Sintra Guidebook
Passeio turístico
Lots of great attractions to explore in walking distance or short drives.
Iconic and beautiful village on a cliff with a salt-water pool and great restaurants, 5 minutes drive.
243 locals recommend
Azenhas do Mar
Iconic and beautiful village on a cliff with a salt-water pool and great restaurants, 5 minutes drive.
The most iconic Portuguese monument sits at the top of a mountain above Sintra town. Very busy, so it is better to book online in advance. The gardens are beautiful to explore but the palace in the high season has a Disneyland feeling has you are always in a line to get in and during the visit.
736 locals recommend
Park and National Palace of Pena
Estrada da PenaThe most iconic Portuguese monument sits at the top of a mountain above Sintra town. Very busy, so it is better to book online in advance. The gardens are beautiful to explore but the palace in the high season has a Disneyland feeling has you are always in a line to get in and during the visit.
Stunning 'Big Beach' with great cliffs, delicious restaurants, and a 100-meter long salt water swimming pool. Also great waves, surf schools and rentals (5 minutes drive).
227 locals recommend
Praia Grande
41 Avenida Alfredo CoelhoStunning 'Big Beach' with great cliffs, delicious restaurants, and a 100-meter long salt water swimming pool. Also great waves, surf schools and rentals (5 minutes drive).
The Mourish Castle sits on top of a hill above Sintra town. Busy tourist attraction so it is better to book online in advance.
315 locals recommend
Moorish Castle
The Mourish Castle sits on top of a hill above Sintra town. Busy tourist attraction so it is better to book online in advance.
Hidden gem not very visited in the middle of the Sintra mountains, 7 miles away from the house. This old Franciscan monks convent is a very special and spiritual place.
111 locals recommend
Convent of the Capuchos
Hidden gem not very visited in the middle of the Sintra mountains, 7 miles away from the house. This old Franciscan monks convent is a very special and spiritual place.
Probably the best viewpoint in the Sintra mountains, 7 miles away.
41 locals recommend
Sanctuary of Peninha
Probably the best viewpoint in the Sintra mountains, 7 miles away.
The iconic most Western point in Continental Europe is only 7 miles away. And we can see its lighthouse from our house. :)
487 locals recommend
Cape Roca
s/n Estrada do Cabo da RocaThe iconic most Western point in Continental Europe is only 7 miles away. And we can see its lighthouse from our house. :)
Beautiful old fishing village, very touristy, but a must to visit driving there through 15 miles of a great scenic coastal route.
24 locals recommend
Cascais
Beautiful old fishing village, very touristy, but a must to visit driving there through 15 miles of a great scenic coastal route.
Stunning sand dunes embrace this beautiful long sandy beach 10 miles away. The scenic coastal road between here and Cascais is a must.
606 locals recommend
Guincho Beach
Stunning sand dunes embrace this beautiful long sandy beach 10 miles away. The scenic coastal road between here and Cascais is a must.
Great to visit and taste the exquisite wines from the most Western vinyards in Continental Europe. You can almost taste the salty Ocean in them (5 minutes drive from the house).
30 locals recommend
Regional de Colares Winery
32 Alameda Cel. Linhares de LimaGreat to visit and taste the exquisite wines from the most Western vinyards in Continental Europe. You can almost taste the salty Ocean in them (5 minutes drive from the house).
Stunning cliffs and children friendly sea, specially at low tide and 10 minutes drive away.
6 locals recommend
Magoito beach
Stunning cliffs and children friendly sea, specially at low tide and 10 minutes drive away.
Unique romantic gardens full of secrets with hidden passages, underground tunnels, and a lot of free-mason symbology. Great for kids and for the kid in all of us. Better to book online in advance.
325 locals recommend
Quinta da Regaleira
5 R. Barbosa du BocageUnique romantic gardens full of secrets with hidden passages, underground tunnels, and a lot of free-mason symbology. Great for kids and for the kid in all of us. Better to book online in advance.
Burros do Magoito
Donkeys farm that make kids happy.
One of the several lagoons and reservoirs in the trails of the Sintra mountains.
22 locals recommend
Lagoa Azul
10A Av. Dom João IOne of the several lagoons and reservoirs in the trails of the Sintra mountains.
Swimming pools with diving boards and waterslides (walking distance).
6 locals recommend
Piscinas da Praia das Maçãs
29 Av. Eugene LevySwimming pools with diving boards and waterslides (walking distance).
Archeological site of a Roman sanctuary that dates to the 2nd century AD and a great sunset spot (walking distance).
Sítio Arqueológico do Alto da Vigia
44 Ic 16 Archeological site of a Roman sanctuary that dates to the 2nd century AD and a great sunset spot (walking distance).
Escola de Escalada da Guia
Awesome scenery and rock-climbing routes 15 miles away.
Fervença waterfall
Stunning waterfall 10 miles away.
Located at the main square of Sintra old town centre, and right above a couple of secret parking spots, only 15 minutes drive from our house.
435 locals recommend
Sintra National Palace
Largo Rainha Dona AméliaLocated at the main square of Sintra old town centre, and right above a couple of secret parking spots, only 15 minutes drive from our house.
Apples Beach is 'our beach' as it is just 2-minutes walk from our house. It has a stream that runs from Colares to the ocean here and is great for kids to play.
At low tide there are small pools with sealife to explore.
Great restaurants overlooking the ocean too.
Apple Beach
Apples Beach is 'our beach' as it is just 2-minutes walk from our house. It has a stream that runs from Colares to the ocean here and is great for kids to play.
At low tide there are small pools with sealife to explore.
Great restaurants overlooking the ocean too.
Penedo da Amizade
12 Estrada da PenaAwesome scenery and rock-climbing routes below the Moorish Castle, 10 miles away.
Cena gastronómica
We are very priviledged to have some of the best seafood restaurants in Portugal close to us!
Family-run restaurant with great view over the sea and a small playground perfect for kids.
Closes Wednesday for dinner and Thursday all day.
€€
10 locals recommend
Crôa
24 Av. Alfredo CoelhoFamily-run restaurant with great view over the sea and a small playground perfect for kids.
Closes Wednesday for dinner and Thursday all day.
€€
Traditional and sophisticated cuisine at the far end of Praia Grande in a great ambience. €€
60 locals recommend
Bar do Fundo
Avenida Alfredo CoelhoTraditional and sophisticated cuisine at the far end of Praia Grande in a great ambience. €€
Restaurante Nortada
8 Av. Alfredo CoelhoFancy place, traditional cuisine. €€€
Food trucks, craft beer, a great playground for kids, ice-cream and supermarket with great bread. €
18 locals recommend
Aldeia da Praia - Antiga Colonia de Ferias da CP
Food trucks, craft beer, a great playground for kids, ice-cream and supermarket with great bread. €
Roulot Da Gigi
Rua de Santo AndréLocal easy pizza place. €
One of the best restaurants around located above the Azenhas do Mar natural swimming pool. A must for special ocasions. €€€
243 locals recommend
Azenhas do Mar
One of the best restaurants around located above the Azenhas do Mar natural swimming pool. A must for special ocasions. €€€
The best restaurant in Praia das Maçãs. Traditional Portuguese cuisine and the best seafood. €€€
51 locals recommend
Búzio
56 Av. Eugene LevyThe best restaurant in Praia das Maçãs. Traditional Portuguese cuisine and the best seafood. €€€
Pizza Das Maçãs - Restaurante E Pizzaria, Lda.
55 Av. Eugene LevyHome made pasta and pizza.
Closes on Wednesdays. €
Great octopus, bowls, burgers, etc.
Closes Mondays all day and Sunday evenings. €
Villa Maçã Hamburgueria
22 Avenida António Garcia de CastroGreat octopus, bowls, burgers, etc.
Closes Mondays all day and Sunday evenings. €
Traditional Portuguese cuisine with a view to the sea. €€
10 locals recommend
Restaurante Casa Da Galé (colares)
61 Av. Alfredo CoelhoTraditional Portuguese cuisine with a view to the sea. €€
HopSin BrewPub
Great local craft beer and food to go with it. €
Our favourite! Adraga Restaurant has the privilege to be in one of Sintra's most beautiful beaches. Its history goes back to 1905 when it was just a small hut by the beach where Maria Libânia served meals to the local fishermen who, in return, gave her the fish and seafood they had just caught. The place homeliness won Queen D. Amélia over as she spent here long afternoon hours far from her entourage, delighting in tidbits prepared by Maria Libânia with whom she engaged in lengthy chats. Today the Restaurant, already in the family's fifth generation(!), remains committed to create good memories to its visitors, with its simplicity and attentive service. €€
74 locals recommend
Restaurante d'Adraga
Rua da Praia da AdragaOur favourite! Adraga Restaurant has the privilege to be in one of Sintra's most beautiful beaches. Its history goes back to 1905 when it was just a small hut by the beach where Maria Libânia served meals to the local fishermen who, in return, gave her the fish and seafood they had just caught. The place homeliness won Queen D. Amélia over as she spent here long afternoon hours far from her entourage, delighting in tidbits prepared by Maria Libânia with whom she engaged in lengthy chats. Today the Restaurant, already in the family's fifth generation(!), remains committed to create good memories to its visitors, with its simplicity and attentive service. €€
Esplanada Duna Mar
2 Estr. de Santa MariaGreat food with an amazing view overlooking Magoito beach. €€
Serviços
Small supermarket with great bread and fresh cheese and all the basic stuff only 2-minutes walk from the house.
8 locals recommend
Supermercado Camarão
2 R. Nossa Sra. da PraiaSmall supermarket with great bread and fresh cheese and all the basic stuff only 2-minutes walk from the house.
Farmácia da Praia das Maçãs
n70 Avenida Eugene LevyOpen every day from 9AM to 8PM.
Cooperativa Integral ALDEA
6A Largo Visc. da AssecaOrganic food and products co-op store and restaurant.
The best seafood, fruit and vegetables in town. Every morning except Mondays.
11 locals recommend
Mercado Praia Das Maças
31 Av. Eugene LevyThe best seafood, fruit and vegetables in town. Every morning except Mondays.
Quinta dos 7 Nomes
107B Av. do AtlânticoOrganic food co-op store, 5 minutes drive away.
CascaiShopping
Estrada Nacional 9Closest Shopping Center with all the major stores.
Supermarket 5-minutes drive away from the house, with great butcher service.
12 locals recommend
Supermercado Atlantico
19-23 Alameda Cel. Linhares de LimaSupermarket 5-minutes drive away from the house, with great butcher service.
Traveler advice
Getting around
Parking next to Sintra oldtown square
Sintra is a bit of a crazy circus nowadays. If you wish to drive to Sintra oldtown, ask me where to park the car. I have a couple of secret spots. ;)
Getting around
Portugal Stories Tours (and transfers)
Great tours, also tailor-made, and transfers. PortugalStories. com
Getting around
Airport Transfers and more
PortugalLowCostTours. com/transferes/
Getting around
MountainBike Tours, e-Bikes & Rentals
Rent4Trail. com