Why A Day Trip To Sintra Is Not Enough
- The incredible exterior of Pena Palace
- A chandelier from inside one of the amazing rooms in Pena Palace
- The grounds of Quinta da Regaleira
- Tiling from the exterior wall of Pena Palace
- A view of Sintra’s National Palace
- A stone cross from the highest point of the grounds surrounding Pena Palace
- Quinta da Regaleira
- Tiling from the grounds of Quinta da Regaleira
- One of Quinta da Regaleira’s hidden stairways
- A view of Pena Palace from the highest point in the surrounding palace grounds
- Tiling from inside the Pena Palace walls
- A view of the town of Sintra
Sintra was definitely the highlight of my trip to Portugal this past summer. Nestled about an hours drive from Lisbon, this magical town is surrounded by woodland and an abundance of palaces and ridiculously old castles. When you arrive, you’ll feel as though you’ll never have enough time to explore everything!
Our plan was to spend one night in Sintra, but it became clear within a few hours that a day would most definitely not be enough. It didn’t help that Bec and I felt instantly at home… the locals where so friendly and the hostel we were staying in was so lovely. After moving from place to place in haste so far on our trip, we were ready to settle down for a few days… we ended up spending three nights in Sintra and it was perfect!
Here is my guide to Sintra and why a day trip to Sintra is not enough
1. Get lost in Quinta da Regaleira
A playground for adults, the garden’s that surround the house are full of secret tunnels, caves and nooks. You can spend hours exploring all the different parts and I totally encourage you to let out your inner child and do just that! The house itself is also magnificent and full of history. The house and grounds were created by Luigi Manini, an Italian artist, set designer and architect.
2. Hike up to Pena Palace and explore the grounds
A fairy tale palace, you could say that this is the Palace of Versailles of Portugal. This colourful palace sits upon a hill but it’s well worth the amazing hike up to it. Alternatively, you can take a bus there, but the walk through the woodland is spectacular. The palace was mainly used by King Ferdinand II as a summer palace for the Portuguese royal family during the 1800’s.
3. Walk in and around the town of Sintra
The town itself is beautiful and full of interesting shops, cafe’s and restaurants. The walk to the main city centre takes you down one of the main streets, which is summer is lined with small stores set up along the stone wall. I loved taking my time looking at the stalls and chatting to the locals.
4. Check out Sintra’s National Palace
In the town centre is Sintra’s National Palace. You can’t miss its two huge chimney’s, which are visible from pretty much everywhere in Sintra. The palace was used pretty much continuously from the 15th to 19th centuries and is today a UNESCO World Heritage Sight. Well worth a visit, even if it’s just to gaze upon its exterior.
5. Take a short drive to Adraga Beach
Sintra is surrounded by beautiful beaches and small towns however, the one that I found most beautiful was Adraga beach. Only a half hours drive from Sintra, the beach is nestled in between jagged rocks and cliffs and the sand is incredibly soft!
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Have you been to Sintra? What was your favourite part?
xx
