The National Palace of Sintra, also known as the Town Palace, is located right in the heart of Sintra, in the Lisbon district. It is considered the best preserved medieval royal residence in Portugal and was classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1995. A popular tourist attraction, the National Palace is a must-see if you’re visiting the town of Sintra.

The history of this impressive palace began during the Muslim occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. It was used by the Portuguese royal family continuously until the end of the monarchy, from the early 15th-century through to the late 19th-century. Of all the palaces built by the Portuguese monarchs throughout the Middle Ages, the National Palace of Sintra is the only one that has survived to the present day virtually intact.

The palace has characteristics of Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance and Romantic architecture and has the largest collection of Mudéjar tiles in the country. The most eye-catching part of the palace are the colossal chimneys which can be seen from kilometres away.

Take a tour and admire the lavish interior of the palace and stroll through the richly decorated rooms, galleries and corridors. Visit the Hall of Swans (Sala dos Cisnes), with its mosaic-like ceiling painted with swans and don’t miss the Hall of Magpies (Sala das Pegas) featuring a ceiling emblazoned with magpies.

The National Palace is open to the public every day from 9:30am until 6:30pm (last entry is at 6:00pm). You can get to Sintra from the centre of Lisbon by train, bus or taxi. Once in the town of Sintra, the National Palace is only a 15-minute walk away. A popular way to visit the National Palace is via a guided tour with transportation included.