Sintra, an Unforgettable Fairy Tale Town in Portugal!

If you visit Portugal don’t forget to make a day’s trip to Romantic Sintra. Sintra is a beautiful picturesque resort town in the foothills of Portugal’s Sintra Mountains. It is very near the capital of Lisbon. Sintra, a forested hilly terrain with cool temperatures has been the sanctuary of the Royal families who built beautiful palaces, extravagant villas and decorative gardens on top of the green hills that commanded stunning views of central Portugal. The variety of fascinating historic buildings and beautiful scenery has established Sintra as a top tourist destination in Portugal and the most popular day trip from Lisbon.
Sintra is truly a fairy tale town. Pastel coloured buildings and palaces stud the green hilly forests just like a fairy tale scene. Besides being a delight for children, Sintra is through and through Romantic! The little town has winding cobbled streets lined with many cafes, souvenir shops and inviting restaurants. The three main Palaces of Sintra are the National Palace, The Pena Palace and the Moors Castle, all of which can be covered in a day’s trip from Lisbon.
The Moorish- and Manueline-style Sintra National Palace is distinguished by its dramatic twin chimneys and elaborate tilework. The hilltop 19th-century Pena National Palace is an architectural wonder. The palace sits high above the town with stunning views of the hills and forests. Pena Palace was built by a king who was passionate about arts and wished his royal retreat to have the look of an opera. Its walls are painted in vivid pastel colours, with decorative towers, battlements and statues of mythological creatures. The interiors of the palace have been restored to how it was in 1910 when the Royal family fled with the fall of Portuguese Royalty. Queen Amelia spent her last night in the Pena Palace before her exile! Pena Palace is the highlight of Sintra tour.
The Quinta da Regaleira near the town centre is an estate, which is home to another magical palace that one must not miss. It has a beautiful intricate design but due to lack of colour it gives more of a scary feel. It definitely is a fairytale monster’s home!
If you want to extend your stay in Sintra there are many nature trips and treks that you can explore. Or, if you head west then there are the golden beaches of Lisbon.

Have you experienced this unforgettable fairytale town? If so, get in touch with us via our Facebook page and tell us what you enjoyed most about your stay!