UPDATED MAR 2020. Just a short train ride from Lisbon will whisk you away to a castle filled wonderland with a lot to explore. To really get through it all you would need a couple of days, but if you only have a day to spend in Sintra you can still see a lot. On the day I visited it rained the whole time. Probably a good time to mention that travel blogging isn’t all glamorous like people think, sometimes you are standing out in the cold rain for three days trying to get pictures! Even though my pictures are gloomy and rainy, it’s actually a vibrant, colorful place full of character and history. Here’s my guide on how to get to Sintra and what to do when you get there.
How To Get To Sintra, What To Do There And Is It Even Worth It?
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How to get to Sintra from Lisbon by train
The easiest way to get there is by taking the train to the Sintra stop.
It costs around €5 for a return ticket to Sintra from the central station in Lisbon, Rossio. The journey takes around 40 minutes.
Rossio station in Lisbon. When it comes to how to get to Sintra from Lisbon, the train is your best option.
Should you drive to Sintra?
Sintra has a lot of narrow roads and limited parking options.
Given there is an efficient public transport system to get you there as well as get around once you are there, it’s not worth the hassle of driving in Sintra.
Start early
It’s important to note that you need to get there early.
First of all, you want to have as much time to sightsee as you can. But arriving early will also help you avoid some of the long queues.
My photos are fairly empty because I visited in December and it was pouring rain the day I went, but in the peak season, you can expect a crowd.
Check the opening times for your visit and be sure to arrive around the time it opens.
When is the best time to visit?
June-August is the peak season for Sintra so if you can, it’s a good idea to time your visit on the shoulder season either side of Summer.
Accommodation recommendation
I stayed at the Heritage Avenida Liberdade Hotel which was only a 5-minute walk from the Rossio train station. This made it very easy to get around.
From the hotel, I was able to walk to Rossio station and back quickly and they even had umbrellas in the rooms to borrow.
If you prefer a different style of accommodation, I recommend searching on Booking.com. I use this to book accommodation when I travel and I can always find a good deal there whether I’m booking a hotel, guesthouse or apartment.
For more information, here’s my full review on where to stay in Lisbon.
How to get around in Sintra
Once you are in Sintra it’s easy to take the bus to and from the castles.
There are two main lines that will take you around Sintra – the 434 and 435. Both have a stop outside of the train station.
Directly across from the train station is a ticket office where you can buy an all day unlimited bus tickets for €12 and also tickets for entry into the castles. You don’t have to buy your castle entrance tickets here but there are discounts if you pre-purchase.
Alternatively, you can buy bus tickets each time you get on the bus. If you chose this, make sure you have enough small change on you.
There are also many Tuk-Tuks around Sintra that you can use to get around.
Is it safe for solo female travelers?
Sintra is a great day trip option for solo female travelers. As with any city you visit, use common sense with your safety and protect your belongings to avoid pickpocketers.
I also posted a solo female travel guide for Lisbon with more tips which I recommend checking out.
Is a day trip to Sintra worth it?
Absolutely. The vibrant colors, the castles, and the magical feel to it all make it worth visiting alone. The fact that it is so easy to get there and easy to get around in Sintra makes it an accessible day trip for most travelers.
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Things to do during a day trip to Sintra
If you only have one day there, and you arrived early, you could probably see 3 castles before they close.
Maybe 4 if you are really rushing through, but I think it would be better to pick 2-3 and enjoy them instead of trying to rush through more.
Quinta da Regaleira
This castle is like walking through a magical fairytale.
I didn’t really know what to expect at this spot so I just followed the path to see where it would take me. Walking along the path you will see what look like little caves.
I went inside one to see what was inside and it was really cool to find that walking through the caves leads you to some magical spots.
One of them was a tall, circular well which you can take the stairs to the top.
Another cave led me to the back of a waterfall and some stepping stones over green water. It became really fun to walk into a cave and find out where it would lead to.
You can also walk through a lot of cute garden paths and to the top of castle turrets. I spent a couple of hours just walking around here which was a lot of fun and had a very magical feeling.
Tickets: €6 per adult – self-guided tour with map
Pena Palace
Pena Palace is one of the most popular sights in Sintra.
The colorful castle is a beautiful sight to see on its own – my photos were taken in the rain and don’t do the bright colors justice.
At Pena Palace, you can walk through the castle rooms to get a look at palace life. There are artifacts exhibited throughout the rooms from bedrooms, entertaining rooms, and you can even see the old kitchen. It’s all quite interesting and the grandeur of the interior is a sight to see.
I especially liked looking up in the different rooms to see the art and design of the ceilings.
You can also walk along the edge of the castle, into the turrets, walk around the park outside and even see the half fish-half man statue which is displayed on one of the outside walls.
It was a really interesting and fun place to visit, walk around in and step back in time for a couple of hours.
Tickets: €11.50 per adult for the palace and park.
There is also a bus to the palace for €3 if you prefer not to walk.
Moors Castle
I chose to call it a day after visiting Pena Palace because of an Endometriosis flare up, but the other I would’ve seen was Moors Castle.
This one looks to have a medieval fortress feel to it and would be fun to walk around the edges of the defensive walls and step back in time.
Tickets: €8 per adult.
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I usually don’t like fog, but it looks great in these pictures!
Thanks so much! I don’t usually like it that much either!
I’m so happy I came upon this blog! I feel like I’m getting tips from a close friend 😀 I want my itinerary to be the same, first Quinta da Regaleira and then the Pena Palace, but I wonder which bus took you to which one? Also, after visiting the Quinta, did you have to go back to downtown and get on the 434 bus to the Pena Palace? People say that there are no buses to Quinta da Ragaleira so I’m a bit confused! If you don’t mind, could you please clarify this for me? Thank so much!
Yay! So glad you like it! I took the 435 to Quinta da Regaleira (there is a bus that goes there), then took that back to the station when I was done. Then I caught the 434 to Pena. When I went there wasn’t the one bus that did both, but the loops are not long and the buses were going frequently so it’s not like you’ll be traveling for ages or waiting at the main station for a long time. I went a year ago now, so just check when you buy your bus ticket – but it was really easy to get around. Have fun!
Thanks so much!!