Palaces & Pathways of Sintra

As a solo female traveler, I appreciated the expert-level knowledge of my route, the detailed accuracy of my walking instructions, and the variety of experiences offered along the way. The personalized hospitality provided at all my accommodations put me at ease and the amazing food -- wow!  Such a wonderful and relaxing way to see a slice of Portugal!

Our Palaces and Pathways of Sintra walking holiday exceeded our expectations in every way. Inntravel came highly recommended from an acquaintance but the trip was even better than hoped. The Inntravel staff were friendly, knowledgeable and easy to deal with. Very easy to get hold of despite a five hour time difference, and very responsive and accommodating. The lodgings were all superb, and each was very different with a different character, but all very high quality in every way. The walking instructions were amazingly detailed and accurate, so we felt comfortable that we were always on the proper route, and the chosen routes offered variety, beauty and a very diverse number of lovely and historically interesting sites to stop and explore along the way. Of course, we were able to proceed at our own pace, but we found our walking pace to be a bit faster than the typical predicted time for each walk. That gave us plenty of time to explore when we found something interesting, and still get to our destination with plenty of time to relax before dinner. We really feel like we got to experience Portugal in a very intimate way during our tour. We are 100% sure that we will do additional Inntravel tours in the years to come, and will bring along friends. Thanks for organizing such a great vacation for us!

We loved the variety of accommodation and the helpfulness of our hosts. Sintra can get (and did) very wet in October on occasion. We would definitely recommend a waterproof cover for rucksacks for when it pours down. Weather ideal for walking most of the time though. 

We loved Portugal. Everyone was so friendly and the scenery was stunning. We will definitely be back and not leave it so long. 47 years since our first visit

I wouldn’t bother again with the most westerly point v v touristy. 1/2 km further and it is fantastic. Also Pena Palace in Sintra was a nightmare - shuffling round with literally hordes of people! The other Palaces were much more enjoyable to visit - especially the first one we came to on the outskirts of Sintra (sorry, name eludes me)

INNTRAVEL NOTE: The Pena Palace visit does benefit from being done early, and we recommend an early start. The Palace passed en-route to Sintra is the Monserrate Palace.

This walk covered every type of terrain and experience, from amazing west coast beaches and stormy seas, through stony headlands and valleys, to idyllic backwaters of small, typical villages, and on again to the grand palaces of Sintra!   Arriving in Sintra, the prospect of climbing to the great heights of the Moorish Castle and the Pena Palace seemed daunting, but there is a gradual climb and a pleasant return back to town, which enabled us to stand proudly on the highest point of the Moorish Castle and survey the wide area we had traversed the previous six days.   A great feeling of satisfaction!

Some stunning accommodation, each place with its own character, but all comfortable and welcoming.   Aasta's picnic, in its gingham bag, was a delight to eat, a voyage of discovery in itself!

A rewarding week, with mostly clear blue skies, and the many trees showing their first promise of Autumn colours.

Great trip. Very happy that we spent an extra day in Lisbon and in Sintra. All the walks were good, with the exception of the walk up to the chapel above the convent.

This is an excellent holiday. It takes in some beautiful scenery and some lovely places. It all ends on a high in Sintra, but even then the walk route manages to find a quieter route out from Pena Palace and back into the busy town of Sintra. The accommodation was varied and interesting, some quirky places with character and characters! Thoroughly recommend.

Found some of the ascents rather steep but managable if you take your time.  We don't bother too much if our timings don't match the notes, we just regard those as a guide.  I think that the Monastery at Pe da Serra is not really worth visiting.  Parts of it are under reconstruction, the cafe is closed (they may be building another one, not sure) and if you take the audio you have to leave your driving licence or similar as security!  The audio is only 3 Euros but it is very wordy and if you listened to it all, you'd be spending all day there.  

We found a nice Italian restaurant near Sintra called Toccante, it is fairly new and you do need a taxi to get there (about 6 euros each way) but we wanted a change of cuisine.  

The 4 course meal at Colina Flora was absolutely delicious and we would certainly recommend other Inntravellers try it.  In fact we liked the 'longtable, everyone eat together' meals at both this place and the Convent, we met fellow walkers, not all with Inntravel but all very pleasant and sociable.

Excellent and well researched holiday / lot of fun / challenging and stimluating with wide variation of places to see.

We would suggest you strongly recommend an extra night in Sintra to enable sightseeing to be less intense and therefore more enjoyable. We were able to therefore visit national museum and castle on one day then spend a very enjoyable day at Pena Palace and various sights within the extensive grounds.

There was a great variety of walking, from coastal paths, to wooded areas and visiting various palaces. The hotels were generally excellent, some a bit quirky but very good nonetheless. We would thoroughly recommend the holiday. Recommendation - On our last day we walked up to Pena Palace in Sintra and were met by an hour long queue to visit the inside of the palace. The slow queue continued throughout and in our opinion was a waste of time. Visiting the external galleries would have been sufficient for us. 

This is a beautiful area and we loved the variety of the walks, the wide far-reaching views, and the excellent choice of accommodation on this holiday. We were made to feel very welcome at all the hotels, and the hosts went out of their way to make us feel at home. Jonathan and Sharon [Convento de São Saturnino], and James and Aasta [Colina Flora] provided delicious picnics, and recommendations and lifts to restaurants. We particularly liked Adega Vadia in Colares, and the fish restaurant on Adraga Beach. We also had a very enjoyable evening eating with the other 8 guests in the dining room at São Saturnino.

On Day one, we negotiated an earlier pick up from Cascais, which worked well, and we enjoyed a late-ish lunch in the pretty Don Quixote garden.

On Day three, we enjoyed a great glass of wine at Flores de Cabo (recommended in the notes) knowing that we only had a further 400m to walk!

In Sintra, we took an early tuk-tuk up to the Pena Palace and managed to beat the crowds. 

In Lisbon, we would recommend Quermesse restaurant, just 300 metres from the hotel. 

Finally, Inntravel's background notes on the history of the area, and the food and drink were very comprehensive.

The only tip I would like to give is to arrive as early as possible at Pena Palace as queues can be very, very long.

A lovely holiday made all the more special by the hosts of the accommodation chosen by Inntravel. Would recommend this route to anyone interested in nature, palaces and peace.

We thoroughly enjoyed the holiday - the walks, beautiful scenery, sunshine (but not too hot!), food, wine and hospitality were all excellent - and we had a great tapas / fado experience organised by the Colina Flora. Overall we experienced a great balance of activities, sightseeing and relaxation. Will definitely be looking for another trip soon!

Colina Flores was very pretty, and helpful hosts. Go to Don Quixote as recommended in notes before going back to the convent - really nice bar with lovely views.

We enjoyed the walks everyday especially up to the peninha chapel. The views of the coast and countryside were breathtaking. Every day we learnt something new and walked to outstanding places both man made and natural. The Convento was a fascinating place to stay and swim. We appreciated the time and trouble James and Aasta took to take us out to dinner and provide marvellous breakfasts and packed lunches.

The Portuguese were very friendly and we particularly enjoyed the different types of walks - hill, coastal and forest. Many of the walks had wonderful wild flowers. The food was fantastic and the accommodation was exceptional.

Great sense of achievement at completing the walks. Such a variety of places to stay we always wondered what was coming next.

This was a very enjoyable holiday exploring the terrain, culture and food of this area of Portutugal. In particular  we loved the warm welcome and beauty of Pergola house and the quiet sanctuary of the Convento Sao Saturnino. The best breakfast ever was provided by Aasta at the Colina Flora guest house. We upgraded locally to a suite at the Lawrence hotel and would highly recommend this extra to other travellers as the difference in the quality of the room was vast.

[Palaces and Pathways of Sintra was] Our second holiday with Inntravel and again we thoroughly enjoyed it. Great hotels, lovely varied walks and excellent descriptions. May was a great time to see this area as there was an abundance of wild flowers and butterflies. The Lisbon City add on was well worthwhile and we also enjoyed an extra night in Cascais. There was a daily walking tour of Cascais from the railway station at 10.30 and plenty of shops/seafront/harbour to fill the rest of a day. Thanks again to all the staff at Inntravel for putting together such a memorable holiday. 

One of the best Inntravel holidays we've done for varied walking and sights to see. The 'country house' atmosphere at the convent was particularly nice and we got on well with the rest of the guests. Reguleiria is a site not to be missed particularly the underground passages and grottoes.

Another winner from Inntravel. Excellent combination of varied accommodation, quiet walks, spectacular palaces and castles, dramatic coastline and a plethora of wildflowers making for a memorable holiday.

A really lovely holiday. The only downside was three days of rain and fog so we missed some views. However, the open fire at Convento de São Saturnino was lovely to sit in front of when we gave up and stayed in! We 'cheated' on the Sintra day and took a tuk-tuk up to the Pena Palace and beat the queues!! (We did subsequently do a lot of walking that day) but we recommend getting your entrance ticket in advance (also do the same for Belem Tower) and getting there early. And the tuk-tuk ride was an experience. You can also negotiate the fare!

Our plan for our first visit to Portugal consisted of two Inntravel trips with extra time in Lisbon and Porto. A week’s walk on the Palaces & Pathways of Sintra was followed by a week in the Valley of Gold. Traveling by rail between the two trips we stopped in Coimbra for an interesting tour of the town and campus. We loved both walking itineraries.

Palaces & Pathways of Sintra: We liked the varied walks and the seacoast proximity. We were especially impressed with the proprietors of Convento de Sao Saturnino and Colina Flora. They have worked so hard to create interesting and attractive inns, and to provide an enjoyable experience for their guests.

Valley of Gold: We loved the views, the quiet country lanes, farm roads, and the picturesque villages.  Again the overnight stays were very enjoyable.  The last stay at Casa Do Visconde de Chanceleiros was definitely a cut above, and deserves consideration for an extra night.

This was our sixth and seventh walk with Inntravel. We’ve said it before and we say it again “You Are Tops!” All arrangements and communications are trouble-free. All routes are carefully considered, interesting and delightful.

Each of the hotels was interesting and unique and we enjoyed staying in all of them. We are vegetarian and the food provided at Colina Flora was perfect for us - it was really tasty and freshly prepared. The unusual setting of Convento Saturnino was beautiful and the owners were very friendly. Whilst both the Pergola and Lawrences were more Portugese, they were so interesting in quite different ways and both were lovely places to stay. The walking was wonderful taking us to beautiful beaches, quiet forests, pretty villages and finally to the incredible palaces in Sintra. Although only 8 days the holiday felt so much longer as we did so much and saw so many interesting places. 

Another very enjoyable Inntravel holiday, with excellent hotels, beautiful coastal walks, amazing views and fabulous palaces that I never knew existed... and one I'd already love to do again. As a seasoned Inntraveller I take for granted that the travel arrangements, walking notes and background information will be spot on - and they were. This holiday was made all the more enjoyable by the four American Inntravellers who we met at the Convento. Special thanks to Jonathan from the Convento and James from Colina Flora for willingly providing additional taxi services for a member of our party - much appreciated. We added on a couple of days in Lisbon, but wished afterwards that we had scheduled the holiday to avoid being in Lisbon on a Monday when many key attractions are closed. 

A very satisfying holiday, every aspect went smoothly, the organisation worked really well. The walk was well researched to be interesting and rewarding. Sometimes challenging but never beyond our capabilities. The accommodation was brilliant; while being comfortable and with good food these were very interesting establishments and with a touch of eccentricity.

The day walk to visit Capuchos and Monserrate was the best.

Delightful countryside, varied, interesting and comfortable accommodation, comprehensive and accurate walking notes all combined to make this a superb holiday. I would strongly recommend it.

The variation in very good hotels and the variation in scenic monuments and scenery were fantastic.

The walk was sufficiently challenging in places to give a sense of achievement. Route notes were excellent, easy to read and accurate with interesting historical notes to accompany the directions. The accomodation was generally of a very high standard, and individually furnished. All had very comfortable beds, the people were welcoming, helpful and friendly.

This was our first time in Portugal and our second Inntravel holiday. We thoroughly enjoyed everything! The walk notes were spot on and the routes very varied. The accommodation was excellent throughout and the hosts all very welcoming. My husband's gluten free diet was extremely well catered for. The coast was spectacular and Sintra was amazing. The fado evening recommended by James (at Colina Flora) was very enjoyable. 

Our highlights: the rock stacks at Ursa; the stay at the Convento where the communal eating arrangement led to great conversation; meeting up with fellow walkers; the varied landscape; the recommendations for coffee shops, eateries and ice cream parlour en route.

Highlights: Wine tasting in Cascais, Tapas and Fado in Cascais, Pasteis de Belem, the Elevadors,  Coat of Arms room in National Museum in Sintra, Monseratte Villa - video of son of 'caretaker', clams in garlic bouillon at small restaurant in Lisbon, taxi ride up to the door of Solar Do Castelo [Lisbon add-on].

This is my 18th Inntravel Holiday (and I would not have made 18 if they were not excellent). I think my colleagues who since they joined intend to come back for more. We are, of course, getting on - some now in their late 70s. It is difficult to give a highlight. Perhaps the first day's walk was the least enjoyable

Having just returned from two walks in Portugal, Palaces and Pathways of Sintra and The Valley of Gold, I think perhaps the greatest highlight was to be able to interact with the Portuguese people in a variety of settings. Whereas in some locales a foreign visitor is often reminded that they are often on the verge of trespassing on (superior) local cultural norms, in Portugal it seems the visitor can do no wrong and people are absolutely delighted in anyone's interest in things Portuguese.  

The Sintra walk begins along the coast, climbing up to the Serra Sintra above Cabo Roca, and then proceeding more or less along the ridge to the historic summer palace retreat of the Portuguese royalty in the town of Sintra itself. It provides a wonderful mix of historic towns and spectacular coastal scenery. It begins in the late 19th and early 20th century seaside resort town of Cascais which reached its heyday when the unfortunate last king of Portugal, King Carlos, made it the home base for his marine biology studies making it for a while the ultimate seaside destination in the country. The boutique hotel in Cascais is set in a family mansion from the post royalist era, but invokes its spirit in its exuberant tilework and period decor, particularly in the public rooms. The walk begins at Cabo Raso, where the coast makes its right-angle bend to the north and follows the rockbound coast punctuated by a series of small and large sandy beaches north towards the headland of Cabo Roca eventually leading to the Convento de Sao Saturnino set in a small valley about a mile above the lighthouse. The "Convento" is a wonderful warren of buildings, some dating back to medieval times, which was used by monks primarily as a mill. The owners father has collected antiques from all over the Portuguese empire, so that the numerous niches and ledges are filled with his treasures. Cabo Roca lighthouse, which advertises itself as the westernmost structure on the European continent, is set on a spectacular clifftop, but unsurprisingly it attracts multiple tour buses and selfie sticks. The good news is that only a few hundred yards away in either direction, the crowds dwindle to almost nothing and the spectacular coast of cliffs and sandy coves is all but deserted until the Praia Adraga which is a large beach set between rocky headlands very popular with Portuguese and foreign visitors. From the coast the route works its way under the main Sintra ridge in the national park largely through forests with frequent vistas to the north and occasionally to the south back to Cascais, Estoril, and in the distance to Lisbon. A fascinating stop is at the Convento dos Capuchos, an austere Franciscan monastery of 12 cells built into the granite hillside, which was inhabited until the 19th century.  The final two days are spent around Sintra, exploring the extravagant palaces and gardens built up around the original summer palace in the town itself.  Most of the palaces and gardens are 19th century confections of the romantic era, a perfect foil to the austerity of the Convento dos Capuchos. Appropriately the last two nights are spent at Lawrence’s Hotel, where Lord Byron and other luminaries spent many summers.    

The Valley of Gold walk provided a rather different experience, beginning in the busy city of Porto with the walk itself making a long loop to the north of the Douro from the town of Pinhao, about two thirds of the way up the river towards the Spanish border. Porto is a fascinating city that I wish I had had more time to explore, and I think it would be worthwhile to spend at least two nights there to really appreciate it. The Hotel Pestana Vintage Porto has one of the best sites in the city set directly on the waterfront at the centre of the old town directly across from Vila Nova de Gaia where the traditional port wineries are located. The walking notes were very useful in enabling one to see the important visitor sites of the city efficiently, but unfortunately with my particular travel schedule I didn't have enough time to do them justice.
The walk above Pinhao was a wonderful contrast to the urban busy-ness of Porto, winding through the spectacularly terraced vineyards above the river valley through small towns and villages, some of them prosperous, and some of them nearly empty and fading away. The four lodgings provided a nice series of contrasts: The first was in a vineyard farmhouse overlooking the Douro; the second was in a pousada in the former Manor of an English wine baron in the picturesque small town of Alijo; the third was in a restored 16th century manor house, the site if the first potato planting in Portugal; and the grand finale was a restored nobleman's house once again on a hillside above the Douro. As we were walking through one of the little towns, a wonderful aroma was wafting out an open door, an elderly Portuguese gentleman asked us inside to see his home winery in a basement. They were shovelling grapes into a hand press, which drained into an open trough and thence to an open fermenting barrel via some plastic tubing. He asked us in Portuguese and then in broken French with many gestures to sample the finished product, which he siphoned out of a dusty barrel. He said it was thirty years old! Needless to say, it was really good, particularly since we each had two glasses filled to overflowing. It was a true "only in Portugal" experience.

Having been on two previous Inntravel walks, I have come to take for granted that the mechanics of the trip would work seamlessly. The travel and luggage transfers went without a hitch. The walk notes are the best I have used, and far more precise than others I have tried to follow. The lodgings have been consistently good, interesting, and varied, giving a real feel for the cuisine and culture of the local area. Obviously, I am a happy customer, and I am already planning my next trips.  

This was a memorable holiday, full of highlights. We would thoroughly recommend it, including the Lisbon add,on to anyone.