Sintra and Queluz – Land of Kings

From Cascais the romantic town of Sintra and Queluz Palace, a veritable jewel in the style of “Versailles”, are just a short distance away.

To reach Sintra, the best route to follow is the Guincho coast road to the Sintra hills. The scenery is both awesome and inspiring. This is the most scenic route, but the most direct is via the EN9 Estoril-Sintra road that takes you to the village of São Pedro de Sintra, from where you can descend to Sintra itself.

Arriving at the town square, head for Sintra Palace with its famous twin chimneys. This monument keeps alive the memories of medieval times in Portugal.

Regional sweets

Don’t forget to visit the famous pastry shop “Piriquita” and sample one of the regional pastries, the delicious “travesseiros” and “queijadas”. Then prepare to climb to Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle. You can either go on foot or indulge yourself with a traditional Sintra horse and carriage ride. Once you reach the top, take several deep breaths. The cool mountain air warms the soul and awakens your spirit.

Quinta da Regaleira

Returning to the lower part of the town, a visit to Quinta da Regaleira is an absolute must. Built in the 19th century by a rich cocoa merchant, this ornamental palace is known for its Masonic and Templar symbolism.
Your next visit is the Toy Museum where you will find a wonderful collection of nearly 20 thousand toys from different periods.

Still on the museum trail, head for the Modern Art Museum housed within the former casino, and admire the magnificent collection of international modern art. It’s time to head for Queluz, so take the IC19 Sintra-Lisboa road, in the direction of Queluz Palace, situated around 15 kms from Sintra.

This former royal summer residence, often compared to Versailles Palace, is nonetheless a very Portuguese building, both in terms of scale and artistic style. The palace’s exuberant gardens, with their baroque fountains, statues and quiet retreats take you back in time and are ideal for a relaxed stroll or sharing a romantic moment.