This Is What It’s Like to Spend the Night in a Portuguese Castle

This hotel offers the rare chance to sleep in a castle in Portugal, combining medieval atmosphere with comfort and an experience that feels genuinely unforgettable.

Sintra is hands down one of the highlights of Portugal. It is located 30 minutes drive away from Lisbon which makes it an attractive day-trip destination.

Since I live in Lisbon, I can tell you that a day trip is a bad idea and you won’t be able to explore it properly. There are more than 10 epic castles in Sintra, and you will need 2 or 3 days to visit the best of these attractions.

So now that we agree on the fact that you need at least 2 days in Sintra, we need to find a place to stay. As always, I was on a mission to find the best accommodation in Sintra and I did.

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Welcome to Valverde Sintra Palácio de Seteais

HOTEL REVIEW: WHERE TO STAY IN SINTRA, PORTUGAL?

Sintra is famous for its castles, so I decided that we should embrace this experience and stay in a proper castle as well. The royals of Portugal used to live in the palaces of Sintra and Valverde Sintra Palácio de Seteais offers to relive this experience, so why not?

Valverde Sintra Palácio de Seteais is more than just a 5-star hotel and luxury experience. In fact, it is included in the UNESCO Cultural Landscape of Sintra World Heritage Site list and it’s an important attraction of Sintra that tourists usually miss.

Paintings, tapestries, and frescos add a romantic touch, and maze-like lush gardens with views of Pena Palace and Moorish Castle make it magical.

The Palace was built for the Dutch consul Daniel Gildemeester, on lands granted by the Marques de Pombal. The Seteais Palace has been used as a luxury hotel since 1954, but its original characteristics have been preserved. With a modern-day comfort, of course!

UPDATE! This property was owned by Tivoli Hotels before, but now Valverde has taken over.

Location

The hotel is located in Sintra, a resort town and UNESCO World Heritage Site, next to the famous must-see attractions like Quinta da Regaleira and Park and Palace of Monserrate. Only 20 km from Lisbon Airport and 15 km away from Cascais.

The train station of Sintra is 20 20-minute walk away from Valverde Sintra Palácio de Seteais and from there you can find transport to all the main attractions of Sintra. However, a taxi would be the best option to move around.

Valverde Sintra Palácio de Seteais is located in a perfect place to explore the rest of Sintra and it’s one of the best places where to stay in Sintra.

Experiences

Tivoli Palacio de Seteais - The Leading Hotels of the World

Hotels like Valverde usually come with many cool experiences for those who want to stay in. And I like the fact that they embrace Portuguese traditions when offering services to their customers.

On the property, you will find a restaurant, SPA, outdoor gardens with a pool, tennis court, and a wine-tasting room. Apart from that, Valverde offers private brunch and romantic dining experiences.

You can join their chef and participate in the cooking workshop. Or go on a wine tour and discover the Portuguese best wines. They can organize your visit to the Palaces of Sintra or even book you a private jet, so you can see it from the top. Impressive, isn’t it?

Rooms

Rooms are richly decorated with magnificent paintings, luxurious carpets, and frescos of rare beauty. Comes with a stunning view of the Sintra Mountains, the Moorish Castle, and Pena Palace.

Do you remember I mentioned modern-day comfort? Well, the rooms come with a fully equipped bathroom including a bathtub, these rooms also have a Nespresso coffee machine, kettle, iron, ironing board, and a safe.

Valverde Sintra Palácio de Seteais will offer its guests a collection of complimentary services for a seamless experience:

1 bottle of water in the room daily
Coffee pods (4) and Tea making facilities in the room daily
e-newspaper from a selection of 400 titles
free WIFI
turndown service.

What to see around?

Things to see in Sintra, things to do in Sintra

Beaches:

Adraga’s Beach: 22 minutes – by car
Ursa’s Beach: 29 minutes – by car

Cultural:

Monserrate Palace: 6 minutes – by car
Moorish Castle: 13 minutes – by car
Pena’s Nacional Palace: 15 minutes – by car
Quinta da Regaleira: 3 minutes walking
Royal Palace of Queluz: 22 minutes – by car
Sintra’s National Palace: 14 minutes – by car

Nature:

Sintra’s Mountain: direct Access

Other important details

Where to book and what is the price? Click here to see the prices and book your stay at Valverde Sintra.

How long you should stay? 2 nights would be the perfect time to see the highlights of Sintra and truly discover its beauty. Consider even more time if you are planning to enjoy some of the facilities and experiences that Valverde offers.

Best time to visit? Sintra is always chilly and foggy compared to the rest of Portugal, so it’s hard to predict the weather. I would say late spring or early autumn. Or summer if you are not afraid of crowds.

Restaurants nearby? You don’t need to look far. On the premises, you will find Restaurant Seteais – a menu prepared by Chef Miguel Silva where you can try many local delicacies. Before staying in this hotel, I always was disappointed to eat in the restaurants of Sintra – very touristic and overpriced. So it was so refreshing to find this traditional restaurant in the heart of Sintra.

My personal highlight? Probably the beautiful design, art pieces, and royal treatment that you get. Luxury is nice, but Valverde takes it to the next level. That’s what makes it one of the best places to stay in Sintra, Portugal.

In conclusion…

Valverde Sintra Palácio de Seteais is a perfect mix of luxury, comfort, beauty, unique experiences, and unforgettable memories. That’s what makes it the best place where to stay in Sintra and I can guarantee that you will leave satisfied.

If you decide to look for another place, you can still come to visit Valverde Sintra Palácio de Seteais and maybe have lunch in the restaurant that I mentioned before.

I believe you will be visiting Lisbon during this trip as well, so you might read this:

Or discover other unique hotels all over Portugal and stay in the most unusual places!

I would love to hear your thoughts, so if you have any feedback or additional tips, leave a comment below. Also, check out my Instagram for regular travel videos and travel inspiration. Or explore other destinations on this travel blog.