AMAZING CASTLE NEAR PENA PALACE IN SINTRA, PORTUGAL…read more================================================= My husband, son, daughter-in-law and I visted the Castelo Dos Mouros on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. We had just finished our visit to the Pena Palace and walk through the Pena Palace Park. The entrance up this castle is close to the bottom of the park. This castle was built by the Moors in the 8th and 9th centuries. It was taken by Christian forces after the fall of Lisbon in 1147. It is a National Monument and a Unesco World Heritage Site. There was a couple scary parts when we walked up stairs to walk along the tops of the castle walls. The walkways are narrow and there was only room for people walking in one direction. I panicked a bit when I saw someone walking towards me because there was no way two people would fit and there was a drop off on one side. The views are amazing up there so you will have lots of photo opportunities. There's also a little cafe where you can order something to drink, grab a bite to eat and several tables and chairs, so you can sit down and take a break. My husband and I definitely took a break while my son and daughter-in-law tackled one of the last steep sets of stairs. We got about 15,000 steps in that day. The landscaping around the castle is gorgeous too.

I walked here after visiting Pena palace and this was a really nice stroll. The pictures don't do…read morethis castle and the views from it any justice. You really have to come and see for yourself. The paths were quite narrow in some areas without much safety precautions in place so I felt a bit wobbly in some areas where other tourists were in a bit of a rush, but I just let them go ahead of me. The path does get quite steep so make sure to bring good shoes and water to stay hydrated.

A 100% must visit in my opinion! One of the most stunning properties in Sintra and from the…read moreoutside, you don't think much but WOW, the gardens are spectacular. Expect lots of walking but there's so many areas to see from the towers to the caves, to the sculptures. Enchanting is just the word for it. We took an uber after seeing other landmarks in Sintra and it was relatively easy to book and affordable.

UNESCO World Heritage Site…read more The palace is also known as "The Palace of Monteiro the Millionaire." The exterior is a sight to behold. Beyond the palace, there is an extensive park that features lakes, grottoes, wells, fountains, etc. The initiation well is a must. It consists of a spiral staircase with 9 platforms. I enjoyed our visit here, but wished I had more time exploring the grounds.

Cabo Da Roca is the westernmost point of mainland Europe. It looks out into the Atlantic Ocean…read more There is also a lighthouse and hiking trails. The place was crowded with tourist buses. We had about 20 minutes here, so no hiking along the cliffs for us. We spent half that time in the bathroom line (.50€).

This is such a beautiful place to visit. This is considered to be the most western point of all of…read moreEurope because on the other side is going to be America across the sea I found out this place through my tour a nice stop because you get to see a lighthouse, and a landmark mark this as the most western point there is also a little gift shop if you'd like to buy something. There is also a bathroom area just remember to have EEUROS if you are driving or taking a tour this is a nice little side quest

Beautiful fairytale-like palace. Purchased palace entry tickets for first thing in the morning. Due…read moreto delays in travel, we got to the the entrance gate at the bottom of the hill just 15 minutes before our entry time. While the recommended time to walk up the hill is 30 minutes, we were able to jog and get there in less than 15, out of breath. The palace itself is quite beautiful and views from the terrace are gorgeous and picture worthy. The outside of the palace is what we most admired though. Because of the palace popularity, the self guided entry tour is one big line through the palace rooms. It felt somewhat like a cattle line moving through the palace. After touring the palace, we spent time exploring the many trails in the gardens. Lessons learned from taking the train and ride share from Lisbon: Although we left plenty of time to get here from Lisbon by train abd ride-share, we were delayed at the train station trying to get an Uber. There were no Ubers accepting our request and the 2 that did cancelled after we waited 15 mins for them to arrive. We eventually got a Bolt, and lesson learned that despite the map showing pickup on the street right outside the station, we had to go over one street to meet the Bolt after it arrived.

We decided to book the earliest ticket and most of the time in mid-December, and it felt like we…read morehad the castle all to ourselves a lot of the time. It's a beautiful palace and what makes it stand out from others is the bright yellow paint. Lots of cool look outs and each viewing room was well kept. I like how there are various pathways from here to get to other landmarks in Sintra (we used Google Maps). I read a lot about what public transportation to take and it goes from a train to a bus, but honestly the uber was so affordable so it was nice to only spend 30-45 minutes on there and if you have more than one person, could be worth it. There's a bit of a uphill walk to get to the entrance as an FYI.

Sintra is where the royals went to rough it in their vacation castle. The Sintra Palace, complete…read morewith those two giant inverted ice cream cones on top, is basically a royal Airbnb with views to die for and tiles for days. Their of the medieval town is adorable. This is a popular day trip from Lisbon. There are several castles and palaces to explore. Views for days.

This is such an underrated spot in Sintra. Folks come here for the bigger castles, and honestly, we…read morewould've skipped this too if it weren't for the big storm that had come through a few days earlier and closed the larger castles down. Palacio Nacional de Sintra is full of rich history. It was so fun to see the way people used to do things hundreds of years ago -- where they slept, how they entertained, etc. The grounds were beautiful and each room had a distinct theme and vibe, but for me the coolest part were the giant chimneys in the kitchen. Back in the day, it would signal that the king and his court were home when they were really going. If you have time, I would stop in and see the sights. There are guided tour options, but there were plenty of written notes throughout to explain what you were seeing so that you really didn't need it. A cool experience for sure.

This is a beautiful castle and the walk up from the historic city center was easy, beautiful, and…read moreworth it! Walking the ramparts of this ancient castle, which you can see from anywhere you are in Sintra, is a must do. My husband is afraid of heights and he was not overly excited about walking the castle because it is pretty sketchy - there aren't guard rails to prevent falling off. Views of the town of Sintra and the Pena Palace are stunning. Absolutely worth the visit.

The Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors) is a set of open-air castle ruins on a hilltop. Most…read moreof the visit experience consists of climbing up and down stone steps and walking along castle walls. It unexpectedly rained during most of my visit, even though the skies were clear earlier in the day, and even directly after my visit. The height, occasional lack of guard rails, light-to-medium rain, and mist flowing uphill all combined in some places to create an eery mystique, not easily expressed through photos. However, there were moments when the mist and clouds cleared to show spectacular broad views of the town and countryside below. Make sure you wear sturdy shoes with grip, as most surfaces are cobblestone. Consider bringing a hooded jacket, wide-brim hat, or umbrella in case of rain or excessive sun. The only structure with a roof, other than the ticket office and restrooms, is the church (Ingreja de São Pedro de Canaferrim) building. I took the 434 bus to and from the castle due to rain, but might have walked from town otherwise. The 434 bus has USB-A plugs that can slow-charge one's electronics.

Quaint little medieval town inside castle walls. There's lots of venders, restaurants, and a…read moretheater with stage. There's also restrooms for guests to use. A definite must when visiting Portugal.

This is a medieval town, still with its old fortifications in place that is an absolute marvel and…read morea must-do whenever you're visiting Portugal. There are so many cute shops to choose from and the entire walking experience was both picturesque and relaxing. The town is full of shops that offer good items at very reasonable prices. Among all of the towns that I visited, the souvenirs here were definitely among the best and very unique. There are lots of historic sites to visit and cobblestone streets are everywhere. The one thing to keep in mind is given a lot of roads are uneven for obvious reasons, older people should take notice when walking. I saw quite a few older folks in my group have trouble navigating the walk, that is something to watch out for.

2 of 2 Yelp reviews…read more Cut and pasted from the internet: "The monument celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery (or "Age of Exploration") during the 15th and 16th centuries." Quality/Quantity - A must visit, but we have been here so often and only stopped by because we had an all day train pass; see other reviews. So much history, just "Google" it and read. Kid friendly, so many field trips. Ambiance - Beautiful monument. Beautiful surroundings. Other tourist sites to visit. An easy train ride and a short walk. Service - Self service. Price - Free. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since 1939.

This was the second time I visited this historic tower and the second time I didn't make it inside…read more And honestly, I'm just fine with that. This most recent time, it was closed for long-term renovations, and Jamie W and I were here just a couple of weeks before its reopening. I heard it wasn't that exciting anyway. I read the rooms were small and claustrophobic, and the staircase was narrow and steep dictated by a new traffic-light and siren system (oh dear!) The only motivation might've been the view from the top, but even with that, there's a nicer panoramic view of the Tagus River from the sloping rooftop of the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) just a stroll to the east. We were just happy we got a view of the tower itself because we were worried it would be completely covered by scaffolding. After all, it was built in 1520 surviving as a true symbol of Portugal's Age of Discovery. RELATED - Exploring Lisbon? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/ayZwwRJHQd