Sintra is a romantic village located on the outskirts of Lisbon, Portugal. Take a stroll down the charming streets, wonder through the whimsical palaces, or even hike one of the majestic, wooded trails that make up this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Getting to Sintra is a quick and easy journey from Lisbon, making it the perfect day-trip from Portugal's capital city.
7:30 AM: Take the Train from Lisbon to Sintra
Getting to Sintra from Lisbon is a quick, easy journey. Take the (above ground) train from Lisboa Rossio to Sintra for a duration of roughly 40 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at the train station at the kiosks and in-person. Be sure to buy a round-trip ticket as this train will also be your transportation back to Lisbon. In order to make the most of your day in Sintra, we recommend catching a train around 7:30 am.
Tickets: Round-trip tickets cost roughly €4.60 / Person (2022 pricing)
8:30 AM: Arrive at Café Saudade
Located a two minute walk from the Sintra train station is the famous Café Saudade. Arriving here right when it opens (8:30am; Closed Mondays and Tuesdays) will allow you to grab a quick breakfast and avoid the lines. Try one of their giant scones, a traditional Portugese pastry called Pastel de Nata (custard tart), a Queijada (filled with almond-and-egg yolk cream), or a Travesseiro (puff pastry).
Try: the famous Sintra pastries, Queijada and Travesseiro
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9:15 AM: Single-Trip 434 Bus to Pena Palace
A few minutes walk down the street will lead you to Sintra Estação which is the bus stop for the 434 bus to Pena Palace (3rd stop). From this point, the ticket you choose to buy is based off your personal preference, although we recommend a single-trip ticket (€3.9 / person in 2022) if you are following our itinerary. You can purchase your tickets with cash on the bus or across the street from Sintra Estacão in the main ticket office.
Please Note: The ticket office will encourage you to buy a round-trip ticket by warning you that the walk back down the hill is along-side a narrow road. However, there is a safe 15-minute walking path that brings you back to the town of Sintra via Castelo dos Mouros that we will outline below.
9:45 AM: Arrive at Pena Palace
Hours: 9:30am - 6pm
Pena Palace is a magical, fairy-tale castle placed atop a hill and decorated with pastel colors. Get here right when it opens to avoid the crowds and have a chance to explore the grounds without flocks of tourists.
Ticket kiosks are available at the entrance of the castle, however, there will be a long line at all hours. We recommend purchasing your tickets ahead of time to skip the lines and head straight through the castle gates. Upon entry, a short 10-minute up-hill walk will lead you to the castle. A shuttle service is also offered for a small fee.
Tickets: €14 / Adult (buy tickets in advance here)
Pena Palace is the most popular palace in Sintra and for a good reason. The ornately decorated exterior, winding corridors, and numerous watchtowers make you feel as though you are living the life of royalty.
Do not miss the narrow path that takes you around the castles exterior. This provides excellent views of the forested terrain and surrounding Sintra castles. Exploring the castle's exterior is a magical experience, however, there is much more to explore within these intricately designed walls.
Interior tours of the castle are included in your entry ticket and require a time-slot. We recommend booking a time-slot of 10:30am or 11:00am in order to allow yourself sufficient time to explore the castle's exterior prior to massive crowds and tour groups arriving for the day.
With additional time at Pena Palace, you may consider walking the 20 minute path to the High Cross (Cruz Alta) which is a scenic spot perched on a high hill and surrounded by magnificent gardens. The view from High Cross allows for a majestic vantage point of the Pena Palace.
12:00 PM: Walk to Castelo dos Mouros
Walk back down through the Pena gardens to the main road (Estrada da Pena) that you were dropped off at by the 434 bus. From here, it is a five minute walk up the road to the Castelo dos Mouros ticket booths.
Similar to Pena Palace, we recommend purchasing your Castelo dos Mouros tickets in advance to maximize your time in Sintra. However, the ticket lines at Castelo dos Mouros are far less busy should you chose to buy your tickets in the moment.
Tickets: €6 / Adult (book your tickets in advance here)
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12:15 PM: Explore the Moorish Castle
Hours: 9:30am - 6:30pm
Castelo dos Mouros is a medieval fortress, located at the peak of the Sintra Hills that was erected in the 10th century. This was one of our favorite castles to explore because it combined marvelous castle walls with overgrown greenery and garden mazes.
J&L Tip: The Moorish Castle provided incredible views, similar to Pena Palace without the crowds! It also provided a breathtaking view of Pena Palace from afar.
Wind through the trails of Castelo dos Mouros, climb to new heights with magnificent panoramic views, and descend into abundant forestry. While Castelo dos Mouros does not have the glamorous interior of Pena Palace, we found the medieval architecture and green landscape to be the ideal playground for epic views.
1:30 PM: Descend to the Town of Sintra
From Castelo dos Mouros, it is a 1,4 km walk (roughly one mile) via a paved/cobblestone path to the Sintra city center. Look for the below sign, located near a small tower and a building exhibit with videos showcasing the history of the Moorish Castle.
The path takes you through the gorgeous gardens of Castelo dos Mouros, winds you down switchbacks as you descent Sintra Hill for about a half of a mile. Once you emerge from the forest, it is roughly an additional three quarters of a mile to walk along the street to Quinta da Regaleira. We have outlined the entire path via this map as Google Maps does not recognize the trail.
J&L Tip: This path is pinned on our Portugal Google Map to help you navigate throughout your travels
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2:15 PM: Quinta da Regaleira
Hours: 10am - 5:30pm
Each of the three castles visited in this Sintra day-trip itinerary are unique. Quinta da Regaleira is a renaissance-style manor located near the town of Sintra with sprawling gardens, labyrinths, underground grottoes, and fairy-tale towers. As one of the lesser-known castles of Sintra, Quinta da Regaleira's expansive gardens will allow you to escape the crowds of Sintra, even in peak afternoon hours.
Tickets: €6 / Adult (book your tickets in advance here)
The beauty of Quinta da Regaleira is that there are surprises around every corner. Get lost in the gardens and you will stumble upon hidden gems, each more beautiful than the last. One of our favorites was the Initiation Well, which allows you to descend underground into the mossy well and leads to an underground tunnel with mazes and trickling waterfalls.
J&L Tip: If you are one who enjoys gardens, put Quinta da Regaleira high on your list!
3:30 PM: Explore Historical Sintra
Located a short, five-minute walk from Quinta da Regaleira is the historical downtown Sintra. The downtown in decorated with the blue ceramic tiles called Portuguese Azulejos that bring life to the streets and buildings. Wander the streets, do some shopping for souvenirs, or simply sample more Portuguese pastries at Casa Piriquita or Queijadas da Sapa.
Ready for Happy Hour? Stop at Villa Craft Beer & Bread for a tasty selection of draft beers and wood-oven bruschetta to pair!
Looking to combine a trip to Sintra with the nearby fishing village of Cascais? Book your tour from Lisbon here!
Additional Time
With additional time, you may consider adding Sintra National Palace to your itinerary. Sintra National Palace houses an impressive Azulejos collection, as well as, a more formal interior castle tour compared to the other Sintra palaces. With only one day in Sintra, we chose to prioritize Pena Palace, Castelos dos Mouros, and Quinta da Regaleira due to their hilltop views, nature, and unique architecture. However, you may chose differently depending on your interests.
Sintra National Palace Tickets: €10 / Adult (book your tickets in advance here; Hours: 9:30am - 6:30pm)
The final palace worth mentioning is the Park and Palace of Monserrate. This palace, similar to Quinta da Regaleira, is one you will be able to explore without the crowds. The extravagant gardens and a royally ornate interior makes this palace absolutely stunning.
You can get to the Palace of Monserrate via a 15 minute ride on the 435 bus (walking is not recommended). If you chose to purchase a hop-on-hop-off bus ticket for €11.5 / Person, this will allow you to ride both the 434 (to Pena Palace) and 435 buses throughout the day.
Palace of Monserrate Tickets: €8 / Adult (book your tickets in advance here; Hours: 9am - 6:30pm)
5:00 PM: Journey Back to Lisbon
Getting back to Lisbon is just as simple as getting to Sintra. Hop on the train at Sintra train station heading toward Lisboa - Rossio. If you bought a round-trip ticket back in Lisbon, simply scan your ticket and hop on the train. This train departs to Lisbon every 30 minutes (last train at 10pm). Roughly 40 minutes later you will be back in Lisbon with plenty of time to grab a bite to eat for dinner.
J&L Tip: Use Rome2Rio to map your route in real time and determine the train departure time that best suits your travel needs.
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Planning Your Trip
What is the best way to get around Sintra?
The best way to get around Sintra is a mixture of walking and public transportation. While Uber and taxis do exist in Sintra, it is not recommended with the narrow, steep, and winding roads. Getting around via the Scot URB bus system is the easiest, quickest, and most affordable method of transportation. Alternatively, you can also hire a Tuk Tuk if you prefer an open-air experience.
Scot URB Bus Ticket Options (2022 pricing):
434 Single Trip Ticket | €3.9 / Adult (recommended for our above itinerary) |
434 Round Trip Ticket | €7 / Adult (recommended for minimal walking) |
Hop-on-Hop-off All Day Ticket | €11.5 / Adult (recommended if you plan to visit the Palace of Monserrate or are arriving to Sintra via Cascais) |
Can you do a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon?
Sintra is a very common day trip from Lisbon. Leaving early and avoiding long lines by purchasing your entry tickets in advance will allow you to make the most of your trip to Sintra from Lisbon. As with most incredible destinations, Sintra certainly deserves more than 24 hours to explore. It is not realistic to visit all five Sintra palaces in just one day. However, choosing your favorites and planning out an itinerary will allow you to visit anywhere from 2 to 4 of the Sintra palaces in a day trip from Lisbon.
How much does Sintra cost? (2022 pricing)
Below outlines our per-person expenses in Sintra for the above itinerary:
Round Trip Train to Sintra from Lisbon | €4.6 / Adult |
Breakfast Pastries & Coffee | €5 / Adult |
434 Single Trip Ticket | €3.9 / Adult |
Pena Palace Entry | €14 / Adult |
Castelo dos Mouros Entry | €6 / Adult |
Quinta da Regaleira Entry | €6 / Adult |
Lunch and Happy Hour | €8 / Adult |
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