Without any doubt, Sintra is an enchanting historical town set against the backdrop of rolling green hills.
In this quaint town, you will find it surrounded by some of Portugal’s most beautiful gems – extravagant palaces and historic castles – but also charming coffee shops and cobblestoned streets. It’s incredible that all of these amazing attractions are located in such a small radius of each other.
When visiting Lisbon, a day trip (at the very least) to Sintra is a must. It’s only a 40-minute train ride from the capital so there are no excuses (and tickets are 2-3 Euros). If you only have one day to spend in Sintra, I recommend you focus only on visiting Pena Palace and the Moorish castle. If you don’t want to go by yourself, taking a tour is also a viable option. Viator tours are highly reliable and we have selected a few for your consideration below.
If you are wondering if you should rent a car, the answer is no. Sintra’s streets are tiny, parking is a pain, and you need to be an expert driver to maneuver the zigzagging hilly roads that lead to the town’s main attractions.
We fell in love with this delightful town and we hope the photos below inspire you to visit Sintra, we promise you won’t regret it.
Read blog: Sintra, Portugal attractions that are a must visit
The town of Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
Quinta da Regaleira. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
Quinta da Regaleira’s initiation well. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
Quinta da Regaleira’s exterior. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
Palace of Monserrate. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
Palace of Monserrate. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
View of the National Palace of Sintra from the Castelo dos Mouros. Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
Castelo dos Mouros. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
Castelo dos Mouros. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
Castelo dos Mouros. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
Castelo dos Mouros from Pena Palace. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
Pena Palace from the St Catherine’s Heights viewpoint. Credit: Carry on Caro
Pena Palace. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
Pena Palace. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
Pena Palace. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
Pena Palace. Sintra, Portugal. Credit: Carry on Caro
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