What to Do in Sintra: 5 Stunning Palaces You Need to See

How to Get to Sintra from Lisbon

If you get the Lisboa Card that I mentioned in my post on 3 days in Lisbon, you’ll also get a round-trip train ticket from Lisbon to Sintra. The train takes about 40 minutes to get to Sintra from Lisbon. From the Rossio train station, which is located in central Lisbon, you can get a direct train. Trains leave frequently throughout the day. You can find the train schedule here.

• Nearest train stop: Portela de Sintra – Largo Vasco da Gama, 2710-450 
• Nearest bus stop: Estação de Sintra – 2710-590 Sintra, Portugal

I did not do this option. Why? Because I was already tired of dragging my suitcase across Greece and up Lisbon’s hills. I instead opted to take an Uber, as they are super cheap in Portugal. Could I have done the train option? Yes. But for the cost, I knew just walking out of my hotel into an Uber and then into my next hotel in Sintra would save my energy, which I definitely needed in Sintra.

How Long to Spend in Sintra

How long to spend in Sintra is a tricky question as it depends on when you go. When I went in 2021, it was still bouncing back from the pandemic, so in contrast to the many blogs I read telling me how busy Sintra was, it was relatively empty.

I’d wager that’s no longer the case, so I recommend 2-3 days in Sintra, as I was able to get through everything I wanted on my list in a day and a half.

How to Travel Around Sintra

Once you’ve arrived at the Sintra train station, you can walk to many things to do in Sintra. Still, I advise taking advantage of the local public transportation because some of the attractions listed below for what to do in Sintra are uphill.

Sintra has a great public transportation system! It runs about every 15 minutes and takes you to all the main attractions, such as Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, Quinta da Regaleira, and Monserrate Palace.

A ticket allows you to travel for 24 hours and use it as many times as you want. The only bus lines you need to be aware of are 434 and 435, as that’ll help you accomplish all the sites listed in this what to do in Sintra guide. You can find a map of their routes on their official website. Currently, their online price is €13.50.

Aside from the bus, you’d have to walk uphill, take a taxi, or join a tour. Driving in Sintra isn’t recommended as there are few parking spots. The narrow uphill roads are also a challenge. I got a bit dizzy with the bus looping back and forth at one point, so keep that in mind if you get car sick.

Before I went, several blogs said there were long queues for the buses. I didn’t find that so, but I visited in 2021 when it was still bouncing back from the pandemic. I’d expect it would be a bit busier now, so you may want to be an early bird when planning what to see in Sintra.

Where to Stay in Sintra

I stayed at a LOVELY guest house in Sintra called Casa do Vinho. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the loveliest woman, who welcomed me with coffee and biscuits. Sintra is a small place, so this homey vibe she and the accommodation gave off made me feel at home.

I ended up staying only one night instead of the two I had booked because I got through everything quickly. The only thing on this what to do in Sintra guide I passed over was the Moorish Castle, and that’s cause I could see it from Pena Palace, but more on that later.

The woman who ran the place was concerned with my leaving because she thought I had a bad time. I did my best to assure her it wasn’t her or her place, but merely that I didn’t need as much time as I had thought. My only issue with this guest house, which I also told her, was that the back entrance, the most convenient way to get to my room, could have been better lit at night. But she may have changed that since. All in all, I highly recommend Casa do Vinho.

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Should I Get the Sintra Pass?

Now, on to the main attractions of this What to do in Sintra guide! But before I do, I wanted to mention the Sintra Pass. I’ve seen this mentioned in some places on the web. However, it always redirects back to the Lisboa Card, so maybe they used to be separate things.

I’m not sure, but either way, what you need is the Lisboa Card, which grants you free entrance to 51 museums, monuments, and places of interest, as well as skip-the-line access to 12 of those places in Lisbon. As well as free transportation and discounts.

Or, you can get the Lisboa-Sintra Pass, which will give you the aforementioned, plus Pena Palace, Pena Park, and the Chalet of the Countess of Edla.

I did the former because the Sintra Pass only covered attractions on the grounds of Pena Palace. Since I’d gotten the 72-hour Lisboa Pass and spent 3 days in Lisbon, I didn’t see the benefit. However, this decision will depend on how you plan your itinerary.

What to Do in Sintra

Pena Palace

Once you’ve taken the bus to Pena Palace, it is still an uphill climb to the colorful storybook castle. After my day here at Pena Palace, Chalet of the Countess of Edla, and Monserrate Palace, I had supposedly walked 96 floors, according to my Fitbit. For reference, the Empire State Building is 102 floors tall.

As I mentioned earlier, Ferdinand II spearheaded the transformation of Pena Palace from a former monastery into the colorful castle it is today. He had the upper floor refurbished, replacing the fourteen cells used by the monks with larger-sized rooms and covering them with vaulted ceilings. In 1843, he decided to enlarge the palace by building a new wing (the New Palace) with even larger rooms (one of them being the Great Hall), ending in a circular tower next to the new kitchens.

From the audioguide, I listened to it while at Pena Palace. Ferdinand II is a bit of a hero in Sintra because of this. Their official site even features the quote, “The jewel in the crown of the artist king.” A note on the audioguide: it’s an app you can use on your phone, so make sure to bring headphones. It is an additional fee, however, which costs €1.09.

While Pena Palace’s exterior is world-famous, its interiors are just as interesting. Inside, you’ll find the chambers of King Carlos, Ferdinand II’s bedroom, Queen Amelia’s dressing room and tea room, the Great Hall, and much more.

And because it’s so famous, this should be the first on your list of things to do in Sintra, as it’ll likely get busy later in the day.

Chalet of the Countess of Edla

Pena Palace was built to be visible from any point in the park, which consists of a garden and forest with over five hundred different species of trees from all over the world. Within those gardens is the Chalet of the Countess of Edla.

After climbing down from Pena Palace, I headed over here. I highly recommend taking the map they give you at the entrance or finding one on your phone because these gardens are expansive! You can see so much in these gardens, including a lake, a waterwheel, a temple, a grotto, a farm, and, of course, the Chalet of the Countess of Edla.

The Chalet of the Countess of Edla was constructed by King Ferdinand II. It is a 30-minute walk from the Palace and takes around 20 minutes to explore, as it’s about the size of a large house. I added this to my what to do in Sintra itinerary partly because it was included in my ticket for Pena Palace and also because it looks like a house out of a storybook.

You can use the audioguide I mentioned for Pena Palace at the Chalet of the Countess of Edla.

It’s a 3.4-mile roundtrip walk from Pena Palace. They appear to have a bus around the grounds, but it wasn’t in operation when I went, and it appears to still be out of commission.

Moorish Castle

After visiting Pena Palace and the Chalet of the Countess of Edla, I headed to Monserrate Palace. Why? I don’t know, as it’s not the next stop on the bus route; that’s Moorish Castle. But alas, that’s what I did. I mention this because if you wish to visit the Moorish Castle, you can go directly after. I say after because even though it’s before Pena on the bus route, Pena will likely get busier than the Moorish Castle.

The main reason I recall skipping the Moorish Castle is that you can see it from Pena Palace, and unlike Pena Palace, there’s no interior I felt I’d miss from a distant view. I was also hella tired!

However, if you find yourself more spry than I am, there’s a tomb, church, necropolis, cistern, and more you can see on a visit there. Do I regret not going? Not really. But I think if I were to go again, I’d add it to my list of what to do in Sintra just cause.

The Moorish Castle is a fortification founded in the 10th century, during the period the Moors occupied the Iberian Peninsula. Its walls snaking across the hills resemble a location from Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon. Don’t bother Googling; I checked. It’s not the filming location; that honor goes to Spain‘s San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.

Monserrate Palace

The other reason I did the Monserrate Palace after Pena Palace and the Chalet of the Countess of Edla was because I only had so much time in the day after those two. A visit to Pena Palace and its grounds can take up a better part of a day, so remember that when planning what to do in Sintra.

Keeping with the theme of things that resemble filming locations from Game of Thrones, the Monserrate Palace looks a little like the Royal Alcázar of Seville, which stood in for Dorne. This is likely because the design was influenced by Romanticism and Mudéjar Moorish Revival architecture with neo-Gothic elements.

Intended as a retreat for writers, Monserrate attracted many international visitors, including Francis Cook, the 19^th-century British industrialist and art collector. He transformed Monserrate into what we see today with its exotic gardens and romantic architecture throughout the palace.

As the day was waning, I didn’t explore the ground as much as I would have liked to, but I did enjoy the interior, which I found to be one of the most appealing things I saw. So, definitely add it to your what to see in Sintra list.

I loved the colorful ceilings in the main hall, the intricate wood carvings, and the long gallerys between. It felt like each corner of the palace had been truly thought out to be as beautiful as possible. Honestly, these photos say more than I ever could.

You can use the same audioguide I mentioned for Pena Palace and the Chalet of the Countess of Edla here at Monserrate Palace.

Quinta da Regaleira

I visited the Quinta da Regaleira during my half-day before returning to Lisbon. I didn’t bother with public transportation because it was just a 6-minute walk from my hotel. But if you stay further away, the bus can also take you here.

Quinta da Regaleira is so beautiful. It’s a must-see on your list of things to do in Sintra! It’s one of those places where you’re like, “Someone really lived here??” I had the same feeling when visiting Casa Batlló in Barcelona.

The architecture evokes Roman, Gothic, Renaissance, and Manueline styles. In my opinion, the Gothic is what makes Quinta da Regaleira so unique. The interior is just as ornate as the exterior, with paintings, carvings, tile, and painted ceilings throughout. Only the main floor of Regaleira Palace is accessible to visitors. The upper floors are only open during temporary exhibitions.

In addition to the main building, they also have a chapel and a massive park with lakes, grottoes, wells, fountains, and other exquisite constructions. If I recall correctly, they provided you with a map of the area, but you’re probably most keen on seeing the Initiation Well, as you’ve likely seen it on Instagram.

Initiation Well is a gothic spiral staircase that descends 88 feet underground and is believed to be used for ceremonial rituals. It’s been suggested that it’s connected to the Knights Templar, Freemasonry, and Rosicrucianism. The estate’s owner, Carvalho Monteiro, has been associated with the Templars. Not going to lie, I was a little terrified of dropping my phone down this well!

Much has changed since my visit in 2021, so be sure to check their website for the latest info. They now require you to choose a day and time for your visit but do not dictate the length of your visit. However, should you be late for your slot, you’re SOL.

Quinta da Regaleira has audioguides that can be rented at the ticket office. They cost an additional €5 and include a map.

Sintra National Palace

The last thing on my list of what to do in Sintra is the Sintra National Palace, which you can also get to from the bus. But as it was only a 4-minute walk from my hotel, I didn’t bother with the bus.

Though maybe not as vibrant as some of the other palaces you’ll find on this list of things to do in Sintra, it’s no less important, especially as it’s the oldest palace in Portugal.

Located in the center of Sintra, it’s hard to miss, with its two conical chimneys crowning the royal kitchen. As the only palace that spans the entire history of Portugal, the National Palace of Sintra is a conglomeration of many royal palaces.

Adapted over many centuries and founded around the 10^th or 11^th century, when Sintra was under Moorish rule, the National Palace of Sintra has witnessed some of the most defining episodes in Portugal’s history. This makes it an excellent place to take visitors on a tour through that history.

The most notable rooms on the tour are the Swan, Magpie, and Coat of Arms Rooms, which are as unique as they are ornate. The Chapel and Anteroom of the Council Chamber are also worth a look.

If you’re looking for something to skip on this list of what to do in Sintra, I’d advise the National Palace of Sintra. Unlike the others, it’s more of a history museum than a grand palace.

You can use the same audioguide I mentioned for Pena Palace, the Chalet of the Countess of Edla, and Monserrate Palace here at the National Palace of Sintra.

Visiting Sintra FAQ

Final Thoughts on What to Do in Sintra

Do you have any questions about this What to do in Sintra list? Feel free to comment below! I’ll be happy to answer them.

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