Sintra, Portugal

While staying in Lisbon, we booked a day trip to Sintra via AirBnB Experience! We had the best time with our tour guide, Gui!

Sintra National Palace

The first stop of our day trip was Sintra National Palace, which is located in the historic center of Sintra and is a unique and unmissable monument. It was one of the palaces used by the Portuguese Royal Family almost up to the end of the Monarchy in 1910. The palace is an example of organic architecture, an ensemble of distinct forms that come together as a whole through courtyards, stairs, corridors, and galleries. It is one of the most visited palaces in Portugal!

Quinta da Regaleira

From the town center, we drove through windy roads to Quinta da Regaleira, a Romantic palace with a luxurious park that features lakes, grottoes, wells, and fountains.

We had a lot of fun walking down the “Initiation Well,” a spiral staircase descending underground to many tunnels.

After exploring the many winding tunnels at the base of the well, we enjoyed exploring the gardens!

Cabo da Roca

After a fun start to the morning we drove to Cabo da Roca, which is the westernmost point of the Sintra Mountain Range, of mainland Portugal, and of continental Europe. While here, Gui gave us a Portuguese treat!

While the scenery was beautiful, it was also cold and windy!

Lunch at Crôa

For lunch, Gui brought us to a restaurant near Praia Grande Beach that he has been going to with his family since he was a young boy. We made sure to order Portuguese Vinho Verde (“green wine”), black pork, and seafood rice. We all agreed that this meal was definitely a favorite!

Azenhas do Mar

We were running ahead of schedule, so Gui took us to Azenhas do Mar, a seaside town that he doesn’t typically take tour groups to. The views were breathtaking!

And, of course, Gui had another post-lunch Portuguese snack for us!

Peña Palace

Our last stop of the day was Peña Palace, a castle that stands on the top of a hill above the town of Sintra. It is a national monument and constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th-century Romanticism in the world.