One of our favorite places of all time! There are colorful castles, hikes with history, and a healthy dose of mystery here. It’s said Sintra has a different kind of energy, and we agree. Since it’s only 45 minutes from Lisbon, a Sintra, Portugal day trip is more than easy, it’s necessary!
Castles are the name of the game! Each one is a totally different experience and worth a visit.
However, deciding on which to visit can be a little overwhelming. So we’ve provided descriptions and links for tickets to each attraction below :)
We had trouble finding a reasonably-priced spot close to the historic center, which is another reason we didn’t stay in Sintra. But we’d like to camp at a little-known farmstay like Sintra Vintage Tent next time.
Sintra Vintage Tent provides free bike rentals and a pool. Unfortunately, we only discovered this spot AFTER our trip!
Pretty much the same things you need for a day out in Lisbon. Think sneakers, a daypack, water bottle, and hat and sunglasses. Also layered clothing!
And charge your phone or camera before you go. You’ll want to take all the photos!
Unless you find something special that really stands out, I’d stay away from souvenir shopping in Sintra. It’s too magical of a place to spend your time inside a store!
It’s a simple trip from Lisbon. Sintra is end of the train line- you’ll likely take the Rossio-Sintra route from Rossio station.
The exception is if you’re coming from the airport, in which case you’d take the Oriente-Sintra route from Oriente station.
Both routes take between 40-50 minutes and trains leave regularly until the evening. You can’t buy tickets ahead of time.
Sintra is beautiful and incredibly fun to walk around! But you’ll likely need a tuk-tuk at some point (we took one from the train station to Pena Palace). We zipped through winding roads going uphill in a fantastically fun ride!
You’d also likely use a combination of walking and tuk-tuk. Another option is the 434 tourist bus. This goes from the train station to the historic center, then Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors, before ending at the train station again.
Sintra is great for visiting year-round, although it’s not as sunny as nearby Lisbon. It gets rainy in the winter but the average temperatures are relatively mild, around 55-60 F (13-15.5 C).
You’ll also get more rain if you visit during the cooler months of November through March. There won’t be many daylong storms, but bring a rain jacket if visiting in the winter.
Sintra is at the top of most travel guides to Portugal for good reason. You can visit multiple places and castles in just an afternoon, and each one is completely unique from the rest. So do what we did- hop on an early train and make the most of your day!
Make sure to read our article on Lisbon so you’re ready for the trip!
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