The perfect day-trip from Lisbon to Sintra

Discover how to make the most of a magical day trip to Sintra from Lisbon. Learn the best ways to get there, top attractions to visit, and insider tips.
The perfect day-trip from Lisbon to Sintra

Today, we take you on a journey to the enchanting village of Sintra, a destination that is undoubtedly the most beautiful day trip you can make from Lisbon.

Sintra is the must-see excursion for anyone visiting Lisbon, and there are countless reasons why. It’s nearby, easy to reach, and brimming with magic.

While staying overnight in Sintra would be wonderful, the reality is that most visitors explore the town on a same-day round trip from Lisbon. We’re going to show you how to make the most of this day trip, covering everything from how to get there, how to move around, and which attractions you absolutely must see.

Table of Contents

How to Get to Sintra

how to get to sintra
how to get to sintra

Let’s start with the basics: how to get to Sintra. Sintra is located about 30 kilometers from Lisbon. Among the various ways to get there, the train—known as the “comboio” in Portugal—is the option we recommend. Trains to Sintra depart from Rossio station, right in the heart of Lisbon. The Metro stations Restauradores (on the blue line) and Rossio (on the green line) are both conveniently close to the train station.

Trains are operated by Comboios de Portugal, the Portuguese public railway company. If you check their website (we’ll provide the link in the video description), you’ll find that trains run frequently, with two to three departures per hour throughout the day. You don’t need to buy your ticket in advance since there are no reserved seats. You can easily purchase your ticket on the day of your visit.

Upon entering Rossio station, check the screens for the next departure to Sintra. Take the escalators up to the top level where the ticket offices and trains are located. The cheapest and easiest way to pay for your journey is by using your Lisbon transport card loaded with zapping credits. We have a video on our channel explaining how to use Lisbon transport cards, so don’t miss it! The cost of the trip from Lisbon to Sintra, using zapping credits, is currently 1.90 euros each way. This method also saves you from having to buy a new card. If you don’t have a transport card, you can buy your ticket at the ticket office or from the machines if the queues are long.

Once you’ve purchased your ticket, find the platform for your train and hop on. The journey to Sintra takes about 40 to 50 minutes, depending on the number of stops along the way. Don’t worry, Sintra is the final stop on the line.

How to Move Around Sintra

Now that we’ve arrived in Sintra, let’s talk about how to get around the town. The Sintra train station is a bit of a distance from the town center and some of the main attractions, so you’ll need to decide on your mode of transport. While it’s a pleasant 20-minute walk to the center, time in Sintra is limited, so we suggest saving this walk for the end of the day when you’re heading back to the station.

Let’s take a look at the map to understand the layout of the attractions we’ll be visiting today. We’ll start by visiting the Pena Palace and then the Moorish Castle in the morning. After that, we’ll explore the center of Sintra during lunchtime and visit the Quinta da Regaleira in the afternoon before walking back to the train station.

The distance between the train station and Pena Palace is too long and steep to walk, especially if you’re on a day trip. The most popular option for getting up the hill is the Scotturb circular bus. However, based on our experience, we do not recommend this service. The bus was overcrowded, and the advertised frequency of one bus every 15 minutes was far from accurate. We spent an hour waiting for the bus to return from the top of the hill, and when it finally arrived, it was so full that it didn’t even stop at some points. Given the poor service, we recommend using a taxi, tuk-tuk, or a ride-sharing service like Bolt or Uber instead.

If we had taken a Bolt or Uber on the day of our visit, it would have cost us around 4 euros to reach the Pena Palace—much cheaper and more convenient than the 25 euros we paid for the unreliable bus service.

Pena Palace

Pena Palace
Pena Palace

Our first stop of the day is the breathtaking Palacio da Pena, a 19th-century residence of the Portuguese royal family and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995. The palace, perched on top of a mountain, features a unique blend of architectural styles, giving it an exotic and picturesque character.

We visited the palace in the low season, early in the morning, and bought tickets from the machines at the entrance. However, in high season, it’s highly recommended to buy tickets in advance due to the large number of visitors. You can purchase tickets on the Civitatis website, where you’ll need to select the time of your entry. Make sure to arrive about half an hour before your scheduled entry, as it’s a steep walk through the woods to reach the palace from the ticket office. There is a small bus available for those who prefer not to walk.

Once inside the palace, you’ll be captivated by its incredible interior, full of fascinating details. The gardens surrounding the palace are equally impressive, but on a day trip, you may not have enough time to explore them fully. After visiting the palace, we headed to our next stop, the Moorish Castle.

Castelo dos Mouros

The Castelo dos Mouros
The Castelo dos Mouros

The Castelo dos Mouros, or Moorish Castle, is a fortress built on rocky cliffs overlooking Sintra. The castle was originally constructed by the Moors during their occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. Like the Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

There is a ticket office at the lower entrance, but during the high season, you can buy tickets online without a set entry time. The castle offers spectacular views and the opportunity to walk along the ancient walls, though it’s not recommended for those with mobility issues due to the uneven terrain. After our visit, we attempted to take the bus back to the center of Sintra but ended up waiting for an hour, as mentioned earlier.

Exploring the Center of Sintra and Lunch

After finally reaching the center of Sintra, it was time for lunch. The town’s center is charming, with its winding streets and hidden corners. Although we didn’t have time to visit the Sintra National Palace, it’s a prominent feature of the town with its towering chimneys.

We had lunch at Bacalhau na Villa, a restaurant specializing in cod dishes. We started with pataniscas de bacalhau and followed with bacalhau à lagareiro and bacalhau à Brás. For dessert, we visited the famous Periquito confectionery to try two of Sintra’s most beloved sweets: the travesseiro (a puff pastry filled with almonds, egg yolks, and sugar) and the queijada (a small cake made with fresh cheese, sugar, eggs, flour, and cinnamon).

Lunch at Bacalhau na Villa (@shermyyy)
Lunch at Bacalhau na Villa (@shermyyy)

Quinta da Regaleira

Quinta da Regaleira
Quinta da Regaleira

Our final stop of the day was the Quinta da Regaleira, an extraordinary estate built in the early 20th century by a wealthy Portuguese businessman, António Carvalho Monteiro. The estate is a labyrinth of gardens, lakes, and grottos, filled with references to the Templars, Freemasonry, astrology, and the occult. The Initiation Well is one of the most famous features of the estate, reflecting Monteiro’s deep interest in esotericism.

After a lengthy visit to the Quinta, we began our walk back to the train station. On the way, we made a quick stop at the Queijadas da Sapa pastry shop, where the queijada was even tastier than the one at Piriquita.

  • How to get there: 30 mins walking / 10 mins by taxi / 434 bus to Sintra Town + walk another 12 mins
  • Time needed: 2 hours

Conclusion: A Day Well Spent in Sintra

And so, our day trip to Sintra came to an end. Despite the rainy weather, it was a delightful journey. We’ve visited Sintra before in better weather, and there’s no doubt that the town shines even more brightly under the sun. Given the time constraints of a winter visit, we focused on the Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, and the Quinta da Regaleira, all of which take time to explore.

In the summer, with longer days, you could also visit the Montserrate Palace or the Sintra National Palace. However, we’re confident that after visiting the key sites we covered today, you’ll feel satisfied as you return to Lisbon.

If you have any questions about visiting Sintra, feel free to ask in the comments. If you’re planning a trip to Lisbon, you probably have a lot of questions, and we’ve tried to answer the most important ones in our other articles. Don’t miss them, and we look forward to seeing you in the next adventure!

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