Sintra is magical. "It's quite romantic it reminds me of a fairytale setting."
The charming hilltop town, peppered with ritzy castles that date back hundreds of
years. Watch on and I'll explain how to get there, plus help you
pick which castles to explore. INTRO: I'm kristina
and this is my partner John. When we're not working as a TV journalist and
airline pilot, we're exploring the globe. Subscribe and let's get lost in Portugal.
From Lisbon the easiest way to get to Sintra is by train from Rossio station.
The trip takes around 40 minutes and costs just over 2 euro each way.. but
entertainment is extra.
As soon as you walk onto the platform, look up. From the train station plan
your day and work out what attractions you want to visit because it gets super
busy. The most popular is the Palace of Pena, while the most loved is Quinta da
Regaleira, and then the Castle of the Moors. Top tip: head to Pena Palace first
to avoid the crowds. To get there we reluctantly chose the hop-on hop-off bus.
If you're not on a budget weave in and out of traffic on a speedy tuk tuk.
Although reviews online are mixed. Back to Pena Palace where crowds are already building...
Check out the two-hour line just to go inside. This is why we opted for the
cheaper 'park' ticket which still allows you to get up close and walk around the
colourful terraces to get some photos.. while skipping the queue.
Pena is one of the most recognizable tourist attractions of Portugal. Built in
the 19th century it's like something out of a fairy tale. Spend a couple of hours
walking around the gardens until you reach your next stop... Welcome to Quinta Da Regaleira
It's a UNESCO world heritage site. The palace - built by a millionaire. Most
people flock straight to the former initiation well. Walk down the 27 meters
spiral staircase which leads to extensive labyrinth like tunnels which
were once hidden passages. Pop out here... oh my gosh... you're surrounded by
extravagant waterfalls, lakes and grottoes.
What are your first impressions? It's pretty breathtaking.. It's quite romantic
it reminds me of fairytale setting very Hans Christian Anderson. I love the moss.
I'm obsessed with the moss. Let's check out the rest of it!
Ensure you've got your runners on -- you'll be exhausted by the end of the day.
We walked from that point up there... down this hill.. and how do you feel? Exhausted!
Small confession.. between here and Pena Palace...
we got lost along the way. We were meant to stop past the medieval Moors Castle
which dates back to the eighth century. Hundreds of years ago noblemen
and the elite chose to build many grand palaces and extravagant homes here in
the region's Hills. Sintra was a sanctuary for royalty now transformed
into a popular resort town with beautiful beaches nearby.
The bus took us for a 30-minute drive to this enormous beach and outdoor swimming pool.
Before venturing to what was known as the end of the world. Along the way we
met friends on the bus .. meet Loumna from Morocco! We just met her on our tour bus
and she has some really cool information... "That place was believe to be, the end of the world before they discovered the Americas."
Another fun fact, it's the most western part of the country. All round you could say it was a pretty breezy day.
Tomorrow's a little bit more intense as we travel along the coast, we get wet.
How's it going? We're about halfway. Join us for a hectic swim to a natural wonder. "That view is awesome!"