Sintra is a unique and charming town located close to Lisbon in Portugal. It is full of stunning historic lookout points, palaces and castles, giving visitors insights into the towns’ Medieval and Moorish-influenced past. Some of the best activities here include exploring structures like the Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and Moor Castle. Other activities involve hikes and stunning trails overlooking the sea. This is a fantastic town for lovers of history, design, culture and art alike.

One of the best things to do in the city is to visit António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro’s Quinta da Regaleira dream home in Sintra. This exquisite structure has been constructed with the Manueline-style of design, eccentric and decorated with ornate objects. This is dream to visit for lovers of art and design and the courtyards of this structure make for a great place for photography.

Widely considered to be one of the “Seven Wonders of Portugal”, Pena Palace built on the instructions of King Ferdinand II in 1838 where the remnants of an ancient hermitage at a cliff-side location. The extravagant mythological building and location are remnant of Ludwig II’s Neuschwanstein Fortress, but this structure is actually even older. A visit here is a must-do activity.

Visitors are recommended to trek through the stunning Pena Park to get to the top of the highest lookout point in the city, located some 500 meters above sea-level. From here visitors can see as far as Lisbon in the distance and this is a fantastic spot to capture sunrise and sunset images.

Another one of the most popular things to do in Sintra is to trek up to the Western Tip of Europe, also known as Cabo Da Roca, located over 100 meters over sea-level. There is a famous lighthouse here which serves as a lookout point. It is a great place to check out the gorgeous surrounding natural landscape.

These ancient ruins are a popular place for explorers and first-time visitors, making a trip to the Moor Castle in Sintra one of the most popular activities. The route to the castle is literately been built into the mountainside, making the landscape one of the most scenic on offer. It is just one of several impressive lookout points in the town. The mountain ruins are absolutely stunning and are not be missed.

This incredible historic structure was formed way back in the mid-19th century for Sir Francis Cook, an English lord who was appointed the title, Viscount of Monserrat by King Luís I. The estate has cane farms, caverns, artificial cascades, fishponds and a variety of trees. It is a stunning location, great for family photos and exploration.

Easily visible from afar due to its standout white color conical towers, this ancient palace is a must-visit location and exploring its confines is another one of the best things to do in the town of Sintra. The design influence is drawn from the Moorish dynasty that has characterized a lot of structures in Spain and Portugal. King Manuel I worked on the palace interiors to make it what it is today, a symbol for the city.