While in Portugal, take the time to discover why Sintra is a retreat for the royalty.
You can easily go for a day trip by coach or train from Lisbon. Here’s our list of the top five things to see there – not that you need an excuse to convince you to stay a bit longer in this colourful town.
1. Sintra mountains
Reaching their highest point at Sintra, the Sintra Mountains extend for roughly 16 kilometres from the town to Cabo da Roca on the Atlantic coast.
2. Praia da Adraga
Make sure you make it out to this beach, regarded as one of Portugal’s best, thanks to its dramatic cliffs and golden sand.
One of Portugal’s best beaches
3. Museu de História Natural de Sintra
Sintra’s new Natural History Museum features a fascinating range of exhibits and experiences, from the only specimen in the world of a species of flying reptile, to nests of dinosaur eggs from the Gobi Desert to a simulation of the Big Bang. Admission is free.
Visit the Natural History Museum while in Sintra.
4. Sintra Museum of Modern Art
The collection housed in the Museu das Artes de Sintra is dedicated primarily to local works (80 per cent of the permanent collection is by Portuguese artists) by the likes of Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, António Carneiro and sculptor Dorita de Castel-Branco.
5. The Initiation Well at the Quinta da Regaleira
This 27-metre drop (pictured) looks like an inverted tower, with nine platforms that are said to be reminiscent of the nine circles of Hell as depicted in the Divine Comedy by Dante. What’s more, the spacing of the landings and the number of steps are believed to adhere to Masonic principles, while at the bottom of the well there’s a compass over a Knights Templar cross. What exactly went on here is a mystery, but it is thought that it was used during Masonic initiation ceremonies.
The mysterious Initiation Well at the Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal. It is thought to be used for Masonic initiation ceremonies.
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Temperatures are soaring this summer, breaking records across Europe and the UK.
Euro summer is a feeling like no other. But when a heatwave hits? The dream trip quickly turns into a sweaty mess. Extreme heat is sweeping Europe and the UK this week, with record-high temperatures impacting travel plans across the continent.
And while Australian summers are typically hotter in absolute temperature, many European cities aren’t equipped for high temperatures, resulting in unbearable weather.
Why is it so hot in Europe?
Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.
France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.
In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.
The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.
Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.
How travel is impacted
A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)
During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.
If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.
Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?
People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)
With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.
Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.
How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave
Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.
Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.
Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.
