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As you begin your day trip to Sintra, you may feel like you are stepping into a fairytale. This is brought on by the enchanting maze of winding streets through the town and the backdrop of the Sintra Mountains. Littered with castles and palaces, it could well feel like your own personal pilgrimage to reach these beautiful mountains. Sintra was a highlight of my time in Lisbon. I loved the day I spent in the town and only wish I’d had time to stay longer.
Getting to Sintra
Getting to Sintra from Lisbon is easy. Trains frequently leave from Rossio station in the centre of Lisbon. Tickets can be purchased at the station and cost €4.50 return. The journey takes 40 minutes. Expect a queue for tickets at both the ticket counter and ticket machines. This is an immensely popular day trip for visitors from Lisbon. I have heard that during peak summer months the queue goes out of the station door. It is commonplace for trains to be full of passengers being forced to stand. It is possible to wait for the next train, should there be no seats available. During the peak times of the year, six trains leave Lisbon for Sintra every hour.
Driving can seem like a viable option. However, the people and the council of Sintra plead with visitors not to do so. The roads in and around Sintra cannot handle substantial volumes of traffic. Parking is also a significant issue and if too many people drive, it is almost certain to cause chaos.
What To See and Do On Your Day Trip To Sintra
Getting Around Sintra
Looking up into the foothills of the Sintra Mountains as the sun beats down, a walk to the summit won’t seem too appealing. Fortunately, this is unnecessary. Instead, take the tourist bus, number 434. This bus will take you up into the mountains, stopping at the National Palace of Pena and Castelo dos Mouros. A round trip ticket costs €6.90. This is the most convenient way of getting around Sintra and all the main attractions. Buses leave every few minutes from Sintra Train Station. However, if you want to ensure a seat, take a walk into the historical centre of Sintra and begin from there. This is the primary station for disembarkment and almost guarantees most seats are free until you reach the train station.
Park and National Palace of Pena
When you take your first glance at the hills of Sintra, the palace is sure to be what first catches your eye. The palace remains the number one attraction for those visiting Sintra. For that reason, expect quite a wait to purchase your tickets. Tickets for both the palace and park are bought together, costing €14. However, an individual ticket for the park costs just €7.50. This gives you access to the entire gardens and palace terraces, but just not to the staterooms. The palace, when you reach it, is magnificent. So many various designs and complementary colours being used in the construction of just one building is spectacular. You could look at this historic building over and over yet still notice something distinctive.
Inside the palace, I have to admit I was unimpressed. In certain parts I enjoyed it, but in others, I felt it was nothing special. What I didn’t enjoy was that the visit follows a one-way system. With so many people in one location, it almost felt like we were being herded. People were fighting to get whatever pictures they could, which made for a slightly unpleasant visit. I can imagine on a more humid day, it is not the nicest of places to be. I recommend not paying to go inside. Alternatively, enjoy the building from the outside and make use of the terraces. They offer fantastic views of Sintra and the surrounding area. Less time invested in the palace also means more time to properly explore the vast park that the palace is located within.
Castelo Dos Mouros
As a lover of castles, it was naturally Castelo Dos Mouros that really got my attention. It looked so intriguing as it sat amidst the hillside forests. The castle was constructed in the early 9th century by the North African Moors. It was used to defend the town of Sintra but fell into disrepair during the Christian conquest of Portugal. King Ferdinand II restored the castle in the 19th Century. He made it a major feature in the extensive gardens of Pena Palace. At present, the castle resembles the ruin it once was. Crumbling walls are surrounded by forest, yet visitors are still permitted to roam and scale them as they wish. The views from various parts of the castle are remarkable. This is the case whether you are overlooking the town of Sintra or getting a glimpse of Pena Palace nearby. Entrance to the castle is €8.
Sintra National Palace
The unmissable Sintra National Palace is located right in the heart of the historical town centre. The palace is regarded as the best-preserved medieval residence in all of Portugal. This is despite suffering significant damage from an earthquake in 1755. At present, tickets to enter the National Palace cost €10. It is a house museum open to the public. Luxurious furnishings and unique artwork from the past are still in place throughout. These only add to the splendid grandeur on display during your visit. Tickets to enter cost €10. Even though the visiting time is significantly less than at other attractions, no day trip to Sintra would be complete without exploring the palace.
Staying At Sintra
Is Sintra worth more than one day? Absolutely! I went there with the impression that one day would be more than enough. I thought I could stroll around the town and see what I wanted to see, all at my own leisure. The reality was quite different. For starters, the amount of time it took to get the tickets and then gain entry into places consumed a hefty chunk of the day. By the way, I visited midweek in April! I can‘t imagine how long the lines can be on a Saturday in June or July. It could be the case that no matter how much you try to cram into one day, the popularity of Sintra merely doesn’t allow it.
What To See in Sintra With More Than One Day
Should you decide to spend more than one day in Sintra, you will undoubtedly have no problem filling your second day. Your activities for the second day will, however, take you further afield. The region of Sintra is best known for its palaces. It will come as no surprise that on day two, this is how you are likely to spend most of your day. Bus 435 will transport you from Sintra town to the trio of Monserrate Palace, Seteais Palace and Regaleira Palace.
Monserrate Palace and its lovely gardens are the traditional summer resort for the Portuguese Court.
The national landmark, Seteais Palace, was built for the Dutch Consul back in the late 1700s. Today it is operated as a luxury hotel. Much of its original infrastructure has been retained.
Regaleira Palace is an estate once owned by Antonio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, a wealthy Brazilian entomologist. The palace was affectionately known as “The Palace of Monteiro the Millionaire”, the nickname of its longtime owner. The property consists of a magnificent palace, a chapel and a luxurious garden consisting of grottos and lakes.
Because of time constraints, I was only fortunate enough to spend one day in Sintra. However, at the conclusion of my day trip to Sintra, I left feeling like I had so much left to see. Time is of the essence when you explore this region. Yet with so many parks, gardens and palaces to explore, you will enjoy your time so much more if you are not hurrying through it. Of course, with most people having only a limited time to spend in Lisbon, a day trip is the only realistic option. However, should you plan in advance, I recommend staying for longer. A day trip to Sintra is sure to be a highlight of your trip, however, two days there would be even more magical.
To read more about Lisbon including 5 Reasons Why You Must Visit Belem, click here.
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We took a city break to Lisbon back in Aug 19 and having read this review, we made sure to take a daytrip to Sintra. We were not disapointed. What a beautiful place. The views and architecture were spectacular. 10/10.