Sintra is one of Portugal's most beautiful and magical towns. It is filled with extravagant palaces, picturesque gardens and enchanting landscapes that leave you wondering if you are in a real-life fairytale. Nestled at the foothills of the Sintra Mountains, this UNESCO World Heritage site, filled with rich historical heritage, is one place in Portugal you will not want to miss.
The town of Sintra is easily accessible by train or bus and is a popular day trip from Lisbon. Whilst many people come here just for the day, with so much to see and do, we suggest staying for at least two days, maybe more if you have the time.
Here is our list of the top things to see and do in Sintra to help you plan your visit to this stunning part of Portugal.
Pena Palace (Palácio da Pena)
Probably the most prominent attraction on every day trip to Sintra is Pena Palace. It is the poster child of Sintra, Portugal, for good reason. This 19th-century masterpiece could easily top our list of the most unique and colourful castles we have ever seen! Standing proud atop the Sintra mountain range, its vibrant exterior can be seen for miles.
The terraces are as dazzling as you expect, and unlike many destinations around the world, they actually are as saturated in colour as seen in most people's Instagram photos.
Whilst the castle is the highlight, Pena Palace is only a small part of the 200 hectares that make up Pena Park. The surrounding grounds are filled with walking trails, secret paths, pavilions, ponds and exotic trees from all over the world. This includes, but is not limited to, Sequoias, Lawson's Cypress, Magnolia (North America), Gingkos (China), Cryptomeria (Japan) and various Ferns and trees (Australia and New Zealand).
Exploring the park can take some time as there are a few hills to climb, but the jump-on-jump-off bus can help navigate some of the terrain. If walking is more your thing, allow a few hours to explore the grounds.
To walk around the actual palace, you’ll need around an hour. Entry to the palace is done by pre-booked timeslots, but once you are inside, you can walk around at your own leisure.
Pro Tip: Save yourself the queueing time and arrive 10 minutes later than your allotted timeslot. The queue moves quickly, and being early does not mean fewer people, as the previous groups will still be inside. Arrive late and walk straight in.
Duration
Allow around 1 hour for the palace only. Add another 2-3 hours to explore the entire grounds.
Opening Times
Pena Park is open from 9 am - 7 pm daily. The Palace is open from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm, and the last admission is at 6 pm.
Cost
- Adult (18-64) - €14
- Youths (6-17) - €12.50
- Seniors (over 65) - €12.50
- Family ticket (2 adults + 2 youths) - €48
(ticket price for access to both the park and palace)
Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros)
Castle of the Moors, aka. Moorish Castle is an 8th-century medieval castle standing on top of one of the peaks of the Sintra Mountains. Its walls wind through the mountains and boast spectacular views over the surrounding towns.
Built during the period of Muslim Iberia, Castelo dos Mouros was constructed to protect the surrounding population and was home to The Moors until Christian forces took it after the fall of Lisbon in 1147. With Christian settlement, the Islamic Quarter disappeared and was replaced by a medieval village that remained occupied until the 15th century. It was then abandoned until King Fernando II performed restoration work on the castle, reviving its medieval imagery.
Today, you can freely walk around the castle walls, enjoy the fantastic views over the town below, and catch a glimpse into what this area was like during the Middle Ages. Don’t forget to look back up the mountain and see Pena Palace splash its colourful terraces across a clear blue sky.
Duration
Allow yourself around 1-2 hours.
Opening Times
Castle of the Moors is open from 9:30 am - 6:30 pm daily.
Cost
- Adult (18-64) - €8
- Youths (6-17) - €6.50
- Seniors (over 65) - €6.50
- Family ticket (2 adults + 2 youths) - €26
Quinta da Regaleira
Just outside the main town centre, you’ll find Quinta da Regaleira, a grand 19th century estate that is a must-visit before you leave Sintra. Whilst the main attraction here is the Palace Regaleira, it’s the grounds you will want to explore. With the Regaleira Chapel, lakes, fountains, an aquarium, and a network of tunnels, caves and wells, the property is much more than just the residential property and gardens.
Built in the early 19th century by Italian architect Luigi Manini, the palace includes Roman, Gothic, Renaissance, and Manueline architectural styles, which come together to form one of the most stunning residential properties of its time and even today.
One of the standout and most mysterious elements of the Quinta da Regaleira is the "Initiation Well". Although called a well, it was never used as a water source, and mystery surrounds its actual function.
The well descends 27 meters underground with a spiral staircase that wraps 23 niches on the sides. The nine flights of stairs could symbolise the journey into the underworld, as depicted by Dante's Inferno, and symbolism found in the well could suggest that it was used for initiation rituals related to Tarot mysticism, Templar, and Freemasonry!
But to this day, its real purpose has yet to be discovered. Whatever the explanation, it's fascinating to descend and see if you can determine what it was used for.
Tip: The Initiation Well is the only part of the estate that generally gets a queue, so try to head there early to avoid waiting.
Duration
Allow 2-3 hours to walk around the entire grounds.
Opening Times
Quinta da Regaleira is open from 10:00 am - 6:30 pm daily.
Cost
- Adult (18-64) - €11
- Youths (6-17) - €6
- Seniors (over 65) - €6.50
Monserrate Palace (Palácio de Monserrate)
Monserrate Palace doesn’t seem to get anywhere near as much of the limelight as other attractions in the town of Sintra, which blows my mind as it is breathtaking. The palace is a masterclass in Romanticism and one of the most exquisite residential properties I have ever seen.
Whether it's for the stunningly intricate detailing throughout the palace interior, the awe-inspiring neo-gothic architecture, or the perfectly designed and manicured gardens, you will walk around this estate with your jaw on the ground.
While the grounds of Monserrate Palace have gone through various hands over the years, it wasn’t until Sir Francis Cook took ownership of the stately home that restoration work began to transform it into what we see today. In 1866, Monserrate Palace was finished, and alongside Pena Palace, became one of the most important examples of Romantic architecture in Portugal. Over time, the palace again fell into ruin until repairs began in 2000.
In appearance, the palace seems to blend architectural styles from the Middle East, India and Europe. Still, it is, in fact, the very characteristics of the Romanticism architecture that was popular in its time. Even though the style is referred to throughout many of the destinations in Sintra, it’s hard to compare Monserrate Palace to anything else.
Throughout the picturesque palace gardens and scenic pathways, you’ll find exotic plant life from every corner of the world, an old chapel left to ruin, allowing nature to crawl back at the land on which it stands, and a charming waterfall.
While Monserrate Palace is not prominent on many day trips to Sintra, it is worth visiting this stunning site. I would even go as far as to say it’s one of the main reasons to turn a one-day visit to Sintra into two.
Duration
Allow yourself around 2-3 hours.
Opening Times
The park is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm, and the palace is open from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm.
Cost
- Adult (18-64) - €8
- Youths (6-17) - €6.50
- Seniors (over 65) - €6.50
- Family ticket (2 adults + 2 youths) - €26
Sintra Old Town
The Sintra's old town district is a delightful mix featuring slender roads, conventional Portuguese houses, and charming cafes. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ensuring its cultural and architectural value is preserved. The town centre is small and can be easily walked around in an hour, but with every corner begging to be photographed, this can quickly turn into half a day.
The Old Town is located at the base of the hill from which the Castle of the Moors and the Pena Palace stand and right before you get to Quinta da Regaleira. It is the perfect spot to stop and get lunch as you walk from one to the other.
Be sure to stop and try “Travesseiros”, Sintra’s signature dessert, which combines crispy puff pastry and a rich cream of almonds and egg yolks. The original recipe has been a closely guarded secret since the 1940s, but luckily for you, the inventors of this desert at Casa Piriquita are still serving them to this day.
Sintra National Palace (Palácio Nacional de Sintra)
The National Palace sits at the heart of Sintra Town, amongst bustling cafes and centuries-old buildings. Unmistakable by its conical chimneys that have silhouetted the skyline since the early 15th century, the palace is the poster child for Sintra. The current palace has evolved from many before it, built upon and adapted over centuries, with the oldest parts dating back to around the 10th or 11th century.
The striking white facade can be seen across the city skyline and dominates as one of Sintra's oldest and grandest palaces.
The palace has many interconnecting courtyards, corridors, rooms and stairs, all with extravagant decorations that show the ever-adapting history. A guided path takes you through the castle, allowing you to explore each area independently at your own pace or on a guided tour.
Tips When Visiting Sintra
Wear Comfy Shoes
Sintra is built on the side of the Sintra Mountains, and many of these sights involve plenty of walking up and down hills, sometimes on uneven ground. Make sure you wear comfy shoes so that daylight runs out before your feet give up on you!
Come Early
Many people come to Sintra on a day trip from Lisbon, so as the day progresses, the town centre and attractions become ever more busy. Although most places don’t open until 9 am, we highly recommend getting there early, having breakfast at one of the many quaint cafes and enjoying the quietness in town for an hour before heading to your first destination.
Stay A Night
A day in Sintra is enough to visit two or three of the main attractions, and it is easily done as a day trip from Lisbon. It is much better to experience Sintra over a couple of days. That way, you'll have enough time to do everything at an enjoyable pace. Come early in the day, stay a night, and then have another full day in Sintra to truly enjoy your time here.