How to Spend 48 Hours in Sintra Portugal

Couples in search of the last word romantic getaway usually journey to Portugal. With its gorgeous shoreline and wealthy historical past, there are many locations to select from. However, should you solely have two days, you received’t remorse spending 48 hours in Sintra. Promise! Here’s the best way to plan your time.

This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks, and purchases made assist our weblog develop. Thanks a lot!

Want to spend 48 hours in Sintra?

No honeymoon is one-size-fits-all, however time spent in Sintra, Portugal, comes shut. After all, it’s only a brief 45-minute prepare trip northwest of Lisbon. This fairytale-like city is stuffed with heritage, lies near the ocean, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It’s additionally excellent for a cease after a pair’s getaway in Lisbon or heading south from Porto. Sintra is a seemingly small city that packs a punch per acre and makes a really perfect weekend aspect journey to flee the town.

If you solely have 48 hours in Sintra, prioritize heading to Pena Palace.

How to Spend 48 Hours in Sintra

What to Do in Sintra at Night

4:00 pm – 10:00 pm

For prepare arrivals, prioritize the Fountain of Armés for a fast picture op on the best way to Sintra’s historic heart. Covered in quintessential Portuguese tile, the stately fountain gives guests their first glimpse of the town’s Moorish affect. The stroll from the station to Sintra’s heart affords beautiful views and has artwork installations alongside the best way. 

Once arriving within the heart, peruse the whitewashed exterior of the National Palace of Sintra. Experience the intricacies of the inside should you arrive earlier than closing time, however forgo the within if you’re anxious to seize a chunk to eat.

For dinner and drinks, wander the quaint streets of the historic heart to Romario de Baco, which gives genuine Portuguese delicacies. Stay till closing and savor the fruit of Portugal’s vines at its wine bar. If post-dinner cocktails are extra in line, head again in the direction of the National Palace to ZID Lounge Bar, to catch a little bit of conventional music as you take pleasure in a nightcap.

Things to Do in Sintra in One Day

8:00 am – 12:00 pm

To savor a hearty breakfast, stroll or take a taxi to Cafe Saudade, recognized for its espresso and baked items. If one thing on the go is so as, stroll via the historic heart. There are numerous cafes the place you’ll be able to pattern pastel de nata, the nation’s favourite custard tart.

If you might be each feeling additional bold, Saturday morning is the perfect time to hike the Santa Maria Trail. Start from the historic space to the Castle of the Moors. Or, to have a extra stress-free morning, hop on the 434 Sintra vacationer bus or rent a taxi to the Eighth-century construction. Walking the citadel’s worn partitions affords beautiful views of the valley under.

Next door to the Moorish Castle is Pena Palace, which is usually thought-about the capstone of a go to to Sintra. The colourful palace is understood for its yellow and orange partitions. You may also see facades adorned with quintessential blue Portuguese tile, and the encompassing gardens are price a go to.

The views from Sintra’s Moorish Castle are breathtaking.

12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

If you select to trip as much as the Castle of the Moors, traverse the Santa Maria Trail all the way down to the historic heart. Why? Well, it’s far much less grueling than going up. Another possibility is to rent a taxi or take the 434 bus down. Either approach, the pathway is fascinating, with a couple of archaeological websites and overlooks.

For a late lunch, cease at Tascantiga. Then, make the most of the outside seating to relaxation a bit and soak in folks watching after a busy morning. Enjoy the tapas-style menu and signature wines as you scroll via your photos of the castles. 

After lunch, spend a calming afternoon perusing the plentiful outlets inside the previous heart. Skip the kitschy souvenirs and search for native artist work or classic Portuguese tiles to take residence. During your stroll, observe the buildings’ facades, and duck into the aspect streets within the pedestrian space. Of course, you by no means know what you’ll discover!

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

No journey to Portugal is full with out listening to Fado, Portugal’s musical custom, which is what a go to to the nation is about. Check the town’s occasions calendar to see should you can catch a reside efficiency. For dinner, drinks, and music, stroll close to the prepare station to Incomum. It is a luxe but moderately priced restaurant, so it stays accessible to all.

Another possibility, though it isn’t in Sintra correct, is to hop in a taxi and head to the coast to look at the sundown throughout dinner. Restaurante Nortada gives freshly caught seafood, served when you look out over the gorgeous blue waters at this Michelin-rated restaurant. After dinner, burn a couple of energy throughout a post-dinner stroll on the sand.

The Quinta da Regaleira is a spotlight when spending two days in Sintra.

Things to Do Before Leaving Sintra

8:00 am – 12:00 pm

If the seashore wasn’t so as Saturday night time, then rent a taxi and head to one of many many coastal espresso outlets and cafes open for breakfast. Overlook the Atlantic when you savor espresso and seize a chunk to eat on a terrace, after which stroll alongside the shoreline to place your ft within the sand earlier than returning inland. 

After breakfast, take a taxi to Quinta da Regaleira, a exceptional palace simply exterior the historic heart. Although Pena Palace will get a lot of the accolades, permit extra time for Quinta da Regaleira. The inside is attractive, however the exterior is what really shines. From putting stone walkways and turrets to underground pathways, the location really is a wonderland. Do not miss the 2 initiation wells that result in tunnels on the property. 

12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Return to the historic space to take your decide among the many quaint cafes, or pop into Tulhas for lunch. It’s a cozy place to dine on conventional Portuguese fare inside a transformed grain warehouse.

After lunch, take a while to discover collectively primarily based in your pursuits. Several museums are close to Sintra’s heart, together with the Anjo Teixeira Museum, which options sculptures. Additionally, the News Museum gives interactive shows centered on journalism. A bit exterior of the middle is the Sintra Museum of Modern Art, which homes one of many largest non-public artwork collections on the planet.

As you put together to go away Sintra, make the reverse stroll from the historic heart to the prepare station. A stroll down the art-filled, tree-lined pathway gives an opportunity to replicate on the time spent on this legendary, culturally wealthy city.

Things to Do in Sintra in 2 Days

Save our tips about what to do with 48 hours in Sintra!