2 Days in Sao Martinho Trip: Budgets, Hotels, Food & Attractions

Day 1 | Morning

Sintra National Palace

Ticket Price: 10 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Queen Dona Amélia Square，2710-616 Sintra

The Royal Palace of Sintra is located in Sintra, near Lisbon, Portugal. It was built by John I and was not completed until the reign of Manuel I in the 16th century. It is Portugal's well-preserved medieval royal palace and was more or less continuously inhabited by the royal family from the early 15th century to the late 19th century. The palace combines Moorish and Visigothic architectural styles, and its large chimney is particularly eye-catching. The two tall white chimneys are very similar to horns, so they are also called "Horn Palace". The Royal Palace was the king's summer palace until the Portuguese republic was established. There are many characteristic rooms in the palace, among which the large Swan Hall is beautifully decorated, and 27 swans in different poses are depicted on the ceiling. There is also the Mermaid Room decorated with tiles, the China Room with the collection of Chinese ivory towers, and the Badge Room decorated with beautiful tile murals and aristocratic badges. As part of the cultural landscape of Sintra, it is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Day 1 | Afternoon

Moorish Castle nearby is the top choice before you leave Sintra National Palace and hit the road.

Moorish Castle

Opening Hours: Open from 10:00am-6:00pm

Ticket Price: 8 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: 2710-405 Sintra, Portugal

The Moorish Castle is located on a hilltop in the parish of Santa Maria and San Michael in Sintra. It is a Moorish-style castle in Europe. It is across the bank from Pena Palace. It was listed as a Portuguese national monument in 1910 , has become a must-see tourist attraction in Sintra. The Moorish Castle was built by the Moors in the 17th century. The middle part of the steps collapsed very early, despite this, people also say that the towering building is breathless, climbing the 300-meter-long city wall, you can have an unobstructed view of the surrounding scenery, and within the city wall, natural The view hides the collapsed house. The first impression of the Chinese who came to the castle for the first time was that the Moorish Castle was like the Great Wall of China, with many twists and turns and many bunkers. The castle is located on the top of the Sintra Mountains, surrounded by walls hundreds of meters long, which have lost their use for military defense as early as the 15th and 16th centuries. After a difficult climb, visitors can reach the top of the castle, where the Portuguese flag stands tall. From the top of the castle, you can see the vast Atlantic Ocean and the small town of Sintra in the distance, and on a clear day, visitors can also see Ericeira and Mafra.

Day 1 | Evening

For convenient access to more popular attractions, Tivoli Palacio de Seteais is the best places.

Tivoli Palacio de Seteais

Tivoli Palacio de Seteais Sintra s is an elegant 5-star hotel set within landscaped gardens in the hills above Sintra. It features a swimming pool, tennis courts and an equestrian center.
The richly decorated rooms at the Tivoli Palacio de Seteais Sintra come with air conditioning, a minibar and satellite TV. Each features in-room internet access, private Nespresso machine and a rain shower in the bathroom. Many offer views across the Sintra Cascais Natural Park.
The Restaurant Seteais serves a fusion of Portuguese and International cuisine in a stylish and refined setting. The dining room offers panoramic views across the Palacio’s gardens to the Sintra Mountains beyond.
Guests can play tennis, relax on the pool-side sun terrace or enjoy a horse riding lesson. Tivoli Palacio de Seteais Sintra also offers an ideal location for hiking, with the National Park and Moorish Palace both within walking distance.
Tivoli Palacio de Seteais Sintra can arrange a variety of local tours, including sailing, golfing and wine-tasting. The hotel is located 35 km from Lisbon Airport. Free private parking is available on site.

Day 2 | Morning

Quinta da Regaleira

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Wed,Fri-Sun,10:00am-5:30pm;Open on Thu,9:30am-5:30pm

Ticket Price: 10 EUR

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Hours

Location: Rua Barbosa do Bocage, Sintra 2710-567, Portugal

Located near the historic center of Sintra in Portugal, the Regaleira Estate is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Sintra Cultural Landscape and is one of Sintra's main tourist attractions. The Regaleira estate includes the romantic Regaleira Palace, the Regaleira Chapel, and a sumptuous park with lakes, caves, wells, benches, fountains and a wide variety of exquisite buildings. The estate is also known as the "Millionaire Monteiro's Palace," after the nickname of the first owner. There is a small curved city wall in the middle of the manor. There are many sacred objects carved on the city wall. When you walk into the city wall, you will see a dry well with a depth of 27 meters when you pass through a cave that is more than ten meters long. The exit at the end of the cave is just right. In the middle of the well, a spiral staircase surrounds the well, with 9 spiral layers, symbolizing the 9 cycles of heaven, hell and purgatory described by Dante. Along the spiral staircase, you can walk from the bottom of the well to the wellhead. Outside the wellhead is a garden, a world of flowers.

Day 2 | Afternoon

Having the chance to enjoy the charming Quinta da Regaleira, Monserrate Palace next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!

Monserrate Palace

Opening Hours: Open from 10:00am-6:00pm

Ticket Price: 8.4 EUR

Location: Monserrate Palace, Sintra, 2710-405, Sintra, Lisbon

The Montserrat Palace is located on the top of the hill, with beautiful scenery and beautiful gardens, it was a private residence. You can admire the intricate decorations in the Monserrate Palace, stroll through the gardens of the World Heritage Site, and see special plant species from all over the world. It can be said to be one of the most beautiful and romantic buildings in Portugal. As you walk through the garden, you will feel like a character in a storybook. The garden is full of exotic plants, there are lakes, fountains and caves, and there are many wonderful moments waiting for you to capture with the camera, so be sure to go early! In addition, you can also learn about the influence of Gothic and Indian culture on this place, Take the time to smell these flowers, which are grown according to geographic origin.

Day 2 | Evening

For convenient access to more popular attractions, Sintra Marmoris Palace is the best places.

Sintra Marmoris Palace

Surrounded by 14 000 square meters of private gardens, it is perfect to explore the wooded hiking trails, read a book, relax listening to the echo of birds or enjoying the heated pool with a stunning view over Sintra’s hill. Based inside of the protected Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, It has panoramic views over the mourish castle and is just a 7-minute walk from the historical centre of Sintra.

* All reviews in the blog are machine-translated.