Sintra, Portugal attractions that are a must visit

Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sintra, Portugal. This magical town is full of must-see attractions, from palatial estates to labyrinthine gardens, this is one part of the country you cannot miss.

Located only a 40-minute train ride from Lisbon, Sintra draws visitors from all over the world. Recognized as a UNESCO cultural landscape, the town of Sintra offers magnificent attractions including the famous Pena Palace, the Castelo dos Mouros, Palace of Monserrate and many others.

Surrounded by wooded hills, exploring Sintra on foot means a lot of climbing up and down. While the historic center of the town of Sintra is pretty small, it offers plenty of cafes and restaurants to take a break from the busy days you probably will spend exploring this magnificent area.

We spent two days in Sintra, which gave us plenty of time to explore the top attractions and to relax while in town. You can definitely see the Pena Palace and Castelo dos Mouros in one day, but there are plenty of other attractions that you should visit. We highly recommend you spend the night while visiting as you wont have to rush to beat the crowds.

Exploring Sintra, Portugal

The town of Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro

As mentioned before, don’t try to explore the main attractions on foot. They are quite far away from each other, despite having hiking signs that say otherwise, as all the attractions are high above the town. Just to get to some of the most popular attractions including Pena Palace and Castelo dos Mouros you would need to walk uphill for quite a while – some spots will say 30 minutes, but with the sun and incline it can easily take an hour. Additionally, when you finally get to the entrances, you’ll find there is a lot more walking involved to get to the attractions themselves. We highly recommend you save your energy, especially since Uber is cheap and quick.

Keep in mind that you will most likely have a hotel in the middle of town, and if you take the train, it could be quite a walk. Don’t use apple or google maps, they will take you through the “short cuts” of hills and maze-like streets. Follow the winding road to the center of town and from there it’s an easy walk to your accommodations.

There are quite a few ways to explore the town:

• By Uber: By far our preferred option. It wasn’t expensive and it was really reliable. Most of the Ubers are operated by locals who grew up in the area and will give you tips on what not to miss…and where to eat well.
• By Tuk Tuk: There are several Tuk Tuk in the center of town offering to take you to some of the attractions. These can be a fun experience, but they are a 100% tourist trap. We heard that sometimes they can overcharge you so be careful.
• By bus: Bus 434 can be caught from the center of Sintra. It costs approximately 12 euros and offers unlimited rides at that price within 24 hours. We were going to go with this option but after seeing how packed this bus gets, we decided to switch gears. These buses ride every 15-20 minutes. Mind you there is another bus (435) on the same stop, but it takes you through a different route…we never saw it in the entire stay.
• Walking: As mentioned walking to the main attractions is doable but they are for those looking to hike. It’s better to explore the historic center on foot, and venture into the modern parts of Sintra as well. Once you leave the touristy center, you’ll find lots of quaint shops and cafes.

We have compiled below some of the main attractions that you shouldn’t miss while visiting Sintra.

Quinta da Regaleira

Quinta da Regaleira. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro

The intriguing Quinta da Regaleira was built between 1904 and 1910; it features religious references mixed with occult symbols both inside the palace and in the gardens. Featuring a mix of the Manueline, Renaissance, Medieval and Classical styles, Quinta da Regaleira is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO as part of the “Cultural Landscape of Sintra”.

For me, the most interesting section of the Quinta da Regaleria was the initiation well which served ceremonial purposes including Tarot initiation rites. For obvious reasons, the initiation well can get packed – especially in the high season. We recommend you get to Quinta da Regaleira early and book your tickets in advance. Once you get to the well, start walking down and feel the cold coming out. When you reach the bottom, get ready to explore the caves before reaching the exit.

Pena Palace

Pena Palace. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro

By far, Pena Palace is the main highlight of a visit to Sintra. I am not going to into too much detail about this Palace since we have a blog dedicated exclusively to it. Pena Palace is by far the most touristic attraction in Sintra, and it’s crazy crowded all year round. Therefore, expect long lines even if you get a timed ticket. Although is a pain to see people everywhere, Pena Palace is so magnificent that you will forget about the long lines. Do not leave without exploring the gardens specially two viewpoints: The Cruz Alta and St Catherine’s heights which will give you a great opportunity to photograph the colorful castle exterior.

Check out our blog about our visit to Pena Palace.

Castelo dos Mouros

When visiting the Sintra, you can’t help but to look up and see the Castelo dos Mouros, constructed in a 400 meter hill, looming above the town. The Castelo dos Mouros should be in the top attractions you visit. I recommend you don’t walk all the way up but rather take an uber or other means of transportation to the gate.

Once you get to the top, you will have to walk for 400 mts (around 4 blocks) to get to the Castelo itself. I definitely recommend saving your energy- there will be a lot of stairs to climb later on. We bought the tickets in advance and went in the early morning, which was a great time since there wasn’t many people (probably everyone was at Pena Palace!); we were able to happily enjoy it without the crowds.

The Castelo offers magnificent views from its towers – you can spot Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, the National Palace of Sintra and magnificent views all over town. On a clear day, you can even see Lisbon! Also, while visiting the castle, don’t forget to visit the silos – where cereals and other crops were stored, you will find some tombs where bones were kept. See if you can spot the carved inscription that reads “What man brought together, only God may separate” as the human remains from Christians and Moorish couldn’t be distinguished from. There is a small museum to the history of the hill, which contains neolithic pottery from over 5,000 years ago.

Palace of Monserrate

Palace of Monserrate. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro

Again, we visited this Palace in the early morning and I highly recommend it. We didn’t have to be in line to purchase the tickets, which was great, allowing us to take our time to explore. An utter masterpiece, the Palace of Monserrate is a jewel that stands out among amazing attractions and offers beautiful gardens for a perfect for leisurely stroll. The gardens are worth a visit if you want to relax, and they feature plants from all the world, a rose garden, and a Mexican garden.

My favorite parts of the palace were the galleries, hallways featuring a set of columns and arches that give the effect of perspective and offer a wonderful opportunity for amazing photographs. You can also visit a chapel (in ruins) which is engulfed by vegetation, the main hall which evokes Ancient Greece (look up to observe the magnificent cupola), the sacred art room and the dining room. It’s quite a unique place among an area of palaces, and will make your trip to Sintra complete.

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