Sintra Portugal is what fairytales are made of. Stunning greenery, charming cobblestone streets, ornate palaces, and mysterious historical sites. I was enchanted even more with each place we saw and loved escaping here for the day. There is so much to see beyond the famous Pena Palace and totally worth spending the night to slow down and take your time.
Even though we only had 3 days in Lisbon, I still could not resist planning a trip here. It was such an easy train ride with great transportation options to get around the village. Although there is much to see, we were only able to fit in a few key sites. But we will highlight some other options of what to see and do in Sintra.
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Sintra Portugal Day Trip from Lisbon
Discover what we did during our day trip to Sintra as we explored Castle of the Moors, Pena Palace, and much more!
In This Article
How to Get to Sintra
When to Go to Sintra
Where to Stay in Sintra
What to Do: Castle of the Moors, Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Historical Center of Sintra
The view of Pena Palace through the walls of Castle of the Moors
How to Get to Sintra
In order to get to Sintra, you must take the train from Rossio station. There are trains every 30 minutes and it takes around 40 minutes to get there. Once you arrive, there will be tuk tuks or cars waiting to take you where you need to go. This will save time, especially if you have only the day to spend here.
When to Go
The best time to go to Sintra is during the off-season which is usually in spring or fall. Because we were there in late summer, it was very crowded. It also tends to be less busy during the week, which could help if you happen to be there during peak season.
Where to Stay
We only spent the day here, so we can’t personally vouch on where to stay. However there are plenty of options like this charming guesthouse, perfectly located to explore all the sites. If you’re looking for something more self-sufficient like an Airbnb, this apartment is a wonderful option and gets raving reviews.
Staying overnight puts you at an advantage to beating the crowds. If we had more time in Portugal, I would definitely stay somewhere in town next time. You can also spend more time at each site and split it into a few days of exploring.
Stunning view over Sintra while walking along the walls of Castle of the Moors
What to Do: Castle of the Moors, Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Historical Center of Sintra
Sintra, Portugal is a gorgeous town filled with lush greenery, exquisite palaces and villas, and rich history. The Portuguese royal family used to reside here, and they’ve left behind so much beauty to explore. It’s located within the Serra de Sintra, a mountain range dotted with several historical sites and pine forests. You can see a lot in just a day trip, but we recommend adding on another day to get the full experience. We were able to explore three main sites and felt a bit rushed at times, but still we got a nice taste of the city. Here we will highlight what we saw, with also a few suggestions on what else there is to see.
Castle of the Moors
Castle of the Moors is a medieval castle which sits on top of a hill within the Sintra Mountains. It was used for protection and built by the Moors in the 8th-9th centuries. Eventually it was surrendered to Christian forces and left in ruins until it was reconstructed in the 1930’s. Today you can walk along the castle walls and enjoy the beautiful views of Pena Palace, and the village of Sintra below. We spent a few hours here exploring and felt that was sufficient.
We got a car from the station to drive us up here, and they recommended it as a first stop since most go to Pena Palace right away. It wasn’t too crowded and there’s a small cafe with snacks and restrooms. Some of the areas of the walls have no side rails, so be careful while walking around, especially with your kids. There are some steep drops on some parts and it can get quite scary.
Pena Palace
The next stop on our day tour was Pena Palace. It also sits on a mountaintop not far from Castle of the Moors. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and also one of Portugal’s Seven Wonders. According to history, King Ferdinand built a summer residence from the remains of a chapel and monastery that was destroyed during the 1955 earthquake. The architecture is a vibrant mix of Renaissance, Gothic, and Islamic styles with hints of Portuguese influence as well. This is what makes it such a unique beauty that so many tourists flock here to see.
You can also explore the inside of the palace as well as the terrace. You will need to buy the combined ticket in order to access these areas. We definitely recommend it since the terrace allowed us to escape the crowds and get some gorgeous shots. We spent about 2-3 hours here total, including some of the parks and gardens. You can grab tickets here online for several sites including Pena Palace. It will also save you time once you arrive.
Valley of the Lakes: Pena Palace Gardens
Around the palace there are also several gardens to discover and explore. You can easily spend a whole day alone just devoted to the gardens, however we were short on time. So we decided to check out the Valley of the Lakes, a string of lakes filled with duck houses and swans at the base of Pena Palace. An enchanting forest of trees and exotic plants surrounds the water which makes it even more beautiful. We were one of few in the area as we walked around the lake, which was such a nice contrast to the palace crowds.
Quinta da Regaleira
Also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Quinta da Regaleira is a quirky residence near the historic center of Sintra. It’s also one of the biggest tourist attractions here, but not too overly crowded. Around the palace are several parks, gardens, grottoes and mystical wells, with the Initation Well being one of the most mysterious. The palace is nicknamed “The Palace of Monteiro the Millionaire,” named after its former owner António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro. It has since gone through several owners through the years, but now belongs to the town of Sintra.
It’s quite a display of unique architecture with gothic details and gargoyles throughout. The house was built using materials sourced from around the world and built with luxurious taste. Nearby the house is a chapel that also has ornate detail and lavish decor inside and outside.
Initiation Well
On the premises of the residence is the Initation Well, which was said to be used for masonic rituals. Apparently in order to be initiated you’d have to descend the well in complete darkness, then find your way out of dark and cold caves and underground tunnels. But once you did finally make it out you’d have to walk across small stone steps over water, with no light to guide you. If you made it across without falling in, then you successfully complete the ceremony.
We decided to tackle this challenge in the light, and it wasn’t easy walking across those steps! The entire experience felt very mysterious, eerie and beautiful at the same time. As you walk through the tunnels at the bottom of the well, you will see the Waterfall Lake after exiting the caves. The well has a lot of symbolism of death and rebirth, and it’s still a mystery as to what it was intended for. But this makes it an even cooler place to visit!
The view over the historical center of Sintra from one of the viewpoints
Historical Center of Sintra
The historical center of Sintra is filled with adorable cobblestone streets, charming buildings and adorable shops. There is also a great selection of local food to try here too. We ended our time in Sintra walking around exploring before catching the train back to Lisbon. If you want to eat at the more local spots, we recommend making a reservation. We ended up not doing this and having to eat at one of the touristy spots along the main section of town.
Sintra Full Day Tour
If you like having everything planned out, you can book this tour. You’ll get to see the Sintra National Palace, Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and much more! Transportation and a guide for some of the sites is included.
Alternative Option: Monserrate Palace
If you’re not interested in seeing one of the sights above, or perhaps have additional time here you should definitely check out the Monserrate Palace. I was hoping to go here, but just couldn’t fit it in since we arrived here later than planned. It’s another architectural beauty with gorgeous gardens and a unique mix of exotic plants. The palace itself looks like a dream as well.
Sintra Portugal is a Must See
We had the most magical time in Sintra and it was the perfect day trip from Lisbon. The village and surroundings are beautiful and the gardens are relaxing and peaceful to walk in. Of course we would have loved to have more time here, but we are glad we added it into our ten day trip to Portugal. You should definitely add Sintra to your Portugal bucket list, the beauty will remain in your memory forever.
Have you been to Sintra? If so, we’d love to hear more about your experience!
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4 comments
Sintra is a pretty city ! My trip there was so magical !
Thanks for stopping by! We loved it here too, wish we could have stayed longer. Beautiful place 🙂
We haven’t been yet but hope to one day. I will definitely be using this resource for our planning.
I’m sure you guys would enjoy it, hope this is helpful when you do go!