The Palácio de Seteais is the classic place to stay for a honeymoon in Sintra. It is an 18th-century neoclassical palace on the edge of the village, with two wings joined by a triumphal arch, hand-painted frescoes, antique furniture and formal gardens that look out over the plains toward the Atlantic. Long known as Tivoli Palácio de Seteais, it now operates as Valverde Sintra Palácio de Seteais.
The palace has only 30 rooms, so it feels more like a private country house than a hotel. Quinta da Regaleira is a short walk away, the village center about 15 minutes on foot and Monserrate a few minutes' drive, which means you can see the famous sights early or late, before and after the day-trippers from Lisbon arrive. Afterward there is an outdoor pool in the park, a spa in the old dovecote and afternoon tea on the terrace.
It suits couples who love history, gardens and slow mornings and who want to experience Sintra rather than rush through it. It suits less well if you want a modern resort with lots of facilities; for that, Penha Longa south of the hills is a better fit.
Highlights at a glance
- 18th-century neoclassical palace with a triumphal arch
- Only 30 rooms and suites
- Formal gardens with views toward the Atlantic
- Short walk to Quinta da Regaleira
- Outdoor pool and a spa in the old dovecote
Why Couples Love Seteais
Sintra is one of the most romantic places in Europe, a misty hillside of palaces, gardens and mossy forest. Staying at Seteais lets you feel that atmosphere after dark, when the tour buses have left. You can stroll through the palace gardens with the lights of the plains spread out below, or sit under the arch with a glass of local Colares wine.
The palace itself is the attraction. The salons are painted with frescoes and filled with period pieces and the formal gardens have clipped hedges framing the view. It feels grand but not stiff and with just 30 rooms it never feels crowded. It can feel like staying in a museum where you are allowed to sit on the furniture.
Rooms and Suites to Book
The 30 rooms vary in view and size and the view is what to pay for.
- Valley-view rooms look out over the plains toward the ocean and are the best choice for a honeymoon.
- Pool-view rooms face the pool and park, which is pleasant in summer.
- Garden-view rooms are the entry option and look onto the palace gardens and trees.
- The grand suite occupies the original owners' quarters and is the splurge.
Rooms are decorated in period style with antiques, rich fabrics and painted details. Bathrooms are modern. Some rooms are compact, as they follow the shape of an old building. Ask for a deluxe valley-view room and mention that you are celebrating a honeymoon when you book.
Food, Drink and the Spa
The palace restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with Portuguese and Mediterranean dishes and in good weather you can eat on the terrace with the gardens below. Afternoon tea is a tradition here and worth doing once, ideally after a morning walking the palaces. The bar opens onto a terrace with views of Sintra and the hotel has a tasting room for Colares wines, the rare sandy-soil wines grown near the coast.
The spa sits in the estate's former dovecote, a charming small building with treatments on request. The outdoor pool is set in the park and is a welcome break after hot days on Sintra's hills. There is also a tennis court. For variety, the restaurants and pastry shops of Sintra village are a pleasant walk away; try a travesseiro pastry.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape and the palace is well placed to explore it.
- Walk to Quinta da Regaleira for its initiation well, grottoes and gardens; go at opening time.
- Drive a few minutes to Monserrate, an exotic palace with one of Portugal's finest gardens.
- Visit Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle on the hilltop, best reached by tuk-tuk, taxi or bus rather than a steep walk.
- Head to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, for sunset.
- Spend an afternoon at Praia Grande or Praia da Adraga, about 20 minutes away.
Sintra's microclimate brings fog and cool evenings even in summer, so pack a sweater. Wear comfortable shoes for steep, uneven paths.
Getting There
Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is about 35 to 45 minutes away by car, depending on traffic. Many US airports have nonstop flights to Lisbon. The hotel can arrange limousine transfers and helicopter landing is possible for very special arrivals.
If you are spending time in Lisbon first, the train from Rossio station reaches Sintra in about 40 minutes; from Sintra station the palace is a short taxi ride. Driving in Sintra's historic center is difficult, with narrow, one-way roads and limited parking, so many couples skip a rental car here. The palace has outdoor parking if you do drive. Spring and early fall are the best seasons, with green gardens and fewer crowds than summer.
Is It Worth It?
For a romantic stay in Sintra, yes. Seteais offers something few hotels can: you sleep in a historic palace, surrounded by gardens, a short walk from the town's most famous sights. Rates are reasonable compared with palace hotels elsewhere in Europe.
There are trade-offs. Facilities are limited compared with a modern resort, some rooms are on the small side and the period decor will not suit couples who prefer clean, contemporary design. The hotel was rebranded recently, so a few details of service and dining may be changing. Couples who want golf, a big spa or more modern rooms should look at Penha Longa. For history lovers who want to wake up in a palace and have Sintra to themselves at dusk, Seteais is the address.
Insider tips
- Book a valley-view room for the view over the plains to the sea.
- Walk to Quinta da Regaleira at opening time, before the day-trippers arrive.
- Try the Colares wines in the hotel's tasting room.
- Leave the rental car in Lisbon; Sintra's roads are narrow and parking is scarce.
