Sintra

The 10 Best Places to Visit in Sintra

Wondering what you can see and do in Sintra? We show you the 10 most beautiful places to visit in Sintra.

The attractions in Sintra on a map

For a better overview, we have marked the highlights in Sintra on a map.

Palacio Nacional da Pena

The Palacio Nacional da Pena is Sintra’s landmark. Perched on the hill above Sintra with its turrets and colorful facade in yellow, blue and red, the palace looks like something out of a picture book.

Originally, the palace served as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family. Today, it attracts millions of tourists every year.

You should definitely plan enough time to visit, as the extremely magnificent interiors are also well worth seeing. We recommend about three hours. There are also many terraces around the palace from which you have a great view over Sintra.

Our tip: Be prepared for heaps of tourists! It is best to visit the palace before 10 am or after 3 pm.

Ticket for the Palacio Nacional da Pena

Castelo dos Mouros

The Castelo dos Mouros is located directly opposite the Pena National Palace and the two couldn’t be more different.

Instead of pomp and luxury, you will see the ruins of an old Moorish castle used for military purposes. You can admire further traces of the Moors in Andalusia.

Even if it lacks glitz and glamor, the castle has a romantic feel to it. After all, it is also one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the city.

Ticket for the Castelo dos Mouros

Quinta da Regaleira

The Quinta da Regaleira is a manor house built by a millionaire who had a weakness for secret societies. The small palace is correspondingly mystical, making you feel as if you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole like Alice.

In the gardens you will find many strange sculptures, underground caves and a small waterfall. The building itself is intricate and ornate, with an infinite number of small details.

The highlight of this fantasy landscape is the Poço Initiático fountain, which is actually an upside-down tower. What is it? Yes, a spiral staircase leads 27 meters down the fountain like in a tower.

Ticket for Quinta da Regaleira incl. guided tour

Palacio Nacional de Sintra

In the middle of Sintra is another building well worth seeing, the National Palace of Sintra. And you certainly won’t mistake it, because its trademark are two 33-metre-high chimneys above the palace kitchen, which rise up like upside-down waffle cones.

You should definitely take a look inside the National Palace. The rooms are extremely lavishly decorated and the names alone, such as Swan Hall or Coat of Arms Hall, sound somehow beautiful.

In our opinion, the National Palace of Sintra cannot compete with the Pena Palace and the Quinta da Regaleira. Nevertheless, it is a great thing to do in Sintra.

Ticket for the Palacio Nacional de Sintra

Palácio de Monserrate

The Palácio de Monserrate is truly exotic: Indian influences meet Arabic architecture and English gardens. We really like this multi-cultural combination, just like the three cute little towers.

Inside, you can take a look at the elaborately designed rooms with lots of ornamentation and golden decor. But don’t forget to take a look at the gardens too. Plants from all over the world grow here , such as special types of palm trees.

In fact, the Palácio Monserrate is one of the least visited attractions in Sintra. So if you need a break from the tourist crowds, it’s ideal.

Our tip: It’s best to plan your visit during peak times between 11 am and 3 pm to avoid the biggest crowds in the other palaces.

Ticket for the Monserrate Palace

Vila Sassetti

Vila Sassetti is still a hidden gem in Sintra. It is actually quite hidden between lots of greenery.

In the middle of it all is a manor house made of terracotta-colored stones. The whole ambience has a very Mediterranean feel. A circular tower rises up in the middle – the only thing in the distance that gives away the fact that there is a building here amidst all the greenery.

Unfortunately, you can’t visit Vila Sassetti from the inside. But that doesn’t matter, because the gardens around it are also well worth seeing. A real gem that is perfect for a little breather.

Cruz Alta

At 529 meters, Cruz Alta is the highest point in the mountains of Sintra and one of the most beautiful viewpoints over the city. From the summit cross, the Palacio Nacional da Pena looks like a castle from Disneyland – simply magnificent!

The short hike leads through the Parque da Pena of the same name, past dense forests with exotic plants from all over the world, small waterfalls and fountains.

There are numerous signposts at the Pena Palace, so you can hardly miss the hiking trail to Cruz Alta. If you walk at a leisurely pace, you will need about half an hour to cover the distance. As you can see, the hike is also great with children.

Old Town of Sintra

There is always something going on in the small alleyways with their colorful house facades. There are many nice cafés and restaurants, stores with art and crafts such as the typical azulejos.

However, be aware that both food and souvenirs are not cheap in Sintra. The constant influx of tourists has caused prices to rise significantly. Still, you shouldn’t miss walking through the old town on a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra.

Convento dos Capuchos

If you have a thing for lost places, visiting the Convento dos Capuchos is a fantastic thing to do in Sintra.

It is a former monastery in the middle of the mountains above Sintra. Today, the place is heavily weathered, the walls are overgrown with moss and nature has made its way everywhere.

The place simply radiates a special tranquillity and its simplicity stands in stark contrast to all the chic palaces of Sintra.

Ticket for the Convento dos Capuchos

Cabo da Roca

Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point in Europe and is about a 35-minute drive from Sintra. The highlight at Cabo da Roca is the spectacular view over Portugal’s cliffs with the lighthouse and the wild sea. We especially recommend you come at sunset – pure romance!

You can reach Cabo da Roca on the 1253 bus from Sintra.

However, if you are only making a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon, we advise you not to make a detour to Cabo da Roca. You simply need some time for the transfer and can therefore see less in Sintra.

The situation is different with organized tours from Lisbon. These often not only go to Sintra, but also to Cascais and make a stopover at Cabo da Roca.

Book a guided tour to Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais from Lisbon

Day trip from Lisbon to Sintra by train

If you are going on a a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra, we definitely recommend taking the train. Otherwise you’ll just have to deal with traffic jams and the search for a parking space.

From Lisboa-Rossio station, CP trains run to Sintra every 15 to 30 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 2.40 euros and takes around 40 minutes. Don’t forget to validate your ticket too. If you have a Lisboa Card, your ticket is already included.

The first train in Lisbon leaves at 5:41 am, the last train from Sintra at 00:20 am. You can find more information about the trains here.

Guided tour to Sintra from Lisbon

If you are only in Lisbon for 3 or 4 days, we recommend booking a guided tour to Sintra so that you can see as much as possible in a short time.

There are many guided tours to Sintra from Lisbon and they are pretty much the all-inclusive package. Here are all the benefits for the guided excursions at a glance:

• Transfer to Sintra from Lisbon
• Transfer between the sights of Sintra
• A local guide

Here are our two recommendations for organized Sintra day trips from Lisbon.

Highlights of Sintra day tour: On this tour you will visit all of Sintra’s top attractions such as the Pena Palace, the Monserrate Palace and the Quinta da Regaleira. You will also have free time to explore the city center.

Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais tour: Here you have less time in Sintra, but you combine your tour with an excursion to Cabo da Roca and the coastal town of Cascais. Depending on the option you book, you may also visit the Palácio da Pena or the Quinta da Regaleira.

Getting around Sintra

Sintra is very hilly and you can’t just walk to the Pena Palace or the Castelo dos Mouros. However, there are many other ways to get from A to B in Sintra.

#1 By bus

The cheapest option is the bus. Line 434 takes you to the Pena Palace and the Castelo dos Mouros. Line 435 runs within the city center and passes Quinta da Regaleira, for example. However, you can also walk the route of the 435 and see the old town at the same time.

Note: The bus connections are not shown on Google Maps as they are tourist buses. You can find all information about the bus routes on the Scotturb website.

#2 By tuk tuk

A little more expensive, but much more comfortable, is a trip by tuk tuk. You have the little vehicles all to yourself.

Book a private tuk tuk tour through Sintra

Lisbon-Sintra Pass: save money in Lisbon and Sintra

If you prefer to visit the sights of Sintra on your own, you should definitely take a look at the Lisbon-Sintra Pass. The pass perfectly combines attractions in Lisbon with a trip to Sintra.

This is included in the Lisbon-Sintra Pass

• Palacio Nacional da Pena
• Castelo dos Mouros
• Audio guide through Sintra & Lisbon
• Many famous sights in Lisbon (e.g. Torre de Belém, Castelo de São Jorge)
• Public transportation in Lisbon and the trip to Sintra

If you are planning to do all this anyway, you can save a few euros with the Lisbon-Sintra Pass and have all tickets in one.

Book Lisbon-Sintra Pass

Where to stay in Sintra? Our hotel tips

It is definitely worth spending at least one night in the city, as there are many things to do in Sintra. You can also take more time for the individual sights than on a day trip to Sintra.

Here are three beautiful hotels in Sintra that are super centrally located.

Sintra Bliss: a modern 3-star design hotel where you can treat yourself to a nice massage after sightseeing.

Águamel Sintra: family-run boutique hotel with beautiful furnishings. The Vila Sassetti and the Quinta da Regaleira are less than ten minutes’ walk away.

Chalet Saudade: reminds us of a small palace with a beautiful garden. Sintras train station is just a two-minute walk away.

What were your favorite things to do in Sintra?

These were our tips on what to see in Sintra. Have you already made a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon? Tell us more in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!