There are places that seem to have been taken out of a fairy-tale movie. Sintra is one of them! Almost like a “Lord of the Rings” mysterious setting with fog and castles. Absolutely amazing!

If you're going to Portugal plan your visit to Sintra because there's a lot to see and you'll bring unique memories with you at the very end!

Sintra is a charming Portuguese old town located in the lush hills of the Serra of Sintra, where you can find magical castles and historic buildings.

These are the places you can’t miss there (though you’ll need a few days to see all of them!).

These are the must-see itinerary places to explore in Sintra:

1) Palácio da Pena/ Pena Palace

It’s an amazingly beautiful 19th-century Romantic palace that is located at the top of a hill, with vibrant colors and a mix of architectural styles such as Gothic, Manueline, and Moorish. Inside you can find beautifully decorated rooms and it’s surrounded by Pena Park, an exotic garden with luxurious vegetation. It was declared one of Portugal’s Seven Wonders. This is a must-see!

Book here: https://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/parks-monuments/park-and-national-palace-of-pena/

2) Palácio Nacional de Sintra/ Sintra National Palace

This palace is a 15th-century palace located in the heart of Sintra that has a mixture of Moorish, Gothic, and Manueline styles, with its iconic twin conical chimneys and lavish interior. The palace includes a chapel and a beautiful garden filled with exotic plants and flowers. It was once the residence of the Portuguese royal family and it is now a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Book here: https://www.parquesdesintra.pt/pt/

3) Quinta da Regaleira

This is a neo-Manueline extraordinary magical villa full of mystery and mythological Knights Templar/Masons symbols. It’s surrounded by lush gardens and its major attraction is the underground tunnels and caves, especially the Well. These mysterious passages were once used for initiation rites by secret societies.

You’ll be able to explore the tunnels and caves, discovering hidden passageways while you do it. A Unesco World Heritage Site. A must-see place for sure!

Book here: https://www.regaleira.pt/en

4) Castelo dos Mouros/ Moorish castle

This is a medieval, well-preserved castle that soars 412 meters above sea level with breathtaking sights of Sintra. It’s a 9th-century Moorish castle with stunning views and a series of undulating defensive walls separated by four square towers full of life and beauty. You can also see the castle’s interior, chapel, and cistern. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sintra.

Book here: https://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/parks-monuments/the-moorish-castle/

5) Convento dos Capuchos/ Convent of the Capuchos

It was originally built in 1560 to house friars. It’s often named Cork Convent as it has minuscule cells lined with cork.

Book here: https://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/parks-monuments/convent-of-the-capuchos/

6) Palácio de Monserrate/ Monserrate Palace

This a 19th-century hidden gem, a place of wonder and enchantment with a blend of architectural styles such as Gothic, Moorish, and Indian, and its façade is really astonishing!

It used to be the home of Francis Cook, the first Visconde of Monserrate and now it’s a Unesco World Heritage Site. This is a place of luxury and opulence wealth signs and its real attraction is its gardens with exotic plants and flowers like a paradise on earth.

Book here: https://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/parks-monuments/park-and-palace-of-monserrate/

7) Elétrico de Sintra/ Sintra’s Tram

Why not hop on the city’s tram and go around exploring its beautiful sightseeing? If you’re in a family group that could be a good choice as your kids will get tired easily.

The tram (elétrico de Sintra) starts at the center of the city and it’ll take you 8 miles away up to the charming and wonderful Praia das Maçãs (also a great place to go with kids) where you can enjoy the beach sights and eat some sweet or fish nearby.

Timetable here: https://visitsintra.travel/pt/descobrir/electrico-de-sintra

8) Serra de Sintra/ Sintra Mountains

It’s a beautiful mountain range located just outside Sintra known for its hiking difficult trails and always breathtaking sights along the way.

9) Historic Center of Sintra

The Historic Center of Sintra is a very charming compact place that can be all reached on foot. It has twisting cobblestone streets but it’s totally worth it. There you can find many traditional shops, artisan boutiques and, of course, "The Piriquita Bakery" where you can get the famous Portuguese sweets like “travesseiro”, “queijadas”, “pastéis de Sintra” and “pastéis da Cruz Alta”. You shouldn’t miss these delicacies!

To sum up I'd reinforce that Sintra is definitely a must-stop in every way and you’ll need to manage your trip to Portugal, keeping in mind that most probably you won't see it all and therefore you'll need to come back some other time to see the rest!

Enjoy the mysterious and charming Sintra, Portugal!

Check out these videos/links for more insight about Quinta da Regaleira:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/5895805480548151

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