Our one full day in Sintra began with a fantastic view of the town from the hotel’s breakfast room. It took a while to tear ourselves from the breakfast room but we eventually we made our way over to the taxi stand. Our taxi driver to the Pena Palace in Sintra was very knowledgeable and was a much better option than driving. Especially after we found out that there was a no public traffic allowed in the road to the palace.

The Pena Palace is actually relatively new at close to 200 years old. An aging monastery it was turned into a palace by the king of Portugal. The current exterior colors are the result of a renovation in the 1990s creating the unique coloring we saw today.

Unfortunately, photographs were not allowed inside the palace so we did move through at a faster pace. The palace seems out of place in Portugal and looked like it belonged in a Disney park. Still, it was amazing to see and just as vibrant as pictures show.

For our afternoon excursion we went to Quinta da Regaleira. Basically a fairytale looking property bought and renovated by a man fascinated by the Masons. The grounds were confusing and amazing with grottoes and an underground labyrinth!

And so ends our one day in Sintra. I’m terribly tired now so on to the next day.