The Pena National Palace is like a sacred jewel that crowns the Serra de Sintra. The surrounding park, in tune with the fairytale character of the palace, awakens emotions of mystery and discovery. In its nooks and crannies, eyes are lost in charm.

Here we can quickly travel back to the past, when there were no cars, and imagine the silence broken by the chirping of birds, the voices of the people in the distance or the passing of horses and carts. Sintra was the refuge of kings, queens, nobles and nobles. At the gates of the capital, it was the destination of the Portuguese nobility and elites in the past, and even today the romantic architecture left here helps to remember and create this charisma.

The Palace of Quinta da Regaleira was built at the beginning of the 20th century. XX by the millionaire António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro (1848-1920) who managed to make one of his dreams come true here, with the help of the scenographer architect Luigi Manini (1848-1936). Surrounded by lush vegetation, the Regaleira Palace is a fascinating discovery. The Palace was built in a romantic revivalist style, recovering Gothic, Manueline and Renaissance architectural and decorative forms, mixed with mythical and esoteric symbology. A special highlight is the Capela da Santíssima Trindade, which leads down to the crypt and down a spiral staircase to the monumental initiatory well which, at the bottom, leads the visitor through a cave to a surprising lake in the middle of the gardens.

At the westernmost point of continental Europe, Cabo da Roca offers a unique panoramic view over the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean. The imposing lighthouse, with its tower covered in white tiles and a red balcony, stands out for being one of the oldest in Portugal.

Before gaining town status, Cascais was a peaceful village of fishermen and farmers until the mid-14th century. Its strategic position in relation to the defense of Lisbon, meant that important fortifications were built there over the years, such as the Fort of Santo António da Barra and the Fort of Santa Marta. To this day, Cascais continues to attract many people from abroad, who often choose Cascais when they move to Portugal. In addition, it is an unmissable tourist spot that is less than an hour from Lisbon and easily accessible. See below all our tips on where to eat, where to stay and what to do in Cascais Portugal.