Sintra Beyond Pena Palace: the Moorish Castle, the National Palace and Peninha

Most visitors to Sintra queue for Pena Palace and leave. But Sintra’s story is much older than its 19th-century palaces, and some of its most remarkable places are a short walk away.

The Moorish Castle: where a nation took shape

The castle walls run along the ridge above the town. The Moors built them to watch the coast and the roads to Lisbon, and in 1147, after the conquest of Lisbon, the castle passed to Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal. From the towers you can see the Atlantic, the Tagus valley and on clear days Lisbon itself. On our Moorish Castle guided tour we tell the story of the Reconquest from the walls where it happened.

The National Palace: the oldest royal palace in Portugal

In the centre of the old town, two tall white chimneys mark the Sintra National Palace, used by Portuguese kings and queens for centuries. Inside are the Swan Room, the Magpie Room and the Hall of Coats of Arms, with some of the oldest tile work in the country. Choose the 3-hour guided visit or the full-day tour from Lisbon.

Monte de Santa Eufémia and the old paths

Above the town, forest trails lead to Monte de Santa Eufémia, one of the oldest places of devotion in the hills. Our Sintra Origins walk follows these paths and ends with local pastries.

Peninha: the sacred summit

At the western end of the range, the sanctuary of Peninha stands on a rock above Cabo da Roca. It is quieter than the palaces and the views are among the best in Portugal. Join the Peninha walking tour, or see the hills at dawn on the sunrise hike to Lisbon.

Tips for visiting Sintra

Go early in the morning or later in the afternoon, wear good walking shoes, and bring a layer: the hills are often cooler and mistier than Lisbon. Find all our tours on the Sintra page.