A day trip to visit the opulent Sintra castles is mandatory when you visit Portugal. It’s the stuff that dreams are made of and the thing to do when you’re in Lisbon.
Of all the amazing experiences I had during my 10-day trip to Portugal โ from almost breaking my nose at the Benagil Cave to chilling on the sun-drenched beaches of Lagos to feasting my way through Porto โ the day spent strolling through the dreamy estates and architectural wonders of Sintra was my favourite.
What is Sintra in Portugal known for?
If you’re embroiled in planning your first trip to Portugal and it’s your first time hearing of Sintra then you’re in for a treat.
This charming town and UNESCO World Heritage site is a botanical paradise and 19th-century Romanticist architecture dreamland of historic estates, palatial villas, elaborate gardens and nature parks and enchanting castles tucked within the lush forested terrain of Serra de Sintra.
A mere 15 miles (40-minute train ride from Rossio Station) from Lisbon, this haven is nestled into the northern slope of the Sintra Mountains.
How far is Sintra from Lisbon Portugal?
Getting from Lisbon to Sintra is super simple and straightforward, even if you are directionally impaired like me. Most of the castles and estates open around 9:30am. To beat the crowds, I’d recommend leaving Rossio Station by at least 7:30/8am (trains start as early as 6am).
๐ Trains from Lisbon to Sintra run frequently from Rossio Station
โฑ๏ธ Travel duration is about 40 minutes
๐ถ Tickets to Sintra are โฌ2.50 each way
๐จโโ๏ธ Purchase tickets from booths or machines at the station
๐ซ You can use also use a Viva Viagem or Green card for admission
My first glimpse on the ornate Monserrate Palace
RELATED READING:
โณ A Curated 10-Day Itinerary of Portugal
โณ 9 Tried-and-True Hidden Gems You Donโt Want To Miss In Lisbon
โณ 8 Gluttonous Reasons To Squeeze Porto Into Your Travel Itinerary
How to get around the Sintra Castles
The Sintra castles are spread across a rolling, expansive landscape so the mode of transportation you choose depends on what kind of experience you want.
Personally, I wanted to see as many estates as possible, I had a local data plan and a travel buddy so Uber was the best option. If you’re not in a rush and budget-conscious, the bus is your best bet but they’re rammed with tourists.
๐ Bus 434 Sintra: โฌ6.90 – entire loop, โฌ3.90 – one stop
๐ Uber: โฌ5-8 euro to Pena (the furthest castle I went to)
๐ Taxi: Harder to find but an option if you don’t have data
๐ต Tuk Tuk: โฌ20, scenic but hella expensive
Started at Pena Palace and it was still packed! Found a spot no one thought was a good photo-op
Tips for Visiting Sintra Castles
๐ฐ Logistics: If you’re like me and you want to see as many castles and estates as humanly possible, it’s possible to see four on a day trip to Sintra and return to Lisbon in time for dinner. You’ll be tired AF and your time at each place may be abbreviated but it’s manageable. If planning isn’t your jam, booking a private driver and guide to see the Highlights of Sintra is a relaxing option that won’t have you ripping your hair out in frustration.
๐จOvernight: For more time to explore the magical Sintra castles, stay the night at Chalet Saudade, a quaint and romantic property a mere 10-minute walk from the town centre. Your feet will thank you after a long day of roaming castles.
๐บ๏ธ Route: Choose which spots you want to see and plan your route accordingly. I started with Pena Palace โ it’s the most popular and was swarming with people by 9am โ then mosied up the street to Castle of the Moors, took a break for lunch then continued on to Quinta da Regaleira and capped off our tour of the Sintra castles with Monserrate Palace.ย
๐๏ธ Admission: For a discount and to avoid line-ups, purchase your tickets in advance. For flexibility I bought my tickets between stops on my phone. If you know you’re going to hit up 2 or more spots, you can get a discount. The Lisboa Card and Green Card also offers discounts or admission to some of the sights.
๐ Footwear: There’s a lot of walking so make sure whatever you wear is comfortable. Grip is also important as the landscape can be treacherous and you don’t want to risk falling over a wall ร la Humpty Dumpty.
๐๏ธ Nearby: If you’re itching for some beach time, the coastal resort town of Cascais is nearby in this part of Portugal. Get some history in before catching some vitamin D with a tour of both.
Looking like I own the place (“the place” being Quinta da Regaleira)
Which Sintra Castles and Estates To Visit
You know me โ Go big or go home โ so of course I managed to squeeze in the four major castles and estates AND a leisurely lunch into my day trip to Sintra. If you prefer to take your time exploring each spot, allocating another day in your itinerary of Portugal to Sintra may be necessary.
Here are the Sintra castles, palaces and estates worth visiting (and the most efficient order to visit them in):
Pena Palace
๐ Estrada da Pena, 2710-609 Sintra
โฑ๏ธ 9:30am – 8pm
๐ถ โฌ14.00
๐ฅ๏ธ Website
It’s not hard to understand why crowds swarm Pena Palace, or Palacio da Pena in Sintra. The UNESCO World Heritage site โ with the distinctly saturated walls, ornate moulding and decorative tile work โ is the stuff of Instagram photo-ops fairytales. There’s nothing like your first glimpse of the bright yellow towers, stretching towards the heavens.
If you detests crowds, it’s best to make Pena Palace your first stop as it’s the most recognizable and popular of all the Sintra castles and estates. Arrive early (think 8:30/9am before it even opens) because it’s a bit of a hike from the entrance.
If you plan on roaming the interior of this Sintra castle, get in line right away because it’ll extend past the entrance by 10am. Do your IG thing later.
Castle of the Moors
๐ 2710-405 Sintra
โฑ๏ธ 9:30am – 8pm
๐ถ โฌ8.00
๐ฅ๏ธ Website
A mere 10-minute stroll from Pena Palace, it’s definitely worth it to swing by the impressive Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros) for a quick tour.
Tucked amid the lush Serra De Sintra forest and perched atop a hill, the crumbling walls of this medieval fortress offer a panoramic view of Sintra stretching out below.
Built in the 8th and 9th century by the Moors, it served as a strategically elevated vantage point during times of conflict.
A Raposa
๐ Rua Conde Ferreira, 29 Sintra
๐ถ โฌโฌโฌโฌ
๐ฅ๏ธ Website
Lunch time! Probably the best find of the day, A Raposa (“the fox”) was a much-needed respite from the swarms of tourists. This sumptuous, drool-worthy eatery was the ideal spot to re-fuel to continue exploring the Sintra castles and estates.
A tearoom by day and restaurant by night, I was as charmed by ringing a doorbell for admission into the the intimate yet relaxed oasis as I was by the gourmet cuisine.
With idyllic frescoes bedecking the ceiling of the spacious room of this hidden gem, we ravenously tucked into a tender dish of Iberian Pork Jowl with a velvety chestnut purรฉe and a buttery cod with caramelized onions and potatoes.
We capped off the meal with a White Reserve Port from the Rozรจs vineyard, serving as a restorative to prepare us to face the rest of the day exploring castles.
Quinta Da Regaleira
๐ R. Barbosa du Bocage 5, 2710-567 Sintra
โฑ๏ธ 9:30am – 7:30pm
๐ถ โฌ6.00
๐ฅ๏ธ Website
The infamous Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira
Another World Heritage Site, Quinta da Regaleira is a 4-hectare estate comprised of an ornate, 5-storey gothic mansion and a grand park featuring lakes, grottoes, wells and fountains.
Symbolism related to secret orders such as the Knights of Templar and the Masonry were incorporated into many of the enigmatic buildings and hidden pathways on the property.
A fan favourite is the Initiation Well that resembles underground towers with stairs spiralling down alongside the border. The spacing of the small landings between stairs as well as the number of stairs in the larger of the wells is linked to Tarot mysticism.
Monserrate Palace
๐2710-405 Sintra
โฑ๏ธ 9:30am – 8pm
๐ถ โฌ8.00
๐ฅ๏ธ Website
Conceived as a family summer residence by an English textile millionaire, the romantic Monserrate Palace (Palacio de Monserrate) was my favourite of all the Sintra castles and estates. It was like wandering through a lush, floral fantasy that I never wanted to leave ๐บ
Do I look like I own the place?
Comprised of 33 hectares of lush landscape and botanical beauty, the palatial villa itself is a dreamy blend of Neo-Gothic and Romanticism influences as well as Arabic, and Indian architecture.
Appreciate the details in the artisan craftsmanship at your leisure before strolling through the manicured gardens and grottoes. A major plus is that Monserrate had a more open layout so it wasn’t as overrun with tourists as the other places.
If you are travelling to Portugal, a day trip to the Sintra castles and estates is an absolute MUST. You’ll never forget the majestic estates or the enchantment of the castles! I was exhausted and my feet were practically bleeding by the end of the day but it was so worth it.
If you’re trying to figure out how to fit a day trip to Sintra into your trip, check out my curated itinerary of Portugal.
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