sintra without a tour

A Self-Guided Sintra Day Trip: Hiking to Sintra’s Palaces

Sintra is a beautiful place to hike, but we found Sintra hiking trail information was hard to find for independent travelers. Tour websites were steering people to the tour bus circuit and we had to do a lot of online research to find any sort of trail maps or clear hiking directions.

After visiting Sintra with a We Hate Tourism tour, we really wanted to see more. So we decided to do a day trip to Sintra on our own , taking the train from Lisbon one weekday morning in early November and walking to the various palaces.

Updated: January 2024. Originally published: Dec 2017.

In this post, I’ll share what we did and what we learned along the way so other independent travelers can have an easier time visiting Sintra on their own. We’ll include self-guided hiking options as well as some alternatives.

What travel restrictions and rules are in place in Lisbon? Find post-pandemic travel updates for Lisbon here: What you need to know about Lisbon travel right now

Sintra Trail Maps

Hiking trail maps for Sintra are hard to find online. (Update: You can now download a few trail maps here , although they’re not as easy to follow as the ones posted on site.)

Once we were in Sintra, we did come across some trail maps posted at the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace, which would have been nice to have beforehand, although the trail we initially took is not included on either.

Here are both Sintra walking maps (note that in the second map, the town at the bottom is actually North of the castle):  

How to get to Sintra from Lisbon by train

Conveniently, there’s a direct regional train to Sintra that leaves from Rossio station in the heart of Lisbon. You can purchase tickets at the counter on the top floor for “urban” lines.

At the time of this writing, reusable cards are 50 euro cents and a round trip to Sintra is 4.60 euros.

If you already have a reusable Viva Viagem card (also used for the bus, trams, and metro), make sure you’ve used up any single journey tickets or other credit. You can only have one “type” of ticket on the card at a time.

We arrived to Rossio around 7:20 a.m., and there was only one person in line at the ticket counter (this is early November). The train was waiting for us and left at 7:41 on the dot, mostly empty.

There’s nothing spectacular to see on 40 minute journey except Lisbon’s aqueduct at the beginning, then it’s just suburbs and graffiti’d train stations.

We arrived in Sintra around 8:20 with the train almost empty again. In retrospect, it would have better to take the 8:11 a.m. train since few things are open in Sintra before 9 a.m.!

Click here for the Lisbon to Sintra train timetable PDF – the Rossio to Sintra line is in red.

Walking up to Sintra’s historic center

Exiting the train station, we followed signs to the town center. There’s a nice wide sidewalk and a pretty setting with statues along the way.

Be aware that Google Maps may show you a shorter walking route from the train station, but the main road is actually preferable and there’s less elevation change.

Since we arrived before 8:30, only one cafe was open, across from National Palace . The town was just starting to wake up and no tour buses were present yet.

We waited with a handful of others for the historic Piriquita bakery to open at 9, with the delicious scent of pastries wafting into the street.

I can’t remember the name of the long sugar-covered pastries with jam filling, but they’re our favorite. We ordered two of those plus one quiejada , an espresso, and a coffee with milk (5.80 total).

The bakery was founded well over a century ago and has even opened a second shop in town – one is closed on Tuesday and the other closes Wednesdays.

For anyone looking to hike straight up to the Moorish Castle, there’s a trail sign across from Piriquita on the corner of another shop. (This is actually the way we came back down.) The sign mentions that corresponding walking maps are available at the Sintra info center.

Not sure you want to hike Sintra on your own? You can also do a half-day trekking tour of Sintra with a guide.  You’ll meet the guide at the National Palace in Sintra, so just follow our directions up to this point. Morning and afternoon walking tours are available. >> Book the Sintra Half-Day Trekking Tour <<

Walking to Regaleira Palace

Freshly fortified by pastries, we started the short walk to Regaleira Palace . There was a sign on the road leading out of town from the southwest so we knew we were headed the right way.

We also came across the hop-on hop-off bus circuit map. If you don’t want to walk, that’s always an option.  Purchase full day Hop On Hop Off bus tickets here > 

When the road started heading uphill, we began to see the palace grounds. We continued walking all the way around the corner to the open gate.

At 9:35 a.m., the grounds had just opened. There was no line for Quinta da Regaleira tickets and just a slow trickle of people entering.

We enjoyed exploring the grounds without crowds, starting with the mysterious Initiation Well. We followed various underground tunnels, found curious rock structures and caves, and were generally in awe of the eccentric landscape architecture.

I’ll let the photos speak for themselves…

We entered the actual palace building at 10:45 a.m. The top floor wasn’t open so we walked through in about 5 minutes. Ready to move on, we took advantage of the bathrooms in another building before heading out for the rest of our hike.

Monserrate Palace

Note: If you have time and want to visit more palaces, I’d recommend starting with Monserrate first . 

We saw it on our first visit to Sintra. It’s really beautiful – especially the mansion itself. The gardens are also lovely but they pale in comparison to those of Regaleira, so do Monserrate first and you’ll be increasingly impressed!

Monserrate is further up the road from Regaleira and is almost always less crowded.

If you don’t have enough time for both, prioritize Regaleira over Monserrate when possible.  

Rampa da Pena Trail from Regaleira

We got confirmation from a security guard that there was indeed a trail entrance further up the road, though we got the impression he was rarely asked about it. So we followed signs to Monserrate and before too long, we saw the trail and sign on the left.

We entered the trail around 11 a.m., which was walled on both sides the entire way until it put us back out onto the winding road heading up to Pena Palace.  

We noticed that a tuk tuk driver was guiding some tourists through a gate across the road, so we followed them in to check it out.

It was the perfect place for our picnic lunch. We sat on some rock outcroppings and had views of both Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle perched on their respective hills.  

Although it wasn’t marked, we suspected that the hiking trail is actually supposed to continue through that same gate, as there was a pretty prominent dirt path leading in the direction of Pena Palace (though slightly downhill).

Since we weren’t sure, we returned to the road and followed it up to the Pena entrance.

Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle

Not including our lunch break, it took us less than an hour to hike from Regaleira to the top of the hill .

We first came upon one of the entrance areas and a parking lot for Pena Palace , where we could see part of the gardens through the gate.

It’s still a big climb uphill from the ticket booth to reach the palace itself, and we hear the lines can get long, so a visit to Pena could potentially take up the rest of the afternoon. We decided to skip it.

If you want to avoid the very long lines at Pena Palace , it makes sense to book in advance. Book a Pena Palace and Park Skip-the-Line Ticket >

From the Pena parking lot, there was a nice dirt path that became cobble stone after we passed a viewpoint of the Moorish Castle.

Soon, we were approaching a ticket booth for the Moorish Castle on the nearby road, but we turned left and continued along the stone paths toward the castle.

Tickets for the Moorish Castle are collected at the ‘inner circle wall’ so you can see a bit of the outer grounds without paying.

Book Castle of the Moors private tour here>

I recommend checking out the nice short video inside the chapel that depicts the area’s history. Between the chapel and the inner wall/ticket entrance, you can also look into two old burial grounds.

From the Moorish Castle, there’s a cobbled pathway and stairs leading down to the road back into town. I believe there are a couple ways down, so we just followed the signs to Centro Historico and enjoyed the nice views.

We came down this stairway – the path from Sintra to the Moorish Castle is well marked so it should be easy to follow if you’re doing the reverse of our trip. (Apologies to the tourists we caught in our pictures!)

We left the Moorish castle around 12:10 and were back at the train station by 12:45 p.m, just in time for the 1 o’clock train back to Lisbon. There was a marked difference when we passed through Sintra’s town center on the way back – it was no longer quiet, and we had to dodge people in the alleys.

All in all, our self-guided Sintra day trip was a success. We loved exploring Sintra’s serene hiking trails and spending more time around in its magical palaces.

Each visit has left us wanting to go back for more – as long as we can stay off the beaten path and avoid the growing crowds of tourists!

If you have any questions about making a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon or about hikes in Sintra, please let us know in the comments. If you’re an expert in this area, we’d love to hear your advice and suggestions for the best walks in Portugal!

✈️ Protect your Sintra trip with Travel Insurance – We’ve started using Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing for affordable evacuation, international medical, and trip coverage.

For further reading:

– Self-Guided Walking Tour Itineraries for 3 Days in Lisbon – What Not to Miss in Lisbon (On A Budget) – Is the Lisbon Card worth it? – Where to stay in Lisbon

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22 Comments

Thanks for your post. Yesterday we found a footpath up near the Igreja de Santa Maria. And there is a coffee shop open at 7 am. It’s on the road which is next to the Municipal building which turns right downhill that google maps tells you to go, and if you turn left you are on flat sidewalk next to road.

Thanks for writing in and adding this great tip!

What is the name and location of this cafe?

Thanks for visiting our blog, Craig. I believe you are referring to the Piriquita Bakery, which we have linked to their webpage in the post so you can find more information. It seems there are actually two locations, and you can find the map on their Contact page: https://piriquita.pt/pages/contactos

The trail maps are not hard to find, but maybe they were not available when you visited back in 2017. You can download a detailed pdf guide to the trails on the Parques de Sintra website. The guide includes the Santa Maria trail, the Lapa Trail and the Seteais trail. The page is: https://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en *UPDATE: PAGE NO LONGER EXISTS* The link to the pdf is at the bottom of this page. We will be visiting Sintra soon and found your article to be very helpful

Thank you, Jack. I have updated our post with that link. The online maps don’t seem quite as easy to follow as the ones we came across on site, but at least it’s something!

Those are really great pictures of some pieces of history, it’s weird to think how many used to call those home.

Hi, thanks for the great info on hiking. On the trail down from Moorish Castle back to Sintra, do you pass by Vila Sassetti? Also, is there a trail to Monserrate? The road from Sintra doesn’t appear to have a sidewalk. Thanks

Hi Pete. Glad to hear you’ve found the info helpful. We were only able to record details about the hike we did ourselves, but we did capture those photos of the trail maps so hopefully they can be used to find other options. I think you’re right about the road to Monserrate not having a sidewalk, though I think you could walk it just fine if you’re cautious and alert to vehicles around the curves.

Hi Michelle

Thanks very much for all the detail, that’s really helpful.

I am planning for our Sintra trip one day early in November, as you suggested we will take the 8:11am train from Rossio and just arrive before 9am.

What I propose is on the opposite direction with you did: take the bus to the Pena, stay for ~1.5 hours and then walk to the Castle, after that I want to take the Rampa da Pena Trail to the Regaleira. Below is some question may you can help:

– Is there a clear sign on the way out of the Castle point to the trail to Regaleira?

– Is the trail safe and difficult? and any high slope? as we have two female cousin coming with us, they are not quite strong.

– For the Pena-Castle-Regaleira-National Palace, if we are not in a hurry do you think we can leave by 4pm?

Thanks in advance and really appreciate for the info.

Hi Li. So glad you found our post to be helpful! I think that route sounds like a great plan. The trail is not difficult or very steep, and the way you are doing it will be mostly downhill. I do not think you’ll be able to depart by 4pm if you want to go *inside* all of the castles – I would recommend viewing the Moorish Castle and National Palace from the outside only so that you can take your time. As for getting from the Moorish Castle down to Regaleira, honestly the signage could be better. From the castle grounds, you’ll actually head back toward Pena palace and you should find a trail map in the parking lot below Pena (the second map on this post, titled Percurso Pedestre at the top). You can either find the trail from the same parking lot, or follow the road as it winds down toward Regaleira/Monserrate and connects up with trail further down. I hope that helps and please let us know how it goes!

Hello, thank you so much for the information! My husband and I will be in Portugal in October and I’ve been looking for info like you’ve provided….so I’ve looked into the Lisbon city pass options just to see if it’s worth it to see more in the buildings in Sintra…how much did it cost for you to go in Regaleira? And which location is the famous descending stairwell, and is it free to walk through there? Thank you so much in advance! I greatly appreciate the info!

Hi Schylo. I’m glad you found our post helpful – that’s our aim. Up to date costs can be found through the link we included for Regaleira in the post. At the moment, cost for adults is 6 euros. The stairwell/well is on the Regaleira grounds, so you’d need to pay that entrance fee to see it. Happy travels.

hi! We are traveling tot lisbon next week and we are still not sure about wich sintra castle we want to visit. What about the coloured one? We do love this alternative option, before its get crowded!

Hi Joyce. Thanks for stopping by the blog! The colorful castle you’re referring to is Pena Palace. We didn’t go inside that one ourselves. Obviously, it’s the most popular for a reason – great views, beautiful colors. But we don’t regret our decision to do Quinta da Regaleira instead. Not only are the grounds fascinating to explore and just as photo-worthy, it will likely be less crowded. To be honest, you can’t go wrong. Choose one and enjoy it for what it is!

We will be in Lisbon mid September live to do some hiking .thank you for all information Did you do porto too From madrid planning to do Porto/lisbon /sintra and will walk all the way down to the south of Lisbon Or should I get from madrid-lisbon and do Porto/sintra ???? Thank you

Hi Helen. Thanks for your message. We did not make it to Porto, although we’ve heard great things. If you’re planning to go from North to South, then starting in Porto certainly makes sense. I think it just depends on your preferences and transportation costs from Madrid. Enjoy the trip!

I’ll be in Sintra in just under 2 weeks. These pictures were amazing and the information was super helpful. I can’t wait to explore!

Hi Erin. Glad to hear the post was helpful. Have a wonderful trip!

Hi there – how long do you think it will take to do train station –> Regaleira –> Moorish castle / pena palace –> train station, all walking? I’d much prefer waking / hiking over waiting for buses, but slightly concerned about time.

Hi Yali. Since we left at 7:20 and got back around 2pm without doing a second palace, I would just add another 2-3 hours per palace to our timeline. If you were to do Regaleira, the Moorish Castle, AND Pena Palace, you may be getting back after dark, especially if the line for Pena is long. If that’s the case, I would prioritize Regaleira and Pena, just walk past Moorish Castle on your way back to town.

This looks amazing! Love your photos! Thanks for the info!

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How to do a Sintra day trip

This mystical land of Sintra, just a short trip from Lisbon, takes you on a journey through centuries of opulent artistic creations.

Written by Michael Turtle

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. A journalist for more than 20 years, he's been travelling the world since 2011.

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle and has been travelling full time for a decade.

Updated: March 5, 2024

How to do a Sintra day trip from Lisbon

This is not a single attraction, but a whole landscape of different sights, and you'll need to do a bit of planning for a day trip to Sintra.

Whether you would prefer one of the tours to Sintra or you want to visit independently, I've got all the information you need here, including:

A brief history of Sintra

How to visit sintra in one day, how to get to sintra from lisbon, what to see in sintra in one day.

• Some tips for the best tours to Sintra

I take my first steps down the Initiation Well here at the Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra. This deep hole in the ground has a spiral staircase around the edge and I continue down, deeper and deeper.

It gradually gets darker. Looking up, I can see the circle of light at the top where I came in. It’s 27 metres above me. This strange inverted tower, full of symbols of ancient cults and mysticism, has me in its grasp.

I am now truly underground and a tunnel has opened up in front of me. I decide to follow it, head bowed, through the darkness, not quite sure where it will lead. All I know is that this is a part of the experience of a Sintra day trip – a mysterious journey into an almost-magical realm with constant marvels and surprises.

Thankfully, though, most of the journey in Sintra is above ground, not in the long dark tunnels of the Quinta da Regaleira. Because the highlights of Sintra are found in its lush green mountains full of romantic palaces and fairy tale estates.

Is it worth visiting Sintra?

It’s certainly worth visiting Sintra, and I suspect it will be a highlight of your visit to Lisbon . What makes Sintra so special is the variety of sights packed so densely into a relatively small landscape – where you’re able to see ancient castles, royal palaces, and grand private estates.

Can you do Sintra as a day trip?

There is enough here to easily spend a few days, but it’s also possible to visit Sintra as a day trip (and that’s what most people do). You’ll want to make the most of your time, though, which is why I recommend doing a bit of planning for a Sintra day trip.

Can you go to Sintra without a tour?

You can visit Sintra without a tour and that’s how many people will do it. But going from Lisbon to Sintra for the day does involve quite a few logistics, including the train to get there, the bus to get around, tickets at each sight – not to mention dealing with the crowds! I definitely think it’s worth considering taking a tour, because they’ll take care of all the hassle and you can just focus on enjoying the day. I recommend this Sintra tour if you want to cover all the highlights – or I’ve got some more suggestions later in the article.

In some ways, it’s hard to believe that it’s so easy to get from Lisbon to Sintra, and that it’s just 25 kilometres away from the capital. Because, here in the cooler hills of forests and rocky outcrops, it feels like you’ve entered another world.

What is Sintra? Well, to understand what Sintra is, think of it as a huge district (about five times the size of Manhattan) where the royals and wealthy of Portugal have built grandiose homes over the years.

For centuries, they have created their own little domains with opulent buildings and vast gardens full of amusements. Many of them are still privately owned today. But the best ones are now open for us to explore.

Although you can find more than 1000 years of history at Sintra, I think it’s easiest to think of its development in three important stages.

The first stage in the history of Sintra that’s worth mentioning is the few hundred years from the 9th century. This is the period when the Moors occupied different parts of the Iberian Peninsula and were in constant conflict with Christians.

With battle after battle, the region of Sintra changed hands back and forth between the Moors and the Christians. Many of the buildings constructed during this period would form the foundations for the palaces that would come later. The most famous sites left from this period is the Moorish Castle, which I’ll talk about shortly.

The second important period is from approximately the early 1400s until the 1600s. This is the time when the Portuguese Royal Family decided to make Sintra their holiday retreat.

It doesn’t take long to get from Lisbon to Sintra, even back then, and so the cool hills were the perfect summer escape from the heat of the capital.

Different rulers left their own marks on the landscape of Sintra and used the palaces and gardens for various purposes. The most important construction of this time was, without doubt, the iconic National Palace of Sintra in the centre of the town.

The Romantics

Perhaps the period that most defines Sintra these days is the period in the 18th and 19th centuries when the idea of Romanticism took over the area. It became the first centre of European Romantic architecture as a new generation of wealthy and artistically-minded people moved here and created new estates.

With a mix of design influences from across the world, with bright colours, and with some playful artistic embellishments, Sintra was transformed into a playground. I think it’s this period that has come to define the fairy tale land that visitors are looking for on a visit to Sintra… including the Initiation Well where I began my tale.

So, as you may be able to tell by now, there are lots of things to see at Sintra. As well as the time exploring the main Sintra attractions, the large landscape takes a while to get around (plus waiting for the bus – the best way to get around, as I’ll explain soon).

It would be very easy to spend two or three days seeing the main attractions, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see Sintra in one day… it just means you need to make some decisions about what you want to focus on.

The first choice you need to make is whether you want to take one of the Sintra tours or whether you want to visit independently.

Most of this article is about how to arrange a Sintra day trip by yourself, but I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a tour later on. For now, though, I’ll just mention that I think this Sintra tour is the best to see the highlights, and this private tour might make sense if you’ve got a group.

Plus there are a few other tour options here to consider:

If you would like to visit independently, I’m going to share some information for the best way to do a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon. After having done it myself, I think this is the best way to maximise your time and see all the highlights.

The only word of warning I would give is that most visitors do a similar itinerary because it is the best and most obvious way to see Sintra in one day.

If you are prepared to leave knowing you didn’t see the biggest attractions, you might want to consider swapping a couple of these main sights for something smaller, for a different experience without the crowds.

Before I start getting into all the details, these are the key points that I think are important for planning your day trip from Lisbon to Sintra:

• Even if you have a car, parking is really difficult. It’s much better to catch the train from Lisbon to Sintra. It leaves from Rossio station and costs €2.30 each way.
• There are a few attractions you can walk to from the train station, but some of the best are too far away. The best way to get to them is with the Bus 434, which is €7.60 for a hop-on/hop-off round trip.
• In peak season, there can be long lines at the most popular sights. Consider buying tickets in advance to skip the queues.
• The most popular sight at Sintra is Pena Palace and it gets really busy in the middle of the day when most of the tours arrive. My suggested itinerary (below) has you visiting later in the day to avoid the crowds, but the other option is to go there first (but keep in mind that Bus 434 is a one-way loop).
• An advantage of visiting independently is you can choose which sights to visit. The most significant are the National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, the Moorish Castle, and Pena Palace. There’s just enough time to see them all – so if you consider seeing somewhere different, you’ll need to swap something in my suggested itinerary, not just add it in!
• There are cafes at a few of the sights but they’re overpriced and the food isn’t great. They’re fine for a coffee, but you’ll probably want to eat in the main town of Sintra where there are lots of good options. Otherwise bring some food to get you through the day (maybe even just some snacks, so you can have a late lunch).

Here is the map showing the suggested itinerary that I’m going to explain. I’ve marked the route of the Bus 434, so you can see how that fits into the order of sights to visit.

If it looks a bit confusing, don’t worry. The easy thing about a day trip to Sintra that just focuses on the highlights is that the Bus 434 and much of the other tourist infrastructure is designed to take you exactly where you want to go!

I’m going to assume that you’re coming to Sintra from Lisbon. The good news is that it’s really easy to get from Lisbon to Sintra and I would recommend you take the train.

It leaves from Rossio station and takes only 40 minutes. There are relatively regular departures but some are direct and some will involve a change. You can see the timetable here .

The National Palace of Sintra, my first suggested stop, opens at 9:30, so I would suggest choosing a train that gets you there around then.

The trip costs €2.30 each way but you’ll need to buy a transit card for €0.50 if you don’t have one already, making it a return cost of €5.10 total.

This train line is included for free in the Lisboa Card . The Lisboa Card will give you some other savings if you’re going to Sintra for the day, because some of the sites offer discounts – but it’s probably not worth it .

If you just get the 24-hour card, the whole day will cost you €58.90 as opposed to €48.50 if you pay for each ticket individually (these calculations include all the transportation as well). It doesn’t make sense to get a 24-hour card just to go to Lisbon but, as I explain here , it could make sense to visit Sintra on the third day of the 72 hour card.

Bus 434 Sintra

Once you arrive at Sintra train station, you’ll see that some of the sights are walkable. However, to see some of the best things in Sintra, you’ll need transportation.

There will probably be lots of tuk-tuks or other private companies offering transportation. They’re generally a rip-off, although it may suit your circumstances. But for most people, I think it’s better to use the public Bus 434 which is designed to take tourists to the main areas.

You’ll see the signs for Bus 434 Sintra at the train station. Here you can buy a hop-on/hop-off loop ticket for €7.60 that lets you get on and off at each stop of the loop, right back to the train station. You can see the schedule and other details here .

The most important thing to remember is that this only goes in one direction, so think about what you want to see and visit those attractions in that order.

I’m going to recommend four main sights to see during a Sintra day trip. It’s very manageable to do all of these without rushing but it will be a long day.

However, there isn’t any one particular sight that I would suggest skipping if you’re in a hurry. Just try to get to Sintra early enough in the morning to fit it all in (the first sight opens at 09:30).

Although I have suggested a particular itinerary, I will mention one caveat. If you go on a day when there are lots of tourists, many of them will also follow this same itinerary.

So, if you want to avoid some of the crowds, you can skip straight to my second or third suggestion and then come back and do the others in the afternoon (and then walk back to the train station when you’re finished).

National Palace of Sintra

Starting from the train station, you can get bus 434 to the National Palace of Sintra to begin your loop trip. However, the walk is only about 20 minutes and it’s a nice way to start to get a sense of the atmosphere here in the mountains.

Although there were structures on this spot from the Moorish period, the palace that you see today is mostly from the start of the 15th century when the Portuguese kings began to spend more time at Sintra as a holiday destination.

From the outside, the most remarkable feature of the National Palace of Sintra is the two enormous chimneys that give it an unusual shape. When you go inside, you’ll realise that they are there for practical reasons and sit above the enormous kitchen.

Inside, the rooms are decorated with furniture and art from the periods when the palace was used the most. The tile decorations are particularly interesting and worth taking note of. One of the most famous parts is called the Swan Room because of the painted swans on the ceiling.

The National Palace of Sintra is open from 09:30 to 18:30 every day (with last admission at 18:00).

Admission for an adult is €13 and a concession is €10. You will get a 10% discount with the Lisboa Card .

For more information, you can visit the palace’s website .

Quinta da Regaleira

The Quinta da Regaleira is not on the bus loop so you have two options. I would recommend just walking along the street because it’s only 15 minutes away and there are some nice views. However, a different bus – number 435 – will take you there. It costs €2.50 per trip.

Quinta da Regaleira has a ‘palace’, which is really just a grand house. But the reason you would visit is for the incredible park around it. When a wealthy man called Carvalho Monteiro bought the estate in 1892, he decided to turn this park into a collection of oddities.

As you walk around, you’ll find towers, fountains, sculptures, bridges, and terraces. Even if you use the map provided, you’ll probably get a bit lost and just discover new things as you wander.

I think the highlight is the well (or inverted tower) that I told you about at the start of this story. You can climb down the 27-metre-deep spiral staircase and then follow the underground tunnels to pop up at a second well or further down the garden.

Quinta da Regaleira is open at the following times: January to March : 10:00 – 18:30 April to September : 10:00 – 19:30 October – December : 10:00 – 18:30. It is closed on 1 January, and 24, 25 and 31 December.

Admission for an adult is €12 and a concession is €7. There is a 20% discount with the Lisboa Card .

For more information, you can visit the estate’s website .

The Moorish Castle

From Quinta da Regaleira, walk back to the centre of Sintra town and catch the 434 bus from outside the National Palace up to the Moorish Castle.

The castle was built at the top of a peak by the Moors in the 10th century. Although it was presumably used for residential and official purposes, it was also part of the fortification effort of Sintra. In the centuries afterwards, the location and foundations were used by various Portuguese rulers who added to the structures but none of them lasted.

The Moorish Castle is in ruins these days and there aren’t many actual buildings to see. What makes a visit to the castle so special is being able to climb up and walk along the defensive walls. You will get incredible views across the region from here, including a great angle of Pena Palace.

The Moorish Castle is open from 09:30 to 18:00 every day, with the last admission at 18:00.

Admission for an adult is €12 and a concession is €10.

If you want to avoid the line to get in, you can buy a fast- track ticket online in advance.

For more information, you can visit the castle’s website .

Pena Palace

From the Moorish Castle, you can get the bus to Pena Palace or just walk along the road for 10 minutes.

This is another one of the most iconic buildings in Sintra, high on a hill with its yellow and red towers and turrets and dome. Once you go through the entrance gate for the park, you’ll walk up the hill to the castle (or you can pay a few euros to take a transfer bus).

One wing of the palace is an old monastery that was built in 1511. Work to change it into a modern and luxurious structure started in 1838 under the direction of King Ferdinand II. He then added the second wing to make it even bigger and more opulent.

Around the building is a wall that is all about aesthetics rather than defences. It’s a fantasised version of a medieval castle wall that has battlements, watchtowers, and even a drawbridge.

Pena Palace is a perfect representation of the Romantic movement that swept through Sintra in the 19th century and stands as the ultimate symbol of this style.

Pena Palace is open from 09:30 to 18:30 every day (the park is open for an extra 30 minutes before and after).

You can buy a ticket for just the park or a combined ticket for the palace and the park. (You can’t buy a ticket for just the palace).

The ticket for just the park does allow you to get up close to the palace, you just can’t go inside and tour the rooms.

There is often a queue to buy a ticket so you’ll save a lot of time by getting a skip-the-line ticket online in advance.

For just the park, it’s €6 for an adult and €4.50 for a concession. For the palace and the park, it’s €13 for an adult and €10 for a concession. You will get a 10% discount with the Lisboa Card .

The best tours to Sintra

Hopefully, I’ve explained well enough how you can do a Sintra day trip from Lisbon. But, as you’ve probably realised, there are quite a lot of logistical issues to deal with for the day.

I think Sintra is the kind of place where doing a day tour is actually quite a good idea. Not only will it save you a lot of hassle, but you’ll appreciate having a guide to explain all the background about the palaces.

There is an excellent private tour that would be a good option if you’re in a group. Or there’s also a very good day tour that includes Cabo da Roca and Cascais.

And there are some other good options here that I would also recommend:

However you choose to explore Sintra, I hope you find the time to make the trip from Lisbon. The Moors, the Royals, the Romantics – none of them made this for us. They made it for their own amusement because they appreciated how special this land was.

The fact that we can now enjoy what they have left for us just shows how much care they took in the creation of this fairy tale playground.

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN SINTRA

While I have put together this guide to help you plan a one-day trip to Sintra from Lisbon, there are also quite a few accommodation options in Sintra and it is a wonderful place to stay

For a great budget option, Casa Azul Hostel has comfortable beds in a good location.

If you would like a cheap private room, Valdez Guesthouse is a really cosy choice.

For something modern, Sintra Boutique Hotel has a really stylish design.

And a luxury option that is true to Sintra’s ideals is Tivoli Palacio de Seteais – it’s quite incredible!

This site is on the UNESCO World Heritage List ! I'm on a mission to visit as many World Heritage Sites as I can. Only about 800 more to go... eek!

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18 thoughts on “How to do a Sintra day trip”

“Entrance is free for the park and the palace with the Lisboa Card”. I don’t think this is correct, it says 10% off on most sources online

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I can’t find the original source I used but you are definitely correct, it’s just a 10% discount. It seems there have been a few changes to the Lisboa Card even since I published this post, so it’s been a good opportunity to make sure everything is up to date. Cheers!

CRAZY!!! I HOPE TO SEE THIS ALL!

very good, informative and practical, keep going, you are doing a good job helping people find their ways in travelling,

Hello, If you could only see two or three castles in Sintra, what would be your choices.

Hi Brenda. If you’re short of time, you can do just the National Palace and the Quinta da Regaleira because you can walk between them and don’t need to do the long bus loop up the mountain. However, if you do have enough time, try to also get to Pena Palace. You’ll need to do the bus, which adds time, but it’s the most spectacular of them all. Hope that helps!

That certainly was a wealth of information. Thank you!!

WE are a group of 5 adults in our 50s and 60s..and would love to discover most of what you have described so wonderfully in our one day tour, however was just wondering if there was a way we could limit walking too much. Yes we will take the train from Lisbon to Sintra and use buses as suggested

we are a group of pilgrims 50 persons, a Filipino Catholic community living in Belgium. we are going for pilgrimage to Fatima with our OWN BUS from august 15 to 16. and on august 17 our itinerary includes Sintra, from Fatima we go to Lisbon at 8 am and expected to arrive in Syntra at 9:30 am, we hope to go around Syntra for until 15 hr. ONLY and then visit Belem and city center then back to Fatima hostel, on that same day. We go back to Belgium on 18 August. Now my question are: since we are a big group, with very limited time we like to see only the BEST AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF SYNTRA. like the palaces, castle, park, etc. DO WE NEED TO BOOK ONLINE ? ( no time follow a line every entrance) how much is the complete/combine ticket for a group of 53 persons (including the drivers and me) we need a GOOD GUIDE TO SHOW US THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF SYNTRA. english speaking. we do not need to go around the city syntra anymore. how do we book online? best regards please send your response to my email please if there are important details please inform me. thanks

This was a very helpful and useful summary, thank for writing it! Looking forward to visit Sintra in October.

Awesome help! This helped me decide whether I want to take a guided tour or just take the bus etc. Visiting this December – will just do on my own. Bus 434!! Question – worth going to Cascais/Boca de Inferno etc at that time? We are anyway headed to Azores after here.

Your guide to Sinatra is so helpful in highlighting what there is to see. Having to leave anything out from this list would be a great shame. Realistically, how many sights can one see in a day (eating lunch on the run).

Great article. Thank you very much for sharing such a lovely experience in Sintra! We’ve just just published an article of our Top 20 things to do in Sintra. We invite you to read it! https://www.jumpin-tours.com/20-things-to-do-in-sintra/

Nice blog. Thank you for sharing this blog.

How I can take the discount of Lisboa Card if I will buy the ticket on line to skip the line and save some time ? I will visit Lisbon & Sintra in the first week of Sept. 2022.

I have this exact question. We’re a group of four and will be going to Sintra 3rd wk of September. Please reply if you have the answers. Thanks’

We visited on 15th March 2023 and the tourist bus 434 (and 435) now costs €12.50 for an adult. Also, the route from the station on the 434 goes to the centre of Sintra and therefore the National Palace after leaving Pena Palace, so it is possible to see the 4 recommended sites in the order you describe, but you would have to walk to the National Palace unless you wanted to use up a lot of time on the bus. Other rhan these details which have changed, a very useful blog.

Thank you so much for this guide. It’s the best of all of those that I have read in preparation for our trip to Portugal in 2 days. I especially appreciated the information on transit to and around the area, as I can’t do too much walking due to a severe injury I suffered while on vacation in France last year. Cheers!

The ticket price for the Pena Castle in Sintra, Portugal is 7.50 Euros for the park only and 6.50 Euros for concession. What is the concession for? Is it mandatory to purchase it? The official site for the Pena Castle site only shows tickets for park only are 9 or 10 Euros.

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Sintra Day Trip: What You Need to Know to Avoid the Crowds

by Maggie McKneely | Aug 22, 2019 | Portugal | 17 comments

Last Updated on November 22, 2023 by Maggie McKneely

You don’t want to miss Portugal’s city full of castles! Here’s a quick guide for beating the crowds on your Sintra day trip.

Sintra Day Trip

Do you know what’s better than Disneyworld? Disneyworld minus hordes of children and exorbitant ticket prices but with the added bonus of colorful, magical castles that were built and lived in by real-life people. And yes, such a magical place really does exist – meet the town of Sintra, Portugal.

Sintra is located just a few miles outside of Lisbon , but it might as well be on another planet. Unlike bustling Lisbon with its labyrinthine alleyways and clanging trolley cars, Sintra is an oasis of lush, forest-covered mountains, exotic gardens, and grandiose palaces and mansions perched on hillsides. You may not see Cinderella strolling through the village square, but otherwise, it’s a town torn straight from the pages of a fairy tale.

But, like Disneyworld, Sintra can be EXTREMELY crowded. Because of its proximity to Portugal’s capital city, a Sintra day trip is considered a must-do by most tourists visiting Lisbon. But that also means that it’s one of Portugal’s top tourist attractions (I mean, who wants to miss seeing a town full of castles ?!). Wait times can be up to 2-3 hours for the more popular sites, like Pena Palace.

Because we only had time for a day trip to Sintra on our Portugal itinerary , we didn’t want to waste any time stuck in a line, so my mom and I did everything possible to avoid the crowds. And for the most part, we succeeded! So read on if you, too, want to have an enjoyable, crowd-free Sintra day trip from Lisbon.

Table of Contents

Sintra Day Trip Itinerary to Beat the Crowds

Getting to sintra from lisbon.

The main key to avoiding the massive lines in Sintra is to start early. Start early = see lots of things. Don’t start early = see almost nothing. So, start your Sintra day trip early .

The easiest way to get to Sintra from Lisbon is via train. Starting at 7 am, trains leave for Sintra from the Rossio station around every 30 minutes. The trip takes about 40 minutes. Roundtrip tickets are €4.50 (as of April 2019). Getting to the station for the 7 AM train may sound painful, but just trust – it’ll pay off when you’re actually able to enjoy your Sintra day trip without spending hours standing in line!

Pena Palace

The first stop of this Sintra day trip is Pena Palace. Several hundred years before colorful Pena Palace graced the top of a mountain overlooking Sintra, a 16th-century monastery called the summit home. Over time, the monastery fell into disrepair and was eventually abandoned. But in the mid-1800s, young King Consort Ferdinand II,  acquired the ruins and surrounding land and ordered them to be restored and transformed. The result is Pena Palace and the surrounding park.

To our modern eyes, the palace looks like it was designed by either a 6-year-old child with amazing taste or a schizophrenic. Canary yellow and brick red cover the exterior walls. One side features medieval parapets while another is topped by an Islaamic dome. A tall, red clocktower is flanked by a purple wing and middle eastern tiles adorn several of the facades.

Different characteristics mark the parts of the palace built from the ashes of the monastery and the “New Palace” that was built from scratch. The interior is no less opulent or eclectic. Wild as it may be, Pena Palace is considered to be one of the world’s greatest examples of Romantic architecture.

Avoid the Crowds at Pena Palace

It is also, by far, Sintra’s most highly visited site. So naturally, it’s the Sintra castle that has the longest lines – unless you get there before anyone else .

Once you arrive in Sintra, get in line for Bus 434 (the bus stop is just outside of the train station). There are other transport options in Sintra , but this is the easiest and quickest. The 434 bus will take you directly up the mountain to Pena Palace. The first bus runs at 9:15, but people start lining up for the bus long before then. My mom and I got in line around 8:30. By 9:15, there were so many people that not everyone was able to get on the first bus. You don’t want to be one of those sad people – get in line early.

If you’re on that first bus, you’ll be one of the first people at Pena Palace, which means no wait time for you! It took us about 5 minutes to purchase our tickets and walk through the gates (ticket prices and options below). Once inside the gates, head straight up the hill to the palace itself. You may be tempted to explore the paths through the gardens surrounding the palace, but save that for later because there’s one more line you’ll want to avoid.

Once inside the palace structure itself, there’s a line to go through the interior rooms. My mom and I didn’t know about this beforehand (which is why I’m telling you!) – we just saw that there was a queue for something and the queue happened to be empty, so we went to check it out. When we came back outside after touring the inside rooms, that queue now had an hour-long wait. So moral of the story – see those inside rooms before doing anything else!

After that, you can wander around Pena Palace at will and explore the grounds if you want. You’ll want to allow for at least an hour. But Sintra’s many sites are spread out, and if you want to see much more before your Sintra day trip is over, don’t wait too long before moving on to the next thing.

Pena Palace Admission info:

The 2023 entrance fee to the Palacio Nacional da Pena are:

• Palace and Park – €14.00/€12.50/€49.00 (adult/child (6-17)/family)
• Park – €7.50/€6.50/€26.00 (adult/child (6-17)/family)
• Purchase skip-the-line tickets to save some time!
• Park: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM, last ticket and last admission 6:00 PM
• Palace: 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM, last ticket 5:30 PM and last admission 6:00 PM

Find all visitor info on their website.

Castle of the Moors

It’s hard to imagine a starker contrast to Pena Palace than the Castle of the Moors. Whereas Pena Palace is all about Romanticism, opulence, and frivolity, the stone ramparts and exposed, fortified walls of the Moors’ construction are all about practicality and purpose.

The Castle of the Moors dates all the way back to the 8th century, making it the oldest of Sintra’s sites and the only true castle. It was originally constructed during the Muslim occupation of Portugal to defend the surrounding agricultural region, but the castle changed hands several times over the next few centuries. It was finally surrendered to the Christian forces led by Afonso Henriques in 1147.

It remained a Portuguese seat of power until the 1600s, when it was abandoned and allowed to fall into disrepair. When he acquired the land now occupied by Pena Palace, King Ferdinand II also purchased the remains of the Moorish Castle and had it restored to its present state.

Visiting the Castle of the Moors

From Pena Palace, it’s just a 5-minute walk to the Castle of the Moors. Simply follow the road you came up on in the bus until you reach the entrance. Because it lacks the grandeur of some of Sintra’s other palaces, the Castle of the Moors isn’t quite as crowded. But that’s just one more reason to include it in your Sintra day trip.

The highlight of visiting this castle is getting to walk along the dizzying ramparts. The narrow wall clings to the ridgeline – it was built to give soldiers an unimpeded view of all the surrounding territories, and it still does that. Tourists who aren’t wary of heights can climb to the top and see all the way to Lisbon, the Atlantic Ocean, and the far western point of Europe at Cabo da Roca. For the more adventurous, this stop will definitely be a highlight (it certainly was for me!).

My mom climbing up the stairs at the Castle of the Moors!

Castle of the Moors Admission Info:

• Entrance fee: €8.00/€6.50/€6.50 (adult/child/senior)
• Hours: 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM
• Purchase fast-track tickets here .
• Visit the website for more.

By now, you’ll probably be hungry. The only option for food near either the Castle of the Moors or Pena Palace is an overpriced and packed cafe inside the grounds of Pena Palace. Instead, hop onto the 434 bus and head back down the mountain to the village center. There you’ll find a plethora of restaurants and cafes to choose from! Many will likely be busy, but because there are so many options, it’s easy to find one that isn’t packed.

After lunch, you’ll have time for at least one more stop. Sintra has far more palaces to visit than you can possibly do in one day, and all of them are worth checking out for different reasons. And the good news is that none of them are as popular with other tourists as Pena Palace or Castle of the Moors. We chose Quinta da Regaleira as our third Sintra day trip destination and it may have been my favorite one.

The easiest way to get to Quinta da Regaleira is by taking the 435 bus , which leaves from the town center.

Quinta da Regaleira

Quinta da Regalaira was commissioned by Carvalho Monteiro in 1892. Also known as “Monteiro the Millionaire,” Carvalho Monteiro inherited a massive family fortune and enlarged it even further through his coffee farms in Brazil. When he eventually moved to Portugal, he bought the land in Sintra and commissioned an estate to be built that would reflect his passions and ideologies.

The result is a fascinating palace, surrounded by an even more bewildering and enchanting garden. People come to see the house but they stay to stay to discover the many secrets hidden in the estate’s outdoor playground.

Visiting Quinta da Regaleira

Though the palace itself is impressive in its own right, the star here is, without a doubt, the garden. The four acres of land that surround the palace itself are all meticulously and purposefully planned and cultivated. The bottom half of the garden is kept neat and organized, but the upper half is left wild to represent Monteiro’s belief in primitivism. There are numerous paths that wander through both the upper forest and more structured lower gardens.

But what makes the grounds particularly special (and gives it a “playground” feel) are the special sites located throughout. The most famous is the Initiation Wells, two multi-story wells with spiraling staircases that transport visitors from the lush world aboveground to the tunnels that wind underneath the property. The wells never served as a water source; instead, they hosted ceremonial practices, such as Tarot initiation rites (hence the name). The tunnels connect the property’s various grottoes, “Leda’s Cave,” Waterfall Lake, and the chapel.

From the bottom of one of the Initiation Wells

Admission info:

• Entrance fee : €10.00/€5.00/€5.00 (adult/child/senior) (includes an unguided tour of both the house and gardens)
• Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM
• For a complete list of ticket options, go here, and purchase fast-track tickets here.

Leaving Sintra

You may have time to visit one more palace, depending on how much time you have left in the day. We, however, did not. Wandering around the lovely gardens at Regaleira was a perfect way to end our Sintra day trip! Whenever you’re ready to head back to Lisbon, simply take bus 435 or one of the tuk-tuks back to the train station. From there, board a train and relax until you’re back in the city!

Other tips for a successful Sintra day trip:

• Wear comfortable shoes – it’ll be a long day with lots of walking involved!
• Bring water/snacks – there aren’t many places to fill up outside of the village center
• Dress in layers – Sintra’s hilltops can be much windier and chillier than the surrounding area

Questions about Sintra? Let me know in the comments or contact me here !

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17 Comments

Always wanted to visit Sintra! Thanks for the virtual trip!

I’ve always been longing to go to Sinta & your photos and post just made me want to go even more! The palaces here look like something out of a fairy tale! I need to go!

Aside from the colorful palace of Pena, the comparison to Disneyworld is really limited. But Sintra is definitely a destination unto itself, apart from Lisbon.

Well who doesn’t like a city full of castles! I have heard of Sintra, but we have yet to visit Portugal. And I have heard of the frightening crush of people too, but your tips provide some solid insight, like being first on the bus to minimize wait time to Pena. LOVE that.

Thats just fairytale beautiful 🙂

I am planning a trip to Lisbon next year and Sintra looks very interesting. However, I don’t like the crowds… Getting there early is a great idea. I do hope it doesn’t feel like Disney though, that’s not what I would expect in Portugal!

Sintra is so beautiful. You are so right about arriving early though. We visited Castle of teh Moors first and although we didn’t plan to visit the interior of Pena, the crowds even outside on the terraces were overwhelming. I really wish we had visited there first, like you advise.

It was great reading your post and being able to reminisce as we visited there in March. Unlike you, we didn’t experience the mass amount of people as it is dependent on the time of year you visit. I had read before traveling to Lisbon about this issue, so I was conscious of wait times and people. We did try and get there for opening and certainly by noon it was flooded with people. It was beautiful though don’t you think. I loved the bus drive up to Sintra as well.

I’m so glad you didn’t have to deal with the crowds! Yes, Sintra is definitely gorgeous. We loved the bus ride too!

You had me at Disneyland minus children, haha. All places are amazing without the crowd. I dont mind travelling to European countries in cold just so the crowds are less. Sintra looks amazing and I’d love to visit.

Haha totally agree with you! I’d rather have bad weather than millions of other tourists

I love castles – I wanted to be a medieval knight when I was growing up! The Castle of the Moors looks exactly like what I think a real castle should. You provide some great tips on avoiding the crowds, which I know is essential when you are pressed for time.

If I had a chance to visit a place as beautiful as Sintra, I’d want to stay longer than a day trip. It’s like a fairy tale!

I was just in Sintra in August. In order to avoid the crowds we bought skip the line tickets for Pena Palace, only to fight out that the only line we skipped was to buy tickets (which was very short) and we gave up on the crazy long line to get into the Palace. We did love walking around the outside and then went straight to the town for lunch and some amazing pastries.

Oh no!! Well, good to know those “skip the line” tickets don’t do a whole lot. But at least you found some delicious food!

Thanks so much for your insight and tips! Looking forward to visiting Sintra soon 🙂

The appearance of the Castle of the Moors is spot on with my mental image of what a genuine castle ought to have. You provide some very helpful advice on how to avoid the crowds, which, as you well know, is really vital when you’re rushed for time.

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I’m Maggie, a 30-something politico from Washington, DC, who always has one foot off the ground, looking for adventure. I work full-time in the Swamp, but use travel as a way to stay sane! Read on for my crazy stories from the road, and tips to help you in your own travels! Learn more about me

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Home » Travel » Destinations » 1 Day Sintra Itinerary: A Super Efficient Guide

1 Day Sintra Itinerary: A Super Efficient Guide

Nestled in the scenic central mountains of Portugal, Sintra is unlike any other town I’ve visited. Taking a day trip to Sintra is like visiting a theme park for architecture lovers. From the rainbow towers of Pena Palace to the Gothic mansion of Quinta da Regaleira, this 1 day Sintra itinerary covers the area’s highlights as efficiently as possible.

Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most popular attractions in Portugal. Every year, millions of visitors flock to the former residences of the rich and royal families.

Unfortunately, the area’s old and winding roads weren’t built to handle the mass tourism we see today. Between the one-way streets and constant traffic jams, driving in Sintra can get frustrating quickly.

When you only have a day in Sintra, you don’t want to waste precious time stuck inside an Uber!

I truly believe the best way to see Sintra is on foot. And that’s why I designed this itinerary as a Sintra walking tour.

You’ll start at the colorful Pena Palace, the highest point in town. From there, you’ll work your way down to the Castle of the Moors, a.k.a. the great wall of Portugal.

After another downhill hike to the town center, you’ll have lunch and check out the dual-coned National Palace. And finally, the day trip ends at the mysterious grounds of Quinta do Regaleira.

Now I’ll be honest: this is a pretty ambitious itinerary. But I’ll share a few tips and tricks along the way to make things easier on your legs (did I mention Sintra was on a mountain?). You could start by doing some squats while you read this Sintra guide!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, click here .

Sintra Day Trip Guide

• Pena Palace
• Castle of the Moors
• Lunch in Sintra Town Center
• Sintra National Palace
• Quinta da Regaleira

Map of Sintra Walking Tour

Tips for taking a sintra day trip, guided day trip tours of sintra, where to go after this 1 day sintra itinerary, 1 day sintra itinerary, 9:15am: arrive at pena palace.

Of all the places to visit in Sintra, Pena Palace is the most popular. And that’s why I recommend you arrive 15 minutes before the 9:30am opening time.

If you’re coming from the train station, you’ll definitely want to take an Uber up here . Otherwise it’s a 45 minute uphill walk, and that’s not the best way to start your day in Sintra!

Fortunately, Uber is quite affordable in Portugal, and the ride should only cost you about 7 euros.

Before you can even get into the queue for the palace grounds, you need an entry ticket. When we arrived on a weekday during the off-season, there were already dozens of people waiting in the ticket line.

To save yourself the time and hassle of waiting in this line, you should buy your tickets online in advance. It was so convenient to walk right into the entrance queue and show our tickets on my phone.

Buy your skip-the-line tickets for Pena Palace here!

There are two separate tickets for Pena. One grants you access to the gardens and terraces, while the other includes access to the state rooms.

I definitely recommend the full ticket. The state rooms were beautifully decorated and had some amazing views through the windows. You’ll also get access to the stunning multi-floor inner courtyards.

9:30-11:15am: Explore Pena Palace

Photos cannot do Pena Palace justice. The whole experience of exploring the grounds, turrets, and balconies was wondrous and a bit surreal.

Given its vibrant primary color palette, you’d be surprised to learn that it started out as a monastery from the Middle Ages.

In the 1800s, King Ferdinand greatly expanded the existing structure into a summer palace for the royal family. When the Portuguese monarchy was deposed in 1910, the site became a national monument and museum.

After passing through the entrance gate, you’ll start out in the gardens beneath the palace. You can enjoy the lovely trees and flowers here as you wind your way up to the terrace.

Once you’re inside the palace walls, it’s hard to know where to look. The colors, details, and archways all demand your attention at once.

But don’t get overwhelmed, because you need to make an important decision at this point: explore the exterior or head straight for the state rooms.

As you can probably tell from the lack of people in my photos, I chose to explore the towers and terraces first. I wanted to get as many photos of this extraordinary place as possible before the crowds swelled.

However, you could certainly go into the state rooms first and have them mostly to yourself.

My favorite spot in Pena Palace was the rear area, which had a clock tower and a massive wall of blue tiles.

This area also has stunning views over the town below. Photographing this area was a major highlight of my Sintra day trip.

The state rooms are elegant and full of surprises. Be sure to look out the sitting room windows for a view of the Castle of the Moors!

You might have noticed that Pena Palace is surrounded by a massive park, which has everything from a swan-filled pond to a charming chalet house.

Unfortunately. with a 1 day Sintra itinerary, time is very limited. Unless you speed through the palace, you won’t have much time (if any) to properly explore the gardens.

11:15am: Walk to Castle of the Moors

Luckily, the walk from Pena Palace to the Castle of the Moors is quick and easy. Just head back to the main entrance and follow the Estrada da Pena north. There will be signs pointing to the Moorish Castle along the way.

Eventually you’ll see the brown ticket building on your right. Just like Pena Palace, it’s much faster to buy your ticket online in advance.

Buy your skip-the-line tickets for the Castle of the Moors here!

From here, it’s a short but steep walk up to the castle.

11:30am-12:30pm: Explore the Castle of the Moors

Don’t let the name fool you. The Moorish Castle is more akin to the Great Wall of China than a typical European home for medieval royalty. But that doesn’t make it any less epic.

I think the Castle of the Moors is one of Sintra’s most impressive sites. Originally constructed in the 8th century, the site was rebuilt several times, which is why you can still walk the walls without them crumbling beneath your feet.

Once you pass through the ticket gate, you’ll see a lovely little garden with stone steps leading upwards. After a few minutes of steep climbing, you’ll reach the walls.

From up here, you can reach multiple overlook towers with views all the way to the ocean. The walls leading towards the castle ruins do get narrow at times, so take care when passing others.

Fortunately, the intense climb to the highest tower is wide enough that you don’t need to feel guilty when stopping to catch your breath!

If you’re visiting Sintra in the summer, you’ll want plenty of water and maybe a hat to keep the sun off your head. There’s absolutely no shade up on the walls, and I could feel my scalp starting to burn where my hair was parted.

Save me for later!

12:30-2pm: Travel to Sintra town center and eat lunch

I know I said this was a Sintra walking tour. But you do have four choices for going from the Moorish Castle to the town center: bus, Tuk Tuk, Uber, and walking. Each of these options takes roughly 30 minutes, though the vehicle routes will be faster in the off season.

• Bus 434 runs from the castle to Sintra train station. You can buy a single ticket from the driver for 4 euros.
• There will be Tuk Tuks waiting outside the castle exit that can take you to the town center for about 5 euros per person.
• An Uber from the castle to the town will cost about 7 euros. However, it could take a long time for one to arrive depending on traffic.
• There’s a nice, shaded walking path that runs from the castle exit path to the town centre. Look for signs that point to the Sintra Centro Historico.

After a long morning of hiking, we were famished. There are plenty of lunch restaurants in Sintra, but I can personally recommend Sopa d’Avó.

For 9 euros per person, we had a veritable feast of traditional Portuguese food. And the English-speaking staff meant I didn’t have to struggle with Portuguese after a tiring morning.

2:15-3:45pm: Visit the National Palace

My biggest regret about our day trip to Sintra was missing the National Palace. I was looking forward to seeing the famous azulejo tile salon, and the beautifully painted Swan Room.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it happen due to personal circumstances. So you’ll just need to enjoy it for the both of us!

Next to Pena Palace, the National Palace of Sintra is the most frequently visited site in town. Thus, you should absolutely get your tickets online in advance.

Buy your skip-the-line tickets for the Sintra National Palace here!

Although I didn’t explore the palace, my fellow travel blogging friends recommend spending an hour to 90 minutes here.

3:45-4pm: Walk to Quinta da Regaleira

Good news: the last stop on this Sintra day trip is only 15 minutes away from the National Palace! Simply exit the palace and head southwest on the main road (N375). Follow the road as it curves north, and you’ll eventually see the ticket entrance for Quinta da Regaleira.

The queue to enter depends heavily on the day of the week and time of year. Because it’s so late in the day, you probably won’t have any trouble buying a same-day ticket on a weekday in the off season. When we arrived around 3pm, we only waited in line for about 5 minutes.

Based on what other travelers have told me, however, the lines can be long even in the late afternoon. So I recommend buying a skip-the-line ticket in advance, especially if you’re visiting Friday-Sunday or any time May-September.

Buy your skip-the-line tickets for Quinta da Regaleira here!

4-5pm: Explore Quinta da Regaleira

If you’re a fan of Indiana Jones, Uncharted, or Tomb Raider, you’ll love Quinta da Regaleira. Exploring the grounds made me feel like a modern day adventurer.

There are overgrown gardens, Gothic buildings rising from the trees, damp caves, and even a spooky well that spirals deep into the ground. I half-expected to see Lara Croft or Nathan Drake sneaking around the place…

Although Quinta da Regaleira looks like a mystical old ruin, it was actually designed in the 1900s. When you combine this with Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors, you can see why I compare Sintra to a theme park!

Your tickets come with a map, and you’ll find multiple signs pointing to the major highlights.

We worked our way to the Initiation Well first, explored the grounds, and wrapped up at the gorgeous Gothic mansion. Frankly, I can’t think of a better way to round out your 1 day Sintra itinerary!

Part of the magic of Quinta da Regaleira lies in discovering it as you explore. I don’t want to ruin the surprises here, so I’ll let these photos be the teasers.

Because of the site’s unique history, architecture, and hidden secrets, it’s definitely worth booking a live guided tour to get the full experience.

Click here to access the full interactive map!

• The best day to visit Sintra would be either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. This will help you avoid the Lisbon cruise ship tourists and the locals who visit as part of a long weekend.
• Bring good walking shoes, especially if you’re doing the hike from Castle of the Moors to Sintra town center.
• A water bottle is a must. There are several public fountains where you can refill.
• If you’re visiting Sintra in the fall or spring, you should layer up. Temperatures can change dramatically based on the time of day and your elevation.
• You might not have great cell reception in Sintra, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to take an Uber.

Taking a Sintra day trip from Lisbon

Getting to Sintra from Lisbon is very straightforward. You can catch a direct train from Lisbon to Sintra at Rossio Station. There are three trains departing every hour, and the journey takes about 40 minutes.

Note that you can’t book advance tickets on this line, so you’ll need to buy them at the station.

For this one day in Sintra itinerary, you’ll want to take an Uber or Tuk Tuk from Sintra train station to Pena Palace.

Taking a Sintra day trip from Cascais

Getting to Sintra from Cascais is quick and easy by car. Taking an Uber only cost us $15 and took 35 minutes. Although we use public transit 90% of the time, it just didn’t make sense in this case.

If navigating a mountain town in a foreign country isn’t your thing, no worries! You can book a guided tour with a local expert for a surprisingly affordable price.

• Cascais: This charming beach town is only 30 minutes away from Sintra. Discover what to do in Cascais with my detailed guide!
• Lisbon: A short train ride will take you to the capital city, where you can spend a few days in Lisbon enjoying incredible architecture and vibrant culture.
• Porto: Head north and spend 2 days in Porto exploring the colorful Ribeira and eating the best food in Portugal.

19 thoughts on “1 Day Sintra Itinerary: A Super Efficient Guide”

This was very valuable Thank you

Thanks Ian, glad you found it useful!

Really nice content… made my trip easy and saved time on research! Thanks.

Thank you for this post! We will be here in January and will follow your guide. It’s exactly what we need.

We’re hoping to go soon, this will be super helpful, thanks! 🙂

Thank you very much for this itinerary! Next week we are visiting Lisbon and planning to visit Sintra as well. Your guide will be very helpful!

Lucky me, I’m staying in Sintra for 2 days, so I was able to split your fabulous tour in half and take my time. I honestly don’t know how you would do all of this in 1 day…massive amounts of walking! I much prefer stopping here and there for a cold glass of wine. 🍷🥰

Going there this May. This is very helpful. Thanks a lot!

Loved this. Wish you’d mention where to park if you arrive with a car! Thanks.

Hi Caroline. If you plan on driving to Sintra, I recommend parking near the train station in one of the large lots, and then doing this itinerary in reverse (starting at Quinta da Regaleira). Once you finish at Pena Palace, you can then take an Uber or bus back down the mountain to retrive your car and head home. Just note that going this way will be a major workout, as you’ll be walking uphill the whole time!

This blog is so helpful. We are going next week! Thank you so much for all the tips, very valuable information.

This was a great summary. We’re going in October and I’m having a terrible time deciding what areas of Sintra to see, where to go inside vs. just stay outside. Originally I thought I’d just do the outside of the Pena Palace to give me time to see other spots. But your description makes me want to do the inside as well. If picking between Queluz or Monserrate Gardens, which would you add on? (as well as Quinta La Regaleira. Would you choose either of those more than the Moorish castle?

Hi Ruby, glad the itinerary was helpful. Queluz is a fair distance outside of Sintra proper, so you’d want to stop there before or after traveling around Sintra park. I’d suggest skipping the Sintra National Palace in lieu of Queluz or Monserrate. Queluz would probably be easier to add into this itinerary, as you could travel into Queluz-Belas Station by train directly from Sintra Station.

Hi Chelsea,

I followed your itinerary to a tee and it worked wonderfully! I was able to see everything, including the national palace and eat at the Sopa restaurant (got squid stew for 9 euro). Only things to consider; if doing an audio guide through the app cloud guide to download the tour info first as wifi is spotty, and to visit the initiation well last (after 5 pm) when the kids head home. I went there first at 4 pm on a Wednesday and still had to wait 30 mins. Glad I did Peña first, was out of there by 11:15 while those who arrived at 10:30 waited an hour plus to get in. Thanks so much for your itinerary! Abrigado

Thank you so much, Michael! I’m pleased you enjoyed your trip, and appreciate the extra tips.

Off there tomorrow (Thursday Sept 22nd 2022) and going to follow your advice pretty much to the letter. Sounds great and thanking you in advance… ❤️

I am on my way there right now, flying from Nantes in 4 hours. I will follow your guided tour for Sintra. Thank you

This trip sounds perfect for me. I am going late September 2023. Can you please tell me how difficult the hills are walking this tour. Very strenuous?

Hi Laura, I think the most strenuous part of this itinerary is the climb up to the top of the Castle of the Moors. It’s a lot of steps and fairly steep in areas. However, it all depends on how in shape you are (there were elderly women making the climb when I visited and they did fine, just moved slowly).

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• Visit Sintra
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Book your holidays in 3 clicks all over Portugal using the button below. I have created for you a page that gathers the best rated and most recommended English speaking tours and activities throughout Portugal as well as the luxury hotels or villas classified by the most sought after and appreciated criteria.

Sintra is the famous suburb of Lisbon which includes many parks and palaces. You will discover a beautiful natural landscape, the center of a small Portuguese city, royal palaces and charming parks, all surrounded by beautiful vegetation. The visit to Sintra is a must for all those who come to visit Lisbon. In this article you will find all the information you need to visit Sintra: how to get there by bus, what are the main visits to Sintra and some information about each of them regarding prices or timetables.

Guided tour of Sintra

Some of you will want to visit Sintra alone and this is not a problem if your visit is well prepared, so that you are sure not to miss anything. There are many things to see in Sintra and it would be a shame for your first one to miss half of them and their meaning.

That’s why for those who wish to organise a guided tour of Sintra, i.e. to be accompanied by an english speaking guide who knows what he is talking about, then you will find below a selection of the best rated and commented guided tours of the area. If you wish to discover others to make your choice, just click on the button just below. The comments are visible, the visits are all organized by english-speaking guides and can be cancelled up to 24 hours before the start of the visit, so that you don’t take any risks and don’t make any mistakes.

Some organizers will meet you somewhere in Lisbon, others will pick you up directly at the hotel, depending on the price of the tour. You have visits by bus, mini-van, on foot, organized for a day or half-day, it’s up to you to choose according to your wishes. Please note that you have some visits only of Sintra but in general, the organizers take you to discover the surroundings also as Cascais.

How to get to Sintra

First of all, please note that it is not necessarily necessary to find a hotel in Lisbon depending on your visit to Sintra. Some of the guided tours of Sintra pick you up in front of your hotel and if you do this tour on your own, then you can easily take transport from Lisbon to the train station and then to Sintra. Oriente or Entrecampos train stations will take you there but they are not in the centre of Lisbon. Unlike the Rossio station where the train will take you to Sintra in only 40 minutes. It’s not complicated and it’s not expensive, so you can take it several times and make as many return trips to Lisbon and Sintra as you like.

If your hotel is in Cascais, then you can take bus number 403 to Sintra via Cape Roca.

For your information, there is the Lisboa Card: a card that will give you access to many discounts on transport, tickets to monuments and even free entrance to some of Lisbon’s sights. Discover the main discounts and all you need to know about the card by visiting the Lisboa Card page, or click on the card below to order it directly online.

Click on the Lisboa Card to order it online

Lovers of chic historical hotels will be able to stay directly in Sintra, I recommend one of these two hotels:

• The Tivoli Palacio of Seteais : a five-star hotel with all imaginable and unimaginable amenities and a magnificent view of the Castle of Moors and the Palace of Pena. If this building had not been a hotel, it could have been a museum!
• The Palacio of Sintra Bed & Breakfast is also a very good choice, not far from the Quinta da Regaleira estate and much more affordable than a five-star palace.

Bus to Sintra from Lisbon

Different buses to go to the different visits of Sintra :

• Palais national de Sintra : Bus n° 434 et n° 435
• Palais Pena (Palais + Parc) : Bus n° 434
• Palais de Pena (Parc) : Bus n° 434
• Château des Marues : Bus n° 434
• Le manoir de la comtesse Elda : Bus n° 434
• Quinta da Rigaleira : Bus n° 435
• Palais de Montserrat : Bus n° 435
• Monastère des Capucins : Bus n° 435

Excursions to Sintra

Visit to the national palace of sintra.

The most accessible and best known of all the excursions in Sintra: the National Palace of Sintra. You can easily get there from the train station. The walk will not take more than 10-15 minutes. Buses 434 and 435 pass in front of the palace. The National Palace is located in the centre of Sintra and around it there are houses, restaurants, cafes and museums. There is no park nearby.

It is the only palace in Sintra that has kept its shape since the Middle Ages. It began to be built in the 12th century. During the first three centuries, the palace was rebuilt, rebuilt, decorated in a new way, and then left as it was in the middle of the 16th century. In the National Palace of Sintra, you will see rooms decorated in the Mudejar style, tiled with azulejos, furniture, that is to say, the Portuguese coloration is strongly present. The visit will last about an hour and a half.

It is possible to register for the visit with a guide directly on the spot but only in English at 2.30pm every day. In addition to the tickets, you will have to pay 5 € for the guided tour. You can also discover on this website a guided tour of Lisbon according to your wishes.

Visit to the Pena Palace in Sintra

The Pena Palace is one of the most beautiful pearls of Sintra and an unmissable site. If you have to visit only one, then this is it. Most tourists visit this palace perched in the hills of Sintra. It was built in the first half of the 19th century by the Portuguese king of German origin, Ferdinand II (Fernando II), in the style of historical romanticism.

The appearance of the palace is enchanting and attracts the attention of all those who have only seen it on a postcard or on the Internet. Pena Palace is surrounded by a huge park, also worthy of attention. The view from the top of the palace is breathtaking but be careful, the climb is rough. There are paying minibuses that will take you from the entrance of the park to the foot of the Pena Palace.

You can also book a tour with a guide on the spot but only in English at 2.30pm every day. In addition to the tickets, you will have to pay 5 € for the visit. The estate of the Countess of Elda is located in the park of Pena: it is a modest alpine chalet. For the Portuguese, this residence is important, as well as the memory of the love story of their king and a simple opera singer. If you still want to visit this house, you can plan to drop by on your way up to Pena Castle.

If you get to the bottom of Sintra, you can easily find a tuk tuk that will take you up to Pena Palace.

Visit of the Castle of the Moors in Sintra

The Moorish castle is located very close to the palace of Pena de Sintra , the distance between the two is only 200 meters, but the vegetation is lush and the journey will not be easy. The Castle of the Moors is a medieval fortress that has been extensively restored. The view is superb, you will remember it. There is no interior in the Moorish castle but there are archaeological areas. The Moorish castle is very close to the castle of St. George in Lisbon .

For a day trip to Sintra, I advise you to visit the National Palace, the Pena Palace and Park and the Moorish Castle. It’s already a lot and you will find it difficult to see more on one day. The palaces and the castle are located along a bus line number 434, which is very convenient if you visit Sintra by yourself.

Visit of the Quinta da Rigaleira to Sintra

Quinta da Regaleira was built by the Brazilian Portuguese millionaire, Carvalho Monteiro, at the beginning of the 20th century. The peculiarity of this vast and very interesting building is its mystery and symbolism. Until the 1960s, the estate was privately owned and has since passed into the public domain. At Quinta da Regaleira there is a mysterious initiation well or inverted tower that sinks deep into the ground. The 9 floors of the tower symbolize the 9 circles of hell of Dante’s Divine Comedy. And that’s not all, there are many different pavilions in the park, caves and underground passages. Everything was built for a particular reason and has a deep religious significance.

A walk through the park and the palace will take between 2 and 3 hours. From the train station the estate is only 2 km away and the terrain is quite flat. It is quite possible to do it on foot. But if you also want to visit the Palace of Montserrat, you must absolutely book a ticket for bus number 435 round trip.

Visit of the Montserrat Palace in Sintra

The Montserrat Palace is located on the other side of the Sintra Mountain and is not visible from the Quinta da Regaleira estate. It is practically impossible to reach it on foot, 4 km from the centre of Sintra by road.

The palace of Montserrat is famous for its British masters and for the fact that Byron himself sang it in his poem “Child’s Harold’s Pilgrimage”. When he visited Sintra in 1809, the palace of Pena and the Quinta da Regaleira estate did not yet coexist. The interior of the palace of Montserrat is characteristic of medieval, Indian and Moorish styles. The palace is surrounded by a magnificent park, more like a collection of plants collected from all over the world, than a botanical garden. The estate was built in several stages. Our current vision is that of the British industrialist Sir Francis Cook from 1856 to 1863.

Visit of the Queluz palace in Sintra

The Queluz Palace is an example of Portuguese Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassicism. Built in 1747, the palace later became the permanent residence of the royal family. The Palace of Queluz surrounds a beautiful park and differs from all the palace complexes and parks already mentioned by the fact that it was built in the same style as Versailles in Paris. Its visit will be interesting for those who want to get acquainted with the peculiarities of the Portuguese Baroque. Those who have already managed to see several Baroque palaces elsewhere may find it somewhat similar.

The Queluz Palace is located 14 km from the centre of Lisbon and 15 km from Sintra. There are two ways to get there: if you go to Sintra by train, you have to get off at Monte Abrão or Queluz-Belas station before going to Sintra. Count about 1 km between the stations and this palace of Sintra.

Or you can go to Queluz Palace by bus directly from Lisbon. Bus number 101 leaves from Tercena metro station, bus number 106 leaves from Falagueira-Carcavelos metro station. In one of the palace buildings there is a luxury hotel (the Pousada Palacio de Queluz ) with a reasonable price for the standard and services offered.

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Day Trip to Sintra from Lisbon: My Portuguese Fairy Tale Dream Come to Life

last Updated: March 2, 2024 Lisbon Portugal sintra

FYI: Affiliate links may be sprinkled throughout the awesome, free content you see below. I’ll receive a small commission when you purchase from my links (at no extra cost to you), which I’ll totally blow on adult things like boba tea and avocado toast. As always, thanks for the support.

Headed to Portugal and looking to take a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon? First of all – good choice! Secondly – I’m jealous (I wanna go back already!). Keep on reading for everything you need to know to plan the perfect Sintra day trip! Recommended Sintra itinerary included!

If you’re looking to explore royal palaces and stunning natural scenery (plus the cutest little medieval town), add a day trip to Sintra to your Portugal itinerary. It’s crazy popular for a reason! Not only is it majestic and ethereal, but easily one of the most beautiful places in the entire country. 

I fell head over heels for this magical fairy tale land, and I have a feeling you will too! Just imagine walking beneath the rainbow towers of Pena Palace , exploring the Gothic mansion of Quinta da Regaleira, and wandering all the lush gardens. Plus all the interesting architecture — I was in awe! Yes, you NEED to go! 

Sintra is where all my Portuguese fairy tale dreams came true – I spent the whole day amongst whimsical castles and extravagant villas, plus all those enchanting gardens! Expect dramatic cliffs, evergreen fairy tale forests, and a whole lotta uphill walking. From the moment I walked through the gardens of Peña, I was hooked!

You really need an entire day here, but with some advanced planning, your Sintra day trip will be absolutely amazing. One day will suffice, but understand you won’t be able to see and do everything in this charming little area. Read on for everything you need to know to plan the best one day Sintra itinerary!

Psst — it’s oh so easy; you can get straight from Lisbon to Sintra by train! But more on that later!

Planning a Day Trip to Sintra

What is Sintra?

First of all, what is Sintra exactly?! I know you probably heard of it when planning your Portugal itinerary (and if not, well, here ya go)! It’s gotta be one of the best day trips from Lisbon for a reason, right?!

Sintra is a municipality/area in Portugal, famous for its whimsical palaces (like the crazy-popular and colorful Pena Palace ), royal castles, 19th-century Romanticist architecture, historic estates and villas, and stunning natural scenery. There’s also ruins of a 10th century Moorish Castle! 

The sites are pretty spread out, so that’s why you really need an entire day. Especially if you wanna see the main highlights.

And it’s such a Portuguese gem! I highly recommend adding at least a day trip to Sintra to your much-longer Portugal itinerary – it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before!

Where is Sintra

Sintra is located high up in the mountains of Serra de Sintra — so yes, expect some stunning views! It’s super close to central Lisbon (Portugal’s capital city), only 15 miles or so northwest! So there’s really no reason not to go…

Because of its close proximity to Lisbon, most people day trip to Sintra from Lisbon. You can get there in a quick 35-40 minute drive from central Lisbon, but since parking is crazy challenging, taking the train or signing up for a guided day tour are the better options. Much more info below!

Note that the area is significantly further from other popular Portuguese towns and cities (a 3 hour drive from both Porto in northern Portugal and Lagos on the southern coast). 

Psst: Sintra actually encompasses a few parishes/towns – Santa Maria e São Miguel, São Martinho, and São Pedro de Penaferrim. The palaces and castles are scattered throughout them. Everyone just calls this entire area Sintra!

How to Get to Sintra from Lisbon

While you can drive yourself to Sintra, most people opt for the train or go on a guided day tour. Both awesome options, but if you want the history behind all the glam, I found a guided tour to be super informative!

Psst – no matter what option you choose (train, tour, drive, Uber, etc), just know you’ll still need to get yourself to the castles themselves. More info on getting around Sintra below.

Option 1: Lisbon to Sintra by Train

Getting to Sintra via train is super easy, and super cheap! Trains leave from Rossio Station in Lisbon’s historic city center every 15-30 minutes or so (depending on time of year), and cost less than €5 round trip. It doesn’t get cheaper or more convenient than that! The trip from Lisbon to Sintra by train should take about 40 minutes or so.

• One-way train from Lisbon to Sintra: €2.25
• Roundtrip cost of train: €4.50 

You can also catch a train from Lisbon to Sintra via Lisbon’s Oriente Train Station. Note that Oriente Station is further from Lisbon’s city center and not as convenient if you’re staying in the main part of the city. 

Insider Tip: The ticket machines in Lisbon can get exceptionally busy at peak times, and you’ll most likely encounter a line. Bypass the long lines by getting a Via Viagen reloadable card ahead of time. You can simply tap and go (to validate your card) without even waiting on line to buy a ticket to Sintra!

These few minutes may mean accidentally missing the train (and getting to Sintra later than anticipated), so plan in advance especially if you’re visiting in the busy season!

On my way back to Lisbon from Sintra, the ticket machines were not working correctly. I could not buy a ticket without my Via Viagen card (which I stupidly left in my hotel room). Thankfully it all got sorted out, but if that happened in the morning on my way to Sintra, I would’ve wasted so much time.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you get off at the right stop – Sintra Station (Estação de Sintra)! Portela de Sintra (Estação Portela de Sintra) is immediately before this, and it’s easy to get confused! Just remember, the correct station for Sintra and all the palaces is Sintra Station (plus, it’s the last stop on the line so hard to miss).

Once you get to the train station in Sintra, you’ll be about a 15 minute walk to historical Sintra Town. However, I recommend you use the bus to go directly to your first palace of the day. Either Pena Palace , as it’s the most popular and therefore most crowded, or Quinta de Regaleira if you’re planning to visit Pena later on.

If you already bought your tickets to the castles and palaces, you’re ahead of the game (more info below). You’ll need to use the 434 and 435 buses to get to the castles themselves (Sintra is way bigger than you think).

Option 2: Sintra Day Trip Guided Tour

Does navigating the train and multiple buses sound super complicated or time-consuming? Would you rather have someone else (a Sintra expert!) drive you around (in AC!) while delving out interesting info about the palaces? Book yourself on a guided tour!

The first time I went to Sintra, I went myself via the train. I was with a bunch of friends and let’s just say we weren’t very time efficient. We saw one palace, and by the time we got to the second, we only had ½ hour until they were closing. Whoops! 

The second time I went, I chose a guided day tour and I saw SO much! We saw 4 palaces/castles (Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Monserrate Palace and its exotic gardens, and Sintra National Palace), PLUS had some free time in Sintra Town for lunch. That’s practically unheard of! 

Here’s the EXACT tour I took . Know it was fast-paced and you won’t get to see each palace in detail, but it’s a great introduction to the area. The tour was such a good value (it was just $65; I’ve seen others going for around $90), and my guides were so helpful and knowledgeable! Highly recommend it! 

A disadvantage to any guided tour is that you’re on a strict timeline – you need to follow the group and can’t go off exploring every nook and cranny that looks interesting to you. But the guides know the best spots anyway! 

→ Book your Lisbon to Sintra Highlights Tour here ! We saw SO much!

If you’d rather combine a visit to Sintra with Cascais (such a cute beach town) and Cabo da Roca (the westernmost point of Europe), there’s plenty of tours that do just that! I highly suggest at least a full ½ day exploring all the best things to do Cascais itself, but if you don’t have time in your Portugal itinerary for that, an add-on to Sintra is the next best thing!

Choose this tour to Sintra and Cascais if you wanna explore other areas of Portugal as well in one day. Just know you won’t have as much time to explore the palaces in Sintra themselves, but perfect if all you wanna see is Pena Palace!

Important : I should add that almost ALL day tours to Sintra do not include admission to the palaces/castles themselves. Our guides helped us book skip-the-line tickets to all palaces we were visiting, which was so helpful since we got to essentially cut the line!

You’ll need to pay for these separately (either paying for a ticket in advance – highly recommended, or by waiting in line at the individual palace ticket booths). Just something to keep in mind so you’re not surprised when your tour guide asks you to buy tickets and shell out more cash. 

Option 3: Drive from Lisbon to Sintra

Renting a car in Lisbon? You can drive to Sintra in 30 minutes or so, making it the fastest way to get there. BUT there are a bunch of negatives – which is why I honestly don’t recommend it. The roads are steep, windy, and narrow, parking can be crazy difficult (basically nonexistent), and the train is just too easy not to take. 

Plus, with all the guided day trip options, there’s really no reason to drive yourself. You don’t wanna waste half your day trying to find a parking spot (and ripping your hair out in the process). Guides know exactly where to park and some of the lots are actually only for tours. Do yourself a favor: take the train or book yourself on a guided day tour.

How to Get Around on Your Sintra Day Trip

Once you make your way to Sintra, you’ll instantly realize that everything is up in the hills. Thankfully there’s lots of options besides the obvious — walking. 

Walking in Sintra

Sintra is HUGE! So no matter what, you’ll be doing a ton of walking during your day trip to Sintra. There’s no way around it. But you can make your life easier by taking the bus, a tuk-tuk, uber/taxi, or on a guided day tour.

Technically, you can walk to all the castles and palaces in Sintra. But just remember – most of the palaces sit on top of giant hills. Looking at a map, Pena Palace and Sintra Station don’t seem to be terribly far (and they’re not). BUT you’ll need to walk up a STEEP 45-minute hill.

Don’t waste your precious time, especially since you’ve only got one day in Sintra! Use your time wisely – just take the bus.

There are a few instances where walking isn’t the most terrible idea:

• From Sintra Town to the National Palace of Sintra (about a 5 minute walk)
• From Sintra Train Station to Sintra Town (about a 10 minute walk)
• From Pena Palace to Castle of the Moors (about a 15 minute walk)
• From Sintra Town to Quinta da Regaleira (about a 15 minute walk)

Public Transport: 434 and 435 Sintra Tourist Buses  

With all the steep hills, I highly recommend using the 434 and 435 tourist buses. There’s no way you’d wanna walk from the train station/Sintra Town to Pena Palace, Castle of the Moors, or elsewhere! 

Especially on a hot day – that just sounds brutal and a great way to ruin your day trip to Sintra right from the start. Plus, you’ll most likely tire yourself out after the first palace and lose motivation to see others.

Important info about the tourist buses:

There are TWO buses with two different routes . You’ll eventually need to head back to Sintra Town/the train station to take the other. Take a photo of the routes ahead of time to get more familiar with this.

• 434 Bus Route Circuito da Pena (circular route): Sintra Train Station → Moorish Castle → Pena Palace → Sintra National Palace/Sintra Town → Natural History Museum → Sintra Train Station ( timetable here )
• 435 Bus Villa Express Route (one-direction): Sintra Train Station → Sintra National Palace/Sintra Town → Quinta da Regaleira → Seteais Palace → Monserrate Palace → Sintra Station ( timetable here )

The buses only run in one direction. This means you’ll wanna carefully plan out your day so you’re not wasting time making extra circuits if you don’t need to. For example, you cannot visit the Moorish Castle after Pena Palace without making the entire loop around.

Buses come a few times an hour, kinda depending on how busy it is. You may get lucky and have a bus waiting for you at the bus stop, or you may need to wait 15 minutes or so. Buses come more frequently during the peak summer months.

Have cash for the tourist buses. Bus rides were kinda expensive (€4 for a single bus ticket), which I was definitely not expecting. The bus tickets add up, so just keep this in mind when planning. I’d recommend purchasing the Hop-on Hop-off ticket for €6.90, as you’ll be able to ride the entire loop once. You can buy tickets directly from the bus driver.

You’ll still need to do a fair bit of walking. Even when taking the bus, prepare for some uphill walking. From the bus stop at Pena Palace, you still gotta climb 10-15 minutes up a fairly steep hill, or you can take a separate bus straight to the entrance for 3euro (after you present your entry ticket).

Note that these tourist buses act just like regular city buses (they’re not tours in any way, shape, or form). Don’t expect commentary or any info about the palaces/castles. Stops are typically not announced, so keep an eye out for where you are and take note of how many stops you need to stay on for. Remember — if you miss your stop you’ll need to make the whole loop again!

Tuk tuk  

Wandering around Sintra you’ll undoubtedly see a few tuk-tuks here and there. They typically hang out near the train station (at the bus stop), Sintra Town, and at the bottom of the hill to Pena Palace.

While they might seem like a great option (especially when the bus line is long), the tuk-tuk drivers will most definitely try to rip you off. A ride from Sintra Town to Pena Palace should be 5euro per person, but many don’t accept less than €10 a person. The bus is 4euro… so….yeah. Psst – just like the bus, you’ll still need to walk 10 minutes up a steep walking path to get to Pena Palace anyways.

Honestly, I’d avoid the tuk-tuks altogether unless you realllllly wanna ride one, haha. They are quite fun (we’ve ridden them in both Thailand and Colombia ), but save yourself some money if you’re not in a major rush or the bus is coming!

Ride Shares and Taxis

You probably don’t wanna rely on typical taxis to get yourself around Sintra. There aren’t tons of them just waiting around at the different palaces and castles, and you’ll waste precious time looking for one! 

Instead, call an Uber/Bolt/FreeNow!

Uber is now available in Sintra, along with Bolt and Free Now (other rideshare apps similar to Uber). And they’re pretty inexpensive in all of Portugal!  They typically have much better pricing than regular cabs, and there’ll be no language barrier to worry about (since you input your destination and pay directly in the app). 

Rideshares can take you from palace to palace, and split between a few people, will be less expensive than taking the bus. Just remember, depending on traffic, it may take a while for a car to arrive.

Guided tour

If you booked yourself on a guided tour, then your guides will be right alongside you, guiding the way! This is by far the easiest option if you don’t wanna mess with all the trains and buses and all that nonsense (buying transportation tickets, waiting for the bus, figuring out where to get off, etc).

Driving in Sintra

And well, if you decide to drive, you can get around that way! But remember – parking can be a nightmare, especially in busy season (June to September)! You may want to keep your car in one spot for the day and use the buses anyways, haha. Do yourself a favor and keep your car in Lisbon.

When to Visit Sintra

Time of Year: In general, summers in Sintra are warm, dry, and mostly clear. Winters are cold and wet, with at least some overcast/clouds. It’s pretty windy year round, but with the chilly temps in winter, it’ll feel pretty frigid! You’ll definitely need to take along your layers!

The weather is quite unpredictable from mid-autumn to early spring, so you never really know what you’re gonna get. But this means there’ll be less crowds…

Of course it’s way more crowded during the prime summer months, so if you’ve got max flexibility, I’d recommend visiting in either May or October.

For reference, I visited Sintra in early August – and it was cool and a bit misty in the morning, much warmer later in the day, and the crowds were outta control. 

Time of Day: There’s no need to get to Sintra super super early, since the palaces and castles don’t open up until around 9am. So nope, no sunrise missions here! I’d aim to get on an 8am train from Lisbon, arrive in Sintra around 8:45, and hop right on a bus to your first castle (either Pena Palace or Quinta da Regaleira).

Whatever you do, DO NOT VISIT PENA PALACE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY. It’s ridiculously jam packed and will drastically impact your experience in the worst way possible. Plan to either get to Pena Palace as soon as the gates open (at 9am) or even a bit before, or much later in the day, after 4pm.

For less(er) crowds, plan to visit Sintra on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Avoid weekends if you can!

Remember to time it right; the palaces and castles don’t stay open all night. They actually close quite early, even in summer when the sun doesn’t set until 9pm. The last entry for Pena Palace is around 5:45pm, so give yourself plenty of time to walk up that hill!

Weather in Sintra

Being high up in the mountains (and closer to the coast), Sintra’s climate is way cooler than that of Lisbons. Which feels super refreshing if you’re visiting Portugal in the dead of summer, when temps are known to reach upwards of 90F! 

Sintra has its own microclimate, meaning the weather can change pretty frequently. We got there in the morning to fog and cool temps, and it eventually burned off and got much warmer later in the day. On my first day trip to Sintra a few years back, it was gloriously sunny in the morning, and then all of a sudden it started pouring like crazy! Definitely bring some layers you can easily take on/off.

Kinda reminds me of the weather in San Francisco , haha. 

Rain and mist are more common in Sintra than nearby Lisbon (especially in the winter months), so come prepared! If the fog is super thick you unfortunately won’t be able to see much of the view, so just keep that in mind. Don’t get upset – it’s hard to plan around the weather if you’ve only got a few days or booked a guided tour.

Other Info For Your Sintra Day Trip

Is one day in sintra enough.

Yes, if you just wanna see the main highlights and don’t mind being rushed to do so.  

No, if you wanna explore the palaces and castles in depth. Whatever you do, buy your tickets to the palaces and castles in advance. You don’t wanna waste time waiting in line for a ticket. 

One day in Sintra is a great introduction to the area. In my opinion, there’s far too much to see in only a few hours though (I would’ve loved an extra day but I was on my way to the Algarve shortly after – highly recommended). 

While most people choose to simply take a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra, know that you can actually stay the night if you’d like more time to explore! Or, you can hop back on the train from Lisbon for a second day if you don’t feel like switching out accommodation too much – the train is under 5euro roundtrip and only takes 45 minutes or so.

Brief History of Sintra

Sintra has a long and fascinating history – it’s quite complex, so I’ll give you the tiniest gist. Just know that the palaces were all built by Portuguese royalty!

But before the elites and royalty came along, the Berbers (North African Moors) built up the town (and specifically the Moorish Castle to guard it). Once the Christian conquest of Portugal occured in 1147, the area deteriorated and was neglected for quite some time.

Then the Portuguese royals and elites discovered it! Since the area has a cooler climate than surrounding areas (and is oh so pretty with all the greenery), Sintra was the perfect place for them to build their palaces and summer residences. Talk about a mountain retreat! Pena Palace is now the fantasyland of the creative King Ferdinand II.

The whole area is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and it surely deserves that title!

Other Important Sintra FAQS

• Is there a beach in Sintra? No beach in Sintra Town itself (or near the palaces), but there’s some popular beach towns on the Sintra coastline! Check out Praia Grande (with its massive oceanfront swimming pool), Praia das Maçãs, and Praia do Magoito.
• Can you walk from palace to palace? Technically yes, but you won’t wanna. The castles and palaces are built on hills, so you’ll be walking up and down all day. No thanks.
• Can I do Sintra if I only have ½ day? Of course, but you’ll only get to see one (max two) castles/palaces. I recommend checking out Pena Palace of course, and if you’ve got more time, Quinta da Regaleira is spectacular and oh so different.
• What should I bring to Sintra? You’ll wanna bring a decent amount of water and a light jacket/sweater, and wear super comfy shoes and layers. Plus sunscreen and a hat!
• Why does Sintra have so many palaces? The royalty and elite LOVED Sintra back in the day (for its beauty and cooler temps than Lisbon), and built their summer homes here! Just imagine waking up in Pena Palace! What a dream!

BUY YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE

One way to really maximize your time in Sintra: buying your tickets to the castles ahead of time. Most people just buy them at the gate, meaning yes, you’ll bypass the long line for tickets! Buying online is super easy, just know you need to choose a designated time to enter Pena Palace. 

→ Buy your ticket to Pena Palace here (the most popular one with all the colors), and I guarantee you’ll save time! Most tour groups make sure you buy them in advance to keep the group from waiting anyways. 

Don’t expect to show up and get right in. There may be a line, and possibly a VERY long one. Give yourself extra waiting time if you’re not planning on buying a ticket in advance. But that’s just silly!

Palaces and Gardens to Visit on a Day Trip to Sintra

Remember – if you’re taking a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon, you won’t be able to see every single palace and garden in the area. You really gotta prioritize with only one day in Sintra. Don’t fret – most people only spend a day in Sintra on their much longer Portugal itinerary, and if you plan it right, you can see a whole lot!

Pena Palace (Palacio Nacional de Pena)

This is everyone’s favorite palace, and it’s easy to see why. Just look at all those bright colors – there’s blinding yellow walls, blue tiles, and a red painted exterior. And that stunning architecture against all the greenery – whoa! Pena Palace is truly wild (in the best way possible) — crazy exotic and tons of interesting architecture. Don’t miss out on this Romanticist castle standing on top of the hill, it’s truly a sight to be seen. 

DO NOT MISS PENA PALACE! I repeat, don’t miss Pena Palace!!! It’s probably the main reason you’re coming to Sintra in the first place! So yes, the hype around Pena Palace is real. And this means it’ll be crowded beyond belief (but that’s why you’re visiting either first thing in the morning or much later in the day once the guided day trips have left). Be smart and never visit Pena Palace in the middle of the day – as that’s when it’s the most crowded.

Read Next: Everything You Need to Know About Pena Palace (plus lots of pretty pictures!)

Psst: Once you make it to the bus stop, you’ll need to then get to the palace itself. You can either walk up the hill (about 10-15 minutes) or take a 3euro bus ride to get to Pena Palace.

This is the palace you’ll 100% want to purchase tickets in advance for . There are two different official ticket types for Pena Palace:

• Palace and Park Ticket: The EVERYTHING ticket! You get entry into the palace itself, with all the lavish rooms and history. Plus all the grounds and gardens. (€14)
• Park Ticket: If you don’t think you’ll wanna go inside the palace and just wanna check out the exterior, save a few euros by grabbing a park ticket. You can thankfully still see the Arches Yard and do the Terrace Walk – the views are phenomenal! (€7.5)

At first I thought going inside would be a waste, but I actually enjoyed it way more than I initially thought I would. Every single room was oh so different than the last, and all so lavishly decorated! The cloisters were completely covered in azulejos! It just sucked that it was SO crowded, which made it difficult to truly enjoy. Another reason to get there ASAP in the morning and to buy skip-the-line-tickets ahead of time .

Make sure to walk around the castle walls, especially the Arches Yard and Terrace Walk– this was my favorite thing to do at Pena Palace. There were SO many beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and even the Moorish Castle (which I sadly missed out on visiting). I also wandered around the Palace Gardens a bit — you’ll never see everything (there’s oh so much), but I particularly liked the lily pad pond and forest trees.

I actually visited Pena Palace twice on my last trip – once in the morning on a guided tour, and then later on in the day once the sun finally came out. Yes, I opted to forgo my included ride back to Lisbon, but the palace was really calling my name. No regrets.

Quinta da Regaleira

Moody and mysterious, Quinta da Regaleira is such a vibe. Hidden tunnels, breathtaking gardens, princess-like towers, and even an initiation well in this neo-gothic mansion. Tons of mystery and magic over here, and completely different from Pena Palace. The grand house is five floors, surrounded by lush, green gardens. Don’t miss the secret passageway that takes you below a waterfall – one of my favorite parts of the estate!

Pro Tip: If you wanna see the mysterious initiation well, head there first, and then see the rest of the castle afterwards. It’s the most popular spot in Quinta da Regaleira, so it gets busy!

Monserrate Palace

Before heading off on my guided tour of Sintra , I didn’t give much thought to Monserrate Palace. What a mistake that was – it ended up being one of my favorites! Probably because it was hardly crowded and oh so peaceful (the exact opposite of Pena Palace). The building is striking (with tons of intricate latticework), and I loved all the Islamic/Arabian architectural influences and symmetry (helps so much with photography!).

Wanna escape the crowds of Sintra? Head here! And don’t miss out on the tranquil gardens – so charming and tranquil.

Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros)

Moorish Castle, Castle of the Moors, Castelo dos Mouros – yes, they’re all the same thing! Just slightly different names. I didn’t make it to The Castle of the Moors, but I’ve heard such good things about it. You can easily walk here from Pena Palace, and actually get an awesome view of the castle from the terraces over there!

For starters, it’s got some of the best views over Sintra (and being so high up, you know the views are good). It’s also the oldest monument in Sintra – yes, the castle is crumbling, but this makes it feel as authentic as ever! The Moorish Castle once guarded the entire region – kinda like the Great Wall of Portugal if you may, haha.

And plus, most guided tours don’t stop here, so it’ll be far less crowded than the others! 

Historic Center of Sintra (Sintra Town)

A visit to Sintra Town is a must on any Sintra day trip. You’ll probably need to head back to town anyway to switch buses at some point – making it the perfect excuse to explore for a bit!  

And the city center is full of charming little shops (with plenty of hand painted tiles), restaurants, and tasty little treats. I recommend spending a half hour or so wandering throughout the quaint streets and up and down the narrow staircases.

Hungry? This is a good place to stop. There’s plenty of sit-down restaurants serving traditional Portuguese dishes, with Incomum, Apeadeiro, and A Praca (vegetarian) being popular places. If there’s octopus on the menu, order it! I had some of the freshest and most delicious octopus of my life in Portugal, and while I didn’t have any in Sintra itself, I’m almost positive the quality is of the same standard.

Whatever you do, don’t miss out on some pillow-like pastries from Piriquita Bakery. This pastry shop is famous for a reason (and there’s always a line out the door). Instead of an actual lunch, I opted for two pastries – when in Sintra, right?! 

I tried a queijada (kinda like a tiny cinnamon cheesecake tart), and an almond travesseiro (a traditional puff pastry filled with almond cream and dusted with powdered sugar, very flaky and warm, mmm). I also grabbed a nutella travesseiro to snack on later in the day, haha. Travesseiros are synonymous to Sintra, kinda like pastel de natas are to Lisbon!

National Palace of Sintra (Palacio Nacional de Sintra)

The National Palace of Sintra is super close to Sintra Town, so if you’ve got time and wanna check that out, feel free before leaving town. With its two massive chimneys and white Gothic-style exterior, the National Palace is iconic to Sintra.

I personally chose to skip visiting the inside (as there were other attractions in Sintra I didn’t wanna miss!) and simply admired it from afar. 

A recommended Sintra day trip itinerary:

Decided to go on your own and head from Lisbon to Sintra by train? Here’s how I would plan out my day:

Take an early train from Lisbon (leaving around 8am) to arrive in Sintra around 8:45. 

• Stop 1 (9:30-11:30am): Quinta da Regaleira . Start your Sintra day trip by hopping right on Bus 435 from the train station, walk down the Initiation Well, and explore the gardens and main palace.
• Stop 2 (12-1pm): Montserrat Palace . Continue on the 435 bus from Quinta da Regaleira and explore the palace and lush gardens.
• Stop 3 (1:30-3): Sintra Town . Back on the 435 bus to Sintra Town for lunch, pastries, and a wander in town; this is where you’ll find the National Palace of Sintra too.
• Stop 4 (3:30-5:30pm): Pena Palace . Take the 434 to Pena Palace – most guided day trips to Sintra head to Pena Palace first thing in the morning, which means it’ll be jam-packed. If you’re traveling yourself from Lisbon to Sintra by train, you have the opportunity to visit later in the day, once the tours have cleared out (a bit).
• OPTIONAL Stop 5: Castle of the Moors . If you’ve spent less time at any of the above stops, walk over to Castle of the Moors from Pena Palace and explore. Remember, last entry to most palaces is 6pm, so plan your day trip to Sintra wisely!
• Dinner and sunset from Sintra Town. Stay and watch the sunset in Sintra — we found a random spot after dinner in Sintra and loved the colors!

Hope this helps you plan out your day trip to Sintra from Lisbon! Get ready to feel like a fairytale princess – all the castles and palaces and lush greenery await!

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April 1, 2023 at 11:06 pm

HI Jess, Thanks for a great day trip suggestion for Sintra. I am thinking if we catch the 8:11 train from Lisbon, we get to Sintra around 9-then catch the 434 straight to Pena palace. Should I buy the timed palace and park tickets for 10am or 10:30 (just want to leave a bit of a buffer in case we don’t get on the 9:15 bus up? Then I read that from the palace entry gate to the actual palace interior takes 30 minutes and the entry ticket is for the palace not park??? Hope that makes sense. Thanks Lynette

April 5, 2023 at 11:02 am

Hi Lynette,

I’d buy the 10:30am just to be on the safe side. You can always explore the exterior of the palace and gardens if you have extra time before the timed ticket starts for the interior of the palace. 🙂

April 8, 2023 at 9:10 pm

Thanks , Jess I will do that.

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THE 10 BEST Sintra Tours & Excursions

Sintra tours.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Walking Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

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2. Sintra Private Day Trip: a Dreamlike Experience

3. Small-Group Sintra, Pena Palace, Regaleira, Roca, Cascais Tour

4. Sintra Full-Day Private Tour - A Journey through Wonderland

5. Full-Day Tour Best of Sintra and Cascais from Lisbon

6. Sintra-Cascais: 2 Palaces+4 spots, coast, small group! 10 hours!

7. Guided Tour to Sintra, Pena, Regaleira, Cabo da Roca and Cascais

8. Sintra, Regaleira with Ticket Included, Pena Palace from Lisbon

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10. Sintra Tour with Pena Palace & Regaleira All Tickets Included

11. Lisbon to Sintra Cabo da Roca Cascais Fatima Nazare Obidos

12. Sintra Small Group Tour from Lisbon: Pena Palace Ticket Included

13. Experience a magical day in Sintra, Palace of Pena, Quinta da Regaleira and Cabo da Roca from Lisbon

14. Sintra and Cascais Full-Day Private Tour

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16. Sintra Private Tour with All Tickets Included

17. Sintra Small-Group with Regaleira, Pena Palace, Roca and Cascais

18. Park and Palace of Monserrate

19. Sintra, Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca, Cascais Day Trip from Lisbon

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22. Full Day Private Tour Sintra, Cabo da Roca & Cascais

23. PRIVATE Tour from Lisbon to Sintra, Pena Palace and Cascais

24. Sintra Private Tour from Lisbon Full-Day

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26. Live a Magical Day -Visit Pena Palace , Regaleira and Cascais

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13 BEST Tours in Sintra: 2024 Travel Guide

Are you looking for the best tours in Sintra?

Searching for the perfect tours in Sintra can feel like navigating a maze. With so many stunning sights, it’s tough to know where to start and what to prioritize.

We get it; the options are overwhelming! Luckily, we’ve got you covered with our firsthand research.

We spent an enriching month in Portugal last year and took a lot of Sintra Tours. Now, we’re here to share our insights from what we learned!

Whether you’re a solo adventurer, a family looking for memorable experiences, or anyone in between, we understand your needs and want to help you find the perfect tours in Sintra for you.

Our guide is tailored to help travelers like you navigate Sintra’s enchanting landscapes with ease. Let’s dive into the best Sintra tours, highlighting must-visit spots and hidden gems.

Best Tours in Sintra Overview

Before we dive into the specifics of all the amazing tours in Sintra, here is a complete list of the best options.

How to Pick a Sintra Tour

When it comes to picking the perfect Sintra tour, there are a lot of things you could consider.

To help, here are our 9 tips, based on our extensive travel and tour experience, for evaluating tours:

• Plan Ahead: Start your tour planning early. Sintra is a popular destination, so booking your tour in advance ensures you secure your spot, especially during peak tourist seasons.
• Consider Your Interests: Think about what interests you the most. Are you a history buff, a nature lover, or someone who craves local cuisine? Choosing a tour that aligns with your passions will enhance your experience.
• Group Size: Smaller group tours often provide a more personalized and immersive experience. You’ll have more opportunities to ask questions and interact with your guide, especially if on one of the Sintra private tours.
• Local Guides: Opt for tours led by knowledgeable and passionate local guides. They can provide insights, stories, and hidden gems that you might miss otherwise.
• Duration: Check the tour duration and itinerary. Some tours focus solely on Sintra’s palaces, while others may include nearby attractions like Cascais or Cabo da Roca. Make sure it aligns with your available time.
• Transportation: Determine whether transportation is included. Sintra’s top sites are pretty spread out, so having transport arranged can be a big convenience. Most tours include transportation, but you have some unique options like a classic car, tuk-tuks, e-bikes, and a talking e-car.
• Reviews and Recommendations: Read reviews from fellow travelers to get an idea of the tour’s quality and reliability. We’ve taken all reviews into account for our recommendations!
• Cost Inclusions: Clarify what’s included in the tour price. Does it cover entrance fees to attractions, meals, or any additional activities? Knowing this upfront can help you budget effectively.
• Flexibility: Choose a tour that allows some flexibility. Sometimes, you might want to linger a bit longer at a particular site or skip one to explore something else.

Remember, the key to a memorable Sintra tour is finding the one that suits your preferences and interests.

Picking a reputable company is so important! Below is the company we trust to give you the best experience: I GO PORTUGAL

BEST Tours in Sintra

🌟 best private sintra tour.

⏱Tour Length: 8h | ⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | ➡️ Book Now

This Private Tour of the Palaces of Sintra & Gardens stands out to us as the Best Tour in Sintra because of the itinerary and the tour guide!

This full-day adventure is customizable so YOU can prioritize the sites in Sintra that are of the most interest to you.

You’ll be able to visit places like Pena Palace ,  Quinta da Regaleira , and/or the Monserrate Palace.

Additionally, you can end the day with a fun trip to Boca do Inferno near Cascais, complete with an epic meal at the local’s favorite restaurant. 

A highlight for us was the personalized touch from our guide, Pedro. His deep historical knowledge and engaging conversation truly enriched our experience.

Plus, Pedro’s flexibility in tailoring the tour to our interests was a huge reason why we recommend this tour. 

This tour is a fantastic pick for couples or families seeking an intimate, informative, and flexible exploration of Sintra’s treasures. We highly recommend this tour to anyone venturing to Sintra!

👨‍👨‍👧‍👦 Best Small Group Sintra Tour

Fairytale Tour of the Secrets of Sintra & Cascais is the ultimate small-group adventure capturing the essence of the Portuguese Riviera .

On the tour, you’ll first explore the UNESCO Sintra sites!

There’s a special wine surprise in Sintra that left us absolutely delighted.

Our lunch at a unique local spot run by a fire station added a genuine taste of local life, truly differentiating this tour.

After lunch, you’ll venture to the Coast and the quaint town of Cascais . You’ll get to take in the awe-inspiring views at Cabo da Roca , Europe’s westernmost point. 

Experiencing Sintra and its coastal gems through the eyes of someone who lives there made our adventure unforgettable.

🎧 Best Sintra Audio Guide

⏱Tour Length: 4h or 8h | ⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | ➡️ Book Now

Exploring Sintra in a self-guided talking car was a game-changer for us!

This nifty car, equipped with GPS and an audio guide , really upped the ante in our adventure. Plus it’s a family-run business , which is something we love to support!

The freedom to roam at our pace meant we could soak in every detail of Monserrate Palace and the Moorish Castle . We whizzed past the charming Palácio da Vila and gazed in wonder at Palácio de Seteais .

This tour is the reason we discovered Azenhas do Mar , a coastal gem that’s postcard-perfect.

What made this tour stand out was the depth of knowledge the audio guide provided !

🛵 Best Sintra Tuk-Tuk Tour

⏱Tour Length: 7h | ⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | ➡️ Book Now

A tuk-tuk, that zippy three-wheeled vehicle, is a great way to get around Sintra , especially for those twisty, steep roads up the mountains.

It’s definitely a fun way to get up to Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle without breaking a sweat. It’s like having a private chauffeur – but way cooler.

This Tuk-Tuk Tour to Sintra Palaces & Mountain is the best tuk-tuk tour in Sintra because of how convenient they make their transportation.

And the cherry on top? Ending your day at Cabo da Roca for a sunset that’ll totally steal your breath away.

🚗 Best Sintra Classic Car Tour

⏱Tour Length: 4h | ⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | ➡️ Book Now

If old cars rev your engine, this classic car tour in Sintra is your dream come true!

With a private guide, Diogo, and his classic green Renault , you’ll uncover the town’s secrets and stories at a leisurely pace.

It’s the best classic car tour in Sintra because it offers a three-part tour : diving into the local culture and heritage, winding through mountains and nature, and cruising along the coast and ocean.

This includes stops at Azenhas do Mar , Estrada da Peninha, the National Palace of Pena, Sintra National Palace, and Palácio e Parque Biester .

Our favorite part was sipping “miraculous” water at Fonte da Sabuga , which might actually have had some healing powers to it.

🍷Best Sintra Food and Wine Tour

⏱Tour Length: 6h | ⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 | ➡️ Book Now

If you’re keen on experiencing the best of Portugal’s flavors, this Taste of Sintra’s Wonders – Wine & Tapas Tour is a must-do.

You’ll explore hidden gems, from the oldest cooperative winery in Portugal to an antique bakery in Janas , where the tradition of bread making comes alive.

Plus, with the added bonus of a cozy Porto wine tasting , this tour stands out as a truly comprehensive and authentic Portuguese experience.

🌙 Best Sintra Night Tour

⏱Tour Length: 3h 15min | ⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | ➡️ Book Now

This From the Ghosts of the Castle to the Apparitions of the Mountains Sintra night tour is our premier choice for nighttime exploring.

Guided by the accomplished local historian, Miguel Boim, you’ll delve into a world of ancient tales and mystical landscapes.

You’ll discover stories known only to dedicated historians, see breathtaking nighttime views , and escape the daytime crowds.

The tour’s use of night vision-friendly green light lanterns is a cool feature!

Engaging tales of apparitions, dreams, and hidden treasures will captivate your imagination, making time and distance fade away.

🥾 Best Sintra Hiking Tour

⏱Tour Length: 3h | ⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | ➡️ Book Now

This Sintra Private Hiking Adventure Tour , led by a local expert with deep knowledge of the area’s secrets, offers an immersive experience that combines cultural insights, historical exploration, and natural beauty.

It’s the best hiking tour in Sintra because it goes to some secret spots that are not seen on typical walking tours.

Starting with a treat at Queijadas Sapa , famous for traditional pastries, the hike includes a visit to the historic Church of Santa Maria , a journey to the Moorish Castle , breathtaking views from Miradouro Santa Eufemia , and a walk through the gardens of Seteais Palace .

If time permits, the final stop is a visit to the enchanting Pub Medieval Casa do Fauno in the forest, where the waiters are dressed as medieval characters and serve mead.

🚙 Best Off-Road Sintra Tour

⏱Tour Length: 6h | ⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | ➡️ Book Now

Get ready for the ultimate Sintra adventure with the Sintra Vintage 4×4 Jeep Tour !

This journey takes you through enchanting forests, along stunning cliffs, and all the way to the westernmost point of Europe.

The off-road segments are thrilling and a little bumpy, but that’s part of the fun!

The tour kicks off at Portela de Sintra Train Station , just 1 stop before Sintra Train Station.

Then you will have a hearty Portuguese lunch , including wine. This 5-6 hour tour is packed with local flavors like travesseiro pastries and ginja liquor .

With captivating stories from your guide and a small group setting, you’re in for an intimate and exhilarating adventure on Sintra’s best off-roading tour!

🚴‍♂️ Best Active Sintra Tour

On this E-Bike Rental & Self-Guided Tour in Sintra , you’ll have the freedom to explore its stunning landscapes and historical sites at your own pace.

With a user-friendly electric bike and a handy app to guide you , you’ll effortlessly navigate through the enchanting roads, from Quinta da Regaleira to Palácio de Monserrate , and even the mystical forest towards Santuario da Peninha .

The tour includes diverse routes to choose from, each offering a unique experience and varying in difficulty to suit your cycling comfort.

Plus, you’re never alone! The tour operators stay in touch throughout the day, providing free local support whenever needed.

It’s the perfect blend of adventure, culture, and ease, making it the top pick for an active and independent exploration of Sintra.

🏖️ Best Sintra Tour Including Cascais

⏱Tour Length: 9h | ⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | ➡️ Book Now

This Sintra and Cascais Tour is a traveler’s delight, offering a unique blend of cultural richness and scenic beauty.

It combines the UNESCO-listed wonders of Sintra, the charming seaside vibes of Cascais , and the picturesque allure of Azenhas do Mar and Estoril .

Don’t miss the chance to savor incredible seafood at Restaurante Baía Cascais , adding a gastronomic highlight to your adventure.

Plus, with private round-trip transportation, you’re guaranteed a hassle-free day soaking in the marvels of these destinations.

🌊 Best Sintra Tour Including Cabo da Roca

On this Wonders of Sintra & Coast Tour , you’ll not only explore the enchanting Pena Palace and Sintra’s historic center but also dive into the coastal charm of Cabo da Roca .

Cabo da Roca is a must-visit for its stunning panoramic views and the iconic lighthouse, making it a perfect spot for memorable photos and to witness the powerful intersection of land and sea.

With the added thrill of visiting Cabo da Roca, Europe’s westernmost point, this tour stands out as the ultimate Portugal coast experience.

The intimate visit to Portugal’s oldest wine seller in Colares adds a delightful touch to the tour!

🏰 Best Sintra Tour Including the Moorish Castle

Most tours go to Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira, but few also include the Moorish Castle as a stop.

The Moorish Castle , perched high with its 10th-century ancient walls and breathtaking views, stretching to the Atlantic, is a must-visit.

This top-rated Sintra tour not only includes the mystical Moorish Castle but also leads you to the colorful Pena Palace , the quaint Sintra Historic Center , and the serene Guincho Beach.

The knowledgeable guide ensures you soak up every bit of Sintra’s rich history and culture.

How to Get to Sintra

Traveling from Lisbon to Sintra is a breeze, and we’re here to share some practical tips to make your journey smooth and enjoyable.

Taking the train is not only budget-friendly but also a fantastic way to soak in the scenic beauty of Portugal .

From Lisbon’s Rossio or Oriente stations, trains to Sintra depart regularly, roughly every 30 minutes. The train ride is a leisurely 40 minutes.

It’ll only set you back around €2.25 for a one-way ticket, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious travelers.

By Uber or Taxi:

If you’re looking for a more direct and convenient option, Uber or private taxis are at your service.

Depending on your starting point in Lisbon and the traffic, the cost can vary between €30 to €50.

It might be a bit pricier than the train, but it offers comfort and convenience, especially if you’re traveling with luggage or prefer a door-to-door service.

Where to Stay in Sintra

• This five-star hotel is situated in a former palace with stunning views of Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle above.

• Casa do Valle offers a comfortable and scenic experience near Sintra’s key attractions with garden views and a pool.
• This stylish, modern hostel is centrally located and offers both private and shared accommodations to quickly jump on tours in Sintra.

Portugal 8 Day Itinerary

Sintra is a part of our recommended 8-day itinerary in Portugal. We have all the transportation, accommodation, restaurant, and activity tips here!

FAQs for Sintra Tours

What is the best sintra tour.

The best tours in Sintra feature a knowledgeable local guide and take you to must-see spots like Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, the Moorish Castle, and extend to the stunning Cabo da Roca and Cascais on the coast.

We think the Palaces of Sintra & Gardens Private Tour is the best one that combines everything Sintra has to offer. While small group tours in Sintra are great, Sintra private tours are our favorite.

Is it better to do a tour of Sintra?

Absolutely, a tour of Sintra is better than a DIY day! Getting around Sintra is not easy, so guided transportation makes the day hassle-free. Plus, a guide will share loads of fascinating stories and details you might otherwise miss.

Can I visit Sintra without a tour?

Absolutely! You can visit Sintra on your own, but taking a tour will enhance the experience. Tours provide easy transportation and a guide who shares lots of interesting information, making your day even better.

How much time do you need in Sintra?

In Sintra, a full day is perfect for a jam-packed adventure! You’ll have just enough time to explore the Pena Palace, Moorish Castle, Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra National Palace, and the charming city center.

In Conclusion: Best Tours in Sintra

We hope this guide has illuminated the path to finding and booking the perfect Sintra tour for your interests and style of travel.

Whether you fancy a private Sintra tour, an engaging audio guide, or a unique journey via tuk-tuk or classic car, Sintra has it all for you to explore.

Wishing you an awesome adventure in the magical realms of Sintra and the heart of Portugal. Happy exploring!

We wish you the best travels and don’t forget to set your “ Out of Office !” 

🌟 Loving our content? Support the journey — buy us a coffee! ☕️

Read More About Portugal

• Portugal 8 Day Itinerary – 3 EXCELLENT Options
• Lisbon and Algarve Itinerary: GREAT 5 to 10 Day Options

Central Portugal

• How Many Days in Lisbon Do You Need
• Lisbon Itinerary 4 Days – The Perfect Guide
• Lisbon to Algarve: 7 Best Options Explained
• 13 BEST Tours in Sintra
• Getting Around Sintra: 10 Great Options
• Pena Palace or Quinta da Regaleira: Which is Better?
• Visit the Evora Chapel of Bones + Top 10 Evora Attractions
• 16 BEST Evora Tours: 2024 Travel Guide
• Guide to Evora Megaliths: Portuguese Stonehenge

Northern Portugal

• The PERFECT 48 Hours in Porto Itinerary
• Is Porto Worth Visiting? An Honest Review
• Best Douro Valley Wine Tours: 2024 Travel Guide
• Is Coimbra Worth Visiting? 23 Great Reasons to Visit Coimbra
• 15 BEST Coimbra Tours
• 18 BEST Day Trips From Coimbra
• Bussaco Forest Guide: Top 10 Sites & Best 5 Hikes

Algarve (Southern Portugal)

• AWESOME Lisbon to Algarve Road Trip Itinerary
• 15 Best Day Trips from Lagos, Portugal
• How to Get from Lagos to Sagres
• 15 Best Algarve Towns Ranked
• 21 BEST Day Trips from Albufeira
• 11 Best Things to Do in Faro Old Town
• Faro Nightlife: 46 BEST Things to Do at Night in Faro
• 17 BEST Hotels in Faro with Pools
• Faro in Winter: 13 FUN Things to Do
• Faro to Albufeira: 9 EASIEST Options

Portugal Travel Planning Guide

🚙💨  Is it safe to rent a car in Portugal?

Yes  —  Renting a car  is a necessity in most of Portugal if traveling between cities!

If you want to go on day trips or adventures outside of the major cities, you can use public transportation, but we recommend renting a car. Discover Cars is our go-to choice for car rentals in Portugal.

📲  Will my phone work in Portugal?

Maybe, but it will be expensive — Depending on your provider, plans can charge you $10 per day while in Europe.

To use your phone in Portugal and save money, we recommend an eSim with Airalo . Airalo simplifies the steps and provides you with all the necessary data for convenient travel.

There is not a lot of free WIFI in Portugal, so you’ll need your phone for navigating.

🌐 Do I need a VPN when on the internet in Portugal?

While abroad, we consistently prioritize our online security by using a VPN to appear as if we’re streaming from the US and protect ourselves from cybercrime.

NordVPN serves as an incredibly convenient solution for both mobile phones and laptops, effortlessly ensuring our safety while browsing or streaming.

🏩  What’s the best way to book my Portugal accommodations?

Our go-to for Portuguese hotels is  Booking.com . They offer the widest range of choices, and their filtering system simplifies the process of discovering the perfect accommodation for your needs.

✈️  What’s the best site to buy f lights to Portugal?

For finding cheap flights to Portugal, we recommend  Kayak . Their awesome multi-city flight search and handy price notifications help us save big, allowing us to splurge on other adventures once we arrive.

TAP Air Portugal is usually our airline of choice while in Portugal.

🚐 Should I book tours in Portugal? Do the guides speak English?

We LOVE taking tours in Portugal.

We prefer to book our tours on Viator and GetYourGuide for easy searching, trusted reviews, and transparent pricing. We always filter for the tours that are offered in English.

For free walking tours in English, we always book through GuruWalk .

🚑  Should I buy Portugal travel insurance?

100% YES!  — Portugal has a publicly funded healthcare system known as the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), which provides universal healthcare coverage to all Portuguese citizens and legal residents!

Foreigners visiting need travel insurance in case anything happens on their visit. We recommend  Safety Wing  – they provide general travel coverage as well as medical !

💧 Can you drink the water in Portugal?

Sometimes  — In many areas of Portugal, the water is safe to drink. However, there can be variations in water quality from one location to another.

In some rural or remote areas, or in older buildings with outdated plumbing systems, water quality might not be as high.

For an extra layer of protection, we recommend always using a  LifeStraw Go Series to stay safe and hydrated.

🎫  Do I need a visa for Portugal?

Likely Not  — US passport holders don’t need Portuguese visas for travel less than 3 months . If you plan to stay for more than 3 months, you will be considered a resident and must have an entrance visa .

Meet Kelsea and Nicholas, the dynamic team behind Out of Office Mindset. They're on a thrilling quest to visit all 7 continents in 5 years, traveling non-stop. So far, they've had an epic year-long US road trip and visited 20 countries (and counting!). They're all about diving into different cultures and learning from their experiences. As avid explorers, they know how a well-planned trip can change you. Their mission? Helping every visitor to Out of Office Mindset plan their next awesome adventure with ease.

The 7 Best Sintra Private Tours: A Review and Comparison 2024

Looking for the Best Sintra Private Tours?

We got you covered! Sintra is one of the best destinations for private tours from Lisbon , and having a local guide can add an extra layer of knowledge and insight to your experience, as well as save you time.

I have visited Sintra many times since we live so nearby and am amazed every time by its incredible palaces. Hiring a guide is really the best way to get the most out of your visit. With their local expertise, they customise your tour to your interests and preferences while showing you hidden gems in the area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

In this article, we’ll review some of the best-rated private tours of Sintra’s old town available from both independent local guides and small tour companies, so you can make an informed decision knowing what kind of private tours are available and which option is best for you!

⭐ Our Top Pick ⭐

If you’re looking for the Sintra Tour with a local who really knows his stuff and will create the perfect tour for your group, I recommend Alex from Top Ten Tours . He really goes all out to make sure his clients have a great day and his reviews are phenomenal.

✅ Check availability and price of a Sintra Full Day Tour with Alex .

The Best Sintra Private Tours

There is so much to see in Sintra! And you never have enough time to see it all. Private tours are great because you can customize your time to see what interests you the most. Guides generally recommend no more than 1 monument per half day .

The following options offer half-day or full-day, in different types of transportation. Most private tours don’t include entry to attractions, but guides always arrange quick entrance so you have minimum waiting time .

Private guides are generally very knowledgeable and speak fluent English , providing an in-depth look at Sintra’s culture and suggestions for lunch stops , etc.

1. From Lisbon: Full-Day Private Sintra Tours from Lisbon

⭐️  RATING:  5/5 Stars | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:   8 hours

✅  Book it!

Trip Details- Why You’ll Love it

On this full-day private day tour of Sintra’s palaces and gardens, you will be able to explore the lush natural surroundings and uncover the secret of its royal heritage in a van.

This Sintra tour from Lisbon offers the options of an in-depth visit to two monuments of your choice, Sintra’s center, a visit to Cabo da Roca, and/or a stop in Cascais, at the group’s discretion.

Get a close look at Quinta da Regaleira, Monserrat, Pena Palace, Sintra National Palace, or Castelo dos Mouros before browsing the quaint little shops in the village and enjoying a delicious lunch.

The trip back to Lisbon can include a stop at the most western point in Europe, Cabo da Roca, or in Cascais to see the village center. It all depends on the group’s preference and what is discussed with the guide.

Itinerary: Pena palace/Monserrat/Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra National Palace/Cabo da Roca/Castelo dos Mouros, Cabo da Roca, Cascais.

Price: From 125 €/person – Bring cash for the tickets to palaces (around 10€ each) and for lunch (from 10 to 30€/person)

Included: Guide, Transportation from Port or Hotel,

Departure Time/Duration: 9 am departure for a duration of 8 hours.

Meeting Point: At your hotel or flat.

Transportation: Black Mercedes van

Book a Sintra Tour with Alex from Top Ten Tours

Rated 5 stars by 332 people on GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor

Very fortunate to have Alex of Top Ten Tours as a guide, well-informed, articulate, and as a local of Sintra extremely knowledgeable on this particular trip. Also a good sense of humor which always helps. I can not recommend him highly enough. Well worth the money. GetYourGuide traveler – See more reviews

Book a Sintra Tour from Lisbon with Hugo from O Mundo Romano

Rated 5 stars by 70 people on Viator and TripAdvisor

There’s no better way to experience the Sintra and Cascais area! Hugo was knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. Hugo’s knowledge of the area and his service allowed us to fully enjoy this amazing region, stress-free! Highly recommended! TripAdvisor Reviewer – See more reviews

Book a Lisbon to Sintra Tour with Diana from Ride for you Portugal

Rated 5 stars by 79 people on Trip Advisor and Viator.

Diana was amazing! She really made our day. Low rates, great hospitality, an incredible knowledge. I could not recommend her anymore she made this day one of our favorites during our 10-year anniversary. TripAdvisor Traveler – See more Reviews

2. Private Tuk-Tuk Sintra Tour, palaces, and Cabo da Roca – by Soul Travelers

⭐️  RATING:  5/5 Stars | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:   3 hours

This is a half-day version of the above, with only one monument visited during the tour. On this Private Sintra to Lisbon Tour on a tuk-tuk , you will have the opportunity to explore some of the most spectacular sites Portugal has to offer from a Tuk Tuk!

You will pass by the majestic Pena Palace, with its vibrant colors and romantic architecture, the Castelo dos Mouros and Sintra National Palace and enjoy breathtaking views over the valley. Experience the beauty of this region with your very own private guide.

Your knowledgeable guide will take you to some of the most enchanting spots in Sintra before making a stop at Quinta da Regaleira as well as windswept Cabo da Roca, the most Western point of Europe.

This tour is ideally lots of fun for 2 to 4 people since space is reduced in a tuk-tuk, and requires a minimum of 2 people.

Itinerary: Pass by the Pena Palace, Castelo dos Mouros, and Sintra National Palace. Visit Quinta da Regaleira, and Cabo da Roca.

Price: From 65 €, Bring cash for the tickets to Quinta da Regaleira (10€)

Included: Transportation, a water bottle

Departure Time/Duration: Departure at the client’s discretion. 4-hour tour.

Meeting Point: Sintra train station

Transportation: Tuk Tuk

Book a Lisbon to Sintra Tour with Pedro from Soul Travelers

Rated 5 stars by 103 people on Viator

Pedro gave us a terrific tuk-tuk tour of Sintra. He was knowledgeable, charming and knew all the best spots to stop for fabulous views and photo ops. Plus he was lots of fun! amyfitzsimmons, Viator – See more reviews

3. Private Half-Day Sintra Tour by Classic Renault 4L – by Mr. Local

⭐️  RATING:  5/5 Stars | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:   3-5 hours

Another half-day option, but this time the tour is in a Renault 4L ! Here we propose visiting the Castelo dos Mouros and the Pena Palace. The guide, Diogo is a local and knows all the lesser-known spots and their stories.

Diogo will take you past some of the most enchanting places in Sintra like Pena Palace, Chalet Biester, and other secret stops in between. A stop at the Moorish Castle is perfect for military history buffs and has impressive views of the region below.

This tour is definitely intimate due to the small size of the car(max 4 people), allowing you to take in all of Sintra’s beauty in style!

Itinerary: stops will include views of the National palace and Sintra historical Center, a visit of the Moorish Castle, Chalet Biester, a visit of Pena Palace, tour of the Sintra mountains, Cabo da Roca and Azenhas do Mar.

Price: From 65 €, Bring cash for the tickets to Castelo dos Mouros (10€)

Departure Time/Duration: Departure at client’s discretion. 4 hour tour.

Meeting Point: Sintra Train Station

Transportation: Classic lime green Renault 4L

Book one of the best Private Sintra Tours with Diogo from Mr. Local

Rated 5 stars by 153 people on Viator.

Had a great day on our tour in Sintra! Really unique experience to travel around Sintra area with a local and felt it encompassed the Portuguese lifestyle by having the flexibility to help guide how we wanted our time to be spent. Loved the tuk-tuk! Jamie_G. Viator, See more Reviews

4. Landrover Jeep Sintra Tour – by Classic Sintra Tours

Another full-day tour, but this time tour Sintra in a classic Landrover jeep ! Here the suggestion is to choose 2 monuments to visit during the day, and let Franscisco be your guide.

Choose from Pena Palace, Monserrat, or Quinta da Regaleira. Next he suggests dramatic Cabo da Roca, Azenhas do Mar, and or Cascais. The emphasis here is on personalizing the experience as much as possible, and visitors are given ALL the choices!

Itinerary: A choice of Pena Palace, Monserrat, Regaleira, Cabo da Roca, Azenhas do Mar, or Cascais

Price: From 110€. Bring cash for the tickets to monuments (each under 10€) and about 30€/person for lunch

Included: Transportation, guide and bottled water.

Transportation: dark green Landrover jeep 6 seater.

Book one of the best Private Sintra Tours with Francisco from Classic Sintra Tours

Rated 5 stars by 74 people on Viator.

Francisco was kind, patient, and very knowledgeable about Sintra and the surrounding areas. When they say personalized, they mean it. Would highly recommend and make it your own great experience! Shamir_K, Viator – See more reviews

5. Sintra: Full Day Trip Private Tours Sintra from Lisbon with Wine Tasting- Lisbon on Wheels

⭐️  RATING:  4.8/5 Stars | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:   8 hours

This full-day tour offers a few slightly different options, besides the Sintra monuments and the coastal villages of Estoril and Cascais. A visit to the Palacio de Queluz is suggested early in the tour, as well as a wine-tasting and vineyard visit to the Regional de Colares Winery to make sure you finish the day off on a high note!

Opulent Palacio de Queluz is an interesting monument which is frequently overlooked in Lisbon. It has been used as a temporary residence for visiting dignitaries in the past and has beautiful gardens.

It’s worth noting that this tour includes the Pena Palace entry ticket as well as the wine tasting, which makes it a pretty good deal for 4 people.

Itinerary: Visit Palacio de Queluz, Sintra Nacional Palace, Moorish Castle, Pena Palace, Regaleira, Cabo da Roca, Estoril, Cascais, wine tasting in Colares.

Price: 225 €/group up to 4 people. Bring cash for the tickets to monuments (each under 10€) and about 30€/person for lunch

Included: Transportation, guide and bottled water, wine tasting and Pena Palace entry ticket.

Meeting Point: Hotel Pick-up

Transportation: Black Mercedes Van or car depending on size of group.

Book a Full Day Trip Sintra from Lisbon Tour with Jose from Lisbon on Wheels

Rated 5 stars by 54 people on GetYourGuide.

This tour was awesome- Jose was an amazing guide- so knowledgeable and took us to an amazing lunch spot right on the water. He had great suggestions and was so flexible. Would highly recommend to everyone! GetYourGuide Traveller – See more reviews

6. Self Guided E-car: Pena Palace,Castelo dos Mouros, Regaleira, Monserrate by Go2Cintra

⭐️  RATING:  5/5 Stars | ⏳  TOUR LENGTH:   7 hours

This is a fun alternative to having a private driver and tour guide. Cars take up to 2 people and are easy to maneuver through Sintra’s winding roads.

These cute e-cars come with a wifi hotspot, and a phone charging station so you can take advantage of the Routzz App which gives you waypoints for each monument you would like to visit in Sintra.

The car tracking system the company uses means that if you take a wrong turn Diego and his team will call you right away to help you get back on track! The service is incredibly efficient and although you don’t have a guide with you, you do feel like you are being led by the team.

Visitors also receive a message detailing the history and highlights of each attraction once they arrive. The information and experience can’t really be compared to having a local guide, but is cheaper and definitely a step up from walking between monuments.

Itinerary : Palacio da Pena, Castelo dos Mouros, Quinta da Regaleira and Jardins e Palácio de Monserrate

Price: 70€ per day.

Included: Routzz App with routes between Sintra´s attractions and commentary as well as the best places to park for free. A phone charging station and wifi hotspot and all Risk insurance.

Departure Time/Duration: Departure at client’s discretion. 7 hour rental.

Meeting Point: Av. Dr. Miguel Bombarda 37, 2710-523 Sintra, right next to the train station.

Transportation: your very own tiny e-car

Availability: Monday to Saturday 9:00am to 6:00 pm

Book a Sintra e-car Private Tour with Diego with Go2Cintra

Rated 5 stars by 28 people on TripAdvisor and Viator

We had an amazing time with Jose and the Go2 Cintra team. Great customer service, easy process and super friendly. Highly recommended if you want a fun experience on the Sintra roads. John, Viator – See more reviews

7. Sintra & Cascais e-bike Guided Tour

Trip Details- Why You’ll Love it If you’re already in Sintra, or don’t mind taking the train, this tour is ideal for you! Hop on an e-bike and zoom through the stunning landscapes of Sintra on a guided tour designed to show off Sintra’s lesser seen gems.

This tour lets you see several places in Sintra without getting too tired, thanks to the electric bike that helps you up the hills. You’ll get to check out cool spots like the historic center of Sintra and the beautiful Quinta da Regaleira, as well as the Penedo in the Sintra-Cascais natural park all while learning lots of fun facts about the places you pedal through.

Finish off by cruising by Praia do Guincho, and seeing Cascais, the quaint seaside town. From here you can take the train back to Lisbon after having visited Cascais’ center or dipping your toes in the sea.

Itinerary : Sintra National Palace, Seteais Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Palácio de Monserrate, Penedo, Santuario da Peninha, Praia do Guincho and Cascais.

Price: 95€ per day.

Included: A local guide, an e-bike and helmet as well as water. Bring cash for monument entry.

Departure Time/Duration: Start in Sintra at 9:30 am

Meeting Point: right next to the Sintra train station. Tour finishes in Cascais.

Transportation: your very own e-bike

Availability: Monday to Saturday at 9:30am

Book Sintra & Cascais e-bike Guided Tour

Rated 5 stars by 19 people on Viator

We had a wonderful ride. I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to get away from the crowds and enjoy the beautiful countryside. Sarah, Viator- See more reviews

How to Choose Your Private Tour of Sintra from Lisbon

Here is a list of several points to consider when choosing from the best Sintra tours for your group.

1. Departure Time/Duration – Decide how long you’d like your tour to last and whether a morning or afternoon departure works best.

2. Meeting Point – are you willing to pay a little more for the convenience of a hotel pick-up, or would you prefer to take an easy scenic train ride to Sintra? Remember that your tour usually ends where it started.

3. Included Services – Make sure you find out if any monument entrance tickets are included in the price and if there are any extra costs during your tour.

4. Price Point – How much is your budget for the experience? Remember that prices are usually per person, but sometimes are set per car/van/tuk-tuk. The price usually varies depending on the type of transport, duration, and whether a hotel pickup in Lisbon is included.

7. Availability – Check if there are any restrictions on dates or times when tours are available before booking. Most private tours are available year-round, but some are not offered on holidays or Sundays.

9 Reviews & Ratings – This is what takes the cake! Read reviews from other customers who have already taken part in a tour with the same guide. This will give you an idea of what to expect, what people enjoyed the most, and will be what convinces you they are the right choice for your group.

10. Tour Itinerary – Establish what you would like to see and do on your tour to Sintra and discuss this with your chosen local guide. They will adapt the tour for your personal preferences and create a curated experience just for your group.

Private Tours Sintra FAQ

Do you need a guided tour of sintra.

If you have lots of time to wander around and wait in lineups then Sintra is doable on your own. A guided tour is the best way to make the most of your time in Sintra by skipping lineups, not worrying about transportation and not having to plan an itinerary.

What is the best way to explore Sintra?

The best way to explore Sintra is by taking a private tour. Private tours are tailored to your interests and offer exclusive access, expert guidance from local guides, and provide the flexibility to plan an itinerary that suits your needs. Plus, you’ll avoid waiting in lineups and have convenient transportation between sites.

Is a day trip to Sintra worth it?

Yes, a day trip to Sintra is absolutely worth it! There are so many stunning and unique places to explore, with numerous attractions and landmarks that make the area one of Portugal’s most popular destinations for travelers.

What is the best day of the week to visit Sintra?

The best day of the week to visit Sintra is either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday , as these are the days that avoid the Portuguese visiting for a long weekend and therefore offer more opportunities to explore without having to wait in lineups. Saturdays can be quite busy in Sintra, so it’s best to plan your trip during midweek if possible.

Which is better Sintra or Cascais?

Although Sintra does offer more variety of activities and more attractions , it depends on individual preferences and interests. Sintra is known for its beautiful palaces and gardens, while Cascais offers stunning beaches, waterfront restaurants, cafes and shopping opportunities. Both are popular day trips from Lisbon, why not visit both!

Can you get around Sintra without a car?

Yes, you can get around Sintra without a car. Public transportation such as buses and trains are easily accessible and affordable. There are also tuk-tuks, and hop on hop off busses which allow visitors to explore Sintra with ease and convenience. Finally, taxis are also available if needed.

The Best Sintra Day Tours from Lisbon: The Wrap-Up

We hope this round-up has helped you in the process of choosing the best Sintra private tour for you and your group. Visiting any new destination can be overwhelming, but with a private guide showing you the way, there’s no need to worry about lineups, transport or creating an itinerary.

We hope the wealth of knowledge and inside information a local guide brings to the table, means your customized experience becomes the highlight of your trip to Portugal.

A beachcomber, an avid bookworm, and a teacher. Michelle is a Canadian travel blogger who writes about Ericeira and Portugal. She is the founder and creator of Ericeira Family Adventures and fell in love with the charming Portuguese village when she was enticed to move there in 2014. She now lives in Lisbon, with her little boy Luca and Leo the cat.  Follow her adventures on Ericeirafamilyadventures.com.

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Essential Free Tour Sintra

• Discover the rich history and cultural diversity of Sintra, a fairytale-like UNESCO World Heritage Site .
• Learn about Sintra's connections to the Knights Templars and famous Romantic artists like Lord Byron and Richard Strauss.
• Enjoy a small group tour led by a knowledgeable local guide who can provide insight on the art, gastronomy, legends, and mysteries of Sintra .

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