Sintra
- Former summer residence of Portugal's kings.
- Stunning views and natural scenery.
- UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Hillside palaces, castles and villas.
- Interesting museums, cafes & restaurants.
- 32 km northwest of central Lisbon.
- Recommended half or full day trip.
Portugal's Jewel: Sintra
Sintra, for centuries the summer residence of Portugal's kings and aristocrats, makes for an rewarding day trip from Lisbon or Cascais or as a relaxing base for a longer stay. Sintra's beautiful surroundings of forested hills are the perfect setting for the town's many elegant palaces, castles and museums. There are three distinct parts to the town: Estefânia (around the station), Sintra-Vila (the old town) and São Pedro de Sintra (for shopping and budget accommodation).
Festivals in Sintra
26-28 June. S. Pedro's annual festival with craftsmen's fair, cattle show, popular dance exhibitions, musical competitions, serenades, etc.
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Hotels in Sintra
Miramonte Hotel - Book this hotel with Agoda
Tivoli Sintra Hotel - Book this hotel with Agoda
The Palácio Nacional or Paço Real (open daily 9.30 am-6.30 pm; entrance charge) is Sintra's main tourist attraction and a former royal residence dating back to the fourteenth century.
The palace is an exotic fusion of Gothic, Moorish and Renaissance styles topped with two distinctive 33 meter-tall chimney cones. Look out for some of the oldest azulejos (Painted Tiles) in the country and the fine marble fountain in the Sala dos Árabes, the heraldic ceiling paintings in the Sala dos Brasões and the famous painted magpies in the Sala das Pêgas.
The hilltop Palácio Nacional de Pena (open Tues-Sun 10 am-4.30 pm; small entrance fee) dates from the nineteenth century and is a bizarre mixture of outlandish architectural styles including Moorish minarets and Gothic battlements. Entrance to the palace is through the Parque da Pena - full of small lakes, black swans and exotic plants.
The Castelo dos Mouros - Castle of the Moors - are the restored ruins of an eighth century Moorish castle with stunning views of the area. The castle was captured by Afonso Henriques (1109-1185) in 1147 and was no longer in use by the 15th century. Damage to the walls and the chapel on the site (Chapel of São Pedro de Penaferrim) occurred in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and the site became a "romantic ruin" during the reign of Don Fernando II (1816-1885) in the 18th century.
(Open daily 10 am-6 pm in winter or 9.30 am-8 pm in summer; 8 Euro entrance fee).
The Quinta da Regaleiria (open daily) estate is accessible by tours, which can be booked on (Tel: 219 106 650) or on a self-guided tour with a map. The grandiose estate was built at the turn of the twentieth century for António Carvalho Monteiro, who had made his fortune in Brazil. The Palácio dos Milhões and the superb gardens are the main attractions. Two Initiation Wells in the spacious gardens are inverted towers and places of Knights Templar and Freemason initiation ceremonies.
The Palácio de Seteais built in the late eighteenth century is now a luxurious, five-star hotel (Tivoli Palacio de Seteais) and plays host to classical concerts during Sintra's Festiva de Música.
Monserrate (open daily 9 am-5 pm or 7 pm in summer) is a charming eighteenth century quinta or estate associated with two previous English residents: William Beckford and Sir Francis Cook. The wealthy Beckford fled here in 1793 to escape a homosexual scandal back in Britain and fifty years later the equally rich Cook built a grand Victorian house and laid out the exotic gardens begun by Beckford.
The Convento dos Capuchos (or Cork Convent) is a tiny hermitage built in the sixteenth century for Franciscan friars. Its minute cells, chapel and refectory are cut from the rock and lined with cork - hence its name. Tours to the monastery are available daily but must be booked in advance, details at the turismo.
The Sintra area has some interesting museums well worth a visit. Expect to pay a small entrance fee:
The Museu do Brinquendo (Tue-Sun 10 am-6 pm) housed an international collection of toys from around the world built up over the years by João Arbués Moreira. It closed in 2014 and the building now houses the modern NewsMuseum dedicated to journalism and international news media.
The Museu de Arte Moderna (Tue-Sun 10 am-6 pm) opened in 1997 in Sintra's former casino in Estefânia. The diverse collection includes works by Kossof, Lichtenstein, Pollock and Warhol.
Museu Anjos Teixeira displays the sculptures of two great contemporary Portuguese sculptors, father and son Artur Anjos Teixeira (1880-1935) and Pedro Anjos Teixeira (1908-1997).
The Teatro Virtual (Tue-Sun) is a small cinema showing a recreation of the early Portuguese voyages to Japan.
Sintra along with Estoril and Cascais plays host to the annual classical Festiva de Música from mid-June to mid-July.
Sintra Tourist Offices
23 Praça da República.
Tel: 219 231 157
Fax: 219 235 176
9 am - 8 pm; June-Sept; 9 am-7 pm Oct-May
Sintra Train Station
Tel: 219 241 627
9 am - 8 pm; June-Sept; 9 am-7 pm Oct-May
Getting to Sintra
Buses
There are local buses from Sintra to Cascais (#417), Estoril (#418) and Mafra. From Sintra Station a number of buses run by Scotturb around the sights. Bus #433 (Urbana Sintra) runs into historic Sintra on a circular route. Bus #434 (Pena Tourist) leaves the station 3 (in winter) or 4 times an hour for Sintra Castle, Pena Palace, Vila and NewsMuseum. Bus #435 also connects to various destinations in the historic center. To get to Cabo da Roca take either bus #403 or the open top tourist bus, Circuito da Roca.
Trains
Sintra Station connects on the Sintra Line to Rossio Station, Oriente, Entrecampos, Sete Rios and Campolide.
There are trains to Sintra approximately every 15 minutes from Rossio on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends, with the journey between Lisbon and Sintra taking 39 minutes. On weekdays after 8.38 pm the service is every 30 minutes.
The first train from Rossio is at 6.08 am with the last train at 1.08 am. The last train from Sintra to Rossio leaves Sintra at 12.44 am.
Portugal Hotel & Hostel Accommodation
Portugal Hotel & Hostel Accommodation
Recommended accommodation in Sintra must include the Tivoli Palácio de Seteais. It is a luxury 5-star hotel set on a hilltop with superb views of the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace. Facilities include a swimming pool, tennis courts and an equestrian center.
If you wish to follow in the footsteps of Lord Byron who began to write his epic poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage in Sintr (Cintra) then the historic, five-star Lawrence's Hotel is for you.
Book Hotel Accommodation in and around Sintra
The four-star Pestana Hotel offers a golf course and outdoor pool.
Tivoli Sintra Hotel, also four-star, has well-appointed guest rooms and superb views complete with a recommended restaurant and bar.
With three stars the VIP Inn Miramonte Hotel has an outdoor pool and games room.
See a complete listing of hotels and guesthouses in Sintra.
Hotels in Portugal - Booking.com
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Lisbon Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, Tramcars, and Yellow Boat River Tour
Eating
Tulhas Bar & Restaurante
Rua Gil Vicente 4
Tel: 219 232 378
Speciality veal with Madeira.
Thurs-Tues noon-3:30 pm and 7-10 pm
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The average high June temperatures for Portugal is between 22 degrees Centigrade and 26 degrees Centigrade.
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