Sintra – Palaces, Forests and Cultural Landscape

Sintra combines an exceptional cultural landscape with forested granite mountains, a hilly rural landscape and impressive historic sites. The area between the Serra de Sintra and the sea lies within the protected Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. This makes it possible to plan a trip in very different ways: with intensive sightseeing, quieter experiences in nature, museums or excursions all the way to the Atlantic coast. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can therefore first consider which combination of culture, nature, transport connections and regional cuisine best suits your trip.

Palaces, Castles and Special Gardens

The Palácio Nacional de Sintra stands in the centre of the village of Sintra. There, you can enjoy both leisurely, contemplative visits and more intensive experiences exploring the monument's former life. The Parque e Palácio Nacional da Pena offers a different emphasis: a palace on the mountain summit is connected to winding paths through dense forest. A date and time reservation is required for admission tickets to the Palácio Nacional da Pena. This information should be included in your planning if the palace is to be one of the fixed destinations on your trip.

The Castelo dos Mouros also tells the long history of the region. The fortification was founded in the 10th century during Muslim rule on the Iberian Peninsula. Its walls wind through the Serra de Sintra between granite blocks, rocks and cliffs. From the ramparts, there are views of the village of Sintra, the Pena, the Serra de Sintra and the Atlantic Ocean. The park and palace of Monserrate is considered a masterpiece of Romanticism. Its gardens are home to exotic plant species from all over the world; they also feature the artificial Beckford Waterfall.

Forest, Monastery and Exceptional Collections

The Convento dos Capuchos represents a particularly austere form of historic architecture. The Franciscan monastery is known for its simplicity and its complete renunciation of luxury and comfort. The forest surrounding the monastery is considered one of the notable examples of Sintra's original woodland. The Quinta da Regaleira offers a completely different impression: across four hectares, a palace, lush gardens, lakes, grottoes and mysterious structures are combined.

For a day at the museum, the Museu de História Natural de Sintra offers more than 10,000 fossils, including a trilobite collection as well as rare and exceptionally well-preserved dinosaur specimens. At the Museu Arqueológico de São Miguel de Odrinhas, you will find more than 400 stone artefacts and thousands of other archaeological objects. The epigraphic section spans more than two millennia, from the Etruscan period to the early modern era, and includes Roman gravestones that rank among the most significant on the Iberian Peninsula.

Travelling between Sintra, the Coast and Wine Tradition

The Linha de Sintra connects the Lisbon railway stations Oriente, Rossio and Entrecampos with Sintra. Locally, Scotturb bus routes 434 and 435 connect Sintra station with the historic centre. Another special option is the Eléctrico de Sintra: it runs along a route of just under 11 kilometres between Vila Alda in Estefânia and Praia das Maçãs, taking around 45 minutes.

Cabo da Roca lies at the western end of the Serra de Sintra and is the westernmost point of mainland Europe. The region also has its own culinary profile. Queijadas de Sintra are a traditional sweet pastry that has been documented since at least the Middle Ages. Vinho de Colares is particularly associated with the Ramisco grape variety. The Rota do Vinho de Colares also includes a wine tasting at the Adega Regional de Colares.

Other Places to Include in Your Search

If you would like to extend your accommodation search beyond the town centre, you can also compare the following locality pages: Sintra, Rio De Mouro, Queluz, São João Das Lampas, Agualva, Almargem Do Bispo, Colares, Algueirão, Mira-Sintra, Belas and Terrugem. This allows you to choose the desired location according to your personal priorities without losing sight of Sintra's cultural and scenic diversity.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lisbon.