Lisbon Trip Overview
On the way to Sintra, we will start by visiting the 18th century National Palace of Queluz with its beautiful gardens.
Next stop is the village of Sintra. Here you can enjoy a magical atmosphere where you can walk around the historical center and discover the Palace of the Village. You are going to have time at the village to taste the famous pastries: Queijadas of Sintra and Travesseiros.
Climbing among the mystical forests of Sintra, you will find at the top of the hill the Pena Palace of the 19th century, very well decorated with the best pieces of decoration that the royal family left there. Later your tour guide will drive through the Natural Park of Sintra to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost site of Continental Europe.
On your drive back to Lisbon, we will take the coastal road passing by the Guincho beach, Cascais and Estoril.
Explore Lisbon & Cascais in the most luxurious way!
Additional Info
* Duration: 8 hours
* Starts: Lisbon, Portugal
* Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
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What to Expect When Visiting Lisbon, Central Portugal, Portugal
On the way to Sintra, we will start by visiting the 18th century National Palace of Queluz with its beautiful gardens.
Next stop is the village of Sintra. Here you can enjoy a magical atmosphere where you can walk around the historical center and discover the Palace of the Village. You are going to have time at the village to taste the famous pastries: Queijadas of Sintra and Travesseiros.
Climbing among the mystical forests of Sintra, you will find at the top of the hill the Pena Palace of the 19th century, very well decorated with the best pieces of decoration that the royal family left there. Later your tour guide will drive through the Natural Park of Sintra to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost site of Continental Europe.
On your drive back to Lisbon, we will take the coastal road passing by the Guincho beach, Cascais and Estoril.
Explore Lisbon & Cascais in the most luxurious way!
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: National Palace of Queluz, Largo do Palacio, Queluz 2745-191 Portugal
Queluz, located between Lisbon and Sintra, would be just another unremarkable suburb if it wasn’t for one major attraction that’s one of Portugal’s most beautiful monuments — a rococo palace, inspired by Versailles, built in 1747 with lavish formal gardens. It was the official residence of the royal family in the late 1700s, and is still used today for grand official functions and concerts thanks to the superb acoustics of the Music Room.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Sintra, Sintra, Sintra Municipality, Lisbon District, Central Portugal
Sintra looks like a fairy tale, an ethereal or enchanted forest that has bewitched poets throughout time. It’s where Lisbon cools off, thanks to a Twilight Zone-like microclimate that also attracted nobility to build palaces over the centuries. The result was Europe’s first center of Romantic architecture, and it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (the first “cultural landscape” in Europe to be listed).
It’s where the Celts worshiped the moon, the Moors built their “great wall,” and royalty erected their dream palaces. The most spectacular of all is Pena Palace, looking like a Disney extravagance but an actual royal residence from the 1800s. Other almost surreal constructions include Quinta da Regaleira, the Capuchos Convent and Monserrate Palace, plus fountains and waterfalls further adding to the mystical atmosphere whose spell no one is able to resist.
Just outside the center of town is Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of the European continent.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Casa Piriquita, R. Padarias 1 18, 2710-603 Sintra, Portugal
Just as you cannot visit Belém without stopping at the Pasteis de Belém, you shouldn’t leave Sintra without trying a few sweets at the Casa Piriquita pastry shop. Look out for the travesseiro – a sticky, flaky and sweet rectangular cake filled with egg cream and flavored with almonds. This 155-year-old shop is also known for its queijadas. Stemming from the word queijo, which means cheese, queijadas are round cakes filled with cheese, sugar, eggs and cinnamon, surrounded by a delicious flour crust. Try to grab a seat inside to enjoy these Sintra-favorites with a coffee, or take your cakes to go.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Park and National Palace of Pena, Estrada da Pena, Sintra 2710-609 Portugal
This fairytale palace is one of the world’s most spectacular and one of Europe’s most eclectic constructions. It was built in 1840 over an old convent, which was incorporated into the new building (including a Manueline cloister decorated with tiles from 1520 and a 16th-century chapel with a marble and alabaster altarpiece). It’s a fantasy palace mixing neo-Gothic, neo-Manueline, neo-Moorish and neo-Renaissance features, creating one of the finest examples of European Romanticism. There are watchtowers of various shapes, one of the gateways is topped by the half-man half-fish Triton, and much of the interior (untouched since the last royals left in 1910) is decorated with oriental porcelain and European furniture. In the kitchen are displays of large cooking utensils used to prepare the royal banquets.
Often compared to Germany’s Bavarian castles, Pena is as symbolic to Portugal as Neuschwanstein is to Germany, although it actually predates that Bavarian icon by two decades.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Sintra National Palace, Largo Rainha Dona Amélia, 2710-616 Sintra, Portugal
You’ll know this palace right away for its pair of white conical towers above a mishmash of halls and annexes.
The Palace of Sintra is the oldest palace in the town, and no royal medieval residence is in a better state of preservation in Portugal.
Royalty lived here on and off from the 1400s to the 1700s, and each successive occupant added a bit of their own personality.
One, King Manuel I was responsible for a lot of the interior decoration, cladding the walls with eye-catching Seville azulejos.
These are in the Mudéjar style (Moorish revival) and have geometric, carpet-like patterns.
Another of his works was the magnificent Sala dos Brasões (Coats of Arms Hall), where the coffered ceiling sports the 72 coats of arms of the Portuguese royalty and nobility.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Castelo dos Mouros, Estrada da Pena Parque de Monserrate, Sintra 2710-609 Portugal
Built by the Moors in the 9th century, this castle monitored the Lisbon coast and included secret passages and a large cistern, which were vital in case of siege. In medieval times, after the Christian reconquest in 1147, a church dedicated to St. Peter of Canaferrim was built within the castle’s walls, and its ruins now house artifacts collected in archaeological excavations, and present videos telling the castle’s history.
There’s a magnificent panoramic view over Sintra from the ramparts, looking out to Pena Palace and over the Sintra National Palace, Chalet Biester, Quinta da Regaleira, and all the other palaces up to the Atlantic coast. It’s possible to walk along the wall’s 450 meters and climb to the top of the five turrets.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Quinta da Regaleira, Rua Barbosa do Bocage, Sintra 2710-567 Portugal
This enigmatic neo-Manueline monument is a magical place of fantastical gardens, grottoes, lakes, and a well with a monumental staircase spiraling down 30 meters.
It’s a fantasy turned into the residence of millionaire António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro (the top coffee importer of the time) in 1892, blending a variety of architectural styles in unexpected harmony.
Both the palace and the four acres of the romantic garden are filled with esoteric symbols, statues of mythological figures and a maze of grottoes, creating a fun experience that attracts an increasing number of visitors of all ages.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Park and Palace of Monserrate, 2710-405 Sintra, Portugal
Monserrate is deep in the mountain range, slightly removed from Sintra’s other palaces, and so isn’t quite as crowded.
But that doesn’t mean you can pass it by, because both the Moorish Revival palace and grounds are glorious.
It was all landscaped in the mid-19th century for Sir Francis Cook, an English aristocrat who was given the title Viscount of Monserrate by King Luís I. The parkland has bamboo plantations, grottoes, man-made waterfalls, ponds, exotic cedars and Oceanic tree ferns.
And as for the residence, the Islamic influence is undeniable, in the latticework in its arches, the arabesque stucco patterns on the stairway and the ceiling of the radiant music room, which hosts concerts to this day.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Tivoli Palácio de Seteais, R. Barbosa du Bocage 8, 2710-517 Sintra, Portugal
Sintra is the perfect place to pretend to be royalty amid the many palaces and castles, so a night at the Seteias Palace may allow you to briefly live the dream! This five-star luxury hotel was built in the 18th century and oozes elegance in every room and corner. From the fine dining restaurant to the elaborately decorated suites, a night at the Setaias Palace would be hard to forget.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Convent of the Capuchos, 2705 Colares, Portugal
A short but very picturesque drive from Sintra will bring you to the remnants of a 16th-century monastery.
The Franciscan monks who lived in this brotherhood chose an extraordinarily austere life, contrasting with Sintra’s luxury.
They lived in tiny cells bored from the rock and adorned with cork, and survived on vegetables grown at the kitchen garden.
This is still visible below the main courtyard, the Pátio do Tanque where there’s a pretty octagonal fountain.
You’ll be equipped with an audioguide to tour the cells, monastic buildings and chapel, which have been abandoned since the monasteries were dissolved in Portugal in 1834.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Museu do Ar, Estrada Granja do Marques, Sintra 2715-021 Portugal
For a change of pace from palaces and mountains there’s an aviation museum for Portugal’s Air Force at Sintra Air Base.
The museum is coming up for its 50th birthday, and in 2010 the fleet of aircraft was moved from Alverca to this massive hangar.
You can run the rule over a big fleet of planes, helicopters, propellers, navigation equipment, instrument panels and tons of other paraphernalia.
The exhibition begins with a timeline of early aviation experiments in Renaissance times, advancing through primitive biplanes like Tiger Moths to Second World War aircraft like spitfires and then into the jet age.
A highlight is the Douglas C-47A Dakota, which you can board, but only accompanied by Força Aérea personnel.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Praia da Adraga, Portugal
It’s a sign of the high standard of the beaches in Sintra that the second best beach in the town is still held as one of the best in all of Portugal.
Adraga is the next one up from Praia da Ursa, and has the same sharp rocks and intimidating wall of cliffs behind.
The good news is that you can drive down, and there’s a restaurant by the car park next to the beach.
If you go carefully it’s a fun place to explore, adventuring over the rocks to find caves and tunnels.
The surf is a bit more vigorous at this beach than its neighbour, but there is a lifeguard all summer.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Farol do cabo da Roca, Estrada do Cabo da Roca, Sintra 2705-001 Portugal
Europe’s westernmost point is found between Sintra and Cascais, and is topped by a lighthouse from 1772 and an inscription by poet Luis de Camões noting that “Here, land ends and the sea begins.” It’s one of Portugal’s most emblematic sites, a country always looking out to sea.
To prove that you’ve stood on the edge of Europe, the tourism office on the site sells you a certificate as a souvenir.
Nearby is Praia da Ursa, one of Portugal’s most beautiful beaches with impressive rock formations, but difficult to reach, as you must go down a steep cliff (10 minutes to go down and 20 to go back up). Once by the sea you’re almost all by yourself, as there is no lifeguard or facilities, but it is a popular spot for naturists.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Cascais, Cascais, Lisbon District, Central Portugal
For beach lounging, a dip in the cooling Atlantic waters, a rich seafood meal, or simply a stroll by the sea, Lisbon heads to Cascais. This former enclave of exiled European monarchs in the mid-20th century remains an elegant town of large mansions, cobblestone streets, and a Mediterranean feel by the Atlantic. It’s also a mecca for surfers and windsurfers, especially Guincho Beach, which has hosted the World Surfing Championships. There are also cultural attractions, making it a year-round destination.
A short walk by the sea takes you to Estoril, with beaches and beachside cafés along the way. In the center of town, especially on Rua Frederico Arouca, Avenida Valbom, and Alameda dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra are shops, cafés and restaurants.
The center of Lisbon is just over a half hour away by train, while Sintra is around a half hour by bus.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Largo Praia da Rainha, Cascais 2750-471 Portugal
It’s hidden between rocks and cliffs, but this small and beautiful beach is the most central in Cascais. It’s right by the main pedestrian streets, next to the Albatroz Hotel and just a short walk from the train station.
The name (“Queen’s Beach”) is due to Queen Amelia, who used to swim in its calm and clear waters.
The small square Largo da Praia da Rainha overlooks the beach, and is essentially a terrace offering outdoor eating and drinking with a view of the sea.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Praia de Carcavelos, Avenida Marginal, Carcavelos 2775-604 Portugal
Carcavelos is located halfway between Lisbon and Cascais, and its beach is one of the biggest on the Lisbon coast. Its strong waves attract surfers and bodyboarders, and its over 1km of sand is quite popular among volleyball and beach soccer players.
It’s also a beach known for being where many get together on New Year’s Day for the first dive of the year, and there are several restaurants and bars with outdoor seating.
On the eastern end is the fort of São Julião da Barra, built in 1553 to control the entrance to the port of Lisbon. Today it’s the official residence of Portugal’s Minister of Defense.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Estoril, Estoril, Cascais, Lisbon District, Central Portugal
Often called “the coast of the sun” or “the Portuguese Riviera,” Estoril (and neighboring Cascais) is where the rich, famous, and even royal Europeans escaped to during WWII, as Portugal remained a safe, neutral country. Grand hotels and Europe’s biggest casino were built to welcome them, and that’s where Ian Fleming got the idea for the James Bond character. Although the special agent’s birthplace is no longer as glitzy and glamourous, it remains a cosmopolitan town. There are aristocratic mansions, world-class golf, a Grand Prix track, and, of course, the beach, attracting locals and tourists throughout much of the year.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Praia do Tamariz, Av. Marginal, Estoril, Cascais 2765-289 Portugal
This is one of the most popular beaches on the Lisbon coast, at both day and night. People from Lisbon, from the suburbs and from around the world come here for the sun and to relax at the bars, which stay open until late.
Its location immediately in front of the casino may have made it popular, but what has also made it famous is its castle, whose image illustrates most postcards of the region. That castle is a private property, but was once a fort (the Fort of the Cross) when it was built in the 1600s. It’s said to belong to the royal family of Monaco, and is not open to visitors, although you may rent it for special events.
Duration: 20 minutes
