example of Romantic architecture in the world. The views from the palace over the Sintra hills and the Atlantic Ocean are extraordinary.
Quinta da Regaleira
Quinta da Regaleira is the most mysterious and atmospheric palace in Portugal — a late 19th-century palace and gardens filled with Masonic and Rosicrucian symbolism, secret tunnels, underground grottos, a mysterious initiation well (the Poco Iniciático — a spiral staircase descending 27 metres into the earth) and extraordinary gardens. The palace was built for the eccentric millionaire Carvalho Monteiro and is the most fascinating and enigmatic building in Sintra. The initiation well is the most photographed feature.
Moorish Castle
The Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros) is the most dramatic and historically significant monument in Sintra — a 10th-century Moorish fortress perched on the rocky peaks of the Sintra hills, with extraordinary views of the town, the palaces and the Atlantic Ocean. The castle walls wind along the rocky ridge for several hundred metres and are in an excellent state of preservation. The castle is accessible on foot from the town centre (a steep 45-minute walk) or by tuk-tuk. The views from the battlements are the finest in Sintra.
Monserrate Palace & Gardens
Monserrate Palace is the most romantic and beautiful palace in Sintra — a 19th-century Romantic palace in an extraordinary Moorish-Gothic style, set in the most beautiful botanical garden in Portugal. The garden has an extraordinary collection of plants from around the world, including giant tree ferns, bamboo groves, Mexican gardens and a Japanese garden. The palace and garden are less visited than Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira and have a more peaceful and atmospheric quality.
Sintra Town
Sintra town is the most charming and atmospheric in the Lisbon region — a beautiful historic centre of 18th and 19th-century buildings, narrow cobbled streets, excellent restaurants and the most celebrated pastry in Portugal (the travesseiro — a flaky pastry filled with almond cream, sold at the Piriquita bakery since 1862). The National Palace of Sintra (the most important medieval palace in Portugal, with extraordinary conical chimneys) is in the centre of the town.
Food & Pastries
Sintra has excellent food and the most celebrated pastries in Portugal — the travesseiro (a flaky pastry filled with almond cream) and the queijada (a small cheese tart) are the most famous Sintra specialities and are sold at the Piriquita bakery (the most famous pastry shop in Sintra, open since 1862). The restaurants in the town centre are generally good — the best include the Tascantiga (excellent Portuguese tapas) and the Incomum (the finest restaurant in Sintra).
Cabo da Roca & Cascais
Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of continental Europe — a dramatic clifftop headland 12km west of Sintra, with extraordinary views of the Atlantic Ocean. The cape is the most westerly point of the European mainland and is a popular excursion from Sintra. Cascais (15km south of Sintra) is a beautiful coastal town with excellent beaches, a charming historic centre and excellent restaurants — the finest coastal town near Lisbon and an excellent complement to a Sintra visit.
Practical Tips
Sintra is 40 minutes from Lisbon by train (from Rossio station, trains run every 20 minutes). The town is best explored on foot — the historic centre is compact and walkable. The palaces are spread across the hills and require a tuk-tuk or the hop-on hop-off bus to reach. Book Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira tickets online in advance — the queues can be very long in peak season. Arrive early (before 10am) to avoid the crowds. March to October is the best time to visit.
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Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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