Sintra looks like a fairytale come to life. Just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean, this region of granite mountains and verdant scenery has been a favored retreat for Portugal’s kings and queens for centuries. Today, the UNESCO-listed destination is home to a wealth of royal residences—from the candy-colored Pena National Palace (Palacio National de Pena) and the ruins of the 11th-century Castle of the Moors to the lavish Monserrate Palace and the Sintra National Palace, renowned for its extravagant azulejo tiles. Palace-hopping is the thing to do in Sintra—but don’t overlook its lush parks, monasteries, and museums.
Sintra is one of Portugal’s top tourist destinations. That’s especially true in the summer (June-August) when visitors flock to Sintra’s palaces in between sunning themselves at nearby beaches and classical music lovers come to attend the annual Festival de Sintra. But if you’d rather escape the crowds (and the sometimes-searing summer heat), the best time to visit Sintra is during the spring and autumn shoulder seasons, which are cooler and calmer.
Sintra is within day-trip distance of Lisbon, making exploring easy. Direct trains run frequently between Lisbon’s Rossio Railway Station and Sintra Station, and the journey takes less than an hour. The Sintra Tourist Bus 434 is the easiest way to get from Sintra’s town center up to hilltop attractions such as Pena National Palace (Palacio National de Pena) and the Castle of the Moors, while Bus 435 also visits several attractions. Driving to Sintra isn’t recommended—much of the historic center is closed to traffic, and parking can be scarce—but guided tours from Lisbon offer another easy way to get there.
Portugal takes its pastries seriously—and that’s especially true of Sintra, which is known for two signature treats. One is the travesseiro, whose name translates to “pillow” and is fittingly rectangular and airy, filled with a sweet mixture of egg yolks and almonds. Then there’s the queijada, a custardy pastry that somewhat resembles the more famous pastel de nata, but also contains cheese (and comes in many flavors). Visit fifth-generation Sintra bakery Casa Piriquita to try both—and pick your favorite.
