Happy Wednesday, all! I hope everyone is having a great week, and that you enjoyed my last post featuring all my favourite things to see and do in the beautiful city of Lisbon. But after all that… what if I told you that my favourite thing we did in Lisbon wasn’t even in Lisbon itself?
If you’re visiting Lisbon, a day trip to the charming medieval town of Sintra – only 40 minutes from Lisbon by train – is an absolute must. With majestic castles, lush forests and a beautifully preserved historic centre, this magical destination is like stepping into a different world – if not a different century.
Sintra was first settled in ancient times, but it rose to prominence during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th and 9th centuries, when the Castle of the Moors was built to defend the surrounding region. After the Christian reconquest in 1147, Sintra came under Portuguese rule and became a summer retreat for Portuguese kings and queens, who vacationed at the Sintra National Palace. In the mid-19th century, Sintra became one of Europe’s earliest centres of Romantic architecture, when King Ferdinand II commissioned the reconstruction of old monastery ruins into the spectacular Pena Palace: still Sintra’s most popular tourist attraction.
Today, Sintra remains one of Portugal’s most visited destinations, drawing 3.1 million visitors in 2025 alone – and as soon as we stepped off the train, we understood why. Whether you’re into nature, history, architecture, or all of the above, there’s something here to delight everyone – and if you’re traveling to Lisbon, I highly recommend leaving at least a day to explore Sintra. In this post, I’ll share our itinerary, logistical details, and my best tips for making the most out of your time in Sintra!
In This Post (Click the links to jump right to any section!)
- How do you get to Sintra from Lisbon?
- Is one day in Sintra enough?
- What should I bring to Sintra?
- What are the must-sees in Sintra if I only have a day?
The Perfect One-Day Sintra Itinerary
- Take the train to Sintra
- Grab a light breakfast
- Make the journey to Pena Palace
- Tour the whimsical Pena Palace
- Explore Pena Park
- See the incredible views from Castelo dos Mouros
- Walk back to Sintra’s town centre
- Have lunch in old town
- Marvel at the mystique of Quinta da Regaleira
- Head back to the town centre for sightseeing and shopping
- Enjoy drinks with a view at Restaurante Dona Maria
- Try Sintra’s signature dessert at Casa Piriquita
- Hop on the train back to Lisbon
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Sintra from Lisbon?
Traveling to Sintra from Lisbon was honestly so easy! It’s a 40-minute train ride from Lisbon’s Rossio Station to Sintra Station, no changes required, and doesn’t require advance ticket booking: just show up at the station and buy your tickets at the automated machine. It’s just €5 per person for a round trip, but – they don’t make this part super clear – the ticket does include return fare, so be sure to keep it! You can check the train schedule here – trains leave every half hour. I recommend leaving as early as possible if you only have a day to explore!
Is one day in Sintra enough?
The majority of visitors from Lisbon do Sintra as a day trip, and while it’s doable, I’ll be honest: I wish we’d had a day longer! Sintra may be a small town, but it’s easy to underestimate just how much there is to explore until you actually get there. You could easily spend a day at Pena Palace alone, exploring the sprawling estate and hiking through its magical 500-acre forest. If you choose to stay overnight in Sintra, there are several accommodation options. Or, because the train trip is so quick, inexpensive and convenient, you could just go back two days in a row. It’s shorter than many people’s daily commutes to work! If you only have time for a single day trip like we did, here’s how to make the most of it…
- Start early. The earliest Rossio-Sintra train leaves at 5:41am. I wouldn’t recommend leaving that early because none of the attractions will be open yet. But if you plan to start at Pena Palace (which I strongly recommend), you could take the 7:41 train, get to Sintra at 8:21, and be at Pena Palace when they open at 9:30. (You’ll need to budget 30-40 minutes to drive from Sintra Station to Pena Palace – the ride itself is just 20 minutes, but expect a wait – and 20-30 minutes to walk from the gates to the palace itself.)
- Prioritize your must-sees. Sintra has so many incredible attractions, but Rome wasn’t built in a day and Sintra wasn’t explored in a day either! I recommend picking three major attractions that are your absolute must-visits. For us, those were Pena Palace, Castelo dos Mouros and Quinta da Regaleira. More on those below!
- Purchase tickets well in advance. Sintra is an extremely popular destination, and tickets book up fast, especially to hot spots like Pena Palace. I highly recommend booking tickets in advance – not only to guarantee your spot, but to avoid wasting time waiting in line.
What should I bring to Sintra?
- Comfy walking shoes. This is one of those “do as I say, not as I do” moments. I wore sandals for our day in Sintra – flat, comfy sandals, mind you – but nevertheless, I wish I’d worn sneakers like my sensible wife. Sintra involves a LOT of walking – I think we cleared almost 40,000 steps that day – and the roads are steep, hilly and cobblestoned.
- Snacks. Some of Sintra’s major attractions, such as Pena Palace and Castelo dos Mouros, are a relatively far walk from the city centre. And keep in mind this is an old medieval town, so there’s not exactly 7/11s on the street corners. We were so hungry by the time we got to Castelo dos Mouros in the early afternoon, but their on-site café was closed for renovations, and it was a 40-minute walk to get back to town. A couple of granola bars would have prevented a lot of hanger!
- A portable charger. If you’re anything like me, you take a ton of photos on vacation regardless… but trust me: in Sintra, you’ll take triple what you normally do. Every moment is postcard-worthy. You’ll also want to make sure you have enough battery for navigation – I would (quite literally) be lost without the Google Maps app. I love this power bank from Amazon – it contains almost two full phone charges.
- Water. Enough said!
What are the must-sees in Sintra if I only have a day?
I’d create a list of your top three must-see attractions in Sintra, and your backup ‘nice to haves’ if there’s time – because you also want to leave time to explore and enjoy without rushing! For us, those three attractions were…
- Pena Palace (and the surrounding Pena Park)
- Castelo dos Mouros
- Quinta da Regaleira
Unfortunately we didn’t have time for the below, but if we ever find ourselves back in Sintra, we’ll definitely be visiting…
The Perfect One-Day Sintra Itinerary
Planning a day trip to Sintra can feel overwhelming, but fear not: I’ve mapped out the perfect plan for your day from start to finish!
Take the train to Sintra – the earlier, the better! If you plan to start at Pena Palace (which I strongly recommend), I’d suggest taking the 7:41 train from Rossio Station. That way you’ll get to Sintra at approximately 8:21, and be at Pena Palace when they open at 9:30. (You’ll need to budget 30-40 minutes to drive from Sintra Station to Pena Palace – the ride itself is just 20 minutes, but expect a wait – and 20-30 minutes to walk from the gates to the palace itself.)
Grab a light breakfast. I’d recommend grabbing something in Lisbon for your train ride (the historic Confeitaria Nacional is just a five-minute walk from Rossio Station, and has delicious pastries and stunning decor.) Alternatively, Pena Palace has an on-site café where you can grab a coffee and snack before your tour. Or, if you have some extra time upon arriving in Sintra, the famous Café Saudade is located just a few steps from Sintra Station and is renowned for its traditional Portuguese pastries.
Make the journey to Pena Palace. From Sintra Station, it’s about a 20-minute car ride to Pena Palace, but you’ll want to budget 10-20 minutes for waiting on a ride-share (Uber and Bolt are both available in Sintra.) Cars can’t drive all the way up to the palace itself, so you’ll also need to leave time to walk from the gates to the palace – it took us 20 minutes, but the official website recommends 30. (Click here to read into accessibility options.) And when you’re in the car, put your phone down, because it’s a gorgeous ride through a breathtakingly beautiful forest.
Tour the whimsical Pena Palace. There’s a reason the National Palace of Pena is Sintra’s most visited attraction. With its brightly coloured facade, whimsical Romanticist achitecture and opulent interiors – not to mention those soaring hilltop views – this iconic palace is an absolute must-visit on any Sintra itinerary. Tickets cost €13 and while you can buy them on-site, I strongly recommend purchasing timed-entry tickets in advance. Pena Palace welcomes over 1.5 million visitors annually… in other words, she’s busy. So don’t waste time your time waiting in lines instead of exploring the palace… or worse, risk disappointment if day-of tickets are all sold out!
I’m a big details person, so I fell in love with Pena Palace immediately. From its ornate furnishings to its intricate tilework, each room is more spectacular than the next.
After the interior tour, we walked around the perimeter of the palace and enjoyed the stunning views from its various lookout points. Pena Palace sits approximately 1600 feet above sea level, and the views are truly incredible – if a little vertigo-inducing. I’m scared of heights and the walkways are narrow with low barriers, so I was practically scaling the palace wall as I walked by.
If you’re hungry, you can grab a snack from Pena Palace’s indoor cafeteria (which is so pretty that it feels wrong to call it a cafeteria) or dine on their outdoor terrace.
Whatever you do, be sure to leave at least an hour – ideally two – to explore Pena Park, the lush 500-acre forest surrounding the palace. You’d honestly need a full day here to explore everything in its entirety, but if you’re tight on time, some key highlights not to miss…
The Chalet of the Countess of Edla – This storybook cottage looks straight out of Snow White! It was built by King Ferdinand II for his second wife, the Countess of Edla. A she-shed before its time! I immediately fell in love with all the whimsical details, from the vibrant patterned wallpaper to the leaf detailing.
Vale dos Lagos – The “Valley of the Lakes” consists of five small interconnected lakes, surrounded by leafy trees, ferns and mossy rocks. It’s total Secret Garden vibes. One of the prettiest elements is the pair of duck houses, designed to resemble miniature castles rising from the water.
Pena Farm – Meet Pena Park’s resident horses, admire the orchards and vegetable gardens, and get a glimpse into the estate’s working life back in the 19th century.
Queen’s Fern Valley – This lush, shaded valley is home to an extensive collection of ferns, imported from all over the world.
See the incredible views from Castelo dos Mouros. After you finish exploring Pena Park, it’s a 15-20 minute walk to this incredible medieval fortress. Built by the Moors in the 8th and 9th centuries during the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, it was later conquered during the Reconquista in 1147. In the 1800s, King Ferdinand II commissioned a restoration of its walls and pathways, and today it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and one of Sintra’s most popular attractions. The views from the top are absolutely breathtaking! Don’t ask why I, with my fear of heights, insist on doing these things… but trust me, the views were worth every tremor. Tickets cost €12 per person. We purchased ours in advance, and the nice thing is these tickets aren’t time-stamped, so you can visit anytime during opening hours on the date you selected.
Walk back to Sintra’s town centre. It took us about 40 minutes to trek from Castelo dos Mouros back down to Sintra’s town centre – definitely longer than we expected! That said, it probably would have taken less time if I didn’t stop to take a photo every five minutes… this is a stunningly scenic walk surrounded by lush forests, and it all feels very peaceful and surreal.
Have lunch in old town. Sintra is filled with charming little restaurants and cafés where you can enjoy a bite to eat. We tried Tascantiga and were absolutely blown away – it was one of our favourite meals in Portugal! They have a sweet little patio shaded by a leafy canopy, and they serve a huge assortment of tapas. We ordered fried prawns, chicken wings, a beet-apple salad, and a portobello mushroom-goat cheese ‘burger’. Everything was delicious, but the ‘burger’ was definitely my favourite!
Marvel at the mystique of Quinta da Regaleira. Only a 10-minute walk from Sintra’s town centre, this stunning palace is straight out of a fairy tale. I was surprised to learn it was only built in the 20th century! The palace itself – majestic on the outside and surprisingly humble inside – is only the beginning. The grounds have so much to explore! Rapunzel-esque towers, an ornate chapel, secret passageways, rocky caves, and the famous Initiation Well, steeped in countless legends and lore.
Many people come here specifically for the Initiation Well, and you’ll probably have to wait at least 15 minutes to descend it – but trust me, it’s worth it! Everything about Quinta da Regaleira feels magical, mythical and mysterious – like a fantasy novel come to life. Tickets cost €20 and you can book them in advance, though I will say we bought these ones the day of and the wait time was minimal.
Head back to the town centre for sightseeing and shopping. Sintra’s historic town centre is straight out of a storybook: cobblestone streets, whimsical architecture, vibrant colours, and tons of charming shops and cafés. We loved wandering around, getting lost down the various alleyways, snapping photos and shopping for unique souvenirs – from handpainted tiles to cork purses to pretty ceramics, there’s something for everyone.
Enjoy drinks with a view at Restaurante Dona Maria. The patio of this restaurant has such pretty views of Sintra! It isn’t too busy and truly feels like a hidden gem. The perfect place to take a break from your busy day and enjoy a glass of wine or a light snack.
Try Sintra’s signature dessert at Casa Piriquita. Dating all the way back to 1862, this pastry shop – still family-run to this day – is truly legendary. They invented Sintra’s signature dessert, the travesseiro – it literally means ‘pillow’, which is fitting because I’m still dreaming about it months later! This flaky puff pastry ‘pillow’ is filled with almond flour and egg cream, and the secret recipe is still closely guarded by the family (though you can find some copycat recipes online.)
Hop on the train back to Lisbon. The walk from Sintra’s town centre back to Sintra Station along Volta do Duche only takes 10-15 minutes, and is one of the prettiest walks! The street is lined with towering trees, beautiful sculptures, and the Fonte Mourisca (Moorish Fountain): a Neo-Mudéjar-style landmark built in 1922. Trains back to Rossio Station depart every half hour, and the last one leaves at 12:20am. Hopefully you took my advice and remembered to keep your ticket from the morning, because your return fare is included!
And that’s how we spent one of the most beautiful and memorable days of our honeymoon in the charming town of Sintra. It was truly one of the most stunning places I’ve ever experienced in person, and I would love the chance to go back and visit again someday. I hope this post was helpful to any travelers planning their own Lisbon-Sintra day trip! If you have any questions about our experience, feel free to leave a comment or email me – I’d love to hear from you.
Interested in a guided full or half-day tour of Sintra? Check out Get Your Guide for various options that take all the guesswork and planning out of the equation!
Until next time, thanks for reading and have a wonderful rest of your week!
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