Sintra Day Trip From Lisbon: Our Complete Itinerary

Packed with colourful fairy tale palaces, rambling hilltop castles, and exotic flora, there are plenty of magical things to do in Sintra. Here’s all you need to know to plan a Lisbon to Sintra day trip.

Sintra is just 40 minutes from Lisbon by train, but it feels like a different world entirely — a forested hillside dotted with palaces, castles, and gardens that seem almost too elaborate to be real.

The town’s golden era came in the 19th century, when King Ferdinand II transformed a hilltop monastery into the extravagant Pena Palace, blending Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance influences into something entirely his own.

The surrounding park was landscaped with exotic trees from across the globe.

More palaces and gardens followed, and in 1995 UNESCO recognised the whole cultural landscape with World Heritage status.

One day isn’t enough to see everything in Sintra, but it’s enough to see the best of it, if you plan your time well.

This guide covers the essential highlights in the right order, with practical advice on getting there, getting around, and making the most of every hour.

How to Get to Sintra from Lisbon

Sintra is located 29 kilometres northwest of Lisbon in the beautiful Parque Natural Sintra-Cascais.

While there are stunning castles spread all over the 145 square kilometres of the natural park, the most popular are centred around Sintra, which is easy to get to on a day trip from Lisbon.

By Train 

One of the most cost-effective ways to get to Sintra is by train.

The public transport system in Portugal is excellent, and trains run regularly. There are two train lines operating from Lisbon to Sintra.

From Rossio Station — Rossio Station is in Baixa, in the heart of Lisbon, and most tourists use it to travel to Sintra. It’s also a beautiful building and a tourist attraction in its own right.

From Orient Train Station — Orient Train Station is the main intercity station in Lisbon, connecting other cities throughout the country via train, bus, and metro. It’s located 2.5 kilometres from the airport, so it’s the route you will take if you are travelling directly from the airport to Sintra.

We purchased our tickets from the self-service machines in the station.

By Car

To explore a bit more of the area at your own pace, you can hire a car and do a road trip from Lisbon to Sintra, collecting some of the beautiful Portuguese coast on the way.

As traffic in Sintra has been a problem for some time, the local government has taken drastic measures to reduce vehicle traffic in the centre of town.

Only residents, city buses, and taxis are allowed in.

If you are driving to Sintra, we’d recommend parking at Parque de Estacionamento P1 Sul (Av. Mário Firmino Miguel) and taking the bus into the centre of town.

By Organised Tour

Fully-guided tours from Lisbon to Sintra include the main highlights plus one or two other attractions on the coast. All tours include skip-the-line entry, and some offer hotel pick-up in Lisbon.

Here are a few we recommend.

• Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca – Take in the panoramic views of Cabo da Roca and the elegant seaside resort of Cascais after visiting Sintra.
• Sintra Highlights – Visit Quinta da Regaleira and Pena Palace, followed by the village of Cascais.
• Azenhas do Mar, Cascais & Sintra – See the natural seawater pools at Azenhas do Mar beach before going on to Sintra and Cabo da Roca, then Cascais.

Sintra Map

Sintra Train Station is the last stop on the line, and it’s located at the bottom of a hill, 1.5 kilometres from the historic town centre. This map has all the places we’ve listed in this guide to help you get your bearings.

Getting Around Sintra

There are 3 options for getting around on your Sintra day trip.

Walking

From the train station, it’s possible to walk around Sintra and see all the sights; however, this could be a very long day. Sintra is hilly, and the distances soon add up.

If you were to walk this entire itinerary, as well as around the sights themselves, you could easily cover 10 kilometres and 300 meters of ascent and descent. This is how we did it, and it was excellent if you’re up for it.

Tourist Buses

The 434 tourist bus runs a one-way loop past the major attractions in Sintra, then returns to the station. It costs €13.50 for the day. You can also buy a Train & Bus combo ticket for €16 at the Lisbon Train station, which includes the tourist bus around Sintra.

The first bus leaves Sintra station at 9:15 AM and runs every 15 minutes during peak tourist times. The last bus is at 7:50 PM.

Sintra 434 Tourist Bus Loop:

• Stop 1 – Sintra Train Station
• Stop 2 – Historic Centre of Sintra (Palácio Nacional de Sintra)
• Stop 3 – Moorish Castle
• Stop 4 – Pena Palace
• Stop 5 – Sintra Train Station

Taxis / Tuk Tuk

Tuk-tuk drivers operate from the train station and will run you up and down to the Pena Palace. They charge around €5 per person, with the advantage that they will drop you wherever you want.

It’s a good idea to negotiate with them upfront about what you want to see and where you want them to take you.

Things to Do in Sintra

1. Palácio Nacional da Pena and Gardens

Pena Palace was originally a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, then a monastery in the 15^th century.

It was devastated by the earthquake in the 18^th century when it was purchased by King Ferdinand II, who converted it into his summer palace.

The old monastery was rebuilt along with a new European grand house surrounded by the battlements, watchtowers, and drawbridge of a faux castle.

Islamic and Medieval Christian influences are spread throughout the palace with tiles, vaulted arches, and intricate carvings dominating the interior.

With a bright yellow monastery, a rustic red castle, and ornate battlements, the whole sight could easily feel gaudy, tacky, and cheap. It’s all of those things, but also the number one sight in Sintra.

How to Get to Pena Palace

Take a tuk-tuk or a bus from Sintra Train Station to the lower entrance of Pena Palace, then walk up through the grounds to the palace.

The queues are shorter at the lower entrance than at the main entrance, and the walk up through the interesting flora and Moorish-decorated architecture is one of the best things to do in Sintra.

Allow around 1 hour and 30 minutes to explore the grounds and palace.

Pena Palace Details

• Garden Hours: 9 am to 7 pm daily (last admission, 6 pm)
• Palace Hours: 9:30 am to 6:30 pm (last admission, 6 pm)
• Cost: €20 adults; €18 kids & seniors; €65 families.
• Tickets: You need to book a timed entry in advance for the palace (online discount applies)

2. Castelo Dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors)

Castelo dos Mouros sits on another rocky peak of the hill just a few hundred meters away. It was built in the 8th and 9th centuries by the Moors.

Its vantage point allowed it to control the Atlantic coast and the inlet to Lisbon. But it was not enough, and after Lisbon fell in 1147, the castle was captured by the Christian King Alfonso Henriques.

In 1755, an earthquake destroyed much of the castle, leaving the tower in ruins.

In 1839, King Ferdinand II began restoring the castle. He rebuilt the chapel, repaired the walls, and reforested the area.

The castle is now a sight to behold with its walls meandering up and down the contours of the hill.

Each turret provides excellent views over the surrounding area.

How to Get to Castelo Dos Mouros

Exit the Pena Palace at the main entrance, turn left on the road, and after a couple of minutes, you will arrive at the Moorish Castle ticket office. The castle is another 5-minute walk beyond the ticket office.

Castelo Dos Mouros Details

• Hours: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM (last ticket and last admission at 5:30 PM)
• Cost: €12 adults; €10 kids & seniors; €33 families.
• Tickets: Timed entry is not required, but you can save 5% by booking skip-the-line tickets online.

3. Historic Centre of Sintra

There is no denying that the centre of Sintra’s old town can be busy, and the restaurants can be touristy.

But it’s not as bad as it could be. Take a stroll along the pedestrianised streets and narrow stairways, admiring the cute shops, churches, and townhouses, and chances are you’ll be won over.

Grab lunch at Tascantiga. They serve excellent tapas and a decent wine list on the southern edge of town.

Stop off at Piriquita II for either their excellent pastel de nata or their signature pastry, chocolate salami – a slice of chocolate goodness packed with nuts and biscuits.

After you’ve taken in the old town and energised yourself with some calories, head towards Quinta da Regaleira.

How to Get There 

Exit the Moorish castle and head into Sintra’s old town. Follow the path signed to Sintra, which runs down the east side of the hill, then turn left on the main road into the old town. This should take around 20 minutes.

Taking the bus back to Sintra — Alternatively, head back to the ticket office at the Moorish Castle and get the 434 hop-on-hop-off bus into town.

4. Quinta da Regaleira

Quinta da Regaleira, completed in 1910, is one of the more flamboyant decorative houses and gardens built in the area.

The property consists of an ornate palace, a small chapel, and an expansive park.

The palace is impressive enough, but the real attraction is the remarkable gardens.

Inspired by the owner’s mythological beliefs, every corner of the park hides a hidden gem. Disney-like turrets and castellated walls poke through the trees. Grottos, fountains, ponds, and benches lurk in the undergrowth.

The star attraction of Quinta da Regaleira is the deep well that tunnels into the ground.

Take the spiral steps to the bottom for the obligatory Sintra selfie. A secret tunnel takes you over a cute bridge to exit the well.

How to Get to Quinta da Regaleira

Quinta de Regaleira is a 12-minute walk along the main road from the centre of Sintra’s old town. Allow at least 1 hour and 30 minutes to explore the house and grounds.

Quinta da Regaleira Details

• Hours: 10 AM to 6:30 PM (Oct-Mar); 10 AM to 7:30 PM (Apr-Sep)
• Cost: €20 adults; €15 youth & seniors; €60 families.
• Tickets: Timed-entry tickets must be booked online in advance.

5. Palácio Nacional de Sintra

To finish your day in Sintra, you may just have enough time to look around the inside of the National Palace of Sintra.

The National Palace was originally one of two Moorish castles in Sintra (the other Castelo do Mouros at the top of the hill). But nothing built during the Moorish time has survived.

Instead, what stands here now was constructed by Christian kings in the 15^th and 16^th centuries.

It still contains significant Gothic, Renaissance and Moorish influences. It has been inhabited for much of the last 500 years, and it’s currently the best-preserved medieval royal residence in Portugal.

How to Get to Palácio Nacional de Sintra

Exit the grounds of Quinta da Regaleira and make the 12-minute return walk back into Sintra town to Palácio Nacional de Sintra.

When you are finished looking around the National Palace, either take the10-minute walk back to Sintra Train Station or hop on the tourist bus one last time.

Palácio Nacional de Sintra Details

• Palace Hours: 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM (last ticket and last admission at 6:00 PM)
• Gardens Hours: 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM (last admission at 6:00 PM)
• Cost: €13 adults; €10 Youth & Seniors; €35 families.
• Tickets: book tickets online in advance to skip the queue and save 5%

Our Recommended Route for Sintra

If you enjoy walking but still want time to see all the attractions in Sintra, here is our suggested way to get around.

• Get a tuk-tuk to the lower entrance of Pena Palace.
• Walk up to the palace through the beautiful gardens.
• After visiting the Pena Palace, walk down the hill to collect the other sights in the order we have listed them above.

This way, you’ll be walking downhill most of the day.

As Sintra can get very busy, especially during peak summer months, try to arrive at the lower entrance to Pena Palace when the gates open in the morning.

Where to Stay in Sintra

If you decide to turn your day trip to Sintra into an overnight stay, there are several great places in the centre of town allowing for a late-night stroll back from a local wine bar.

If you decide to head back to Lisbon, our accommodation suggestions are in our guide to Lisbon hotels.

• Casa Miradouro – Just 500 metres from the National Palace, enjoy this lovely hillside B&B with stunning views from their elegant rooms.
• Lawrence’s Hotel – A majestic countryside manor house in a rural location surrounded by beautiful hiking trails in the natural park.
• Palácio De Sintra Boutique House – A great economical option in the heart of Sintra with friendly hosts, good wifi, excellent breakfast and a regal kitsch colour scheme.

More Guides for Portugal

• Our curated list of the best things to do in Lisbon.
• The perfect 3-day itinerary for Lisbon.
• Book your accommodation with our guide to Lisbon’s neighbourhoods.
• Our top things to do in Funchal.
• An itinerary for a Lisbon to Sintra day trip.