Sintra: peaceful jewel

Enjoying a very convenient location, just 30 km away from the Portuguese capital, Sintra is a scenic retreat for those who fancy calmer holiday destinations. Holidaymakers who seek visual sensations will surely appreciate that the town is situated at the foot of the enchanting Serra de Sintra. 

The verdant landscape and mild climate make it a favourite holiday choice for hundreds of tourists each year. Thus, it comes as no surprise that the town became the favourite summer sojourn for the Portuguese Royalty. Its romantic ambience and a plethora of municipal parks make it an ideal place to forget about the stresses of everyday life.

Sintra is a treasure trove of diverse tourist attractions. It’s worth starting your journey around the town from the National Palace. It is characterised by strange-looking conical chimneys that are visible from afar. It was constructed in the 14th century and thus, is the oldest surviving palace of this type in the whole country. Inside, you’ll find the magnificent Sala dos Cisnes decorated with paintings of swans on the ceiling. Other interesting chambers include the Sala das Pegas and Sala dos Brasões.

Castelo dos Mouros is yet another superb tourist attraction of Sintra coming from the medieval times. It stands above the city offering a breathtaking panorama of the town and the surrounding verdant area. The 8th-century bastion enriches the town’s ambience with dramatic character and uniqueness.

Palácio da Pena looks like a huge sweet cake with yellow facades, stunning crenellated towers, and blue domes. Inside, you’ll find fine examples of interior design in the form of the Arab Room, a ballroom, and a richly embellished chapel. It is located on the highest summit of Serra de Sintra. An additional advantage is that you can spot Lisbon from this peak.

Another interesting place to visit is surely Palácio dos Milhões with its fancy turrets and spooky interior. The property comes from the 19th century and was used by Hollywood to shoot a movie starring Johnny Depp. Around it, you’ll find an intriguing, yet spooky, garden which will surprise even the most experienced globetrotters.

If you search for a retreat from the urban centre, you should direct your steps to Convento dos Capuchos which is surrounded on all sides by brilliant flora. The monastery is located in the ridge that is part of Serra de Sintra. Established in the second half of the 16th century, it can boast a number of solitary cells and interesting chapels.

A perfect way to explore the town of Sintra and the surrounding region is to hire a car. Finding your dream rental vehicle will be a piece of cake with such a broad selection of car hire companies in the city centre and at the nearby Lisbon Airport.

Sintra is a pretty challenging road environment for foreign motorists. The town is known for congested streets, erratic behaviour of drivers, and scarcity of parking spaces. The narrowest alleys can be found in the areas that lead uphill, for example, to the Pena Palace. 

Within the historic quarter of Sintra, you’ll find only two car parks. One can be found in front of the National Palace and it has the capacity of 20 parking spots. The other one is situated near the Museu Anjos Teixeira with the capacity of 30 parking places. There is also a larger municipal car park located in the residential district of the town, nearby the N249 terminus. In the summer time, it is considered the best option for holidaymakers coming to Sintra.

What’s more, in order to use the on-street parking spots, you need to strictly follow the rules prevailing in a given parking zone. It’s vital to purchase a ticket from the nearby parking meter, but remember that the meters don’t give any change. It is also possible to use the Portela de Sintra 24 Hour Car Park or simply use the EMES service that allows you to pay for your parking spot with the use of a mobile phone. The greatest advantage is that the system informs you when you are almost out of your parking time as well as the fact that you can extend it remotely.