Welcome to MADABOUTSINTRA.COM, your ultimate guide to unlocking the secrets of Sintra, Portugal's premier day-trip destination from Lisbon. Dive deep into the town's enchanting mysteries and tailor your adventure to perfectly align with your schedule. Discover insider tips on must-visit locations and seamless travel routes to ensure a hassle-free journey.
Explore comprehensive transportation options, ensuring easy access to Sintra's top attractions while avoiding long queues with convenient online booking. Heighten your experience with the timesaving Sintra Pass and Lisbon Card options, designed to streamline your exploration and maximise savings.
From ancient castles to lush gardens, Sintra's timeless allure has captivated visitors for centuries, and now it's your turn to be enchanted. Don't miss out on the opportunity to immerse yourself in the magic of Sintra's legendary sites. Start planning your unforgettable journey today with MADABOUTSINTRA.COM.
Discover the enchanting town of Sintra, nestled north of Lisbon amidst the stunning forests of the Serra de Sintra and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. Once known as "Cintra," Sintra has long been a magnet for royalty, poets, and romantics, earning praise from Lord Byron as a "glorious Eden." With its plethora of palaces, castles, and fine houses, Sintra exudes an aura of whimsy and eccentricity, captivating visitors with its unique charm.
Recognised by UNESCO in 1996 for its unparalleled heritage, Sintra boasts millennia of history reflected in its abundance of monuments and attractions. Conveniently accessible via local public transport, visitors can explore top sites such as the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace using dedicated bus routes like #434 and #435.
For those seeking outdoor adventures, well-marked hiking routes offer breathtaking landscapes and glimpses into ancient history. After a day of exploration, indulge in Sintra's diverse culinary scene, explore our comprehensive restaurant reviews and cuisine guides.
Extend your stay and use Sintra as a base for exploring nearby attractions like the scenic coastline, Cascais, Estoril, and much, much more. Let MADABOUTSINTRA.COM be your ultimate resource for hotel reviews, car rental deals, and everything you need to make the most of your Sintra adventure.
Sintra Vila Velha (old town centre)
Beautiful eclectic architecture with landscaped gardens
A mighty 10th Century fortification dating from pre-Christian times
One of the most iconic and eccentric Portuguese buildings
Portugal's oldest palace pre-dating the country itself
A place full of mysticism, romance, wonder and magic
An impressive 18th-century palace, a homage to the Baroque style
A beautiful 16th-century convent harmoniously blended into the landscape
The most westerly point in mainland Europe with breathtaking scenery
Sintra has two distinctive districts; the new part and the old. The new part surrounds the train station Portela de Sintra. The old village is located in São Martinho up the hill and west of the Sintra train station. The Largo Rainha Dona Amélia in the centre of the old town would be the first place you'll encounter if you've arrived by coach from Lisbon or taken the bus from the train station. Flanked on three sides by restaurants, gift shops and overpriced wine shops and, dominating the other side, stands the imposing Palácio Nacional de Sintra. It has distinctive champagne bottled-shaped chimneys. The pillory or Pelourinho standing on its three steps next to the Largo Rainha Dona Amélia is a 20th-century copy made in 1940 by José da Fonseca. The original Pelourinho was destroyed in 1854. [ More About ► ]
What to see…
Fountains Sintra Myths & Legends Interactive Centre
Sintra's vintage tramway resumed its seasonal service from the centre of Sintra, close to the Museu de Arte Moderna, to Praia das Maças on the coast. This rickety old tram squeaks and judders 11.5km (7 mi) through the picturesque Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais, passing through Colares and Banzão along the way. Bones are shaken for about 45-50 minutes before reaching the final destination.
Old Tram Sintra - Praia das Maças Timetable
Adult: €3.00 Single, OAP & Child: €2.00 Single, Infant <6: FREE
Avenue Heliodoro Salgado, Sintra, Portugal. |
38º 48' 12.0" N | 08º 37' 17.62" W
+351 219 238 789 | dtur@cm-sintra.pt | Website
Sintra - Praia das Maças Old Tram (Eléctrico de Sintra)
Over past epochs, Sintra's diverse history has accumulated several artefacts, curiosities; creating a broad cultural heritage. Treasures from various eras can be found within the towns museums and art galleries. Sintra boasts unique collections of fossils, art pieces and toys.
The cultural legacy left by the poets, artists, royals and enigmatic characters who once dwelt here can be found within the homes they bequeathed to history.
What to see…
Air Museum Archeology Museum Natural History Museum
Variations of Queijadas, sweet cheesecake-type pastries, are found all over Portugal and the Portuguese-speaking world. It is in Sintra they have their origin and are well worth trying if visiting the town. Made from a ricotta-like cheese called Requeijão, egg yolks and a pinch of Cinnamon. They're incredibly rich in texture and sweet, with a fluffy sweet top crust. The exact recipe is a closely guarded secret. There are records of Queijadas being baked at the Convento da Penha Longa since 1227AD. Queijadas were even used as part payment for rent.
The Queijadas da Sapa bakery has proudly been making these little delights since 1756 and continues to be made in the traditional yet time-consuming way. Queijadas can be bought directly from the bakery, (located close to the Sintra train station) or from various other outlets across town. A six-pack makes an excellent culinary souvenir.
Fabrica das Verdadeiras Queijadas da Sapa
The absolute jewel of the Lisbon coast and favoured resort of Royalty
Beautiful fishing village and surfing Mecca untouched by mass tourism
An exclusive resort know by many as Portugal's Riviera
Portugal's largest building, the Palace that bankrupted a nation
The stunning preserved medieval town once a wedding gift for a Queen
A delightful seaside resort and fishing village South of Lisbon
The home of Portugal's Templar Knights a town entwined in history
Colares, located around Sintra, is one of the world's oldest wine-producing regions, if not the most unusual. The Romans introduced viniculture to the area during their occupation, starting in 206 BCE. The grape vines are planted in the coastal dunes and trained low to avoid the Atlantic winds. This terrain proved too harsh for the phylloxera louse that devastated nearly all of Europe's vines in the 19th century. The shortage of competitors led to a boom in the popularity of Colares wines. However, the processes involved in planting and training vines in the sand are arduous. Production has fallen sharply in the last 50 years from 2,500 acres of vineyards in the 1940s to just 50 acres today.
The small amount produced is of excellent quality and wholly distinct. The acidic and tannic nature of the reds means they're aged for many years before being released on the market. Today there is a consorted effort to revitalise the industry, and new vines are being planted. You can savour this unique product and enjoy a fascinating insight into age-old traditions on a visit to a Colares winery. Several Colares wine producers welcome visitors and are eager to share their passion. [ More About ► ]
| Sintra's historical centre is 18 miles (29km) west of Lisbon Portela Airport Website 
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| The speedy A5 and A16 motorways will whisk you west from central Lisbon. A more picturesque routes from Cascais via the Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais on the A16 and N247. 
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Urban train services (comboios urbanos) from Lisbon's Rossio and Orient stations are regular and reliable.
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| Flixbus Operate services from Porto, Coimbra, Faro, Madrid & Toulouse |
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