As a Sintra local for over 40 years, I'd like to share with you my top 10 must-see parks, palaces, and monuments in this magical town:

1. Pena Palace: Though it's now the top monumento to visit in Sintra (and one of the most popular in Portugal!), I still absolutely love Pena Palace because of its unique architecture that blends different styles, its stunning location on top of a hill that offers panoramic views, and its rich history that dates back to the 19th century. Beware the Instagram snapping masses...
2. Castle of the Moors: This castle is one of my favorite places to visit in Sintra because the views from the top are breathtaking, and the surrounding forest is beautiful. Aside from that, it has a compelling history that dates back to the 8th century when it was built by the Moors during their occupation of Portugal. 
3. Quinta da Regaleira: This palace has helped make Sintra a top travel destination, and one that I love to recommend to visitors. The gardens are beautiful, and the palace itself is known for its unique architecture and secret passageways that make it a great place to explore.
4. Monserrate Palace: Possibly the most romantic of all the top palaces in Sintra. I love this palace for its romantic architecture that was popular in the 19th century. The surrounding park and gardens are beautiful, and it's a great place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.
5. National Palace of Sintra: This palace is a must-see because of its impressive chimneys and unique architecture. It's also the best-preserved medieval royal palace in Portugal, so it's a great place to learn more about the history of the country.
6. Sintra-Cascais Natural Park: As a nature lover, I absolutely adore this park for it's world class hiking and mountain biking trails. It's a protected area that covers over 145 square kilometers and is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. It's a great place to bike, hike and explore, and the views are stunning from many secret spots, overlooking the Atlantic ocean.
7. Seteais Palace: This palace is one of my favorites because of its neoclassical architecture and stunning location on a hill that offers panoramic views - up to Pena and down over the Atlantic Coast. It's now a luxury hotel that's worth visiting even if you're not staying there.
8. Convent of the Capuchos: This convent is a peaceful and serene place that I love to recommend to visitors who prefer to avoid the crowds. It's a perfect example of the simple and austere lifestyle that was popular among Franciscan friars, and the surrounding forest is beautiful.
9. Monserrate Palace and Gardens: The palace is worth a visit in its own right, but to me the gardens are a perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the town. They're filled with exotic plants, and the atmosphere is peaceful and relaxing.
10. Biester Mansion: From the moment I entered this restored banker's mansion, I was struck by the exquisite details, from the antique furniture to the stained glass windows. The gardens are just as impressive as the mansion itself, with well-manicured lawns, beautiful flowers, and tranquil fountains.​​

You can easily visit any of these top park, palaces and monuments on our Sintra Self Guided Ebike tours, which include our custom navigation apps that tell you where to go and give you some insights into what you are seeing.

​As a Sintra local, I have the privilege of living in one of the most beautiful regions in Portugal. There are three places that particularly stand out to me and that I love to take friends and family to when they visit: Azenhas do Mar Village, Cabo da Roca, and Almoçageme Village.

Azenhas do Mar Village is a small coastal village that sits on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The village's white houses and red roofs make for a stunning contrast against the blue sea and sky. I love to come here to enjoy the fresh sea breeze, walk along the beach, and sample the local seafood dishes.

Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of Europe and has become a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Sintra. The rugged cliffs, crashing waves, and stunning views make for an unforgettable experience. I love to come here to watch the sunset and take in the natural beauty that surrounds me. Due to its fame, it can get crowded in the summer...

Finally, Almoçageme Village is a charming town that is known for its narrow streets, traditional houses, great restaurant, and friendly locals. I love to come here to enjoy the laid-back atmosphere, visit Adraga beach, or go for a hike along the Atlantic cliffs and take in the beautiful scenery. If you are a wine fan, one of the best local wineries has a pretty shop in town - but you must book beforehand to visit.

All three of these destinations are unique and special in their own way, and I feel grateful to live in a place that offers such diverse and beautiful experiences. 

You can visit these top coastal spots on our Atlantic Adventure and Cape Escape ebike tour routes.

​These are my top 10 must-see parks, palaces, and monuments in Sintra - but I couldn't close this post without mentioning my favourite not so secret spots too. Each place is special and unique, and I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I do.

If you ever get the chance to visit Sintra, I highly recommend checking out these three destinations. 

Sintra is a magical town that's full of surprises and hidden treasures, so take your time and explore all that Sintra has to offer!

Park E Bike electric bicycle rentals and tours are all about offering cyclists and non-cyclists alike the unique opportunity and the freedom to silently explore the undiscovered in one of the most charismatic locations in southern Europe.  

One of of goals is to really promote clean, sustainable transport that is viable to all types of travelers visiting the UNESCO heritage site of Sintra: e-Bikes! On a recent Park E Bike day trip a client told us that in the 5 years he has lived in Portugal he had never seen so much of Sintra as on his e-bike day trip: "I love the sense of freedom, there were things I had never even noticed".

We've put together some top tips that will help you plan your cycling tour of this magical destination. The first thing to do is decide on the kind of route that suits your needs best: there are many different ways to explore Sintra by bike, depending on how much time and effort you want to invest in getting from point A to point B.

Once you have decided which type of bicycle is right for you (ebike, mountain bike or road bike), all that remains is choosing your preferred Sintra bike route and packing accordingly. That might mean a beach towel, light picnic lunch or your photographic equipment, depending on which bike route you choose. Here are our suggested best bike routes in Sintra:

King of the Hill | Moderate | Half Day 
If you only have a few hours to see the highlights of Sintra, this e-bike ride is all you need to be the King of the Hill. The excellent views and sublime architecture of Pena Palace & the Moorish Castle make this the perfect tour. 11 km / 300 meters climbing.

Sintra Parks Epic | Challenging | Full Day
Experience some of the most lavish gardens and romantic architecture in Sintra, at Monserrate Palace & Park as well as the most humble and enchanting hidden monastery at Capuchos Hermitage, surrounded by native oak forest. This scenic bike route is great for a sporty all day tour with time to explore these world class parks and palaces. 24 km / 650 meters climbing.

Atlantic Adventure | Challenging | Full Day
Make the most of your day in Sintra with a chance to visit Monserrate Palace & Gardens, Capuchos Hermitage, Moorish Castle, Pena Palace and Azenhas do Mar, on this challenging route from the old town to the sparkling Atlantic coast and back. For more miles, more sites and a deeper experience, this is the perfect way to spend a full day in Sintra. 37 km / 750 meters climbing.

Cape Escape | Challenging | Full Day
Challenging ride out to the Westernmost cape, Cabo da Roca, on the Atlantic coast and back, with some very steep climbs through Penedo and a steep cobbled downhill from Pena Palace. Perfect for a an all day adventure to a signature landmark. 35 km / 850 meters climbing.

Whether you are riding an ebike or a regular bike in Sintra, you will love our detailed route guides which feature hands-free Navigation, Interactive Route Map with Points of Interest, Recommendations and Spoken directions (in English). Don't forget sunscreen and a light jacket whichever Sintra bike route you pick!

You can access our Free Sintra bike route guide app below.

The weather may be changeable, but spring flowers are going strong - from the Atlantic coast to the parks of Sintra you can see examples of stunning wild flowers as well as wisteria, camellias, azaleas and Rhododendrons in full bloom. 

If you are in the Lisbon area this spring, hop on a train to Sintra - bring a camera, jump on a no sweat bike tour and have a great day out!
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A couple of days ago we were sent a wonderful little picture taken near the Pena Palace in Sintra, around 1890.

The caption on the photo had the following in Portuguese:

"On the picture from left to right
José de Mello, José de Sena, the Marchioness of Beautiful, Afonso, Benjamin Pinto, the Queen Mother Maria Pia (roughly in her 50's) and Alfredo Albuquerque on a bicycle outing in the Serra de Sintra.

I am told that this ride was on the road from Cascais to Colares, after Malveira, Alcabideche en route to Penha Longa, through the pine forest and then Estoril, returning by road from Sintra.

It seems that these trips were frequent in 1893."

If those sturdy ladies and gents in bloomers and on single speed bicycles enjoyed it so, image the fun of being able to cycle the Sintra hills without breaking a sweat.  Recreate their rides in a part of the world that has thankfully been keep very much as it was all those years ago!

Some of the unique fine art pieces and palaces in Sintra are now on available for online viewing thanks to Google's Art Project. At at time when people are unable to travel due to Corona virus restrictions, that's pretty cool!

That's right, you can now see a selection of some of the signature artworks from the comfort of your desk chair or mobile device.  

Google's tool offers you a chance to scan through works of art from around the world and perhaps find the one that you find most engaging, so you know exactly what to look for and make the most of your precious travel time.  

It is also a godsend to all those who are for any reason unable to travel physically to witness first hand such artistic delights.

If this all seems a little too digital and inane and you are more of a tactile person, then take the trip out to Sintra and see these splendid artworks for yourself. 

We have had a lot of people ask us what an E-Bike is really all about - Is it not cheating? Where is the throttle? How fast can I go? Here's what you need to know.

In short, the E Bike makes hilly rides accessible to unseasoned riders, and allows seasoned riders to enjoy all the fun of cycling, without breaking a sweat - which is great if you want to visit multiple destinations on your day out without walking around in your cycle gear!  I say this as a seasoned mountain biker who loves nothing more that hitting the Sintra trails.

Our electric bicycles have been very carefully chosen to be easy and comfortable to ride along the scenic but sometimes steep and windy roads around Sintra.  With a low centre of gravity and wide, 26" tires, our e-Bikes offer a great cycling experience to riders of any level.

Why go electric?  Because it's fun, clean and easy!  The added power means you can easily cover any of our tour routes in a day, allowing plenty of time to visit the beautiful parks, palaces and monuments in between - all without breaking a sweat.

Sintra: a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the most attractive royal towns in Portugal and certainly one of the most popular destinations.  

When the monarchs first put Sintra on the map, in their bid to escape the summer heat of Lisbon, cars were not even a distant dream - today they can be a real world nightmare in the town center.

If you are visiting from Lisbon for the day, consider taking a train to Sintra and going on foot instead of driving.  

If walking is not your favorite thing, you can always take the 434 bus to visit the beautiful Pena Palace and Moorish castle. Be warned that in summer time the 434 bus queue can be such that some visitors have to wait for the next bus.

Without any doubt though, the most environmentally conscious way to explore is on foot.

But the most enjoyable way to cover the distance between the parks and palaces is by bicycle! With an electric assisted E-bike, you get the all the fun and freedom of cycling without the effort of pedal pushing up the hills of Sintra, and you will have no trouble at all to find parking.  Enjoy!

Autumn and winter may be the very best time to visit Sintra! Sounds far fetched? Not really - here are 4 reasons why you should visit Sintra this winter:

1) Less People
These days it's hard to find a beautiful destination that no else has found yet and when the sun is out, so is everybody else.  The cooler temperatures of autumn and winter mean that sun chasers simply head to the tropics, leaving wonderful locations that have a lot more to offer than just the summer heat free for you to explore at your leisure.

2) Less Traffic 
Whether you like to walk, run or cycle on your travels, less people also means less traffic; less tour buses and fewer clusters of packaged tourists flocking about and that means more space and freedom for you. If you're a cyclist, low season means "low traffic" becomes "no traffic" and you can have the roads and lanes of Sintra to yourself.

3) Lower Prices
From flights and hotels to tour operators and outfitters, you can get great deals by picking low season travel dates to Sintra.  Almost all hotels and airlines offer substantial discounts on their standard rates.  Once you factor in lower prices and less crowds and hassle, you can be onto a great deal just for choosing to enjoy your vacation when everyone else is not.

4) Unique Sights
Naturally not all destinations are ideal for visiting during the fall, but Sintra is certainly one of them - ancient moss covered walls, mist shrouded palaces and cascading waterfalls are all part of the low season scenery.  If you want to go beyond the ordinary holiday snaps, some of the most exquisite sights can really only be seen during autumn and winter.

If you have been to Sintra in the Fall or Winter, get in touch and let us know what you thought!