Discover Sintra and Cascais, what to visit in our 3-day itinerary. Even Lord Byron proclaimed it the most delightful village in Europe. Most people only spend here a day, but we suggest staying at least one extra day, so you can visit the beaches and experience the local cuisine. Our tour of Sintra begins in the heart of town with a sample of the local pastries. Queijadas are essentially sweet cheese tarts, while travesseiros are made with a flaky puff pastry and filled with a delicious almond cream.
The first location was so popular that they opened another around the corner called Piriquita II. Dating back to the 9th century, it remains one of the best well-kept medieval palaces in the world despite its slightly modern appearance.
This room is the highlight of the palace, not only because of the coat of arms in the ceiling but also for its impressive collection of tile panels covering the walls from top to bottom. Next stop is Quinta da Regaleira.
In the afternoon, make your way to the Moorish castle. You can hike there, hop on a tuk tuk or get the bus from the town centre. Standing on a hilltop, the castle offers spectacular views over the Sintra Mountains. Walking along the ramparts, you can see the whole town and, across the hill, the colourful Pena Palace. Get back on the bus or hike up to the Pena Palace.
The building stands out with its eclectic design featuring a variety of architectural styles, including neo-Moorish, neo-Gothic, and neo-Renaissance. Its bright coloured walls help create the perfect fairytale setting. The interior was left pretty much untouched since the last Portuguese royals left in If you have time, make sure to explore the surrounding park as well, which is full of hidden pathways and small lakes.
