Sintra is a resort town in the west of Portugal. It has a wonderful location on the wooded slopes of the hills of the Serra de Sintra massif. There are about 17 sandy beaches along the coastline. UNESCO World Heritage Site listed this beautiful city due to its attractions.
This place's site is not so far from Lisbon, nearly 40 mins driving. And on your way, you may visit Cape Roca, the westernmost point of Eurasia, which offers stunning views of the rocks and the ocean.
Sintra attracts an influx of tourists during the high season, so the best time to visit is September-October and March-April. The average temperature will be comfortable for hiking, near 15-20 degrees. Also, prices for hotels and airplane tickets will be much lower.
To enjoy the beauties of the city, it is better to set aside 3-4 days, but if you are running out of time, then you can see a lot in one day.
So how did this truly magical place come about? In the 11th century, the Moors built a fortress on one of the hills of the Iberian Peninsula. It is from this tower that the history of Sintra begins. It has survived to this day and we strongly recommend seeing it.
In 1154, the first king of Portugal - Afonso I, ordered the building of St. Peter’s Cathedral within the walls of the fortress. Historians consider this year as the official founding of the city.
For many centuries, Sintra was a favorite town of the Monarchs and the elite of that time. Thus there are a lot of castles, cathedrals and fortresses. Sintra also long remained the site of the summer residence of the royal family. This city will captivate you with its atmosphere and the reason for this is its rich history. For hundreds of years, various merchants, kings and ordinary people left their mark here.
So what to see in Sintra, and how to get there, you may ask.
Top 10 Places to visit:
- Quinta da Regaleira
- Pena Palace
- Castle of the Moors
- Park and Palace of Montserrat
- Sintra National Palace
- National Palace & Gardens of Queluz
- Sintra tram
- Cabo da Roca
- News Museum
- Convent of the Capuchos
How to get there:
- By train from Lisbon from the Rossio station (ticket price is 1.90 euros)
