OVERVIEW

We did a day trip to the lovely town of Sintra, Portugal while we were staying in Cascais, which is only 20 minutes away by car. It takes about 30 minutes to drive here from Lisbon. I wish we had spent more time walking around the town taking in the stone streets and little shops. We did have a nice lunch in the center of town overlooking the clock tower. I’m shocked that we actually visited three places in Sinatra in one day. We knew we would only very little time here I guess we were on a mission. This day was all about royalty and palaces. I wondered if the girls would get bored but they ended up loving each place more.

QUINTA DA RAGALEIRA

This place was our favorite of the day. As you walk around the grounds you pass ornate fountains, gardens, and grottos, all on perfectly  manicured grounds. The palace there is a fairy tale…gargoyles included. Our favorite part is when we were walking underground in these old caves, lit only by a small strip of rope lights. It was so dark we had to use our cellphone’s flashlight app. The caves would open up to small waterfalls, gardens, at one point you had to balance on small stones to cross a little pond. We felt like we were taking a walk back in time.
Tips:
Opens at 10:00. Closing depends on the season so you should check their website before going.
There are both guided and self-guided tours.
Children ages 0-8 are 3 €, Adults are 6 €, and they have family packages for 18 €.

 

PALACE OF PENA

(The name means Feather Palace and when looking at the detailed architecture of the outside you can see why.) The views from this palace are breathtaking because it is set on a rocky hilltop above the beautiful city of Sintra. There are gargoyles, watchtowers, and an impressive drawbridge. The vivid colors of the palace make it look like it’s straight out of a coloring book. Inside you step into lavish rooms as you explore what life was once like in this wealthy life.

Tips:
There is a small bus that can drive you from the parking area up to the castle. It costs 3 €, but in the summer it is a great idea because it will be a hot walk up.
It is open daily from 10:00-6:00.
Cost: Ages 18-64 is 6.50 €, Ages 6-17 is 5 €, Over age 65 is 5 €. There are also some combination tickets for more than one tourist attraction.

PALACE OF SINTRA

The most unforgettable part of this palace is the stone spiral staircase that takes you outside from the palace. You can’t help but get swept away into a different time period. As you walk through the palace you will see the enormous fireplaces, kitchens, and lavish bedrooms. Since this was the last stop of the day I thought the girls would be bored but they were pretending they were princesses that lived there and they gave us a tour of their “house.” The ceilings of this palace will keep you looking up the whole time as each room’s was more ornate than the last.

Tips:

Open daily from 9:30- 6:00.

Costs: Ages 18-64 is 8.50 €, Ages 6-17 is 7 €, Seniors are 7 €