Sintra - what to see in one or two days

Sintra – what to see in one or two days, how to get to Sintra and how to move between palaces and beaches, where to look for accommodation and restaurants.

When is the best time to go to Sintra

Spring and late summer is the best time to go – The best time to visit Sintra is May, June and September. That’s when the days are longer and sunnier, but without the big summer crowds. Although it never freezes, it can be cold and damp in winter.

Temperatures here are lower than in Lisbon. Due to its altitude and microclimate, Sintra is always 2-5 degrees cooler than Lisbon. It can also be quite foggy in the mornings and evenings, while elsewhere in Portugal it is clear and sunny.

How long does it take to see the most interesting things in Sintra

As a standard, it takes two days to see almost everything. Although Sintra is usually visited during a day trip from Lisbon or Cascais, you need at least two days to see all its wonderful sights. During a one-day trip, you will have time to see only two or three palaces. You should consider staying overnight, especially in the summer when you can explore the beautiful beaches on the coast and Cape Roca, the westernmost point of Europe.

But in two days we will have to run and travel around Sintra. You also need to take into account the queues at the entrance to the palaces and for the bus that runs around Sintra, especially if you come during the high season. Or looking for a parking lot for a long time is sometimes a very difficult task. You can also just miss the mark on the narrow serpentine streets of Sintra, and if you turn the wrong way, you have to make a huge circle (often the streets are one-way). Therefore, the best option is to book two nights and three days. That’s exactly what I did. You can see everything in three days.

Where to stay in Sintra

I stayed in hotels in Sintra twice, both times in the city center near the train station. This is the most convenient place to stay for several reasons:

If you arrive in Sintra by train, it is better to choose a hotel 100-300 meters away.
All buses that run between the palaces of Sintra depart from stops near the station.
There are also shops and a market where you can buy fruits, vegetables, and drinks.
There is also a large selection of cafes and restaurants near the station where you can dine after a busy sightseeing program.

Hotels in Sintra on Booking.com :

I can recommend the following inexpensive hotels where I stayed last time:

Hotel MouraLua – is located near the market, where in the morning it is fashionable to buy delicious fruits, cheeses and seafood to cook yourself in the hotel’s kitchen – it is very good, it has everything you need to make a delicious dinner.
Casa Azul Hostel – is located in a neighboring building, with nice large rooms (in winter it is very warm there (there is electric heating). The hostel has separate rooms for two, and the price includes a very good breakfast. The owner sets the table himself and keeps up a cheerful conversation while you drink your morning coffee with a delicious pie.

What you must see in Sintra

There are many palaces and monasteries, wonderful beaches near Sintra, and even the western tip of Europe, Cape Cabo da Roca, is located here. A relict fairy forest grows on the hills on the outskirts of Sintra. All of this is worth seeing with your own eyes, but when planning a trip here, expect that everything will take time. So I’m going to arrange the sights from the most interesting to those that can be saved for the last time or a second trip here.

Palace and park the Pena

Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria may be the iconic image of romantic architecture in Europe. But long before this famous German fantasy, Sintra had its own Portuguese fairy tale. This palace was the king’s dream, built on the site of a ruined monastery on top of a mountain. A mixture of different architectural styles – the Pen Palace turned out to be more like Snow White’s castle. But it led to the creation of one of the most spectacular buildings in Europe and one of its finest romantic structures. Pena Palace is one of the most interesting places to see during a visit to Sintra.

There is a park under the Peña Palace that looks more like an enchanted forest. It is a magnificent arboretum with trails leading to a number of romantic structures, including alpine-style chalets, statues of monarchs, lakes, and strategically located observation decks. Trees and more than 2000 varieties of plants brought from all over the world grow between them.

Entrance to the Peña Palace costs 14 euros for adults and 12.5 euros for children aged 6 to 17 years. This is aPalace+Parkticket, which allows you to explore the interior, walk along the terraces outside, and explore the Pena Park below.
If you just want to get closer to the palace and see it from the terrace near the gate, you can buy a cheaper ticket (“Pena Park ticket”) for only 7.5 euro s for adults and 6.5 euros for children. With the Lisboa Card, you get a 10% discount on all tickets.
To save time and not stand in line buy tickets online to the Pena Palace and Park.

Quinta da Regaleira

A very mystical palace and the park next to it, which stretches over a huge hill. Once known as the “Palace of Millionaires,” the aristocratic residence of the Regaleira estate was built by an eccentric millionaire who owned some of the most exquisite homes. In the end, he created a very mystical place out of the palace.

It includes a park with a mysterious tunnel system that has been transformed into one of Sintra’s most intriguing and popular attractions. Visit the inverted “Freemasons’ Tower”, which is actually a deep well that you have to go down the stairs to. Then you get into tunnels that lead to a lake with romantic waterfalls and bridges.

Tickets to Quinta da Regaleira cost 10 euros for adults(8 euros for those with a Lisboa Card) and 5 euros for children and seniors. This includes the entrance to both the palace and the gardens with hidden grottoes and an inverted Freemasons’ tower.
Audio guides in different languages are available for an additional 3 euros.

Moorish castle

This castle is a smaller copy of the Great Wall of China. Its jagged rock walls take visitors back to a time 1200 years ago, when the Moors conquered most of the lands of the Iberian Peninsula. This castle survived a number of earthquakes (including the great earthquake of 1755) and fires.

As well as the reconquest of Sintra by Christian crusaders in the 12th century. The Moorish castle was restored in the 1800s when the Pena Palace was built. This is a very cool and romantic place with incredible views of Sintra and the ocean, which in good weather is clearly visible from the castle walls.

National Palace of Sintra

One of the few medieval palaces in the world to remain virtually intact, this royal residence was once home to Prince Henry the Navigator. It has two giant conical chimneys rising from the kitchen, where banquets (or real orgies with food) were prepared.

The interior presents beautifully painted ceilings and a room almost entirely covered in blue and white tile panels. While the Pena attracts more attention for its stunning setting and storybook architecture, the National Palace of Sintra is the city’s most historically significant landmark.

Palace of Monserrate

This palace is not just one of the most exotic buildings in Portugal, it is one of the best examples of 19th-century European eclecticism. The romantic palace of Montserrat, in years gone by, belonged to various millionaires, including the English writer William Beckford. It combines several architectural styles and is surrounded by a magnificent botanical garden. Its oriental-style interior has been carefully restored, so it is worth seeing the palace not only from the outside but also from the inside.

Coastline and beaches near Sintra

Sintra has a very beautiful and rugged coastline – the local cliffs offer stunning views of the ocean. There are also several very beautiful and romantic beaches, some of which offer sunbathing and even swimming in a natural pool with ocean water.

Cape Cabo da Roca

The ocean, rocks, wind and waves are the real edge of the Earth. To be a little more precise, Cape Cabo da Roca is the extreme point of Europe. This fantastically beautiful place will not leave indifferent even those who are used to keeping their emotions inside. There is a lighthouse on the cape and a memorial sign marking the westernmost point of Europe. There are no other buildings around, only rocks, crashing ocean waves, and stunning sunsets.

There is a lighthouse on the cape, the waves are constantly making noise and the wind is blowing incessantly. You can come here during the day, but die-hard romantics traditionally come at sunset. And the sunsets here are unforgettable – the main thing is that the weather doesn’t let up, it’s the ocean after all, and it’s so unpredictable.

If you have arrived in Sintra by by car – free parking is available at Cape Cabo de Roca. It is very easy to get here – 30 minutes from the center of Sintra and you are already there.
If you are traveling by public transport, bus 403 from Sintra or Cascais runs from Sintra to Cape Cabo de Roca. It departs every 30 minutes from both cities and can be reached in just over 20 minutes from Cascais and about 35-40 minutes from Sintra.

Beach – Praia da Ursa

Before or after visiting the “edge of Europe”, many people go down to the beautiful Ursa beach, located near Cape Cabo de Roca. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal and one of the best beaches of the Lisbon coast.

But thanks to its inaccessibility – you have to walk down the hill for about 30 minutes to get there – it’s never crowded. In fact, the relative isolation means that those lonely romance lovers who descend on the sands of Ursa Beach often end up taking off their clothes and sunbathing naked. Located near Cabo da Roca, it is the westernmost beach on the European continent with wild and unforgettable landscapes consisting of giant sea currents.

Azenhas do Mar

This small village and the beach near it is one of the most photographed villages in Portugal, located near Sintra. It’s a Mediterranean cluster of whitewashed houses that cling to the cliff to the Atlantic above a tiny beach.

From there, you can walk north to the wild Aguda beach, and then to the locally beloved Praia do Magoito, or south to Praia das Masanas, the most popular beach in the region. On the south side, there is a very nice observation deck overlooking the Azenhas do Mar – a very nice place, near which there is free parking.

An old tram in Sintra

There are ancient trams not only in Lisbon and Porto – Sintra also has a red one. A historic tram connects Sintra with one of the most popular beaches, Praia das Masanas. The line was inaugurated in 1904, but the red tram in use today dates back to the 1930s. It has retained its original features – wooden benches and brass dials. And although the ride is very slow and noisy, it’s a very cool experience that you don’t get everywhere.

The full 13 km journey takes 40 minutes, passing through the Colares countryside towards the coast. It can accommodate only up to 45 passengers and is essentially a service for tourists. Those who just want to get to Praia das Maçãs beach should take the Scotturb 441 bus from Portela de Sintra station nearby.

The tram goes to the beach only three times on weekdays – in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening. And six times on weekends in summer and early fall. After that, the number of services is reduced

Timetable of the tram Sintra-Praia das Maçãs

From Sintra: 10:20, 14:00
From Praia das Masias: 11:30, 15:30

It can accommodate only up to 45 passengers and is essentially a service for tourists. Those who just want to get to the Praia das Maçãs beach should take the Scotturb 441 bus nearby from the Portela de Sintra station.

Recommended to read: 10 destinations for a day trip from Lisbon

The departure point is around the corner from the MU.SA Museum, about a 7-minute walk from Portela de Sintra station and about the same from Sintra Main Station. Next to the museum is the Vila Alda building, where tickets are sold.
The tram stops right above the Praia das Maçãs beach.

The cost of one ticket for adults is 3 euros, and for children (under 18) and pensioners (over 65) – 2 euros. Children under 6 years old are free if they do not occupy a seat. Tickets are sold at Vila Alda (a white building near the highway) on weekdays, and on weekends and holidays – from the driver.

Transportation – how to get in Sintra

Sintra is easily accessible from Lisbon. Whether you want to travel directly from the airport, from the city center, or from the express bus terminal, here are the options for doing so:

Trains from Lisbon to Sintra

There are two regular and inexpensive trains that depart from different parts of Lisbon.

The first departs from the city center – from Rossio station and takes 40 minutes to reach Sintra.
The second one is from the eastern part of the city, departing from Oriente station, and takes 47 minutes.

Both flights start early in the morning (at 5:41 a.m.) and run until late at night. The last train departs from Rossio at 1:01 and from Oriente at 1:08. From both stations, trains depart every 20 minutes throughout the day, and even more frequently during peak hours in the early morning and early evening.

Transfer from Lisbon airport to Sintra

Perhaps you are planning to fly to Lisbon and go straight to Sintra. This can also be done by public transportation. To do this, you must first use the metro, which can be reached from Oriente station. And then – by train, as described above. The whole trip is inexpensive and lasts no more than 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Transportation from the Express bus terminal to Sintra

If you arrive in Lisbon by bus, for example by Flixbus from Nazare and want to go directly to Sintra, you need to change trains. Some buses(including Flixbus ) stop at the Oriente station, from where there are trains to Sintra. But most bus companies stop at the Sete Rios station. Here you can also catch a train departing from Oriente and stopping in Sete Rios after 12 minutes. All you have to do is go down the escalators from the bus station and enter the train station.

By car to Sintra

Many people will tell you that you don’t need to go to Sintra by car, as there are almost no parking spaces in the city center, especially near the main tourist attractions. Narrow, hilly roads can also be a nightmare with frequent traffic jams as drivers look for parking spaces or have trouble navigating ancient streets that were not designed for cars.

But we traveled to Sintra twice exactly like this we rented a car at the Lisbon airport and drove there.

Yes, of course, Sintra is not the most convenient city to manage. And parking is very difficult there. But! I still recommend renting a car for this trip. Why? Because in addition to the palaces of Sintra, you’ll want to see the beautiful beaches – and you need a car for that. However, inside the city it is better to use local buses that run between the palaces. It will be easier and cheaper than circling narrow streets and looking for a parking space.

As for parking near the hotel – most parking lots in Sintra are paid during the day (from 8:00 to 20:00), the price depends on where the parking lot is located. look for hotels not in the very center to make it easier to park.

We even lived in a hotel MouraLua located near the Sintra market – there is a paid parking lot, but I paid only for a couple of hours in the morning and in the evening – the rest of the time we traveled to beaches and palaces (I was able to find parking even there).

Buses to the palaces in Sintra

It is a very convenient theme to travel between parks and palaces on local buses. Several of them run in different directions.

Bus 434

Bus 434 (local company Scotturb) – departs from the train station and goes to the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace.

The route of Bus 434 is as follows:
Sintra Station – National Palace – Moorish Castle – Palais Pena.

Bus 434 departs every 15 minutes from 9:15 to 19:50 in summer and from 9:30 to 18:20 in the rest of the year.

The ticket price is 7.00 euros, but it’s round-trip, meaning that you can go and return with the same ticket.

Bus 435

Bus 435 to Monserrate Palace departs from Rua Dr. Alfredo da Costa, which is located parallel to Sintra Train Station. Just walk past the station entrance and you’ll see a bus stop down the road. It is mostly used by tourists, as it passes by four city palaces.

The route of Bus 435 is as follows:
National Palace of Sintra – Quinta da Regaleira – Palácio de Seteis – Palácio de Monserrate.

Bus 435 departs every 20 minutes from 9:30 to 19:50 in summer and from 9:30 to 18:10 in the rest of the year.

This is a hop on hop off route, tickets cost 5 euros. “Hop on hop off” does not mean that you can ride it as many times as you want during the day. However, this means that it is valid until it completes the route. Example: you get on at the first stop, get off to see the National Palace of Sintra, then go to Quinta da Regaleira, and after visiting it, go to Monserrate. And then you return to the first stop in the city center with the same 5 euro ticket. Tickets are purchased from the driver.

Hop On Hop Off All Buses

You can also buy a “Hop On Hop Off All Buses 24 Hours” ticket for €15.20, which allows unlimited rides on all Scotturb buses in Sintra on the day of purchase.
This includes bus 434, bus 435 to Monserrate Palace and 403 to Cabo da Roca and Cascais, which depart from the Sintra station area. This ticket also includes buses to to the beaches which depart from the not too far away Portela de Sintra station.

You can also get around Sintra on foot to the nearest attractions. For example, it is only a 10-minute walk from Sintra train station to the city center and the National Palace. It’s quite a scenic walk, passing the colorful Town Hall on the way. From there you can walk to Quintada Regaleira.

Useful articles and links:

Rent a car – Rentalcars.com
Find train tickets in Europe conveniently on Trainline
Booking of hotels and apartments – Booking.com

Sintra – a big guide: the city and beaches

When is the best time to go to Sintra

How long does it take to see the most interesting things in Sintra