In 2015, I spent 4 days in Portugal, in Lisbon. One day, I can’t recall exactly why, most of the museums and shops were closed in Lisbon, but the attractions of Sintra were open. So I decided to take the train and go there for the day. Of course, everybody had the same idea, and I ended up spending quite some time queuing to get a ticket. I eventually managed to get on the train and reach Sintra.
A Touristic City
I had seen some pictures online, and it seemed very beautiful. But I had also read and heard that it was packed with tourists, that it didn’t feel too authentic because of the crowds, and that it was expensive. This last part was definitely true. But I had already realized that, compared to Porto, Lisbon and the neighbouring cities were not cheap.
Charming And Mysterious
Still, when I arrived, despite the crowds, I found the place quite charming. There were these blue flowers all around, some old buidlings, nice shops and most of the sightseeings were within walking distance. Since I had only one day, I selected a few places to discover, depending on their location and on the info I could find online and at the tourist office.
Quinta da Regaleira
I walked around the cute town center, before heading to the park of the palace called Quinta da Regaleira. This was an excellent choice. The entrance was a bit expensive to my taste, but I spent some time there and thought that it was worth it. I particularly loved the network of caves under the park (Labyrinthic Grotto) and the Initiation Well. The caves were mysterious and less crowded, while the well was full of people. But it’s understandable. It’s the perfect place to take stunning pictures, and even when I was not using my camera, I couldn’t help myself from stopping at each level and looking up and down. It was like being in a fairytale. You go down down down, and feel a little bit like Alice in Wonderland. Then, you arrive to the tunnels, and get out next to a waterfall. How amazing is that?
Pena Castle
After the park, I decided to go to the Pena Castle. I had heard that it was possible to take the bus, but since I couldn’t find where, I started walking up to the top. Honestly, I don’t recommend it. It takes a long time (even for me, who likes walking) and it’s a winding road going uphill. The cars only see you at the last moment, because the road really keeps twisting. I thought that it was a bit dangerous and regretted not finding the bus stop. However, I did not regret going to the Pena Castle, cause Wow! From the moment I arrived at the entrance, I loved its crazy colours: blue, yellow, red. It’s simply incredible!
You can visit the inside of the castle, it looks like a palace, and it’s nice, but not crazy interesting. You can also walk in the park, there were beautiful flowers and trees, and even black swans. But my favourite thing was walking on the walls that surround the palace. From there, you realize how high you actually are. The clouds eat part of the roofs, and I felt like the castle might not be anchored to the ground, but simply floating in the air. Just like the Castle in the Sky of Miyazaki. Also, the bright colours of the castle make everything seem so enchanting. For me, this castle is the main reason you should go visit Sintra (but take the bus!). There are a lot of other beautiful places, but none made me feel that amazing.
I think that it would be worth staying for the night in Sintra to really enjoy the town and all its wonders, but it might be expensive (I haven’t checked).
To see more photos of Portugal, you can visit the gallery Portugal.
