Visiting the Magical Sintra in One Day
Sintra is a magical place that has become one of Portugal’s most popular tourist destinations. Sintra is home to many beautiful palaces that sit atop a pine-filled hill. Pena Palace is the most popular attraction with its colorful facade, domed towers, and stunning lakes. This is an all-day activity that is well worth the visit!
Tip #1 – Tickets
The best place to purchase your entrance tickets is at the palace and castle entrances. There are numerous kiosks and ticket counters located at each large attraction with options for individual tickets and a combo ticket. Do note that each Sintra location requires its own entrance ticket!
Ticket Options
Entrance to the Park of Pena Palace: €7.50
Entrance to the Pena Palace & Park: €14.00
Entrance to the National Palace and Gardens of Queluz: €10.00
Entrance to the National Palace of Sintra: €10.00
Entrance to the Park and Palace of Monserrate: €8.00
Sintra Pass: €50.00 – €75.00 (depending on the time of year & website)
Tip #2 – Getting to Sintra from Lisbon
The easiest and most economical way to get to Sintra from Lisbon is via train. Tickets cost under €5.00 for a round trip. The trip takes about an hour each way from the main train station of Rossio in Lisbon.
Driving is an option but I do not encourage it because the roads up to the main attractions are very narrow, steep, and windy. Parking is also limited!
Uber is the easiest way to get to Sintra but can be upwards of €40.00 for one way.
Select guided tours include transportation from Lisbon. If you are splurging on a guided tour I would recommend paying the extra money for transportation to and from Lisbon.
Tip #3 – Getting Around
Getting from Sintra city center to the top of the hill where the tourist attractions are found can be a bit confusing. We chose the most popular way and that is the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus. A large bus picks you up right outside the train station making for an easy transfer if you take the train. The Hop-On Hop-Off Bus is about €20.00 per person for the day with unlimited rides. I suggest bringing euros because the credit card reader was not working when we were there.
Throughout the town of Sinta and near the train station you will find men and women on bicycles with carts for you to load up in and ride to the top of the hill. They are almost like small tuk-tuks and can be a fun change if you are willing to splurge.
Tip #4 – When to Visit
Sintra is a popular tourist destination that sees millions of people each year. It is best to visit the Pena Palace in the morning right when it opens to avoid the crowds. From the Pena Palace, you can visit the gardens, and surrounding areas during the day as these are less popular areas. Make sure you plan your visit on a blue-bird day. We did not have the best of luck with the weather with a large rainstorm and fog, making our visit a little less special.
Tip #5 – How long to spend here?
Plan to spend the entire day visiting Sintra. The Pena Palace alone will take about 3-4 hours depending on your speed, amount of photos, and sites visited. After visiting the main Palace, venture off to see the surrounding sites like the Pena Palace gardens, Castelo dos Mouros, Sintra Palace, and more.
Tip #6 – Restrooms & Water
There are restrooms located throughout the Pena Palace and they are FREE with the purchase of an entrance ticket, which is hard to come by in Europe. Take advantage of these free toilets and be sure to stay hydrated. Sintra is built on a hill and requires lots of walking.
Tip: Bring your reusable water bottle and refill it at the FREE clean water drinking stations located throughout Sintra.
Tip #7 – Must See Landmarks
- Pena Palace & Gardens
- Castelo dos Mouros
- Sintra Palace
- Quinta da Regaleira
- Park and Palace of Monserrate
Tip #8 – What to Wear?
Figuring out what to wear can be a challenge because you of course want to look cute but also be comfortable while touring all day. Sintra is located on a hill with steep walking paths so comfortable walking shoes are a must. If you want to get the perfect Instagramable shots I suggest planning your outfit that contrasts well with the bright colors of the Pena Palace.
Tip #9 – Food
If you want to see the full beauty of Sintra then a full day is recommended, meaning you will need some food. I like to pack a few of my favorite protein bars to ensure I always have something to eat, especially when touring a large forested area like Sintra. The town of Sintra has many restaurants and small shops to grab a bite to eat. At the top of the hill inside the Pena Palace, there is a small grab-and-go stand as well as a restaurant. This will be average food with tourist prices!
Tip #10 – Photos
You will want to take tons of photos during your visit to Sintra. The colorful facade of the Pena Palace makes for the perfect photo backdrop. There are tons of stunning viewpoints on the top of Sintra hill. Make sure to charge your phone and bring a power bank to ensure you will have plenty of phone life for as many photos as you want!
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