Sintra, Portugal: Chasing Castles in a Fairytale Landscape, Sintra, Portugal

Northwest of Lisbon, at the edge of Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais sits the architectural gem of Sintra. The town was inscribed on UNESCO’S World Heritage List in 1995, and it’s one of the main tourist destinations in Portugal, famed for its historic castles and, in particular, the fairytale-like Pena Palace. It’s no wonder why people flock to Sintra!

When I was in Lisbon two summers ago, I decided to take a day trip to Sintra. One day in a big, gorgeous and hilly place like Sintra isn’t always a good idea, but I got there early, left late and spent the whole day actively hiking and exploring. And I did see everything I wanted and more!

So, arriving early in the day, I set out to explore some of Sintra’s most beautiful landmarks. The place was already crowded. Tourists jumped on taxis and busses to the castles and I headed out on the trails, hoping to get away from the crowds. I didn’t quite, but it certainly wasn’t as bad! I found a route away from the main trail on maps.me, going up steps and steep paths to the Castle of the Moors, my first destination of the day. The hike was absolutely breathtaking, the views throughout incredible. It was tough in the summer heat and it took an hour just to reach the castle, but it was so worth it. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).