1 day, 3 castles | How to make the best of your day-trip to Sintra

Keep reading to know how to make the best of your day-trip to Sintra : how to get there, what castles and palaces to visit, and some key historical facts to know before you go.

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A visit to Sintra is the most popular day-trip from Lisbon, Portugal, and with reason. Sintra is a one of a kind magical town. Why you ask? Because in between it’s luscious green hill, Sintra hides some of the most beautiful castles and palaces in Europe. These castles are a short 40-minute train ride from Lisbon making it one of the best things to do in Lisbon.

Keep Reading // 11 Amazing Things to do in Lisbon

In the 19th century, Sintra became a popular tourist destination among the Portuguese elite, including the king of Portugal himself. With its beautiful hills and luscious forest, Sintra was the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Well-to-do Portuguese started to built their summer palaces in Sintra.

There is quite a lot to see and do in this small town full of romantic gardens and architectural delights. It is easy to get carried away and want to see it all. But in one day, you can realistically visit 2 to 3 castles comfortably.

Here’s how to make the most of your day-trip to Sintra

How to make the best of your day-trip to Sintra

Travel Tip // To make the best of your day-trip to Sintra buy tickets to the different castles and palaces ahead of time.

HOW TO GET TO SINTRA BY TRAIN ?

From Lisbon, the easiest way to get to Sintra is by train.

Located around 40 minutes from Lisbon, the town of Sintra is easily accessible by train. There are two train lines that link Lisbon to Sintra:

1. The first one leaves from Rossio Train station, in the center of Lisbon;
2. The second leaves from Estação do Oriente, the train station nearest to the airport.

The price of a train ticket is €4,80 and include the trip to and from Sintra.

Trains start early in the morning and last until late in the night. There are 3 trains per hour leaving from each station.

Travel Tip // It is not recommend to travel to Sintra by car. The streets in the hills are extremely narrow and have not been designed to welcome heavy traffic. Parking space are also very hard to come by both in town and at the castles.

Join a Tour // If you prefer the comfort of an organized tour, there are many options available to visit Sintra. This well rated option offers a visit of Pena Palace in Sintra as well as a visit to Cabo da Roca and Cascais. If you want to see more castles, this second option will bring you to Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and Cascais. Joining a tour is also the only way you will be able to see Sintra and Cascais in the same day : local train and buses timetable won’t give you enough time to do both.

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HOW TO GET AROUND SINTRA?

Although it is possible to walk around Sintra, I do not recommend it as you will have to climb many steep hills. A better option, when you reach the town, is to take one of the two main bus routes connecting the train station to the palaces and castles of Sintra: line 434 and 435. Plan your visit in advance to determine which bus corresponds to the sights you want to explore.

1. Line 434: Train Station – National Palace- Moorish Castle – Pena Palace
2. Line 435: Train Station – National Palace – Quinta Da Regaleira – Seteais Palace – Monserrate Palace

There is often some confusion about the price for the bus, but according to my experience the “Pena Circuit Round Trip” cost €7,60 and the unlimited trips for 24 hours is €15.

You can also take an Uber or a Taxi from the train station but be sure to negotiate your price before getting in. This can be a good option if you are travelling as a group but will end up costing you more if you are a solo traveller.

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WHAT CASTLES AND PALACES SHOULD YOU SEE IN A DAY?

PENA PALACE

The Pena Palace is without a doubt the most famous and popular castle to visit in Sintra. It is easily distinguishable by it’s bright red and yellow colors. Being the most famous also means that a lot (I mean A LOT!) of people visit it every day: so expect long lines. Although there is no avoiding the lines here, if you are able to get tickets early in the morning you have the best chances of a smaller crowd.

In the 12th century, a chapel dedicated to “Our Lady Pena” was constructed at the site of the present-day Pena Palace. Over time, the chapel evolved into a Monastery, which tragically fell into ruin during the devastating 1755 earthquake that also impacted Lisbon and its surroundings. Left in a dilapidated state for a century, the area caught the attention of Portugal’s King Ferdinand II, who developed a deep fondness for it. In 1838, he made the decision to acquire the old monastery, along with the surrounding lands and the nearby Castle of the Moors. Inspired by the romantic architecture of the era, Ferdinand II oversaw the construction of the Pena Castle, which stands as a magnificent testament to romantic architecture in Portugal to this day.

Travel Tip // You can also buy combo tickets pairing Pena Palace with other Sintra castles. It is definitely worth it and cheaper if you plan on visiting more than one castle.

Unpopular opinion // If you are pressed with time, skip the tour of the inside of the Palace. I did not find it particularly interesting and it’s usually so full of people that it’s hard to enjoy the tour.

MOORISH CASTLE

Just a short 10-minute walk from the Palace of Pena you’ll find the imposing ruins of the Moorish Castle. The fortress was erected sometime between the eighth and the ninth centuries and served as a watchtower that protected Lisbon and its surroundings.

Travel Tip // Follow the trails signs outside of the Pena Palace ground an hike the short 1km trail – this is the quickest and easiest way to get from one castle to the other.

Initially, the Moorish Castle was under the occupation of the Moors, the inhabitants of the region at that time. Its strategic location made it an impregnable natural defense from the north. The castle withstood the initial Christian crusade but eventually surrendered in 1147, when Afonso Henriques, the first King of Portugal, took control of Sintra. Following the establishment of a Christian settlement within the castle walls, the Islamic population gradually dwindled. This paved the way for the growth of a Medieval town that thrived continuously until the 15th century.

After the devastating Lisbon earthquake of 1755, the Castelo dos Mouros lay in ruins. However, King Fernando II was resolute in preserving the formerly magnificent fortress. He initiated the restoration and reinforcement of the exterior walls and towers, resurrecting the Moorish Castle as a prominent feature of Sintra’s landscape once more.

QUINTA DA REGALEIRA

Quinta de Regaleira, situated near the historical center of Sintra, is a stunning estate with a rich history. Originally owned by the Viscountess of Regaleira, a prominent family of affluent merchants from Porto, the property gained prominence when Augusto Carvalho Monteiro, a Brazilian-Portuguese businessman and devoted art collector with a keen interest in the Knights Templar and Freemasons, acquired it in 1892.

The palace may appear deceptively small, yet it showcases intricate Neo-Gothic architecture adorned with exquisitely carved pinnacles. However, the primary allure of Quinta da Regaleira lies in its expansive gardens, distinct from the typical formal palace gardens found in other Sintra castles.

The star of the visit to Sintra is the Initiation Well, which look like a well but is actually an inverted tower of spiral staircase that goes down to a set of underground tunnels. There is always a long line to get into the Well so I suggest you plan your visit with that in mind to give you time to see everything. And trust me, you will want to explore these gardens because they hold so many hidden treasures!

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WHAT IF I WANT TO SEE MORE?

I completely understand if you now have fallen in love with Sintra and want to see more of it. Although I don’t recommend doing more than 3 castles in one day – otherwise you will be very rushed – here are other palaces you might want to add to your list:

National Palace of Sintra | Located in the heart of Sintra, the National Palace would be a good addition if you want to add a fourth castle to your day. The ticket costs €9,50.

Beister Palace | Just a minute or two away from Quinta da Regaleira, Beister Palace is another great option if you want to visit a fourth palace. Parts of the movie The Ninth Gate staring Johnny Depp was filmed here in 1999. The ticket costs €11.

Monserrate Palace | This gothic, Arabic, Indian inspired palace once won a European Garden Award. Since it is a bit out of the way, it is often skipped by tourists and therefore is much less busy then the other palaces in Sintra. The ticket is €12.

National Palace of Queluz | This Baroque Rococo palace is one of the best examples of late 18th century Portuguese architecture. The gardens here are also worth a visit. The ticket costs €13.

Want to spend the night in Sintra? Find a hotel here.

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READ THESE POSTS BEFORE VISITING LISBON!

LISBON GUIDES | 11 Amazing Things to do In Lisbon; How to make the best of your visit to Belém; 14 Things to Know Before Visiting Lisbon; 5 tips for riding Tram 28 in Lisbon; Where to Stay in Lisbon?

LISBON PHOTOS | 30 amazing photos of Lisbon

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