Things to Do Near Sintra After Renting a Car

Sintra is one of the jewels of Portugal: it is well known for its history, its culture, its food and a very special aura. Mystic and mysterious, romantic and idyllic - it draws thousands of tourists to itself all year round. But this is also its main flaw.

Truth is, if you’re looking for a quiet stay or a tranquil experience, it might be hard to find it during the daytime. Case in point: Palácio da Pena, listed in every article as a "must see”, welcomed 2.1 million tourists in 2024 alone. Queues tend to be rather long, parking is scarce and the small lanes that make the town so special can also make it feel rather crowded.

Of course, we’re not saying you should skip Sintra altogether: it would be a shame to visit Portugal and miss out on all that it has to offer. But if you do come here, consider it not only as a final destination but as a starting point to many great adventures and experiences: from world-famous surfing destinations, great places for wining and dining, fishing villages and more.

If you are visiting Sintra by car, and you start to feel like you would rather explore some "along the beaten path” destinations, we have a long list of suggestions.

Colares - only 7 km from Sintra (roughly 14 minutes), this village is famous for its wine that is produced in rather unique conditions: with vines planted in sandy beaches, helping the grapes absorb that wonderful salinity from the Atlantic breezes that blow all year long.

Praia das Maçãs - 12 km from Sintra (or ~20 minutes), this beautiful bay is very popular among the surfing community. Before you head to the beach or as you leave, enjoy one of its restaurants and cafés: you’ll be sure to find great service and honest food.

Praia Grande - In Portuguese, the beach is called "Big Beach” - which is pretty self-explanatory. It is a short, 19 minute drive from Sintra - just 10 km away. The restaurants along the seaside serve fresh fish and local seafood. A set of dinosaur footprints at the southern end of the bridge are also well worth a visit.

Praia do Guincho - pristine waters, vast dunes and the Sintra Mountains in the background: this is one of the most unique, beautiful beaches of the Atlantic shore.

Cascais - a glamorous seaside village that is just over 17 km away from Sintra, it has everything a visitor could want. Wander its romantic, historic centre, or explore its sophisticated marina, excellent restaurants and the best ice cream shops in the country. All of this means Cascais is a great destination for families, big or small - if you are travelling with small children, make sure to ask for a baby seat.

Cabo da Roca - these majestic cliffs are the westernmost point of continental Europe. This is the kind of place that will be equally rewarding for the destination and for the ride. A winding road along the mountains offers you great views along the way, peaking (quite literally) at the breathtaking view of the Cape.

While the road is marvellous, it is also very isolated. If you rent your car with Guerin, it is advisable to include Road Assistance. You’ll be insured against any setbacks and if you need any support, you can contact Guerin easily.

Mafra - this is about a 26 minute drive from Sintra. Mafra is a perfect place to spend a day or an afternoon. Make sure you visit the enormous Palace, the awe-inspiring Convent or the Tapada, woods that seem straight out of a fairytale. No roadtrip to Mafra will be complete without trying the local sweets, egg-based delicacies that have been made by nuns and friars for hundreds of years.

Ericeira - a 32 minute drive from Sintra, Ericeira is Portugal’s surf capital and the first world surfing reserve in Europe. Here, you’ll find a seaside town with a unique culture, beaches to explore and clifftop views to treasure. Just jump into your car, lower the windows and enjoy.

Peniche - A practically undiscovered gem, Peniche has everything you could ask for in an Atlantic village: clear waters, untamed beaches,and a wonderful scenic route along the coast. To learn about Portuguese history, take the drive to Peniche Fortress, where you’ll find a museum devoted to the Portuguese resistance.

Setúbal - Setúbal is a foodie’s town worth driving across the Tagus for. You’ll find vibrant markets to buy great fresh produce, meat and fish directly from local growers. Alternatively, if you don’t feel like cooking, there are some great restaurants all over town.

Azeitão - If Sintra’s crowds are making you feel claustrophobic, there is no better balm than a roadtrip to Azeitão. This small community is a great example of a portuguese countryside destination which has been (mercifully) left out of most touristic guidebooks, which explains why it feels so peaceful.

If you rent a car with Guerin, you can easily use Sintra as a base to explore several of these destinations in a single day - and be home in time for dinner. Just leave as early as you can, to make the most of the experience, and turn around when you feel like it.

One easy route starts at Cabo da Roca, up to Praia Grande, Praia das Maçãs and ends at Ericeira. You’ll enjoy some great sights along the way in a trip that is almost always by the ocean.

The drive will be around 103 km, with short legs in between destinations so you can make the most of every place you’re at. It has an added bonus: when you finally turn back, you can drive inland and avoid repeating any sights. And if you’d like to share the driving to make the most of your journey, simply add an Additional Driver to your booking.

If you are staying for a longer time in Sintra, you can always save a couple of days to travel a little further along the coast or into the countryside. You could, for example, easily spend a day from Cabo da Rocha to Cascais, stopping at Guincho along the way, with plenty of time to enjoy all three spots. 

On the second day, you could check out Mafra, Ericeira and Peniche. If you’re crazy about extreme sports, make sure you include a stop in Nazaré to witness one of its legendary monster waves.

A third road trip if you’re interested in exploring the country further would be to drive across the river and enjoying Azeitão, Portinho da Arrábida and Sesimbra.

Bear in mind, these are all destinations that are wildly worth the trip, but that you’ll find considerably hard to get to without your own car. Public transport options are few and far between (trains don’t connect most of them, for example). 

Taking a taxi is a possibility, but trips in between cities can be prohibitively expensive. You may also find this option limits you to one or two destinations per trip, instead of offering you the freedom to make as many stops as you want or need to. 

Driving in Portugal is usually a rather seamless experience. The main roads tend to be well maintained and well-lit. 

Furthermore, you should find clear exit signs on all major roads and highways for all the destinations listed in this article. Should you still take a wrong turn, however, every Guerin car is equipped with a GPS and will help you find your way! 

Finally, bear in mind that highways and some coastal roads have toll booths. Some will offer you the chance to stop and pay directly to a machine, whereas SCUTs will not. Either way, you might find the whole experience easier if you ask for Via Verde on your car: this is a small machine you stick to the top of the windshield which will automatically pay tolls for you - and allow you to skip booth queues. If you have these, just drive under the clearly Via Verde lanes: these are marked with a white V on a green square.

If you go there, we hope you love Sintra - but we also hope you take this wonderful opportunity to explore more of what the nearby region has to offer.

Enjoy the ride!