Sintra has always been a place wrapped in magic and mystery. Known since ancient times as the Mountain of the Moon, this village was considered sacred by Arabs, Templars, and alchemists.
Its colorful palaces, mist-covered forests, and enigmatic caves are the stage for haunted legends and ghost stories passed down through generations.

Below, discover the 6 most haunted places in Sintra, where beauty and the supernatural walk hand in hand.

1. Biester Palace: The mysterious “Witch House”

Biester Palace, also known as the Witch House, is one of the most mysterious places in Sintra. With neo-Gothic architecture, medieval frescoes, and occult symbols, this site is linked to secret societies and enigmatic rituals.

Its dark atmosphere and esoteric symbolism inspired the film The Ninth Gate, starring Johnny Depp. According to legend, one of the three copies of the book written by the devil may be hidden here. Want to know more about this story? Click here.

Location: Estrada da Pena, Sintra
Legend: The devil’s book and secret societies

Distance from Casa do Valle: 1.2 kilometers

Official website

2. Valenças Palace: The ghost of Palmira

In the heart of the village, Valenças Palace is famous for the legend of Palmira, a maid who fell in love with the count and, after being rejected, took her own life.
Since then, it’s believed that Palmira’s ghost roams the palace, sighing and making the floorboards creak.

Former employees of the old Municipal Library have reported strange noises and unexplained voices, reinforcing the building’s haunted reputation.

Location: Rua Visconde de Monserrate, 1, Sintra
Legend: The spirit of the maid Palmira

Distance from Casa do Valle: 700 meters

3. Quinta da Penha Verde: The unexplained rain of stones

Quinta da Penha Verde became famous for a documented paranormal phenomenon on October 17, 1982: for six hours, stones mysteriously fell out of nowhere onto the property.
The event was witnessed by firefighters, GNR officers, and locals; to this day, no convincing explanation has been found.

Location: Estrada da Nova Rainha, Sintra
Legend: The rain of stones of Penha Verde

Distance from Casa do Valle: 4.5 kilometers

4. Quinta da Regaleira: The Initiatic Well and the occult

Quinta da Regaleira is one of Sintra’s most visited and mystical sites. Its gardens hide Templar and Masonic symbols, caves, and underground tunnels.
The Initiatic Well represents the descent into the unconscious and the search for spiritual rebirth. Many visitors report temperature changes, echoes, and sensations of a presence.

Location: Rua Barbosa du Bocage, Sintra
Legend: The mystery of the Initiatic Well

Distance from Casa do Valle: 1.2 kilometers

Official website

5. National Palace of Sintra: The knight of the Coats of Arms Hall

In the village center, the National Palace of Sintra is known for its iconic chimneys and the Coats of Arms Hall, where, according to legend, the ghost of a knight who died in a duel appears.
It is said that on quiet nights, one can hear the sound of armor dragging through the corridors.

Location: Largo Rainha D. Amélia, Sintra
Legend: The knight wandering in search of redemption

Distance from Casa do Valle: 500 meters

Official website

6. Haunted road of Vale dos Anjos: The hitchhiking ghost

Between Colares and Vale dos Anjos lies a stretch of road locals call the “haunted road.”
Several drivers claim to have seen a woman asking for a ride, who then mysteriously disappears upon reaching her destination.
The phenomenon is known as “the hitchhiking ghost” and is one of the creepiest stories in Sintra.

Location: Estrada do Vale dos Anjos, Colares
Legend: The woman who vanishes after the ride

Distance from Casa do Valle: 1.2 kilometers

The most haunted places in Sintra: between the real and the supernatural

Known as the Mountain of the Moon, Sintra continues to inspire mysticism and curiosity.
Among unexplained phenomena, templars, and alchemists, the village remains one of Portugal’s most haunted and enigmatic destinations.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, one thing is certain: Sintra has a unique energy that leaves no one indifferent.

If you are curious to uncover more of Sintra’s secrets, we invite you to take part in experiences where you become the protagonist of the story, uncovering the town’s hidden mysteries step by step.

Escape Warriors: Step into an interactive escape room where you and your team will be “locked” inside a themed setting filled with clues, puzzles, and riddles. Work together to solve the enigmas and find your way out before time runs out.

Official website

Mystery City: Sintra Outdoor Escape Game

Embark on an outdoor adventure through Sintra’s enchanting streets. This scavenger hunt, inspired by a true story, leads you to famous landmarks and hidden corners, revealing tales of love, power, and royal intrigue that shaped the town’s legend. Official website:

Official website

Dare to explore Sintra’s most haunted places?

Stay at Casa do Valle and uncover the mysteries of Sintra.

The post The most haunted places in Sintra: legends, mysteries, and ghost stories appeared first on Casa do Valle.

We want to alert you to the following:

• The Pena Palace and its gardens are located in the mountain, within the natural park. The palace itself is in the middle of the park, which is about 15–30-minute walk from the gates. These are accessible by public transportation (bus and taxi) or by foot; private cars are not allowed up the mountain.
• When purchasing the ticket, keep in mind that you have to be at the gates of the park at least 30 minutes before your chosen time slot, as the public transportation will leave you at the main gates and not at the entrance of the Palace;
• We strongly recommend that you enter through the Garden Gates instead of the main gates, to avoid crowds on your way to the palace (and the gardens are magnificent). This walk will be at least 30 minutes.

How to get to Pena Palace from Casa do Valle?

• If you are hiking from Casa do Valle to the Palace, it will take you up to an hour and a half to get to the gates of the park, and nearly two hours to the main gates;
• If you are going by taxi from Casa do Valle, it will take you about 30 minutes;
• If you prefer the bus, you can walk to the Historical Center, 500 meters from Casa do Valle, and take the bus 434 up to the Pena Palace. This option will take you at least one hour.

As our guest, we will happily assist you with planning your visit at check-in if needed. We can provide you with maps for your hike, or, alternatively, you can guide yourself through our free hiking app WalkSintra, which you can download on Google Play and the APP Store to follow the trail of the amazing hike to the Palace.

The post How to get to Pena Palace: Important tips to enhance your visit appeared first on Casa do Valle.

1. They are some of the oldest wines in Portugal, dating back to year 1255
2. A large part of the vines grow deep in sand dunes – a detail that protected them from the 1865 phylloxera plague
3. They get their special taste from the harsh coastal climate (westernmost vineyards of continental Europe)
4. And now most recently: the world famous chef Gordon Ramsay just featured the Colares Wines in the National Geographic program Uncharted, calling the wine ‘one of the best kept secrets of Portugal’!  (watch the trailer of his visit here)

The Colares wines in Sintra are some of the oldest in Portugal

The Colares wine region is the smallest demarcated wine region of Portugal (DOC Colares). The wine culture goes back to 1255 when king D Afonso lll ordered wine to be planted. Supposedly the Ramisco vines came from northern France, Boulogne region, where the king had previously lived.

A large part of the Colares vines are grown in the sand dunes

Dug deep like in trenches covered with sand, the vines lay on top of the ground almost looking abandoned. There is no trellising systems so the vines grow low due to the sea winds and are protected by hand-made palisades of dried canes sewn together with wicker. They survived the 1865 plague of phylloxera, as the bug could not reach the roots through the thick of sand. Because of this, the Colares Ramisco vines are some of the oldest vines in Portugal.

The uniqueness of the taste of these wines is due to the closeness of the sea

The coastal climate is very harsh, with moderate temperatures, strong sea winds and a high percentage of air moisture.

The Ramisco wines take a long time to mature, a minimum of 18 months, but often up to 6-8 years, in wooden barrels and the bottle. Its aroma is complex, with hints of nuts and red fruits. The production is quite small, with no more than 20 000 bottles per year. The typical white Colares wine is Malvasia (of Greek origin); a fresh and citrine wine with fruity and floral aroma, that has even a smaller annual production of about 15 000 bottles a year. The small production of these high quality wines have made this region a special treat for the connoisseurs!

There are several vineyards and cellars in Sintra that produce a vast variety of wines of excellent quality

Some of our favourite Sintra vineyards include

• Cooperativa de Colares, the country’s oldest wine co-op
• Casal Santa Maria and Adega Viúva Gomes in Almoçageme
• Quinta San Michel in Janas

All of them organize tours and wine tastings – enquire and set up yours through our office so that you can taste these wonderful wines. We will be happy to suggest hikes to visit the cellars and the vineyards!

For more information on walks that take you to these vineyards, check out the WalkSintra page.

The post ‘One of Portugal’s Best Kept Secrets’ – Gordon Ramsey on Colares wines appeared first on Casa do Valle.