How to Spend One Day in Sintra: Lisbon to Sintra
If you are heading to Lisbon or Portugal in general, Sintra is a must-visit destination. It is easy to get to and boasts many stunning castles and beautiful views.Β From Lisbon to Sintra, this post will go over how to spend a day in Sintra.
Sintra is a town located in the foothills of the Sintra Mountains. The colorful palaces rest boldly against the trees. With its many castles and historical sites, Sintra has been deemed a cultural landscape by UNESCO.
How to Spend a Day in Sintra
How To Get To Sintra
By TrainΒ
By Car
By Guided tourΒ
If you enough time, a guided tour may be your best option. Especially if traveling with young kids or a big family, public transportation can be super stressful. Guided tours allow for everything to be pre-planned with wonderful tour guides to explain all the rich history. Which is perfect because Sintra has a LOT! Check out the tours below as they are the most popular to go on.Β
How To Get Around sintra
By Tourist Bus
Obviously if you are doing a guided tour, you won’t need to know how to get around Sintra. But for everyone else who is planning to do a few main attractions in your day visit, the tourist buses are for you. Buses 434 and 435 are basically like hop on hop off buses. They run regular routes through Sintra’s best attractions (castles and city center). Whether you drove or took the train, you can get on both buses at the Sintra train station. This is where you can also purchase your bus tickets. For tickets, there is an unlimited 24-hour option which I would suggest.Β
By TaxiΒ
If you plan on going to multiple attractions in your one day itinerary, taking a taxi is definitely not cost efficient. If you are on a time crunch, taxi’s are readily available and will easily bring you to the attraction you want to see. We took a taxi to Pena Palace and back since we only had a half of a day to explore.Β
Pena Palace
Pena Palace
Sintras Most popular attractions
Pena Palace or PalΓ‘cio Nacional da Pena
Located on tourist bus 434. Pena Palace is by far Sintra’s main attraction. It can get very busy throughout the day so definitely head here first to beat the crowds. Located on a steep hill, Sintra national palace is a colorful site to see. Home to King Ferdinand II, the castle is one of a fairytale. Not only will you experience it’s beautiful architecture, you will also see wonderful views of Portugal. The grounds of Pena Palace are free to roam but to enter the palace it is β¬7.50 for adults for a 30-minute window. Palacio Nacional da Pena is open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.Β
Moorish Castle or Castelo Dos Mouros
Located on tourist bus 434. Moorish Castle is a medieval castle and stands high above the town of Sintra. Back in the day, it defended the entire region from enemies. From this site, you will see even more incredible views of the forest engulfing the cities below. To enter the Castle of the Moors it is 8,00 euros for adults. Moorish Castle is open from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm daily.Β
Inside Pena Palace
Inside Pena Palace
Sintra Village
Located on tourist bus 434. Sintra city center contains a historic village built on steep hills, just like Lisbon. Although much smaller in size and usually filled with tourists, it is a great spot to grab lunch. We didn’t get the chance to stop here but lunch spots with great google reviews include: Tascantiga and Incomum. The town of Sintra also has some fun attractions to check out including the tourist office. Walk the cobble streets through the town of Sintra and enjoy the historical architecture.Β
Quinta da Regaleira
Located on tourist bus 435. Quinta da Regaleira was built in the 16th century and is located near the historic centre of Sintra. The architecture from the exterior is stunning. On the property, a spiral staircase brings you down a well. Not to mention, a series of caves runs under the gardens. Quinta da Regaleira is one of Sintra’s most unique sites. The entrance fee is 10,00 euros for adults and the last entrance is an hour before closing. The hours are from 10 am – 5:30 pm daily. Some seasons the garden stays open a bit later than 5:30 PM but the last entry will always be 5:30 pm.Β
Pena Palace
Pena Palace
Park and Palace of Monserrate
Located on tourist bus 435. Monserrate palace is another striking castle nestled on the hilltops of Sintra. There is nothing quite like the architecture at Monserrate Palace and is the best place to find the most unique details. It is actually Sintra’s hidden gem, as I didn’t even know about it when I went. This hidden gem is rarely busy with tourists. The park and surrounding gardens are also a treat when visiting the palace. I would highly suggest adding this to the top of your list. For adults, it is 8,00 euros to enter and is open from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily. A great way to save the best for last!
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