Travel Log: Sintra and Cascais

December 19, 2023 Dog and Dragon did a full day excursion to visit Sintra, Regaleira, Pena Palace, and Cascais. This is a must do outing if you are staying for any length of time in Lisbon. You can use this (sponsored) link to book the same Get Your Guide trip we did to enjoy this amazing outing. The trip provided by Buendia Tours was reasonably priced, well planned, featured friendly, knowledgeable guides, and was perfectly executed. You will not be disappointed with your excursion to Sintra and Cascais.

Sintra

Sintra is a popular tourist town in the mountains just a short ride from Lisbon. The town’s historical importance dates back to the Romans, who’s influence can still be seen in structures remaining from the era Roman occupation. Control of the region vacillated between the Moors and Christians over the centuries, each leaving their own imprint. The town of Sintra is full of impressive palaces and estates resulting from a long, important history. You won’t be able to miss the awesome Castle of the Moors sitting on the mountaintop above town. In the center of town you will find the magnificent Palace of Sintra which was once the summer home to the royal family. If you are looking for a bite to eat, we enjoyed delicious Indian food at Bengal Tandoori Restaurant. After a walk through town our guides took us to explore two of the most iconic local attractions: Quinta da Regaleira and the Pena National Palace.

Quinta da Regaleira

The Quinta da Regaleira is an astonishingly lavish estate and palace on the edge of the Sintra historical center. The Romantic style palace, chapel, and surrounding gardens were owned and developed by Monteiro the Millionaire in the 19th century under the guidance of the famous Italian architect, Luigi Manini. Our tour took us throughout the buildings, grottoes, and grounds that define this amazing location, including down the famous inverted tower known as the Initiation Well. The symbolism in the design of the well has resulted in theories that the Initiation Well ties back to the Knights Templar. For a fun follow up, check out this short video on the associated Templar lore surrounding Regaleira.

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Pena National Palace

The wonders of Sintra didn’t end when we were finished at Regaleira. From there it was on to another famous local location. Perhaps the most amazing castle on the mountains overlooking Sintra is the Pena National Palace. Built in the 19th century by King Ferdinand II, the colorful, dramatic, stunningly beautiful Pena Palace is a Portugal national monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just hiking up to the palace took us through a gorgeous nature park along a twisting pathway up the mountainside. The park is filled with fantastic specimens from around the world including a California Redwood among the plethora of tree varieties. Pena Palace is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the area and going with our Get Your Guide tour group made our visit simple, efficient, and informative.

Cascais

We finished the day off with a walk around the coastal resort town of Cascais. This gorgeous tourist destination is another spot made famous during the 19th century when it became the summer home for the royal family. At Cascais you’ll enjoy beautiful beaches, a walkable shopping district close to the waterfront with many dining options, and more amazing architecture. It too has a long, interesting history that includes the Casino Estoril, a gathering place for WWII spies that was later purported to be the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s James Bond. We recommend a visit to Santini for a fantastic handmade ice cream while you’re taking in the charm of Cascais.

An Excursion to Remember

As we said above, the day trip to Sintra and Cascais is a must do outing. Sintra is simply astonishing with its parks, palaces, and estates beautifying this historic area. We found touring the grounds of Quinta da Regaleira to be fascinating in a way similar to our visit to Buddha Eden near Peniche. Pena Palace was another incredible opportunity to revel in the splendor of Sintra. Finishing off the day at the gorgeous seaside town of Cascais put an exclamation mark on the day. Doing this outing in December made for a laid back experience in Sintra without the crowds often seen in the summer time. Experiencing the incredible sights of Sintra is one excursion you will not want to skip.