From the terrace of the Pena National Palace the whole of Sintra opens below you: the Moorish Castle's walls threading the ridge, the town's white walls and red roofs, and, on a clear day, the Atlantic. It is the view that explains why this stretch of the Portuguese Riviera has drawn travellers for centuries.
Sintra suits walkers who do not mind a hill, and anyone willing to start early. The main sights sit above the town, and the roads between them climb. This guide covers the palaces, castle and gardens of the Sintra hills, plus the coast and the tram that runs down to it.
The practical rule for Sintra is simple: buy tickets online before you go, and be at the gates when they open. The source material notes that most sites open at 09:30 and that the main sights are best visited at the start of the day or late afternoon, when most stay open until 19:00-20:00.
Top things to do in Sintra
1. Pena National Palace
A pseudo-Moorish Romantic palace with a collection of furniture and the royal apartments. Tickets are sold on a timed basis, so arrive at the park 30 minutes before your slot to allow for the walk up to the palace; you will not get a refund if you miss your time.
Allow time for the huge park around it, which is much quieter and can be explored on foot or by a small tourist train. The chalet decorated with bark is particularly worth visiting, and the greenhouses, stables and lakes are pleasant. Buying online at least three days in advance gives a 15% discount.
2. Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros)
Ruins of a castle built by the Moors from the 10th century onwards, with views from around 400 m above sea level. There is not much inside the castle itself, but the walls are the reason to come.
Be careful on those walls: they are very narrow in places and lack any safety railings. Pair it with the Pena National Palace, which sits on the same hill.
3. Sintra National Palace
The summer estate of the Portuguese royal family from the Middle Ages until the 1910 republican revolution, built in several stages. The oldest standing part is a chapel built by King Dinis I in the 14th century, and the palace holds the Magpie Room and the Coats-of-Arms Room.
Most of the palace is covered in azulejo glazed tiles, inside and on the facade, and the two 36 m kitchen chimneys are its most striking exterior feature. It sits at Largo Rainha Dona Amélia, in the town itself, so it is easy to combine with a walk through the centre.
4. Quinta da Regaleira (Regaleira Palace and Gardens)
Part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing of the Sintra cultural landscape, with a palace and gardens that mix Gothic, Manueline and Renaissance currents and a great variety of Masonic symbols. The Initiation Well, which looks like an upside-down tower, is the best-known feature.
It is open daily 10:00-18:30, with last admission at 18:00. Everyone seems to get lost looking for the Initiation Well, so hang onto the map you get when purchasing your ticket.
5. Convento dos Capuchos (Colares)
A secluded abbey where monks lived in close contact with nature, immersed in a wood. Its crude and harsh style reflects the friars' strict Christian values.
There is no electric light inside, so bring your flash if you want photographs. Do not miss the wood-carved chapel, the library and the friars' cells.
6. Quintinha de Monserrate
An old estate with a farmyard where you can learn about traditional local farming. It was transformed into its current form by the 19th-century British industrialist Francis Cook and his architect James Knowles Jr, and stands as a piece of British Romanticism.
It is one of the Parques de Sintra sites, so the same ticket rules apply: buy online, and consider it alongside the other sites on the same ticket system.
7. Cabo da Roca
A cape on the western coast and the westernmost point of the European continent. If you feel like spending, you can get a certificate of your presence there.
The 403 Scotturb bus runs from Cascais (22 min) or from Sintra (40 min), one or twice an hour. Combine it with the coast rather than treating it as a separate trip.
8. Praia das Maçãs
A small and surprisingly calm seaside resort, flanked by restaurants, with a salt water pool, sports facilities and a children's playground.
Take the tram from the stop next to the Museum of Modern Art and ride downhill 13 km; the ride takes 45 minutes and is delightful in itself.
9. Adega Regional de Colares (Colares Winery)
On the way to Praia das Maçãs, 8 km along the tram line, you can stop at the Colares Winery for a taste of this very rare wine.
It is a natural break in the tram journey, so plan it as a stop rather than a separate outing.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Pena National Palace, arriving at the park 30 minutes before your timed ticket. Walk the park afterwards, including the chalet decorated with bark. Then walk the short distance to the Moorish Castle and take in the views from the walls, keeping clear of the narrow, unrailed sections.
Afternoon. Come down into the town for the Sintra National Palace at Largo Rainha Dona Amélia, then continue to Quinta da Regaleira, which is open until 18:30 with last admission at 18:00. Keep the map you are given, or you will spend your time looking for the Initiation Well.
Evening. If time and energy allow, take the tram towards Praia das Maçãs, stopping at the Adega Regional de Colares for a taste of the wine, and finish by the sea at Praia das Maçãs.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of day to visit the main sights?
The main sights are best visited at the start of the day, when most open at 09:30, or late afternoon, when most are open until 19:00-20:00. Sintra can be extremely busy, particularly in summer and especially at weekends.
Should I buy tickets in advance?
Yes. Admission prices and opening times are on the Parques de Sintra website, where you can buy tickets, and buying online avoids a long queue. You get a 15% discount for buying three days in advance, and small discounts for buying tickets for more than one site.
How do I get to Cabo da Roca and Praia das Maçãs?
The 403 Scotturb bus runs to Cabo da Roca from Cascais (22 min) or from Sintra (40 min), one or twice an hour. For Praia das Maçãs, take the tram from the stop next to the Museum of Modern Art; the ride is 13 km downhill and takes 45 minutes.
Can I walk to the Pena National Palace from Sintra?
You can walk there from Sintra in about an hour, but the route is uphill. Alternatively, catch a bus.
Check the Parques de Sintra website for current times and tickets, then set your dates around an early start on the hill.