Casa Piriquita

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!

This guide is for anyone visiting Portugal in the summer that wants to get down to the Algarve and see some incredible towns and beaches. This itinerary has you spending most of your trip in the Algarve. However, it does not leave out Lisbon and Sintra as I feel both of these locations are essential and not to be missed. This guide will be full of suggestions for things to do, see, and eat, and many many beaches that are worth visiting! It's a GREAT summer itinerary for visiting Portugal. This guide takes you through Sintra, Tavira, Albufiera, Lagos, and Lisbon. It also features quite a few stops in between! This guide will feature things that I have personally done and are vetted by me and my experience through my time in Portugal. This itinerary is done with a car.

Escape the urban buzz of Lisbon and discover Sintra, a fairytale town nestled in the verdant hills nearby. This enchanting place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a captivating mix of romantic palaces, whimsical gardens, and timeless charm. Explore the vibrant Pena National Palace, a kaleidoscope of architectural styles, perched dramatically on a peak. Stroll through the mystical Quinta da Regaleira, a hidden estate adorned with grottoes, tunnels, and secret passages. Breathe in the fresh mountain air and wander through the lush Pena Park, a paradise teeming with exotic plants and captivating views. This guide includes: - introductory note - places to visit (photo spots, museums and cultural venues,, open squares, beaches and others) - restaurants, coffeeshops and sweets spots - photo spots Get to see more from my travels on my Instagram (@pedralexpereira) and Flickr (flickr.com/photos/pedralexpereira)