You must spend a day in Sintra and Cascais during your trip to Portugal. Located on the western coast of Portugal and about 20 miles from Lisbon, both cities offer stunning scenery, rich history, and terrific cultural experiences. They are easily accessible from Lisbon via day tours or public transportation.
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Sintra
Within the town of Sintra itself, you can wander along the cobblestone streets of the historic city center, enjoying delicious pastries from Casa Piriquita (try the travesseiro or the queijadas) and browsing through shops. Make sure to stop by the Palácio Nacional de Sintra. This is the oldest and best preserved palace in Portugal believed to have been built in the 10th or 11th century. The structure you visit today dates from the 14th century and gives you an idea of how royals lived in the middle ages.
Mansions & Palaces & Castles
Sintra is the historic home of Portugal’s monarchs. Prepare to see beautiful mansions and castles surrounded by lush gardens dotted throughout the hilly region.
Pena Palace & Castle of the Moors
The National Palace of Pena sprang from a miraculous event. In the Middle Ages, the site was a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Pena. It was built after an apparition of the Virgin Mary on the site. In the 1500s, a monastery was erected and then largely destroyed by the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755. About a hundred years later, Price Ferdinand transformed the ruins into a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family. Construction was completed in 1847. Pena Palace is perched upon a lush green hill and painted in bright colors. It’s surrounded by a beautiful garden that encourages lingering. You have spectacular views of the sea.
You can also see the nearby Moorish Castle built by the Moors in the 8th and 9th centuries. If you have time, make a stop there, too. You can walk along the walls of this ancient fortification and have a great view of the Pena Palace!
Monserrate Palace
Monserrate Palace dates to the 19th century and was the vision of a British industrialist and art collector Francis Cook. It contains a variety of romantic architecture styles which result in a feast for the eyes. Like the other beautiful buildings described, the Monserrate gardens are just as (or perhaps more) beautiful as the palace itself!
Quinta de Regaleira
While you are in the Sintra region, stop by the Quinta de Regaleira. This is also a UNESCO World Heritage site but is much newer than the others we’ve covered. It was built between 1904-1910 by Carvalho Monteiro, a businessman who wanted a showplace for the many symbols reflecting his interests and ideologies. These include symbols related to the Masons, Knights Templar, alchemy, and Rosicrucian’s. The house is beautiful, but allow plenty of time to explore the grounds. The best part of the site is the Initiation Well. It resembles underground towers lined with stairs. These towers were not intended to hold water, but were used for ceremonial purposes that included Tarot initiation rites. Make sure you walk all the way to the bottom to see the tunnel system below!
Nature Parks & Places
If you need some fresh air after all those stuffy palaces, the Sintra-Cascais region has many outdoor areas where you can stretch your legs and enjoy natural beauty.
Parque Natural Sintra-Cascais
The Parque Natural Sintra-Cascai nature park has an array of different landscapes including sand dunes, coastlines, lakes, and cliffs. The magnificent Serra de Sintra mountains are on prominent display. If you like adventure activities, make sure to check out Pedra Amarela Base Camp. Here you can engage in sports such as tree climbing, archery, bouldering, and more.
Cabo da Roca
Make your way to the westernmost point of the European continent next, called Cabo da Roca. Here you can stand at the European point closest to North America. Perhaps this proximity to the New World is what inspired so many Portuguese to become world explorers!
Boca de Inferno
Don’t miss Boca de Inferno (Mouth of Hell), a natural cave made by waves crashing from the sea. This is a beautiful place to see the sunset.
Cascais
After spending most of your day visiting palaces and enjoying the great outdoors of the region, make your way to Cascais. Known as the Riviera of Portugal, Cascais has a marina and many shops and restaurants along the ocean. This is a great place to have a nice dinner.
The area also has beautiful beaches and plenty of great spots to watch the sunset. Check out the Praia do Abano beach. This pretty beach boasts less crowds than others in the area. A great place to watch the sunset on your way back to Lisbon is Priai da Poca beach.
After a day of seeing beautiful mansions, you may want to try your luck at winning money to build your own at Casino Estoril! This is one of the world’s largest casinos and definitely the biggest entertainment complex in the country. You can play casino games, visit an art gallery, see diverse shows, and dine in acclaimed restaurants during your visit.
How would you spend your day in the Sintra-Cascais region?
Tell us below! There’s so much to do, perhaps you should plan two day trips from Lisbon there!
