During our stay in Lisbon, we took a day trip to the fairytale village of Sintra, about 30 minutes outside the city. You can take a train from Lisbon’s Rossio Station for just €2–€3 each way, but I had read that it’s quite a hike from the Sintra train station up to the castles. So instead, we grabbed an Uber, and it worked out perfectly.
Nestled in the foothills of Portugal’s Sintra Mountains, this village is famous for its colorful palaces, misty hills, and rich royal history. For centuries, Portuguese royalty escaped the bustle of Lisbon by retreating here, leaving behind a collection of spectacular palaces scattered across the hilltops. The most popular attractions include the vibrant Pena Palace, the mystical Quinta da Regaleira, the Moorish Castle, and Palácio de Monserrate.
After lots of research, we decided to visit just two palaces, and it ended up being the perfect choice. Any more than that and we would have been completely exhausted (and overstimulated). We chose Pena Palace, a bright 19th-century hilltop castle with sweeping views and whimsical architecture, and Quinta da Regaleira, a mysterious estate known for its Gothic design, hidden tunnels, and famous Initiation Well. I loved that they offered completely different experiences!
We started the day at Pena Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal, and one of the world’s greatest examples of 19th-century Romanticism. Today, it’s even used by the President of Portugal for official state occasions.
The palace has a fascinating history, but I’ll let you discover that for yourself. What immediately stood out to me was its bold color palette and intentionally eclectic architecture. Once we finished touring the palace itself, we realized the surrounding grounds were an adventure of their own and spent hours wandering through winding paths, hidden viewpoints, and lush gardens before finally making our way to Quinta da Regaleira.
A few Pena Palace tips: book the earliest entry time you can, as it seemed to be the busiest of all the Sintra palaces. Also, while the interiors are worth seeing, they’re not the main attraction. Honestly, I felt this way about both palaces. The exteriors and surrounding grounds are where the magic happens. Spend your time exploring the gardens, terraces, and trails. You’ll feel like you’ve wandered into another world.
Quinta da Regaleira, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, consists of a Romantic palace, chapel, and sprawling park filled with lakes, grottoes, fountains, towers, and hidden passageways. If Pena Palace feels like stepping into a colorful storybook, Quinta da Regaleira feels like wandering through a mystery novel. Every path seemed to lead to a secret tunnel, a moss-covered staircase, or another hidden corner waiting to be explored.
The famous Initiation Well was easily the highlight for us. Photos simply don’t capture how dramatic it feels in person. Descending the spiral staircase and emerging through the underground tunnels felt like stepping into a fantasy movie.
By the end of the day, I was so glad we limited ourselves to just these two palaces. Sintra has enough to fill several days, but trying to squeeze everything into one would have taken away some of the magic. Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira couldn’t have been more different: one bright, whimsical, and grand; the other mysterious, Gothic, and enchanting.
If you’re planning a trip to Lisbon and wondering whether Sintra is worth the extra effort, my answer is an enthusiastic YES!!! It ended up being one of our favorite days in Portugal because it felt unlike anywhere else we visited. My biggest advice is to pick two palaces, start early, wear comfortable shoes, and leave plenty of time to wander. The moments I remember most weren’t checking famous sights off a list. They were getting lost in the gardens, watching the mist drift over the hills, and feeling like we’d stepped into a real-life fairytale.
