Sintra National Palace (Palácio Nacional de Sintra), Sintra: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

The Sintra National Palace stands in the center of Sintra, 30 kilometers northwest of Lisbon, the best-preserved medieval royal palace in Portugal, a residence of the monarchy from the 15th century until 1910. Its most recognizable feature is a pair of conical chimneys, each 33 meters tall, rising from the kitchen. The Sala dos Cisnes has a ceiling painted with 27 gold-collared swans, while the Sala dos Brasões features a dome decorated with heraldic shields of 72 noble Portuguese families. The palace is part of Sintra’s UNESCO Cultural Landscape. is just one of many options in Sintra. Major attractions worth considering include Pena National Palace (Palacio Nacional da Pena), Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros), and Chalet and Garden of the Countess D'Edla (Chalet e Jardim da Condessa D'Edla).