Sintra, Portugal

Sintra Hillside

Sintra is both a town and a municipality in the Estoril Coast region of Portugal. While most tourists will come to visit the town and its spectacular setting, the municipality is much larger. This article is about the town; for other destinations in the municipality, see the listings below. Sintra is only 28km away from Lisbon, and is primarily known because of the Pena Palace (Palácio de Pena), built in the 19th century in an eclectic style by the Portuguese king-consort Dom Fernando II. Close by, the Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle) is also an important landmark and a popular tourist destination. The town of Sintra itself boasts the medieval Sintra National Palace and several 19th century estates. Sintra and its surrounding mountains (Serra de Sintra) are classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a popular destination for day-trippers, and can be easily explored while staying in Lisbon.