Sintra (Portugal) is a mountain city in the west of the country and the continent as a whole. It is located near Cape Roca, the westernmost point of Eurasia, and the capital of the country, Lisbon. There are few local residents in Sintra – 377 thousand people live in the municipality with an area of 319.2 km². Every year, this region on the Atlantic coast is visited by more than a million travelers.
Thanks to its unique attractions, Sintra is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. To fully enjoy all its beauty, you will need 2-3 days, but even one day will be enough to remember this beautiful city forever.
History of foundation
In the 11th century AD, the warlike Moors built a fortress on one of the hills of the Iberian Peninsula, which was captured several decades later by the first king of ancient Portugal, Afonso Henriques. By order of the great ruler, the Cathedral of St. Peter was built within the walls of this fortress in 1154, which is why 1154 is considered the official date of the foundation of the city of Sintra.
For 7 centuries, Sintra was a place of Portuguese monarchs, so the city has many beautiful castles, ancient cathedrals, fortresses and other architectural monuments. The resort became even more majestic in the 19th-20th centuries, when, due to the less hot climate than in other parts of Portugal, representatives of the elite began to move here, building luxurious villas everywhere.
Attractions
Quinta da Regaleira
The palace and park complex is considered the most mystical attraction of Sintra (Portugal). On the estate’s territory there is a Gothic four-story palace and an unusual park, a Roman Catholic chapel, mysterious tunnels and a “well of initiation”. This complex is an architectural ensemble in the eclecticism and renaissance styles with a special emphasis on the Manueline, Renaissance, medieval and classical styles.
- Address: R. Barbosa do Bocage 5.
- Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:30 (entrance closes at 17:30)./li>
- Entrance fee: 10€, for children and pensioners – 5€.
- Website: www.regaleira.pt.
Bonus for our readers! At the very end of the article you can find a map of Sintra with attractions in Russian, where all the most interesting places are marked.
Pena Palace
Ask a local what to see in Sintra first and you will hear the same answer. Pena is the real pride of Portugal, a unique castle built in 1840. The total area of the complex of the palace and park is 270 hectares, and the height of the mountain on which it is built reaches 400 meters.
Tip! The terraces of the Pena Palace offer panoramic views of the city, and here you can take the most beautiful photos of Sintra (Portugal).
- Address: Estrada da Pena.
- Opening hours: from 10:00 to 18:00, seven days a week.
- Entrance to the complex costs 14 euros.
- Website: www.parquesdesintra.pt.
Moorish castle
It is from this site, a fortress built by the Moors in the 11th century, that the history of Sintra begins. The thousand-year-old castle was then in a strategic position to protect both the surrounding area and the sea routes of access to the city of Lisbon. Artifacts found on the site show how the population lived between the walls and the surrounding areas in an area now called the Islamic Quarter.
During its long existence, the castle has experienced a lot: it was a refuge for the Portuguese, Jews and Spaniards, it was completely destroyed during the wars of the French army and rebuilt, replacing the medieval style with the Romanesque. The castle of the Moors is located at an altitude of 420 meters and has an area of over 12 thousand square kilometers.
- You can reach the fortress from the center of Sintra in 50 minutes at a leisurely pace.
- It is open from 10 am to 6 pm every day.
- Entrance tickets cost from 8 euros.
National Palace of Sintra
The Sintra National Palace has a thousand-year history that allows us to look into the past. This castle was the residence of the kings of Portugal from the 15th to the 19th centuries. In fact, the current palace arose from many royal palaces, and even the date of the foundation of the very first building remains unknown.
The Sintra Palace is, first of all, the result of architectural developments spanning many different eras. This place was also the center of economic and judicial administration of the region until the 18th century. In addition, the palace is a social environment. Here the monarchy met with the nobility and foreign ambassadors, local authorities, the poor and enslaved, as well as bureaucrats and many different visitors. The main feature of the attraction is the unusual halls: one of them is decorated with images of 136 magpies, the second is painted with 30 swans, the third is the oldest monument of Arab culture, and the fourth still contains the coats of arms of 71 countries.
- Address: Largo Rainha Dona Amélia, Sintra, Portugal.
- Opening hours: 9:30-18:00 seven days a week.
- A tour of the chambers of the kings of Portugal will cost 10 euros.
Please note! All attractions in Sintra offer free entry for children aged 5 and under, while schoolchildren aged 6-17 and pensioners aged 65 and over are entitled to a discount on the standard ticket price.
Montserrat
An exotic villa adorns the outskirts of Sintra. Built five centuries ago, it is one of Portugal’s most famous Romanesque landmarks and impresses with its rich decoration.
Near the villa there is a huge park with 3000 plants, which in 2013 was awarded the title of the best historical garden on the planet. Montserrat Park has collected species from all over the world, which were divided into geographical areas to reflect the diverse origins of plants and create different scenarios on the paths that run between ruins, lakes and waterfalls. In it you can not only admire the beautiful landscapes and fountains, but also enjoy delicious national cuisine, dance to cheerful music, take beautiful photos.
The palace is a 15-minute drive from the historic centre of Sintra and can be reached by bus 435.
- The attraction is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
- Entrance costs 8 EUR.
Attention! Tourists who have visited this attraction of Sintra are advised to ask the driver in advance when the last bus from Montserrat departs in order to save on a taxi and get to the hotel without incident.
The historic centre of Sintra
The old city center is a real labyrinth of many streets with beautiful houses, luxurious castles, restaurants and monuments. You can better see all the city’s attractions located in this area if you go on an independent walking tour or rent a bike.
Here you can buy an original souvenir, try açorda or bacalhau, take pictures with street artists and musicians. It is best to come in the evening, when the air temperature drops and the mood of the people on the streets rises.
City Hall
The modern Sintra government building is located near the train station, on Largo Dr. Virgílio Horta 4. From the outside, like many others, it resembles a castle from a Disney fairy tale: colorful spires, high towers, painted ceramics and a facade decorated with stucco – it is not surprising that many tourists stop near the town hall to examine it in detail.
Unfortunately, tourists are not allowed to enter the city hall building, but it is definitely worth admiring the beauty of this symbol of the Great Geographical Discoveries.
Aviation Museum
If there are any attractions in Sintra that are truly fascinating not only for adults but also for children, then the aircraft museum is one of them. Who among us would not like to be a pilot and feel like the driver of such a powerful aircraft?
The Aviation Museum opened to the public on July 1, 1971, in a former military aircraft hangar in Alverque. The rapid growth of the collection made the space insufficient. This situation prompted the Portuguese Air Force to start a project for a new museum site in Granja do Marques, with an area of approximately 3,500 m². The new area was officially opened in December 2009, becoming the headquarters of the Aviation Museum.
This is the only aviation museum in Portugal, and houses a very diverse collection, including aircraft used in military aeronautics, naval aviation and the Portuguese Air Force, aircraft cockpits, museum spaces of TAP (Transportes Aéreos Portugueses) and ANA (Portuguese Airports), engines, etc.
- The landmark is located at the following address: Granja do Marquês, Fação, Almargem do Bispo, Pêro Pinheiro e Montelavar, Sintra, Lisbon, 2715-018, Portugal.
- The cost of visiting the museum is 3 euros, free for children and schoolchildren. In addition, all little travelers will receive a symbolic gift from the museum’s brand store at the entrance.
Note! We did not include Cabo da Roca in the list of Sintra attractions, as it is located outside the city. However, every traveler who comes to Sintra should see what the “end of the earth” looks like. How to get to the cape and detailed information about it with photos is presented on this page .
Accommodation: what’s the price?
Due to the fact that Sintra is located near Lisbon and has significant recreational resources, accommodation here is more expensive than in other cities in Portugal. For example, a night spent in a double room in a three-star hotel will cost at least 45 euros. A stay in a four-star hotel located in the historical center of Sintra will cost almost three times more, and prices in high-class hotels start from 150€ per night.
Tourists who want to save on accommodation can pay attention to private apartments, the cost of which is from 35€ per day. It is also worth remembering that in autumn and winter, prices for holidays in Portugal fall by about 10-15%, which will also have a positive effect on your budget.
How to get to Sintra from Lisbon on your own?
Portugal has very well-developed rail and bus transport, which is a great pleasure for active tourists. The distance between Sintra and Lisbon is only 23 km, which can be covered by:
- By train. This is the most budget-friendly and easiest way to get to Sintra. From Lisbon’s central station, namely Rossio station (Lisboa — Rossio), a train departs every 15-30 minutes from 6:01 to 01:01 in the direction we need. Travel time is 40-55 minutes (depending on the route and number of stops), the fare is 2.25 euros. You can see the exact schedule and buy tickets on the official website of the Portuguese railway — www.cp.pt.
- By bus. It will take you 27 minutes and cost you 3-5 euros to get to Sintra. The bus in the direction we need departs from Marquês de Pombal station and goes straight to the Sintra Estação stop. The frequency and exact ticket prices are on the carrier’s website — www.vimeca.pt.
- By car. The average price of a liter of gasoline in Portugal is 1.5-2€. You can get to Sintra in just 23 minutes on the A37 highway, if there are no traffic jams. But keep in mind that there are few parking spaces in the city, which can cause some inconvenience.
- Taxi. The price of such a trip is 50-60 € in a car for four people.
Tip! If you have the opportunity to travel from Lisbon to Sintra by train, be sure to take it. The capital’s roads are heavily congested between 8am and 11pm, so your trip may take more than an hour.
Interesting facts
- Sintra has trams that are over 100 years old. They have no windows or doors. A ride on such transport is a kind of entertainment for tourists.
- The city was the location for the 1996 film Gulliver’s Travels.
- Although the official date of the city’s foundation is considered to be 1147, this part of Portugal was inhabited much earlier.
- Sintra was once home to Hans Christian Andersen and George Gordon Byron. The latter described the city as “…perhaps the most beautiful place in Europe in every way…”
Sintra (Portugal) is a city of exquisite palaces and picturesque nature. Enjoy its magical atmosphere and bright colors to the fullest!
