Sintra is a picturesque town located in the hills just outside of Lisbon, Portugal. It is known for its many stunning palaces, lush gardens, and rich history. There are plenty of things to do in Sintra and it’s a beautiful place to visit.
If you’re staying in Lisbon, Sintra is the perfect day trip out from the city. You can get a regular train from Rossio station and it takes around 40 minutes to get there. Even better, the return fare is only €5.10! This station can get busy, so if you’re aiming for a specific train, make sure you have time to get your tickets.
With Sintra being so colourful and beautiful palaces and gardens to see, it does get busy. Everywhere we went there just seemed to be loads of people. That’s not necessarily a negative, but something to keep in mind with queues and getting into shops or restaurants whilst there.
So, what can you do in Sintra? Besides just walking around and taking in all the sights, here are some attractions you can visit whilst in Sintra. You can visit these places self-guided, or with tours – it just depends what you want out of it!
National Palace of Sintra
The National Palace of Sintra is located in the centre of Sintra, and has an unmistakeable silhouette thanks to the two conical chimneys standing tall. It was once the residence of the Portuguese royal family and is now open to the public where you can tour the many rooms inside.
Visitors can tour the palace’s many rooms, which feature beautiful tilework and intricate decorations. Admission to the palace costs €10 for adults and €8.50 for children (6-17 years old).
Palácio da Pena – Pena Palace
Pena Palace is a very colorful palace that sits right at the top of a hill overlooking Sintra. This is probably one of the most popular things to do in Sintra. It is a fairy tale palace with all the bright colours and the beautiful gardens and view surrounding it, even if it could do with a bit of love and a lick of paint. The views here are absolutely incredible on a clear day – you can see for miles! It can be super windy though, so taking a jacket is probably a good idea.
You can tour the palace’s rooms, but you don’t actually get to wander around them. You are basically following a long queue all around the indoor areas, and in my experience (having gone at one of the busier time periods, in the afternoon) it was slow-moving and not that great of an experience. That said, it will surely be quieter at certain times of the day or in a different season. For reference we went on a Tuesday afternoon in late September – our tickets were for around 3pm I believe, as we booked it after finishing a morning tour of Sintra.
Tickets for the palace and gardens cost €14 for adults and €12.50 for children (6-17 years old). Whilst I didn’t particularly love the experience because it was so busy and limited to where you could move inside, I would still recommend paying for the palace because you get some incredible views once you’re through the queue and get to explore the outside walls of the palace!
Tip: make sure you have cash on you, or something pre-booked to get yourself to and from the palace. There are buses that stop right outside the entrance, and you’ll also see plenty of tuk tuk style vehicles ready to get people back to Sintra, but you need cash for both.
Quinta da Regaleira
The Quinta da Regaleira estate is huge, and there is so much to explore within the grounds. This UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to the 19th century and is famous for its various intricate gardens with hidden tunnels and fountains. You can also tour the palace, which is divided into 5 floors!
If you looking to visit, the initiation well is definitely something you should see. It is a circular tower with stairs winding down. There may be a queue to get in this tower, but it generally moves pretty quickly. That’s because there is someone manning the entrance, and you are asked to keep moving as you make your way down the stairs. No stopping for a photoshoot! At the bottom, you’ll end up walking through some tunnels to get back out. It’s a great little adventure!
To get into Quinta da Regaleira it costs €11 for adults and €6 for children. (Aged 6-17 years old)
Moorish Castle
The Moorish Castle is a medieval castle that sits at the top of a hill overlooking Sintra. It served as a strategic lookout point, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. Built by the Moors, is was later conquered by Christian forces. Its unique mix of Islamic and Christian influences can be seen in the design and architecture.
When visiting, you can explore the castle’s towers and walls, and enjoy the views! Admission to the castle costs €8 for adults and €6.50 for children.
Monserrate Palace
Monserrate Palace sits in the hills just outside of Sintra. Built in the 19th century, its architecture shows a blend of Gothic, Indian, and Moorish designs from elaborate stonework to intricate tile designs. You can tour the rooms inside the palace, as well as the surrounding gardens. Here’s a full review of what you can see at Monserrate Palace if you’re thinking about visiting!
Admission costs €10 for adults and €8.50 for children.
Visit Sintra
Sintra realy does offers something for everyone to do – whether you’re interested in history, architecture, or natural sites. Each place has tours available if you would prefer to have a guide, however all can be done alone too.
Whilst visiting, make to visit Casa Piriquita to try their Travesseiros! This is a treat made from a puff pastry with eggs and almond cream in the filling. Super tasty! They also have plenty of other baked goods to try too, but make sure you grab a number when you enter the shop, as this is the queing system.
