Sintra: 16 must-see places

Sintra is one of the most romantic villages in the country, if not the most romantic of all.

To discover all its beauties, you would need many days (perhaps weeks) and even then you would always be left with something to discover, in a corner of the village, among the vegetation of the mountains or on a secret beach.

Even so, we’ve decided to create a list of the 16 must-see places in the municipality that everyone should visit (at least) once in their lives.

Sintra is magical and much of its charm comes from here!

Pena National Palace

O Pena Palace is one of Sintra’s (and Portugal’s) greatest landmarks, and the surrounding park are the ultimate exponent of romantic revivalism in Portugal.

Located on Monte da Lua, right at the top of the Serra de Sintra, it was born from the imagination of King Ferdinand and became a real fairytale palace, perched on huge rocks.

One of its most striking features is the mixture of architectural styles, from romanticism to neo-Gothic, including neo-Moorish and neo-Manueline.

Inside, the decoration in the style of the kings of the time, the Monk’s Chapel, the royal chambers and the beautiful wall paintings stand out.

But there are many more secrets about the National Palace of Pena.

Monserrate Palace

Built in 1856 as a summer residence for Francis Cook, the Monserrate Palace is one of the most incredible creations of romanticism.

The interior reveals elegant and lavish spaces, such as the Gallery (the corridor that connects the palace’s three towers), the music room, the dining room and the library.

Surrounding the palace, Monserrate Park is home to a remarkable botanical collection with species from all over the world, which blend in with the native vegetation over 50 hectares.

Highlights include the Valley of the Ferns, which come from New Zealand and Australia, and the Valley of Mexico, with artificial lakes and a huge araucaria tree over 45 meters high .

Explore other curiosities about the Palace of Montserrat.

Quinta da Regaleira

A Quinta da Regaleira and its palace are probably the most enigmatic and mystical places in Sintra.

Built at the beginning of the 20th century by millionaire António Carvalho Monteiro (also known as Monteiro dos Milhões), the building is an example of the romantic revivalist style that combines Gothic, Manueline and Renaissance elements, but also a lot of esoteric symbolism.

On the estate, covered in lush vegetation, the Chapel of the Holy Trinity and, above all, the famous enigmatic well with its iconic spiral staircase stand out… among other secrets about this fantastic farm.

Sintra National Palace

With Arab origins, Sintra National Palace, in the heart of the town, has been the residence of the Portuguese royal family since the 12th century.

It is a unique example of Portuguese medieval palaces, but it reveals different architectural styles (reflecting the taste of different kings), ranging from Gothic to Mudejar and Manueline.

Don’t miss the chapel, the kitchens with their large conical chimneys, but also the Swan, Coat of Arms and Handle rooms.

Moorish Castle

Built on a rocky peak in the Serra de Sintra, possibly between the 8th and 9th centuries, the Moorish Castle bears witness to the Islamic presence in the region.

After the Christian reconquest, it was enlarged and reinforced several times.

As well as being a historical monument, today it is also an incredible viewpoint, overlooking the town of Sintra and the surrounding region.

Seteais Palace

Built in the 18th century, the Seteais Palace is currently home to one of the most emblematic and stunning hotels in Sintra: Tivoli Palácio de Seteais.

Located on the slopes of the mountain, it offers incredible views, from the Pena Palace to the sea, passing through the moorland of Saloia.

The gardens surrounding this five-star hotel are also breathtaking and romantic, especially the labyrinthine gardens.

Chalet of the Countess of Edla

Built in the 19th century by King Ferdinand II for his second wife, the Countess of Edla, this chalet follows the model of the Alpine chalets of the time.

Inside, a decorative stucco mural painting stands out, as does the wall cladding with inlaid cork and wood panels.

The romantic garden has a botanical collection with hundreds of species, including native vegetation and exotic specimens from all over the world .

There are other curiosities that you can discover about this chalet.

Convent of Santa Cruz da Serra de Sintra

Best known for Capuchin Convent (or Cork), was founded in 1560 by D. Álvaro de Castro, D. Sebastião’s Councillor of State.

This hermitage, built between rocks and dense vegetation, was first inhabited by eight Franciscan friars from Arrábida and came to symbolize the order’s ideal of fraternity.

Philip II of Spain and I of Portugal said of him:

In my kingdoms, I have two things that I like very much, the Escorial for being very rich and the Capuchos Convent in Sintra for being very poor.”

Se fores até lá, vais ficar impressionado com a tranquilidade deste local e pela simplicidade dos vários espaços, sobretudo as minúsculas celas forradas a cortiça.

Quinta da Ribafria

It is one of Sintra’s best-kept secrets and one of the few places where foreign tourists are not yet in the majority.

Located next to the mountains, in the Lourel area, it has numerous green areas, leafy trees and a beautiful manor house, and was built in 1541.

After many years of neglect, it became the property of the municipality and now hosts events and visits by the general public.

Valenças Palace

Located in the heart of the town of Sintra, this imposing building of revivalist architecture served as the residence of the Count of Valenças, and hence the name of Valenças Palace.

Among its most curious features is a tile panel on the main façade that simulates a door guard.

It currently houses the Sintra Municipal Archives, but it used to be the municipal library.

The former employees said that a ghost called Palmira lived there, a former servant of the Count who committed suicide there because of an impossible love.

Next to it is the beautiful Liberdade Park, right in the heart of the town, with a huge variety of rare plants.

Sintra Mountains

The town of Sintra and its palaces would not be the same without the Serra de Sintra.

The Romans called it Mons Lunae. Monte da Lua, and this mysticism, still exists today.

Stretching for 10 kilometers, almost to Cabo da Roca, this unique mountain range is made up of dense vegetation that invites you to take long walks.

Its highest point is the Cruz Alta, in the Pena Park, which is 529 meters above sea level.

Peninha

Overlooking Cabo da Roca, at an altitude of almost 500 meters, the Peninha site is one of the most surprising places in the Sintra mountains, not only for its incredible views, but also for the buildings it houses.

There is a sanctuary there that dates back to the time when the kingdom of Portugal was formed (the current chapel dates back to the 17th century) and a romantic revival-style mansion built in 1918.

A municipal heritage site, it does not welcome visitors inside, so it can only be seen from the outside.

Cabo da Roca

The westernmost point of the European continent, “where the land ends and the sea begins”, as Luís de Camões wrote, is a must-visit place on the outskirts of Sintra (17 kilometers from the town), not only for its symbolism, but also for the surrounding beauty, with the sea in the background.

There you’ll also find a lighthouse, built in 1772, 165 meters above sea level.

Biester Palace

“Watched” for a long time by those who pass through these parts, by those who explore everything there is to visit near Portugal’s most romantic village, the Biester Palace is the new 19th century “treasure” to discover in Sintra.

This palace dates back to the last 20 years of the 19th century (1880-1899) and is a unique example of romantic architecture, having been the residence of the Biester family.

It was commissioned by José Luiz Monteiro, a renowned national architect, who gave it a unique decoration and various artistic details, which were the responsibility of the master carver Leandro Braga and the artists Luigi Manini and Paul Baudry.

There’s much more you can discover about the Biester Palace.

Queluz National Palace

Located in Queluz, still in the municipality of Sintra, it was built by King Pedro II between 1747 and 1786 to serve as the royal residence .

Both the palace and the garden reveal strong French and Italian influences. The collection includes Baroque, Rocaille and Neoclassical elements.

Abroad there is a Botanical garden, lakes, fountains and also the facilities of the Portuguese Equestrian Art School, founded in 1979 to promote the teaching, practice and dissemination of traditional Portuguese equestrian art.

There are many secrets to be discovered in this palace. We found 10 spectacular facts!

Beaches

With many kilometers of coastline, the municipality of Sintra has countless beaches worth visiting, despite the cold waters and strong swells that characterize most of them.

Among the most famous are Praia Grande, Praia das Maçãs and Praia da Adraga.

More unknown are the beaches of Aguda, Samarra and São Julião, while the most secret (and becoming less so) and inaccessible is Praia da Ursa, near Cabo da Roca.

By the sea is also one of Portugal’s most beautiful villages, Azenhas do Mar, with its houses built along the hillside.

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