Sintra | Portugal

Sintra is a city worth visiting when in Lisbon. There are colorful palaces and castles just like from a fairy tale book (and it’s all under UNESCO protection).

Before you go

Transportation to Sintra

We did a day excursion to Sintra from Lisbon with the train but you can also choose to stay the night in Sintra. 

When you’re taking the train to Sintra, you just have to pay a return ticket at Rossio station. The train ride takes 40 minutes and has air conditioning.

Fee: €5, Free with the Lisbon Card

Sad Fact: We bought our ticket when the train just left. We had to wait 30 minutes for another train.

You can also go to Sintra by bus. Just take bus 417 in Cascais and after 30 minutes, you’ll arrive in Sintra. Bus 403 will take you there in 1 hour. 

Fee: €8.60

Transportation in Sintra

When we got off the train, we had to wait in line for the busses that will take you to the palaces. You can also walk to the palaces but what I saw from the buss I would spare my strength for the palaces itself! 

Sad Fact: We were there at 10.30 AM and there were a lot of tourists (we went in May, still low season normally). 

You have 2 busses that you can take. Buss n°434 (€6.4) will stop at Castelo dos Mouros, the Palacio de Nacional de Pena, the Palacio Nacional de Sintra and the train station of Sintra. Bus n°435 will bring you to Palacio Quinta da Regaleira and Palacio de Monserrate. 

We first took bus n°434 to go to Palacio de Nacional de Pena, then walked back to Castelo dos Mouros (400 metres). We then took bus n°434 to Palacio Nacional de Sintra and walked on to Palácio Quinta da Regaleira. In the end, we did not see Palacio de Monserrate and we also just saw the outside of the Palacio Nacional de Sintra. We were just exhausted from all the walking! 

1) Palacio da Pena

This palace is built on the remains of an old Moorish castle, and a Monastery and consists of a mix of styles and colors. The palace looks like a fairytale castle in color. The interior of the palace sets you back to the 18th century but beware! If you want to see the interior, there’s a long queue! (1 hour at least)

Entrance: € 14 (park & palace), €7.5 (park)

Opening hours: 9.30AM – 8 PM 

Opening hours palace: 9.30 AM – 7PM 

Tip: Go there early! We took the train at 9.40 AM, arrived in Sintra at 10.10 AM and arrived at 11 AM with the bus at the palace of Pena.

2) Castelo dos Mouros

Your first stop with bus n°434 is the Castelo dos Mouros. We’ve done the Palacio de Nacional de Pena first (trying to avoid the masses but failed horribly) and walked afterward toward the Castelo dos Mouros. The castle is quite the hike, so prepare yourself! This castle was built in the 8th century on top of Serra and gives a nice view of the Palace of Pena.

Entrance fee: €8

Opening hours: 9.30 AM – 8 PM 

3) Palacio Nacional

The Palacio Nacional is built in the middle ages and has had many kings and queens. 

Fun Fact: The two white towers are two chimneys.

Entrance fee: €10 

Opening hours: 9.30 AM – 7PM

4) Palacio de Monserrate

We didn’t do the Palacio de Monserrate but apparently the botanical garden is a must-do as it got the European Garden Award in 2013.

Entrance fee: €8 

Opening hours Park: 9.30 AM – 8 PM 

Opening hours Palace: 9.30 AM – 7 PM

5) Historical center

The old historic center of Sintra is the streets, restaurants, and souvenir shops in the area around the Palacio Nacional de Sintra. 

6) Palacio Quinta da Regaleira

Quinta da Regaleira belonged to a Brazilian millionaire in the 19th century. Take a stroll in the beautiful garden where you can find an abandoned well that leads you to an undergro&²und complex of corridors that will lead you around the domain.

Entrance fee: €8

Opening hours: 9.30 AM – 8PM

7) Hike trails

You can also do some hiking in Sintra! You can follow the Santa Maria trail alongside the Palacio de Pena and Castelo dos Mouros or you can follow the Villa Sassetti trail alongside the historical centre of Sintra, Villa Sassetti, Castelo dos Mouros and Palacio de Pena.

Fun Fact: Don’t forget to bring your water bottle, because you’re gonna sweat a lot! Stay hydrated! 

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