How To Visit Sintra Portugal: Day Trip Suggestions, Main Sights & Practical Info

A gloriously beautiful natural landscape dotted with stunning mansions, imposing palaces and silent castle ruins, Sintra is considered the best day trip from Lisbon. Yet, is one day enough to take in all this magic? To make the most of your time in this unique place, in this video we're showing you how to visit Sintra in the best possible way, sparing you endless hours of research and planning. Sintra is located in the heart of the Serra de Sintra mountains. Back in the day, it was a very popular summer resort for the Portuguese nobility. That explains why there are so many beautiful palaces and mansions there, all fine examples of 19th century Romanticist architecture. Apart from these famous palaces, though, the town of Sintra is worth exploring in its own right. And the same goes for the surrounding countryside and the dramatic coastline that's nearby. Therefore, don't expect to see everything that Sintra has to offer on the same day trip from Lisbon. To do that, you would need a multi-day trip. You would either need to spend a couple of nights in Sintra or plan two separate day trips from Lisbon to Sintra, just like we did. In the video you're about to watch, we are showing you two different day trips from Lisbon to Sintra. These are the exact same day trips we planned for ourselves, so they are both tested in terms of timings. You will notice that each day trip features different Sintra attractions. If you have time, you can do both, but if not, choose the one that suits you best. In any case, please don't try to fit everything in the same day trip. It will not work, for sure. If you're wondering how to visit Sintra from Lisbon, you should know that it's super easy and hassle-free. There is a direct train to Sintra from the Rocio station in the heart of Lisbon or the Orienta station near the Park of Nations. You can use your Navaganda card for your 45-minute train ride from Lisbon to Sintra and back. Just remember to top it up before your trip. Probably the most famous of all Sintra attractions is the breathtaking Pena Palace, and this is where this day trip starts. The best way to get to the uphill Pena Palace is to grab an Uber from the train station. Don't be tempted by the well-advertised fall 34 sightseeing bus or the hop-on hop-off one. You won't be needing any of those today. The Pena Palace and Park is probably the most popular place to visit in Sintra. This is why you have to buy your entry tickets in advance and make sure you're on time for your allocated time slot. If you miss the latter, you won't be allowed to enter the Palace. You can buy your Pena Palace tickets by clicking on the relevant link in the description below. Your tickets grant you access not only to the Pena Palace but also to the entire Pena Park. Yet, bear in mind that your time slot is only for the interior of the Palace. You can enter the Park any time you want before that. However, keep in mind that from the Park entrance to the actual Palace, it's a 15-minute uphill walk. Also, no matter the time tickets, there will be queues to enter the Palace anyway. Therefore, try to be at the entrance to the Palace at least 30 minutes before the entry time displayed on your tickets, so that you're among the first in your time slot to enter the Palace. The interior of the Pena Palace is worth the wait and hustle. Yet, it's not alone. The terraces that surround it are equally amazing and so is the lush Pena Park that engulfs it. By the way, the latter is huge. If you want to take your time marveling at the Park and the outdoor areas of the Palace, we highly recommend you start very early in the morning and walk around the Park and terraces before your time slot for the interior of the Palace. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal, Pena Palace is one of the most striking examples of 19th-century Romanticist architecture in the world. On the site of a former monastery that was reduced to ruins due to the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, King Ferdinand II decided to build a summer residence for the royal family. The Palace was decorated with medieval, Islamic and other elements. Its uniqueness lies in this extraordinary blend of architectural features and styles. Looking at the Palace from the outside feels like waking up in a fairy tale, while the lavish interior offers a glimpse into the lives of the royals who inhabited the Palace throughout the centuries. Our favourite part of the Pena Palace and Park is the so-called Wall Walk and the several terraces, big and small, from where you can admire the Palace's beautiful architecture but also the splendid views of its surroundings, including the Moorish Castle, your next stop. Before you make your way to the Castle though, catch your breath at the lovely café of the Pena Palace. It's a short and pleasant downhill walk to get from the Pena Palace to Sintra's Castle of the Moors. You won't need to take a bus or any other form of transport. This UNESCO-listed dramatic castle was constructed by the Moors in the 8th and 9th centuries. Built atop a hill, this military structure had a strategic position that helped defend the surrounding area. The 1755 Lisbon earthquake caused significant damage to the castle. In the 19th century, King Ferdinand II was fascinated by the mighty fortress and decided to restore it. He also conserved the on-site chapel and built a tomb to house the bones found on the castle grounds. Nowadays, you can see the chapel, the tomb, the former burial site and some old silos. Yet, the most exciting part of visiting the Moorish Castle is wandering around its towers and ramparts, taking in the breathtaking views as you go. Inside the Castle of the Moors, time stands still and you suddenly become the protagonist in your very own period drama. Once you are ready to leave the castle, follow the signs that lead to the historic center of Sintra on foot. At first, this path follows the walls of the castle amid a lush forest. But soon, you will start catching glimpses of the town's splendid mansions and villas, some restored, others neglected, but all of them insanely beautiful. This walk from the castle to the town is utterly enjoyable and one of the best things to do in Sintra in its own right. Your next stop is the National Palace of Sintra. Set in the heart of Sintra on a graceful square, it's the best preserved royal residence in Portugal, spanning the country's entire history. The palace's highlight is its monumental kitchen. The latter was built by King Joao I to cater to the needs of many people, as it was customary for kings of the time to share meals with all the members of their court. The kitchen's two 33-meter chimneys have become the very symbol of Sintra. Apart from the kitchen, the interior of the rest of the palace lacks any furniture or other items, yet it's worth visiting for its stunning ceilings. A stroll through the gardens is mandatory before you leave the palace too. Before you take the train back to Lisbon, after a full day trip to Sintra, wander around the town's cobbled streets and maybe enjoy a glass of wine at one of its many quaint bars. As you saw, our first day trip suggestion included a lot of walking from one place of interest to the next. For the second day trip we recommend though, you will heavily rely on public transport. By public transport, we don't mean the 434 shuttle bus, but the actual yellow public bus number 1253 that goes to all points of interest on this second day trip, including Cabo da Roca. On this bus you can use your navigator card, so don't forget to top it up with some extra money before you leave Lisbon for Sintra. The bus stop is right outside the Sintra train station. Once you get to Sintra, jump on the bus and get off at the Quinta da Regaleira bus stop. From the bus stop to the actual entry to the attraction, it's a short uphill walk. Once there, you will understand that this is one of the most popular Sintra attractions. Therefore, it makes sense to book your tickets in advance. To do so, you can click on the link in the description below. Quinta is the Portuguese word for an estate, especially one with historic mansions or palaces within its grounds. In 1892, Quinta da Regaleira was acquired by Carvalho Monteiro, a wealthy businessman who dreamt of creating an enchanting place. He managed to do so with the help of Italian architect Luigi Manini, who turned the estate into a masterpiece of Gothic, Renaissance, Moorish and other elements. It is said that Monteiro was a Freemason and this ideology is reflected in the many symbols and mystical features of Quinta da Regaleira. While there, you can stroll through the corridors of the Ornate Palace, wander around the park, climb up and down towers, admiring artificial lakes, tunnels, caves and beautiful statues as you go. Doing so will give you the sense that you are walking in a dream. Yet, the ultimate highlights await towards the edge of the estate. These are the two initiation wells. The latter are connected to the initiation rituals of the Knights Templar, a Catholic military order. The larger of the two wells is fascinating. With its 27-meter spiral staircase, it looks like an otherworldly inverted tower. Once at the bottom, a network of underground tunnels will lead you to a small waterfall and the second, admittedly less impressive well, often called the Unfinished Well. When your visit to Quinta da Regaleira ends, head back to the bus stop and take bus number 1253 again. This time, get off at the Parque Monserrate stop to visit the glorious Monserrate Palace and its grounds. This estate has been entrancing intellectuals for centuries. Even Lord Byron couldn't resist its allure. In the 19th century, Francis Cook, a wealthy merchant, bought the estate and turned it into the magical world that it is today. The gorgeous palace is a superb expression of Romanticist architecture. Wandering around its bright corridors, marvelling at its vaulted ceilings or stepping inside the kitchen, take you back in time to when the Cook family spent their summer holidays there. Apart from the palace though, Monserrate Park is known for its tranquil lavish gardens, where waterfalls, streams and rare plants compose a unique setting. Still mesmerized by the charm of the Monserrate Palace, catch bus 1253 again and head to your final stop for today. Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of continental Europe, offering spectacular sunset vistas of the Atlantic Ocean. Once you get off the bus at Cabo da Roca, the first thing you will see is the beautiful lighthouse. In operation since 1772, it's one of the oldest lighthouses in Portugal. From there, walk to the stone monument that marks the westernmost point in mainland Europe with a verse by Luiz de Camões, Portugal's national poet. Here, where the land ends and the sea begins. Walking to the left of the monument, you will catch epic seascapes with the Atlantic Ocean waves crashing on steep cliffs. Yet, if you are in the mood for a bit of actual hiking, head in the other direction, past the lighthouse and start walking along the narrow paths that crisscross the green hills of Cabo da Roca. Pick your favorite spot and get ready for the sunset of a lifetime, in what was once considered the very end of the world. As the day gives way to night, jump on bus 1253 to Sindra to take your train back to Lisbon. We are pretty sure that you now know how to visit Sindra to make the most of your time in this amazing place. If you have more time, we would recommend planning a separate day trip to Cascais, a charming seaside town with lovely promenades, beautiful architecture and spectacular rock formations. If you have time for just one day trip from Lisbon to both Sindra and Cascais, this can also be done. In that case though, we would recommend opting for a guided day trip instead of figuring out the logistics on your own. We have included some of the best day trips to Sindra and Cascais in the description below. We do hope you enjoyed our video about how to visit Sindra in Portugal and hope to see you next time.