Sintra and Cascais

Sintra and Cascais lie west of Lisboa, at the tip of the European continent. Between them stretches the Serra de Sintra, covered in woodland and protected by the Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais, which slopes down to the Atlantic at the Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe.

For centuries Sintra was a summer retreat for kings and aristocrats. The Cultural Landscape of Sintra has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995 and includes the Palácio Nacional de Sintra in the town centre, the Palácio da Pena high on the hills, the Castelo dos Mouros, the Quinta da Regaleira, Monserrate and the Convento dos Capuchos. The hills create a humid microclimate, with frequent mist and temperatures lower than in Lisboa.

Cascais was a fishing village until the late 19th century, when King D. Luís I began to spend summers at the Cidadela and the aristocracy followed. Today the town has a bay with boats, a historic centre of cobbled streets, museums such as the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego and a seafront promenade to the Estoril. To the west the coast becomes wilder, with the Boca do Inferno and the Praia do Guincho.

A road over the hills and along the coast connects the two towns.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Sintra, Cascais.