Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For centuries, Portugal's aristocracy considered Sintra the perfect place to escape from
Lisbon. Now tourists do, too. Sintra (SEEN-trah) is a mix of natural and man-made
beauty: fantasy castles set amid exotic tropical plants, lush green valleys, and craggy hill-
tops with hazy views of the Atlantic and Lisbon. For centuries, Sintra—just 15 miles
northwest of Lisbon—was the summer escape of Portugal's kings. Those with money
and a desire to be close to royalty built their palaces amid luxuriant gardens in the same
neighborhood. Lord Byron called this bundle of royal fancies and aristocratic dreams a
“glorious Eden,” and even though it's mobbed with tourists today, it's still magnificent.
Also consider checking out Europe's westernmost tip (at Cabo da Roca) and nearby resort
towns.
Sintra makes a great day trip from Lisbon, especially on Monday, when many museums
in Lisbon are closed, but all major Sintra sights are open. Here you can climb through the
Versailles of Portugal—the Pena Palace—and romp along the ruined ramparts of a deser-
ted Moorish castle on a neighboring hilltop.
Try to arrive in Sintra by 9:15, since most major sights open between 9:00 and 9:45.
Pick up a map at the train station's TI, and catch bus #434 up to the Pena Palace. After
touring the palace and gardens, walk down to the Moorish Castle ruins, a nice spot for a
picnic lunch. From here, you can hike 30 minutes down a steep, wooded path into town
