Sintra day trip: A guide to Portugal's pastel palaces

Sintra day trip: A guide to Portugal’s pastel palaces

Sintra day trip from Lisbon

Pastel palaces, Moorish castles with sweeping views, and lavish residences with secret tunnels are just some of the highlights of a Sintra day trip, which is a must-see spot during a visit to Portugal.

The charming town’s proximity to the capital combined with its photogenic landmarks tucked into lush hillsides make it easy to see why Sintra tours from Lisbon are so popular, whether you only have a few hours to spend here or the luxury of an overnight visit. From opulent, colourful castles to extravagant estates, here the best things to do in Sintra.

What to see in Sintra: National Palace of Pena

The highlight when you visit Sintra is undoubtedly Pena Palace, a flashy structure that easily outshines anything the fine folks at Disney could ever hope to come up with. The multi-tiered platforms, turreted towers and picture windows are all open to the public, who delight in climbing all over it while snapping selfies against the canary yellow, royal purple and rich red walls.

Sintra National Palace
National Palace of Pena

The grandiose palace is so photogenic, that it’s surprising it hasn’t yet reached the level of notoriety achieved by the likes of Buckingham Palace or Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle.

Perhaps part of the reason is because it hasn’t always looked this way: the former monastery was acquired in 1838 by King Ferdinand II, who set about transforming it into a lavish residence by incorporating classical, romanticism and Arabic influences. It has since been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and underwent a paint job at the end of the 20th century to restore its famous vibrant colours, which turned a dull grey after the royal family was exiled from Portugal and forced to abandon this Sintra castle.

Sintra day trip from Lisbon

National Palace of Pena
National Palace of Pena

There’s plenty to explore inside Sintra Palace as well, such as the Royal Dining room, multiple bedrooms, grand hallways and sitting rooms. Head out onto one of the adjoining balconies, and marvel at the breathtaking views of the entire valley spread out below. Click here to book

National Palace of Pena
National Palace of Pena

National Palace of Pena

Moorish Castle

The National Palace of Pena has a direct vantage point of another famous landmark: the Moorish Castle. Built on the highest spot in Sintra, the military fort was established way back in the 10th century as a way to protect the Iberian peninsula.

The structure’s hilltop perch, stone fortifications and round towers look like they belong in England or Ireland versus flashier Portugal, particularly when surrounded by swirling fog as can sometimes happen so high up.

Sintra day trip from Lisbon
Sintra day trip from Lisbon

Most people start their visit at the Church of São Pedro de Canaferrim, which was originally a place of worship but now holds objects which were found in archeological digs of the site. Continuing towards the castle, visitors find themselves on a pathway lined with with massive hydrangea bushes overflowing with fragrant, multi-coloured blooms, which are a green thumb’s dream come true and photo heaven.

Church of São Pedro de Canaferrim. Sintra, Portugal
Artifacts in the Church of São Pedro de Canaferrim
Moorish Castle in Sintra, Portugal
Hydrangeas at the Moorish Castle

The highlight is of course exploring the castle itself, which is done by scampering up the many, many stone steps towards the very top of the hill. The narrow staircase offers viewpoints galore, of both the fortress and the colourful surrounding valley. Once you finally huff and puff your way to the peak, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the entire countryside along with a unique point of view of nearby Pena Palace, which makes this a great spot for Sintra sightseeing. Click here to book

Sintra day trip from Lisbon

Quinta da Regaleira

Transformed in the late 1800s from an estate to an extravagant summer residence, Quinta da Regaleira has plenty of spots to impress even the most discerning visitor and is one of the best things to see in Sintra.

The vast estate is anchored by the five-storey Main House, featuring an impressive gothic facade that juts up above the leafy trees surrounding it, making it visible from the roadway. Despite how photogenic it is, that’s still not enough to outshine the lavish gardens surrounding it.

Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal
Quinta da Regaleira
Quinta da Regaleira
Quinta da Regaleira

The estate is like a rich man’s playground, with its perch in the hillside providing ample space for the likes of labyrinthic grottos, a chapel, turreted towers, lakes, stables, tennis courts and a greenhouse. However, some of its treasures are also hidden, like the pitch-black underground walkways that link to a couple of the property’s most popular spots: the Initiation Wells and the waterfall.

The initiatic well descends 27 metres, which some liken as a journey into the depths of the earth and is deep with symbolism. A staircase winds down the nine platforms, eventually linking up to the underground walkway which leads to a not-so-secret grotto. Visitors pass the waterfall as they carefully navigate the stepping stones which lead to the gardens—a simple misstep could mean falling into the green water!Sintra day trip from Lisbon

Initiation Wells in Sintra, Portugal

National Palace of Sintra

While Pena Palace typically gets the most attention, it’s also worth stopping by the blindingly-white Sintra National Palace. Nestled in the historic centre, its terracotta orange roof and conical features make quite a statement, particularly when seen from the Moorish Castle. Portugal’s royal family actually lived in the National Palace during the 12th century, and today it houses an array of art collections. Click here to book

National Palace of Pena on a Sintra day trip from Lisbon
National Palace of Pena

Convento dos Capuchos

Those who suffer from claustrophobia might want to think twice about visiting this unique spot, which was built in 1560 and inhabited by Franciscan friars. The peaceful convent is built into a lush hillside, and was designed to merge with the surrounding vegetation which includes oak, strawberry and chestnut trees—a stark contrast to the dark, cramped interior that makes up the convent.

Convento dos Capuchos, Sintra, Portugal
Convento dos Capuchos
Convento dos Capuchos, Sintra, Portugal
Convento dos Capuchos

Visitors are free to wander up the tight staircases and duck into the tiny rooms which were used as a library, infirmary, bedrooms, kitchen and church among other things. Only small beams of sunshine make it through the narrow windows, which means some guests end up using their smartphones to light the way.

The friars’ pledge to live their lives with extreme simplicity is evidenced by the basic and primitive conditions—a stark contrast to flamboyant Pena Palace just up the road.

Convento dos Capuchos in Sintra, Portugal
Convento dos Capuchos

National Palace of Queluz

Out of all of Sintra’s landmarks, the Queluz palace and gardens are the closest to Lisbon. Just a 15 minute drive from the capital, it’s a popular attraction for visitors who don’t have time to see all of Sintra but still want to get out of the city.

The royal residence is a prime example of Portuguese architecture, integrating baroque, rococo and neo-classical elements into its grand halls, throne room and chapel, which guests are welcome to tour. Click here to book

Sintra day trip from Lisbon
Supplied

The 18th century palace’s sunshine-yellow facade is surrounded by statues, fountains, lakes, and meticulously-manicured gardens—sprawling French-style grounds that give famous Versailles a run for its money. It takes at least a few hours to navigate through them, so be sure to give yourself enough time to explore the labyrinth hedges, waterfalls and intricate sculptures.

Supplied

Tips for planning a Sintra tour:

  • Driving and parking: Driving in Sintra can be a nightmare, as it’s a maze of narrow, one-way roads meaning if you miss your turnoff you essentially have to do a huge loop through the town or up the hillside to get back. There are also tourists everywhere (at least in high season) which makes navigating around them and finding a parking spot tough. Save yourself the stress by taking the train or bus from Lisbon to Sintra instead, then use the Hop On Hop Off service to get around town. If you insist on driving, arrive first thing in the morning when it’s not as busy, and make sure you know where the parking lots are located ahead of time.
  • Entrance costs: Separate tickets are required to enter each of the major landmarks, and can be purchased at the front entrances. If you buy passes online or purchase tickets to all of them at once, you’ll save 5%. It’s not much of a savings, but at least you won’t have to worry about getting in a queue at each new site. Occasionally, ticket prices are less expensive if you arrive later in the day, and as a bonus most of the day-trippers will have already left. If you’re doing your Sintra day tour independently, reserve these tickets ahead of time to skip the long lines:
 

How to book a Sintra trip

There are a few different options for booking a Sintra day tour from Lisbon, including one that includes a visit to the pretty coastal town of Cascais:

 

Where to stay in Sintra:

  • Casa Mirado– Imagine walking into this Portuguese villa and being welcomed by a warm blazing fireplace and a glass of port. This hotel situated near the town centre feels so much like home you may just want to move in. Click here to book
  • Hotel Nova Sintra– Built within a lovely garden in the centre of Sintra, this hotel has a spacious rooms and a bar out on the terrace. Additionally, the complimentary breakfast you enjoy here just might be the best breakfast that you have in Portugal! Click here to book
  • Sintra Bliss House– This property is more modern than the hotels traditionally found in this area, which makes it one of the best hotels in Sintra for travellers who prefer updated amenities. A buffet breakfast is included so you can get an early start to your day. Click here to book

This article was originally published in September 2017 and updated in July 2020

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23 thoughts on “Sintra day trip: A guide to Portugal’s pastel palaces”

  1. Pingback: A quick guide to the best spots in Lisbon, Portugal - Globe Guide

  2. We totally agree, Tamara! Sintra is definitely a must-do day trip from Lisbon. We made our way down there by train and used the hop on, hop off bus to get around. I’ve heard of people walking as well (crazy!) and saw others taking a beautifully coloured tuktuk. No matter how you go, it’s worth it!

  3. The National Palace of Pena is beautiful — it looks like something you might see in Disneyland because of it’s bright colors. I know so little about Sintra, but it looks like an amazing place to visit! Castles, estates, wells, tunnels and waterfalls–would love to see it all!

  4. I love Portugal and I’ve done that day trip to Sintra – it really is quite spectacular isn’t it – Disneyesque and yet totally authentic. Your photography is superb – I want to go back now (it’s about 15 years since I visited)

  5. Cristina Pettersen Carpio

    I am considering the National Palace with its gorgeous photogenic exterior and the Quinta da regaleira with its waterfall and well to the depths of the earth some of the top reasons to visit Sintra. I would love to visit Portugal and I would definitely have Sintra as a must-see.

  6. National palace of pena and initiatic well looks like it’s taken straight from a video game! It’s so beautiful and picturesque! I think it is also very underrated because I rarely see it! In fact, it is the first time I saw it! :O

  7. I love blog posts like this that touch on some less traveled destination! Now, I really want to visit Sintra. The National Palace of Pena truly seems like a gem and would definitely make incredible photos. It sooo reminds me of something from a Disney movie but I think I’d absolutely fall in love with the Moorish Castle. It just looks like something frozen in time…and omg, the Quinta de Regaleira looks absolutely gorgeous! It sounds like you had quite the time in its gardens. Thanks for the information about parking and costs … I definitely adding this to my travel list!

  8. Siddhartha Joshi

    Castles and cobbled streets – that’s all I would need as inspiration to visit Sintra! The National Palace of Pena was truly my favourite and I am impressed that a place like that actually exists in reality too, not just books and movies 🙂

    I think I will go mad clicking pictures all over Sintra…and will easily need more than a weekend 🙂

  9. First let me compliment you for these photos. The National Palace of Pena looks absolutely spectacular and seems more like a castle. . I would really want to descend the well with its winding staircase .

  10. Sintra leaps out as if straight from the pages of a fairy tale book in your pictures and post. What a charming place. It seems to have been trapped in an enchanting time warp where time itself seems to have stood still. I can almost visualize a damsel in distress and a knight in shining armour running to her rescue.

  11. There are so many castles in Sintra, Portugal. The National Palace of Penna is so vibrant and colorful. It looks grandiose as well luxurious and will be an Instagrammers delight. Quinta da Regaleira is so photogenic those staircase and will be my favorite. Convento dos Capuchos is another attractive attraction.

  12. You quickly convinced me – I need to visit Sintra, Portugal! Each picture is more and more breathtaking than the last. The palace is so gorgeous. I love the bright colors! Everything looks right out of a fairytale.

  13. Did you take the local bus service for getting to each spot or did you use like the typical red bus hop on hop off bus?

    1. Hey Lauren! We didn’t actually end up using the bus at all because we drove our rental car up to the castle + palace, then parked back in town to see the rest. (FYI parking is a nightmare down in the town centre!)

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