find out what to do in Sintra. Sintra Portugal is a stunning Portuguese destination. It is full of lots of history. There is a wide range of things to do in Sintra for all types of trailer. If you want to go to the lovely beach, then you can find a beautiful coast nearby and also don’t forget to find the best beaches in Portugal.

It is very close to Lisbon, and many people make day trips from Lisbon to Sintra, as it is only a 45-minute journey via train to Sintra from Rosio Lisbon central train station. It will cost you €2.20 for a single ticket one way.

Sintra is a green mountainscape of palaces filled with parks and medieval castles. It was a residence for the Portuguese royalty. Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Getting to Sintra

Lisbon to Sintra

There are many ways to get to Sintra. Travelling Lisbon to Sintra is very easy. There is a variety of ways to you can get to Sintra depending on your budget.

Car from Lisbon to Sintra

If you are only going for a day than a car is the quickest way to get to Sintra, but parking is a nightmare. It will take you about 40 minutes to get there.

Train from Lisbon to Sintra

Most people take the train from Lisbon to Sintra, and there are two main train lines to take. You can choose one from Rossio Station direct to Sintra, and the other one is from Oriente station to Sintra, via Areeiro, Entrecampos, and Sete Rios stations.

Bus from Lisbon to Sintra

You can get a bus to Sintra, but the journey takes much longer than the train and car. The locations of where the bus leaves from Lisbon is not in the center of the city. It takes around 55 minutes to 1hour 20 minutes long.

Getting around Sintra

There is a wide range of ways to get around Sintra, Portugal, and they are:


If you are staying outside of Sintra than you might be better using a car, as some of the towns are very small and don’t have any taxi’s or buses. The only downside to having a car is in the cities; it is tough to find parking, as it is gold dust, and when most people find parking they don’t like moving.

Sintra Tram

You can get a tram that goes to some parts of the city but not like the Lisbon trams, as there is only one tram line. As the city is on a mountain there are a lot of hills, and this will help you a bit, but you still have to do a lot of hiking.

Bicycle in Sintra

Bicycles are a great way to get around a city quickly, but it will be a lot of work as you will have to cycle up hills. Some of the places you want to visit are spaced out from each other, so cycling will allow you to see more.


You can get taxis around Sintra, but with lots of small narrow roads and tourists, there will be more traffic and pedestrians walking around. Taxis will be expensive to use.

Bus in Sintra

There are local buses, the buses in Sintra get you to most of the main attractions, and Scotturb operates them. There are three main routes, and they are route 433 and runs 2 to 3 times an hour and is by the train station.

Route 434 runs every 15 minutes in the summer and every 20 minutes in the winter. Route 435 runs every 10/15 minutes and only operates from 10 am to 6 pm


The best way to see the city is through the walk. You will need to bring some good walking shoes as Sinter is very hilly when you go hiking you get to explore more if you take other means of transport you might miss something.

Where to stay in Sintra

Sintra is a trendy place and does not have that many places to stay, so you will need to book in advance. Santa is a compact city, so there are no large hotels and only small hotels, B&B’s and hostels. You can find the best accommodation to fit your price range in Sintra. There is not that many Sintra accommodation, you will need to book it quickly in advanced.

Here are some of the best accommodation in Sintra:

  • Tivoli Palacio de Seteais (expensive Sintra hotel price per night £246)
  • Nice Way Sintra ( budget Sintra hostel Dorm Bed: EUR 16.00 and Private Room: EUR22.5)
  • Chalet Saudade ( budget Sintra Hotel £73 per night )

16 Things TO Do In Sintra

1. Pena Palace

pena palace

Pena palace is Instagrammers heaven as the palace is very colorful. It has recently been added to Portugal’s seven wonders. It looks a children fairy tale but is actually very old and was built in 1836 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 1990s.

It is situated at the top of a mountain peak. It is the best landmark in Sintra. It was designed by Portugal’s King Fernando II and reflects 19th-century Romanesque Revival architecture. The palace is open from 9:30 am to 8 pm, and it coasts 14 for adults and €12 for children. This is one of the best Sintra castle.

2. Quinta da Regaleira

Quinta da Regaleira is a 20th-century residence. The house was made by a rich guy that built his dream house. It since then has numerous owners including the Viscounts of Regaleira, they are a merchant family from northern Portugal.

You can get a tour that will take you about two hours and takes in the main building, park and chapel, all for €6 per adult or €3 per child. This place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. find out more about Quinta da Regaleir in my Portugal Itinerary.

3. Castle of the Moors

15 things to in Sintra

It is situated on Sintra’s most Northern peak. It is a trendy place to visit, as it has high advantage points; therefore, you will get amazing views of Sintra. The ruins were originally built in the 9th century by the North African Moors to help defend Sintra after the Reconquista.

If you want an adventure, you can walk up to the castle of the moor but be aware it’s not a leisurely stroll or you can get a bus. The hike down is a bit easier than going up.

4. Praia da Adraga

st beach in portugal

15 Best Things to Do in Sintra (Portugal)

Leaving Lisbon’s western suburbs and climbing into Sintra feels like crossing over into another world. This town is in a green mountainscape of palaces, country estates, parks, and a medieval castle. In the center, the Palace of Sintra was a residence for the Portuguese royalty, and it’s just one of many exquisite properties to win you over.

Another is the enigmatic Quinta da Regaleira, the playground of a wealthy eccentric, or the Pena Palace and its fairytale muddle of towers atop a high peak. You can trek through woodland planted with giant exotic trees in the 19th century. Or carry on to the coast for beaches beneath sky-scraping cliffs, to Cabo da Roca, at the very edge of mainland Europe. find out the best time to visit Portugal, so you can get the best weather when you go to the beach.

5. Praia da Ursa

What to do in Sintra

It is a beach on the way to Cab da Roca. The name of the beach comes from bear rock that is a huge sea-stacks at the end of the beach, and the rock looks like a bear. The beach is very small and private as it js nearly boxed in by the tall cliffs.

It is not a very popular beach, so great to visit and great for surfing the waves are not farceuse as Praia Da Adraga. It is not easy to get to the beach, but once there you won’t regret it. You have to go down a cliff-side trail to get to the beach.

6. Park and Palace of Monserrate

15 things to do in Sintra

This is one o the best things to do in Sintra. The palace of Monserrate is situated deep in the mountain range. As it is a bit away from all the other palaces, it is not as crowded as the others. It is still a stunning place to visit.

It was made in the mid-19th century for Sir Francis Cook, an English aristocrat. The park that comes with the palace has bamboo plants, Man-made waterfalls and ponds and many more exotic plants to see. There is a music room in the palace that hosts concerts to this day.

7. The Sintra Tram

All that walking around might make you very tired, and even some kids might not find it fun walking around the many palaces. They will have more fun on the tram. It goes from the center of Sintra out to Praia das Maçãs on the coast.

The trams have been going down this route since 1904. It is a great way to see Sintras landscapes and the coast. Tickets for this are just €3 for a single, and the ride is only 40 minutes long.

8. Condessa deadly Chalet

what to see in sintra

It looks like a home out of a Disney film. It is home to an Opera singer, Elise Hensler and Countess deadly. Swiss mountains constructions inspired the home. Botanical species from around the world surround it. The cost to visit Condessa deadly Chalet, Adult ticket: € 9.50. Children under five years don’t pay.

9. Chia Juice Bar

There is only a hand full of Instagram-able and trendy places to visit in Sintra. Then Chia Juice Bar opened, it has a terrace that has a spectacular view of the lake. It just started as a Juice bar, but then started to sell salads, toast, and spinach or cocoa pancakes. As well as this they have an Ice-cream bar. The food is very colorful and well represented, so you be sure to take a photo of your Instagram.

10. Sintra National palace

Sintra National palace

Sintra National Palace is also called the Palace of Sintra. This palace stands out from the rest, as it has a pair of white conical towers. The places of Sintra is the oldest palace in the town and was built in the early 15th century.

King Manuel, I got to pick most of the interior decoration you will see in the palace. Some of his works you can see are the Sala dos Brasões (Coats of Arms Hall), where the ceiling is covered in the 72 coats of arms of the Portuguese royalty.

11. Old Centre of Sintra

sintra portugal

You will need to get to the old center of Sintra first thing in the morning. As you will get better views of it before it gets packed with tourist. The old center of Sintra has pleasant cobblestones streets, narrow stairways, churches, and magnificent townhouses.

The old town has lots of ancient history for you to admire and lots of shops and cafes to explore. If you want authentic Portuguese food than, I advise you not to eat in the old center, as it is made for tourists.

12. Palácio Nacional e Jardins de Queluz (Queluz National Palace)

Things to do in Sintra

Queluz is a city east of Sintra municipality. The area dwelled in the 18th century. It was home to Dom Pedro of Braganza, who became King Consort. He used to go there for his summer retreats.

Outside the palace, you can see the Baroque grandeur of French architect Jean-Baptiste Robillon’s facades, and the 100-meter canal that has a wall with blue and white tiles.

13. Portuguese Chorizo Rolls

Portuguese food

The Chorizo bread was named in 1985 and was invented near Praia das Maçãs. They are cheap in the Chorizo.

They are a typical dish to have in the Portuguese market. After they leave the oven, they are then covered in a basket to conserve the heat. it will cost €1.50

14. Cabo da Roca

best beach in sintra

Sintra spreads to the cost and the westernmost point of continental Europe. Cabo da Roca is the point where the Serra de Sintra sinks dramatically into the ocean.

It is about 140 meters of a granite cliff and the ocean below. On the cliff, there is a lighthouse and a cross that was a seamark from Roman times. It is a great coastal walk to with stunning scenery of the ocean.

15. Museu das Artes de Sintra


Sintra does not have a vast majority of museums. If you love art then you will enjoy the Museu das Artes de Sintra.

This museum has collections of contemporary and modern art. Around 80% of the painting is from a local artist from Sintra. There is a permanent collection that showcases some of Portugal’s best-known artists.

16. Try the Quijada

sintra food

There are a few treats that are nearly exclusive to Sintra. One of the gifts is Queijada, the most famous treat that came out of Sintra.

It is a small cake made with eggs, milk, sugar, and cheese. The cheese is used instead of butter. A great place to have one is at Fábrica das Verdadeiras. They have been making them since 1756.

It will make for a great reward after all the walking you will be doing going to the many palaces Sintra has to offer. find out others Sintra day trip

If you are considering going to Lisbon than read this one day in Lisbon Itinerary before you go.

If you think I missed something out on the list than comment down below or comment down below any places you do on the list and your opinions of it.




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