A truly beautiful village and nature park, Sintra is one of the most popular places in Portugal. Only 30km (19 miles) from Lisbon, this must-see destination draws millions – yes, millions – of visitors each year.
It’s hard to resist the allure of Sintra’s famous palaces – the Palácio da Pena, the Castelo dos Mouros and Quinta da Regaleira – yet there are several other spaces and activities in the town and surrounding Parque Natural Sintra-Cascais that offer equally showstopping experiences but with fewer crowds.
These are our favorite mix of big-ticket and low-key attractions in Sintra.
Palácio da Pena is Sintra's most instantly recognizable landmark. Built in 1854 by Fernando II on the bones of an old monastery, it's one of the best examples of Romanticism architecture in Europe. The palace's golden onion domes rise above dense woodland in the Sintra Mountain and inside the preserved rooms offer a delicious glimpse into late-1800s royal life, complete with some unexpected modern touches. There's one of Europe's earliest telephone exchanges (imagine the royal gossip shared through those lines), and Portugal's first hot water shower in the king's bathroom. It's open daily to visitors for tours (€17 for adults).
Pro tip: Visit at the end of the day to avoid the crowds. You can avoid queues at the palace by purchasing your ticket through the website and receive a 15% discount if you book three days in advance.
A property from 1541 and an example of Manueline civil architecture, Quinta da Ribafria sits on the outskirts of the Parque Natural Sintra-Cascais, about 35km (22 miles) from Lisbon. After years of abandonment, the manor opened its gates in 2015, inviting visitors to wander through its once-neglected woods and gardens.
Follow along a charming path adorned with sculptures by both Portuguese and international artists – including Stefano Beccari from Italy and Amparo Luis from Spain – or stop on one of the benches to enjoy the peace and quiet, the only sound the wind in the treetops. If you go when the estate opens at 10am, you’ll likely be one of the first there.
Perhaps because it only opened to the public in 2022, the Palácio Biester still slips under the radar for many Sintra visitors. Together with its better-known (and busier) neighbor Quinta da Regaleira, this property, dating from the 19th century, is a textbook example of the romantic architecture that characterizes the buildings hidden within the dense Sintra forest.
The botanical park covers 6 hectares (15 acres) and boasts trees from all over the world, with stunning views of the Castelo dos Mouros and the town of Sintra from its viewpoints. The palace itself is full of original and strikking details, like the decorative
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