Sintra in a day

Pena Palace

Attraction · Timed entry

Buy the first timed slot and go straight to the palace interior — do the ramparts after. Bus 434 from the station beats the uphill hike.

Quinta da Regaleira

Attraction · Mystical

Head straight to the Initiation Well and descend the spiral — then get lost in the tunnels below. Masonic symbolism everywhere; the free map matters.

Travesseiros at Piriquita

Snack · Since 1862

The 1862 bakery behind the "pillow" pastry — warm travesseiro plus a queijada is the correct order. Second shop up the hill has the shorter queue.

Cabo da Roca sunset

Viewpoint · Golden hour

Mainland Europe’s westernmost cliff — 140m over the Atlantic. It’s windy even in August; bring the warm layer.