GUIDE

The Coastal Road to Sintra

by leahelizabethp· Updated May 2026

Arriving from the coastal side, you avoid the traffic and most of the crowds — the palace feels like it's just for you.

CITYCascais, Portugal
THEMEWine
VIBECoastal Road Trip
BEST FORFamilies
LENGTHFull Day

The route

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Morning

01

Massa

Bakery

Start the day here for what might be the best croissant on the coast — fuel up before the drive north.

R. J A Ferreira 121, 2765-232 Estoril, PortugalMaps →lamassafhp.pt →

02

Cabo da Roca

Coastal · Cabo Da Roca

Pull over early before the tour buses arrive. The cliffs here are the westernmost point of continental Europe — the wind and the drop are both genuinely striking.

Estrada do Cabo da Roca s/n, 2705-001 Colares, PortugalMaps →visitlisboa.com →

Midday

03

Monserrate Palace and Gardens

Castle · Sintra

Coming in from the coastal road keeps you clear of Sintra's usual gridlock. The palace itself is ornate and a little surreal; the gardens ramble on longer than you expect. Across the street, a forest trail picks up if you want to keep walking.

R. Barbosa du Bocage 136, 2710-405 Sintra, PortugalMaps →parquesdesintra.pt →

04

Souldough

Restaurant · Colares

Lunch in Colares at this laid-back spot — good bread, unhurried pace, a good place to sit before the afternoon winery visit.

R. Nova da Alfarrobeira 5, 2750-444 Cascais, PortugalMaps →souldough-pizza.com →

↳ OR INSTEAD

Coolares

Restaurant · Colares

The other solid lunch option in Colares — same village, same slow rhythm, worth it if Souldough is full.

2750 Cascais, PortugalMaps →

Afternoon

05

Casal Sta. Maria

Wine Bar · Colares

Book the 2pm slot. This winery sits in the Colares DOC, one of Portugal's most unusual — old vines grown in sand. The tasting is calm and the estate feels far removed from the tourist trail.

R. Principal 18, 2705-177 Colares, PortugalMaps →casalstamaria.pt →

Late afternoon

06

Azenhas do Mar Bar

Bar · Azenhas Do Mar

Happy hour with an ocean view, smashburgers, and a front-row seat as the tide comes in at dusk. The terrace hangs right over the cliffs — worth timing well.

Restaurante Piscinas Lugar das Piscinas, 2705-098 Colares, PortugalMaps →azenhasdomar.com →

↳ OR INSTEAD

Moinho Dom Quixote

Bar · Azenhas Do Mar

A forest-and-coastline panorama with a cool playground attached — the better pick if you have kids in tow.

R. dos Moinhos 5, 2705-001 Azóia, PortugalMaps →moinhodomquixote.com →