Early Summer Day Trip from Lisbon | Sintra, Portugal
A quick 30 minute drive from Lisbon, and yet completely removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, the coastal town of Sintra offers a refreshing and popular half or full day trip destination from Portugal’s capital. Having once been the summer retreat for Portuguese royals due to its location on the Atlantic coast, evidence of Sintra’s stately past can still be seen today in the impressive mini estates that line the winding, narrow road up to its pièce de résistance, the Palácio Nacional da Pena.
Completed in 1854, the Palácio Nacional da Pena, or Pena Palace, was commissioned by King Ferdinand II and his first wife Queen Maria II, in the German Romantic style of the 19th century, but with their own personal and Portuguese flair. Known for its unique brick red, mustard yellow, and blue tiled walls, the castle is one of Portugal’s Seven Wonders and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995.
A visit to the park and palace (you have to walk up to the palace via the park) costs 13,30 Euros per adult. We recommend saving most of the day to explore because once you’ve seen the palace, and its sweeping views of the coast and surrounding mountains, you’ll want to explore the 200 hectares of landscaped park surrounding the castle.
