Portugal - Day 9
September 16, 2025: Tuesday was a day trip to Sintra via a tour we booked through Get Your Guide. We had an amazing Portuguese tour guide by the name of Gustavo. It was a small group of just 7 people. Our first stop in the morning was the famous Pena Palace. This is one of Portugal’s most iconic landmarks built on the ruins of a medieval monastery. The colorful palace was commissioned by King Ferdinand II in the mid-1800s as a summer retreat for the Portuguese royal family. Its whimsical blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Moorish influences, combined with bright red and yellow façades, creates the look of a fairytale castle. It is surrounded by lush gardens and sweeping mountain views and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, drawing visitors from around the world to experience its dreamlike charm. It was a long steep climb to get up to the castle, but it was worth it. The views from the castle were absolutely beautiful.
Next up we went to the town and had some free time to walk around the shops and grab lunch. It is such a quaint city with many local artisans, shops and restaurants everywhere you look. Sintra relies on tourism and because of Pena Palace, Monserrate and the Quinta da Regaliera, it is full of tourists and is very busy. We grabbed lunch at a Villa Craft Beer & Bread, a cozy, low-key tap room and wood oven restaurant around the corner from all the bustle of the town. They serve exclusively Portuguese craft beer accompanied by a selection of creative flatbreads and bruschetta cooked in a wood oven. We also stopped in a little wine shop tucked in some stairs and has some Vinho Verde. We picked up a few souvenirs and head to our meeting spot for our next part of the tour.
Monserrate is another stunning palace and garden estate tucked into the hills of Sintra. Once a Moorish estate and later a ruined chapel, the grounds were transformed in the 1800s by Francis Cook, a wealthy English merchant who envisioned a Romantic retreat blending exotic architecture and lush landscaping. The palace itself is a mix of Gothic, Indian, and Moorish revival styles, adorned with intricate arches, domes, and detailed carvings that make it feel like something out of a fantasy tale. It is surrounded by are vast botanical garden filled with rare plants from around the world. One interesting fact is Monserrate is reputed to have been one of the many places in Portugal that served as a crossroads for spies and intelligence operations during WWII. Because Portugal was officially neutral but was strategically important, many foreign agents passed through or attempted to influence information flows. Monserrate’s remote, grand setting made it a suitable backdrop for more private diplomatic or social gatherings.
It was time to head back to Sintra. After being dropped back we walked back to our neighborhood. On the way we saw Tram 28, which we thought was shut down for safety reviews. We will try to ride that later in the week. We decided to try to get into a rooftop bar near our apartment called Hotel do Chiado. It was our second attempt, the first time it was full. We were able to get in and the view of the Tagus River and the city from roof was gorgeous. We sat for quite a while just enjoying the view. It was a beautiful end to a busy day.