Sintra: A Mini Guide

This is a mini guide to Sintra, Portugal. I HIGHLY recommend spending a night or even two in Sintra instead of just passing through on a day trip. Sintra, Portugal is a magical place. It is the town where royalty spent their summers, and it shows! The fact that it is just about 45 minutes from Lisbon makes it even better, it is so easily accessible. I have been to Sintra twice and I still haven’t seen it all. The first time I went, it was just a for day trip and just wished I had more time. The second time, we stayed overnight and I still found myself wishing I had more time! I would advise spending a night or even a weekend in Sintra. The town of Sintra itself is charming and easy to walk around and enjoy. During my first time there, I didn’t even get to explore the town because we got off the train, grabbed lunch, and immediately started walking up to the Pena Palace. It was like a tease to only be able to explore a small portion of this gorgeous city, so for my second visit to Sintra, I didn’t make that same mistake. We enjoyed spending our time walking around and checking out all of the pastry shops, little bars, cute stores, and restaurants. In this guide you'll find all of my favorite spots, as well as where to stay, what to do, and what I STILL think I would do if I visit again!

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Updated ago

Where You Should Stay

Casa Do Valle

@planformedani

I LOVED it here. It was so charming and beautiful. Our little room was so cozy and perfect and it was so sweet that they brought breakfast to our room in the morning. We were able to sit out by the pool and eat breakfast overlooking the Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, and the Quinta De Regaleira. These are the reasons you come to Sintra and you can view all of them from the grounds! The pool was beautiful and the family couldn't have been kinder. I wish we stayed another night just to be at this beautiful place!

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Things to See

National Palace of Pena

@planformedani

This is one of the most stunning place I think I've been in over 30 countries. It's just so special up on the hill over the charming town. It's so colorful and just unlike anything you've ever seen! If you stay over in Sintra you have the opportunity to go up to the Palace either first thing in the morning or towards the end of the day which I highly recommend. Day trippers all get there around the same time and it fills up. But if you go before they come, or after they leave it's a really great experience!

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Quinta da Regaleira

@planformedani

After being first in line at the bakery that morning, we set ourselves up to be among the first people in the Quinta De Regaliera as well. Once inside, we set straight off for the famous well, since we had heard that a queue typically forms as the day goes on. Luckily, we had no issues and were able to descend down the spiral stairs along the walls with only a few other visitors. Coming back above ground through a few tunnels, we spent the next few ours exploring the rest of the estate. The buildings themselves are works of art, full of magnificent craftsmanship and details. The gardens are absolutely gorgeous, with beautifully maintained plants and flowers, a few ponds, and countless statues. Everywhere you turn there are more beautiful things to see, it would be easy to spend more than a full day exploring the stunning grounds.

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Castelo dos Mouros

@planformedani

I have yet to personally make it to this one, so I guess we'll have to go back to Sintra! The castle itself is supposed to be wonderful to see, it is also said to have some excellent views back towards the Pena Palace which I am sure would be very cool to see. I believe there is a way you can also walk from one to the other up through the hills. We will definitely take the time to do this next time we return.

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Sintra

@planformedani

Many people take a day trip to Sintra and I did too on my first trip to Lisbon. But if you can... STAY OVER! Check out my mini guide to Sintra or my Portugal road trip guide for a lot more info!

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Sintra National Palace

@planformedani

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Places to Eat/Drink

Fábrica da Nata

@planformedani

When you spend time in Portugal, you will quickly realize that one of the best treats is a Pastel De Nata. It is an egg custard tart pastry and it is absolutely delicious! The great thing about natas is that they are only about 1 euro and can be found almost everywhere. Like many pastry shops and bakeries, you can watch Fabrica Nata prepare them through the front window. It's neat to watch the process of how they are made, and after a few seconds I guarantee you won't be able to walk away without popping inside and buying a few from a fresh batch! They are doling out natas all day, so it is a great place to just walk in and grab a few whenever you need a little treat during exploring. Needless to say, we stopped in a few times during our stay in Sintra.

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Casa Piriquita

@planformedani

Across the street from Fabrica Nata, you will find Casa Piriquita. This is the oldest bakery in Sintra and has been there since 1862. We noticed this place right away because a line had formed out front. The bakery is adorable, with a yellow tiled front and charming old school interior. The next morning, we decided to jump right into the hype and were the first people in line to enter when they opened. It did not disappoint, the hype was beyond real. We tried quite a few treats, including the ones we were told it was famous for: the Queijada (another egg based pastry famous in Sintra) and the Travesseiros de Sintra (puff pastry filled with egg, sugar, and almonds). Naturally, we also tried their natas for comparison, which of course were amazing as well.

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Incomum

@planformedani

I had originally stopped here by chance on my first trip to Sintra with my girlfriends. We had a prix fixe lunch that was absolutely delicious along with a glass of wine. When I returned with my husband a few years later, I hoped that it would still be there and that it would still be as delicious as I remembered. Luckily, it turned out that I had nothing to worry about! My memory was correct about the quality and overall experience, and we sat outside while enjoying a nice lunch upon our arrival in Sintra. It is a great place to have some lunch and a drink before you head off to explore all that Sintra has to offer. I am sure it would be excellent for dinner as well.

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Tascantiga

@planformedani

This was a great tapas spot we tried for dinner. We were able to sit out on the terrace and enjoy the beautiful weather. They had great wines and we tried a ton of different food, and loved it all. A lot of the tapas were served in adorable little terra cotta pots and the ambiance was just excellent. We would highly recommend a stop here.

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Loja do Vinho

@planformedani

This is just a great little spot for people watching and a drink and a snack!

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Things I'd Do on Future Visits

Cascais

@planformedani

If we stayed another day I would definitely take a day trip here. It looks just beautiful and it would be a great place to get lunch and catch some sun and then go back to Sintra for another site in the afternoon.

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Romaria de Baco

@planformedani

I have read a lot of blogs and info saying this is another great spot to eat! Definitely would have tried it if we had another night.

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Chalet Saudade - Vintage GuestHouse

@planformedani

WOW! If we were going to try another spot in Sintra this one looks amazing. The pictures look incredible. It also has a 9.4 rating on booking.com which is always good!

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Villa Estefânia

@planformedani

This one also looks absolutely stunning! It would be fun to try a new place when we go back. Although Casa Do Valle would likely keep calling to me!

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Incomum Wine Gallery

@planformedani

If this wine gallery is anything as impressive as it's sister restaurant then I know it would be great! Wish we'd had more time to check this out and I would definitely go here on our next visit.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Plan For Me Dani

Available for hire

My name is Danielle and I have been planning trips for the past 10 years. One thing special and unique about my guides is that I am not producing guides that I didn't currently use myself. The places in my guides are places I have been, the itineraries are itineraries that I have personally followed. Everything is real and I have vetted myself. My travel planning story started with a honeymoon to Italy and since then it has grown each and every year. I love all kinds of travel! It's hard to fine a niche because I fit into so many categories. I love nature, hiking, and being outdoors. I love beaches and sunsets and sipping wine and cocktails in pretty places. I love learning about people and cultures and history. I love street art and busy cities and I also love small towns and quieter places. I will sleep in a hostel and I enjoy a beautiful hotel. I love South and Central America and I am obsessed with Europe. I've been to Asia twice and hope to get back in the next few years. I love to eat and one thing you'll always get from me are true and great reviews of places that I've personally eaten! I have just returned from Albania and I am working on guides from that trip! My full time job is as a School Leader of Social and Emotional Learning in Philadelphia. All my travel is done on school breaks and in the summer. I have still managed to visit over 36 countries and countless cities along the way. Being a teacher my whole life is about planning and I do believe I am exceptional at it. I work VERY hard to plan incredible trips and now you can hopefully benefit from that as well!

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