Our week in Sintra is coming to an end. We've seen so many amazing things during our time and can highly recommend that you visit Sintra for more than just one day. If you're curious what we've seen in that time, these are all the Sintra articles:
Sintra | Palácio Nacional de Sintra | Palácio Nacional da Pena | Parque da Pena |
Castelo dos Mouros | Chalet de Condessa | Monserrate | Convento of the Capuchos | Quinta da Regaleira | Cabo da Roca
Enjoy our last article from our week long trip, the Cabo da Roca - the most western spot of Continental Europe, published first today on our Lisbon Travel Blog.
The westernmost point in continental Europe is the Cabo da Roca, part of the Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais. We bundled up and headed to the point, joining a horde of wind-whipped tourists, all of us drawn inexplicably to the continent’s terminal edge.
It would have been disappointing had the “Westernmost Point in Continental Europe” turned out to be a soft, sandy beach sloping gently into the sea. No, this is the kind of symbolic location which demands the dramatic. And the Cabo da Roca delivers, with dizzying cliffs, crashing waves and a wildly undulating landscape.
Imagine being alive before the Age of Discovery, trekking out to the furthest most point of the land, and looking out over the water, totally unsure if there was some sort of edge out there at which the water falls off, or if those kooky scientists were right, and you could sail straight around to the other side. Today, we know that somewhere across that ocean is… New Jersey? Somehow, it’s still unbelievable.
There’s not a lot to do at the cape, besides stare out over the ocean in wonder, watching waves crash below and sea birds nest in the cliffs. But nearby, a number of paths cut through the shrubs and lead to other various lookout points.
It’s an amazing place, and at just about 20 kilometers from Sintra, it’s easy enough to reach if you have a car. On the way back, try one of the back routes through the Parque Nacional… we took the N247-3, past the Convento dos Capuchos, and really enjoyed the scenic drive.
Sounds like a great place to stop and catch your thoughts. Not a bad way to spend the day.
There we would have liked to spend more time and go hiking along the coast line. I know we missed out an many bays and hidden little beaches.
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Your posts make me think I work too much. Haha you're always posting the most BEAUTIFUL nature and buildings and I'm all just...here's another cool coffee shop I worked from lol.
Love your pics so much!
Ohh .. believe me .. I got my share working out of coffee shops. Depending on the location we're at. In Vietnam we were working out of coffee shops almost daily for 6 month. It was tiring but delicious. Thank you so much for stopping by and for the compliments.
Such a perfect description of this unique spot. I was there a few years ago and remember the force of the wind...it was crazy! (and I'm Dutch, so I'm used to riding my bike along open fields through stormy weather ;-) ;-)
Wonderful story and beautiful photos!
Plus breathing is also harder because of the beautiful view ... makes it harder as well to catch your breath.
I dare to disagree, this is the end of Europe ;)
Not that different though ;)
Where is that at?
Westfjords, Iceland
Fantastic place.
(Cabo da Roca it's the Western point of mainland Europe. )
There are many points in the west of Scotland that look just like that! I enjoy my visit with you to Cabo da Roca! Great post and photography!
Scotland would be so much fun to explore! I see you're from three. What is your favorite area?
It's all very beautiful, but the extreme north-west and the Isle of Skye are my favorites. My family lives in the north-east, but I try to travel west as often as possible when I go back! :-)
@for91days & @saunter
I would say that both places should be viewed as "the beginning" - the end is somewhere in Asia 😛
It always depends on the point of view! Love it!
You are right: we say that point of view depends on your location (literally "where you sit") and from where I "sit" it looks like the end is in Asia 😛
When I see the first picture it remain me to "need for speed" movie, the final race point. those pictures are beautiful. I enjoy it
I have to re-watch it now, you made my curious.
Yes you should :D
Amazing views... Love the drops! They are breathtaking! I can imagine sharp intakes of breaths when coming upon the views... :)
Some people climbed over the fences at the cliff ... it made me so nervous, one gust of wind and they're going for a unpleasant ride.
Such a cool post. I have never traveled to Europe, but pictures like this make me want to. It looks like such a nice peaceful place to just listen to the waves crash against the rocks.
Awesome post, visited Lisbon and Sintra once, but never made it all the way to the most Western Point. It looks fairly epic and bares a very close resemblance to "Cape Point" the most South West point of South Africa, near Cape town. ;)
Great posts! It's one of my favourite palces ever.