Sintra. By far the most interesting, dreamy, and whimsical place we have ever visited. As soon as we arrived we knew this would be a special place to us and one of our favorite spots to ever visit. The photos we took here are some of our all time favorites. With Lisbon growing in popularity as a tourist destination, we HIGHLY recommend everyone make at least a day trip out to Sintra.
It's an easy day trip from Lisbon if you plan it right. We had 3 people in our group so we opted to take an Uber rather than the train. For a 30 minute drive, it cost us about $30 total. Not bad considering the door to door convenience. Here is our complete one day guide to Sintra with the tips and tricks we learned along the way!
Quinta da Regaleria and the Iniciatic Well
This residence features a grand house, but due to our limited time we skipped this and went to the real attraction: the enormous gardens! The gardens were styled to represent ancient secret orders complete with hidden tunnels. The entrance fee here was about 6€ a person and we spent about 2 hours here. In these mystical gardens you can find references to the Knights Templar and even dark alchemy. The most interesting feature for us was the "well," which symbolized the initiation ceremony for the Knights Templar. After descending about 80 feet down, you will wander through a series of hidden tunnels. After here, eat in Sintra's town center. Food in the other attractions will be scare and expensive. We did enjoy a necessary coffee inside the Quinta da Regaleria, but because of the high prices opted for lunch in the town a close walk away.
Castelo dos Mouros
Also called the Moors Castle, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was definitely the most exhausting part of the day. Wear comfortable shoes! If you suffer from vertigo, have a fear of heights, or are clumsy this will not be the place for you. Most of the walls are only walled on one side. When passing people, you will have to walk on the side with no railing or protection from the steep drop off. This military fortification was built in the 9th century by North African Moors to guard the town of Sintra. Entrance fee here will set you back 8€. We took an Uber here from Quinta da Regaleria to save time.
Pena Palace
This is by far the most interesting, dreamy, romantic, and whimsical place we have ever been to, The photos we took here are some of our all time favorites. This UNESCO World Heritage Site stands on the top of a hill overlooking Sintra and is nothing short of incredible. Tip: If you're after an amazing photograph, stay at the palace until closing time. We found the palace to be nearly empty at the end of the day. When you enter the park, the palace is a 20 minute walk up a steep hill. Don't be like us unless you're up for the challenge! There is a bus that drives up from the entrance for a fee. Note that you will want about 2-4 hours here. The photos speak for themselves. When we first walking in we took our time walking around the palace, taking everything in. We went inside all areas before taking photos. We took an Uber here, but it took about 20 minutes to get picked up due to poor signal and the fact that there is not a lot surrounding the Pena Palace so drivers are coming from the town up to your pickup location. Use the bathroom by the entrance and do whatever you need to do before you exit because your pick up may not be as quick as you anticipate. Other than that, relax and take in the beautiful view!
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