I’ve had my eye on this little town, a Unesco World Heritage Site, for a few years now. When I was on a roadtrip through Portugal, I just stopped in Sintra for the night, unaware of what a renowned tourist destination it is, only to see some of the impressive palaces in my rearview mirror as I left. But on the one hand it was foggy and on the other hand I had another plan, so I didn’t go back. Not until 3 years later.
Tip: Book your ticket to the fabulous Pena Palace and the adjacent park in advance.
How to get to Sintra
I arrived in Sintra by train from Lisbon, which is about 20 km away. It’s just over half an hour from Rossio station and costs under 3 euros. Trains run here every so often and it’s a short walk from the station to the centre. Again, I was greeted by fog in the mountains and I guess that’s typical of this place. It’s pleasant weather here in the summer, about 7 degrees cooler than hot Lisbon.
If you drive, you should be aware that Sintra is quite a touristy place and parking can be difficult in high season.
Tip: From Lisbon, also take a day group trip to Sintra, Cascais and Cabo da Roca. This way you can manage the 3 most popular places to visit from Lisbon in one day.
Where to stay in Sintra
Sintra is small. Right near the station is São Martinho, a kind of centre where there are many hotels and restaurants. The main square at the Palacio Nacional de Sintra is less than 10 minutes walk away. There are a lot of hotels here too.
Tips for accommodation in Sintra
- Villa Bela Vista – a beautiful boutique hotel right in the centre of Sintra with incredible views and breakfast included.
- Chalet Saudade is a historic house with a garden in the centre of Sintra.
- Moon Hill Hostel – cheap bed and breakfast accommodation in a nice hostel.
Sightseeing tickets in Sintra
Although I would recommend spending 2 days in Sintra, the important things can be done in one day. It will be a busy day though, so I recommend avoiding the queues and booking your tickets online in advance. Here are the individual entrances:
- Pena Palace – the famous “fairytale” palace that people come to Sintra for, you can’t miss it.
- Moorish castle – for me the second best monument, beautiful views of the surroundings and the Pena Palace.
- Monserrate Palace and especially its beautiful gardens – a little further away from the centre, but a wonderful walk in the gardens with lots of interesting plants.
- Quinta de Regaleira – a romantic palace almost in the centre of Sintra.
Things to see in Sintra
Sintra is a really beautiful town and offers several unique places to see, although the town centre itself is so beautiful that you won’t regret stopping, even if you’re just passing through. If you have the chance, head out early in the morning to do some sightseeing without the crowds of tourists.
Palácio Nacional de Pena
Pena Palace is probably the most visited monument. The sprawling, yellow-purple-grey castle in the rock looks imposing, almost like something out of a scary (Disney) fairy tale when the clouds are just overhead. The walk from the entrance to the castle takes about a quarter of an hour, or you can take a minibus (3 euros round trip).
There’s already a queue from the beginning, but for those who have paid for the interior tour (which I didn’t, and looking at the queue of a few hundred meters I didn’t regret it a bit), you can still walk around the walls and a few courtyards. From the terrace on the opposite side from the castle’s entrance gate, there’s a beautiful view down over all of Sintra.
Tip: Come prepared and book your ticket to Pena Palace online in advance.
In 2007, a list of the“7 Wonders of Portugal” was established. It was built on the ruins of an old monastery during the reign of King Ferdinand II in the mid-19th century. He greatly influenced the architecture of the city with his romantic taste.
Castelo dos Mouros
Just about a 10-minute walk from the Palace de Pena is the turn-off to the Moorish castle, Castelo dos Mouros. There’s a ticket machine right by the road, but there was a queue and you can buy tickets right at the entrance where they check them, which is a few hundred metres further on. I bought them online on the way, which proved to be the most efficient.
Here you can enjoy a beautiful walk under the walls. I was a bit scared of the height in places combined with the stronger winds, but it’s safe and the stairs are totally fine. From one side the walls are above Sintra and you can see the Sintra Palace beautifully, from the other side you can see back to the Pena Palace. In the distance, if the weather is good, you can see as far as the Arrábida Natural Park on the south coast, Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Portugal, with its lighthouse, and the seaside town of Peniche to the north.
Tip: Get your tickets to Moorish Castle in advance.
On the way back from the ramparts there is a left turn to the centre (before you even enter from the main road), quite a nice path through the forest, which will lead you to the centre of Sintra in front of the Sintra Palace in about a kilometre and a half.
Palácio Nacional de Sintra
Right in the centre of town is the Sintra Palace, easily recognisable from a distance thanks to its two white conical chimneys. Originally the summer residence of the Portuguese royal family. There are smaller gardens inside, but anyway, the most interesting thing about this building is probably really how it looks from the outside.
Quinta da Regaleira
From the square you go to the Quintum. When you get there, you’re not there yet (it’s the exit), because the entrance is just around the corner, after a slight climb, from the top of the garden.
The romantic palace was built in the second half of the 19th century by coffee and gemstone merchant António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro. The gardens are decorated with gazebos, benches and statues. Because of its owner’s wealth, it is also called Palácio do Monteiro dos Milhões (Palace of the Millionaire Monteiro).
Tip: Avoid the wait and buy your Quinta de Regaleira tickets online.
Monserrate Palace
This place is the furthest from Sintra and maybe that’s why there were very few people here, in fact I was alone almost the whole time in the gardens. If you’re not driving, the best way to get here, especially if there’s more than one of you, is to just take an Uber in Sintra, it costs about 5 euros when it’s not rush hour.
The palace is beautiful, no question about it, but I was especially enchanted by the gardens. They are vast and there are many kinds of plants, bamboo plantations, caves, artificial waterfalls, ponds, exotic cedars and ocean ferns. The Mexican garden has a bunch of cacti taller than a man and succulents, not like my potted ones, but really huge.
Tip: Tickets for the Monserrate Palace and Gardens can be purchased online.
Monserrati Palace was reconstructed by Sir Francis Cook as the dilapidated mansion of the English writer William Beckford. He was granted the title of Viscount Monserrate by King Louis I.
Capuchin Monastery
The Convento dos Capuchos is hidden even further away in the forests of Sintra. The monastery was founded in 1560 and served as a retreat for monks who devoted themselves to rigorous asceticism and prayer. It is characterised by small and narrow spaces that reflect the minimalist and humble lifestyle of the monks.
There are monks’ cells, mostly carved into the rock, chapels and common areas that show the life of the Capuchins. The monastery is surrounded by beautiful nature, which adds to its peaceful and meditative atmosphere.
Where to eat and what to taste in Sintra
Sintra is a foodie paradise and a great place to enjoy Portuguese cuisine and wine. In the adjacent alleyway of the square in front of the Sintra Palace is Piquirita, which sells the traditional travesserio de piriquita, a little strudel with egg yolk cream, coated in sugar. Too sweet for my taste, but of course you have to try it, which apparently the line of about 50 people at the door agreed with. Don’t be fooled, it goes by quickly. Beware though, you need to not stand in line, but take a waybill (you tear it off inside, to the right of the front door). Then you just follow the number like at the post office. Alternatively, you can sit inside.
A few metres away, just across the street, is the traditional pastel de nata pastry shop Fábrica de Nata. You can watch through the window as they fill the cupcakes and buy them still warm.
I had a good quick big and local meal at Apeadeiro. It’s such an oldschool (almost completely traditional) place. They served me delicious cheese, bread and olives. The main meal was slow for two, the meat was excellent and good value for money. But I ended up here mainly because they didn’t have room without a reservation at either of the places I looked up , 100 Tachos and A Raposa. Both more modern Portuguese cuisine. They have good Portuguese tapas at Tascantiga.
Serra de Sintra
The Serra de Sintra is a mountain range just outside Sintra, stretching about 16 kilometres from Cabo da Roca in the west to Rio da Mula in the east. It offers plenty of hiking and cycling trails that lead through dense forests, past historical monuments and offer spectacular views of the Atlantic.
Main trails:
- Cabo da Roca Trail (approx. 10 km) – starts by the sea at the westernmost point of Europe, Cabo da Roca, and leads inland to Sintra.
- Peninha Sanctuary Trail (about 8 km) – runs from Peninha Sanctury to Sintra, offering views of the entire mountain range and the surrounding coastline.
- Monserrate Palace Trail (about 7 km) – from Monserrate Palace to Palácio de Pena.
Things to do in Sintra
As well as beautiful sights and great food and wine, Sintra is home to many cultural events throughout the year. In July, the Sintra Festival takes place, with classical music concerts, theatre performances and exhibitions. In September there is the Feira de São Pedro, a traditional market with local produce, crafts and folklore. These events offer a unique insight into local culture and traditions.
Things to see around Sintra
- Cruz Alta – white cross on the highest point of Serra de Sintra.
- Cabo da Roca – the westernmost cape of Portugal with a lighthouse on the cliff.
- Cascais – coastal town and beaches.