Sintra in 1 Day- Itinerary and Ultimate Guide

When planning a trip to Portugal, I saw pictures of this red and yellow castle that was straight out of a storybook. It was Pena Palace in Sintra Portugal, near Lisbon.

It took a lot of work to figure out the best way to experience Sintra. I traveled in April of 2022 and couldn’t believe how hard it was to figure this trip out.

Can you see all of Sintra in 1 day? Is there more than Pena National Palace? How do I get around Sintra? I felt so unprepared even after the research! We lucked into a few things that made the day unforgettable.

I’ll tell you what I wish I’d known going into our attempt to visit all of Sintra in one day! We saw it all! It was easier than I thought it would be. But there are a couple of things I’d change.

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Sintra in 1 Day Itinerary

8:00 am- Rideshare from Lisbon to Pena Palace in Sintra. Beat the crowds and enjoy the park before the palace opens.

9:30 am- Tour Pena Palace as soon as it opens

Next – Moorish Castle and Eat Lunch

Afternoon– Quinta Regaleira and Pena City

Is Sintra worth visiting?

Yes. Sintra one was one of the best parts of my stay in Lisbon. It is packed full of UNESCO sites. Visiting UNESCO sites has become a no-brainer; they are always interesting.

Each site is unlike the others, and the combination is unreal.

Sintra is most well known for the fairy tale castle at Pena Palace. It’s no surprise the red and yellow castle is the biggest attraction. You can also see an elaborate private residence, a Moorish castle, and the picturesque little town of Sintra.

Can you see Sintra in 1 Day?

This is the eternal question. Short answer, Yes. You can see all of the main attractions in one day.

If I had all the time in the world, I’d love to spend a few days in Sintra just enjoying the scene and hiking in the park.

I didn’t have that time, and, I’m guessing, you don’t either.

Sintra is beautiful, and there are hikes and gardens you won’t get to explore in a day.

Getting There

There are several ways to get to Sintra from Lisbon.

Rideshare- To Make the Day Go Well

Uber (or You-ber as we heard it called) is much more economical in Portugal than in the US. How does it make sense for the driver/company? Consider taking an Uber, especially if you are with a group. The ride is about 30 minutes, and your driver will take you straight to the entrance to Pena Palace (where you’ll want to start your day).

The ride was €30/40 for four people. It was the same price public transit was going to cost the four of us. Taking the Uber helped us beat the crowds and allowed the day to flow more smoothly. If you want to balance the price, you can always take an Uber in the morning and return by train.

Train- Most Economical

Take the train from Estação do Oriente. The Comboios Sintra train is 45 minutes. Transit in Portugal is very economical.

The only thing you should note about this option is that the train arrives in the town of Sintra. You’ll want to start your day at Pena National Palace, which is at the top of the mountain; maybe it’s only a hill, but it feels mountainy.

So, when you get off the train, you have a 45+ minute hike up to the palace, you can take the 434 tourist bus for €5, or take an Uber/tuk-tuk.

Group Tour- Least amount of Planning

If planning your day isn’t your thing, there are plenty of options for guided day trips to Sintra. Many options also pair a trip to Pena Palace with the beaches in Cascais. Just show up (or get picked up) and enjoy your day.

Pena National Palace

Pena Palace dates back to the 12th century when a monastery was built. Like much of the area, it was almost destroyed in an earthquake in 1755.

Ferdinand II was the King who fell in love with Sintra. The original plan was to restore the monastery and create a simple summer palace. He fell in love and expanded the palace to what it is today.

His love of art and culture influenced the castle greatly. Pena Palace became a favorite of the Portuguese monarchs.

Queen Amelie was at Pena Palace when the Declaration of the Republic was announced in 1910.

Hours and When to Visit

There is a park and a palace on the Pena National Palace site. You’ll want to see the palace. Don’t be duped by the park-only ticket. Plan to be at the park and then the palace as they open.

Park– Opens at 9:00 am – Closes at 7:00 pm

Palace– Opens at 9:30 am- Closes at 6:30 pm

Trying to see all of Sintra in 1 day means you must start early! An early arrival means you can get photos of the palace without the hoards of people.

The palace’s exterior is spectacular so having time to take it in before the crowds arrive is essential. Purchase timed entry tickets early. 

If you can get the earliest time slot in the day, you should. Then, you can visit the castle’s interior without being stuck behind or around many other tourists.

I managed to avoid the crowd for much of my visit. It was a leisurely tour through the palace that those who arrived a couple of hours earlier did not get to experience.

It’s worth it to get up early, take an Uber to Pena Palace, and start your day with a perfect visit to Pena Palace. No matter when you visit, make sure you are on time! They make it very clear that they will not admit you if you miss the window for your ticket.

What You’ll See on Your Visit

Staterooms/Kitchen/Cloister

Visit the chambers of multiple Portuguese monarchs. They are staged to be similar to how they were when inhabited by the royals. The grand cloister was a beautiful part of the visit. The kitchen is set up as it once may have been.

Triton Gateway

This gateway is a shining part of the exterior of the castle. The ornate tilework and artistry are unreal. Some of my favorite parts of the whole palace are in this gateway!

Chapel

The chapel is small and a remake of the original building on the site. However, there is a spectacular stained glass window from 1840.

Plan to spend 2-3 hours at Pena Palace, depending on how quickly you want to go through the castle. There is so much to see, and it is so elaborate.

Stop by the cafe terrace for pictures with the castle in the background.

Pena Palace is the day’s highlight, so feel free to spend time here even though you’re trying to see all of Sintra in 1 day.

Castelo dos Mouros

Follow signs to the Moors Castle as you leave Pena Palace. You’ll be walking downhill, and the walk isn’t terribly long (200 meters).

This castle is mostly ruins of a castle.

It’s quite the contrast to Pena Palace. As you visit the rest of Sintra, you’ll notice that the castle ruins are easy to spot everywhere in the city.

The Moors came to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) from Africa in the 8th century. They were in power until the 12th century. This castle was built during their reign and would have protected the whole area.

The Castelo dos Mouros is open from 9:00 am – 6:30 pm.

You can buy tickets at kiosks as you enter or buy them early. 

There aren’t timed entry slots. Still, having the tickets beforehand is helpful because it’s one less thing to worry about.

The castle is busiest around lunch but much less crowded than Pena Palace.

Walk on the walls, climb to the top of the towers, and take in the views of Sintra below.

If the weather is poor or foggy, consider skipping this site.

It wouldn’t be fun to walk around on wet stone, and most of the draw to this site is the view! If you’re traveling with someone with limited mobility or energy, this may not be their favorite site.

The castle was built into a rocky outcrop and maintains its ruggedness, making walking around a bit more challenging.

Quinta Regaleira

As you leave the Moors Castle and walk downhill, you can take the trail down through the forest. It’s nice to feel like you’ve left the city even though you haven’t. Walk through old town Sintra and stop to get lunch or a drink if you’d like. There are some cute souvenir shops too.

The state house was built during the late 1800s. Tickets can be purchased early and will save time in line. 

The entry isn’t timed, so there is no pressure to change the rest of your day.

 It will be helpful if you can download the map to your phone before your visit. If not, be sure to get pictures of the map at the entrance.

Head up the hill and to the right. You’ll want to start at the Poço Iniciático (Initiation Well). If you’d like to explore the top of the estate, you should do so before entering the well.

As you enter the well, you’ll walk 6 stories down the spiral steps on the exterior. It is ornate and feels like it’s from another world.

You’ll see a symbol for the Knight’s Templar at the bottom of the well. Be sure to snap photos from the top looking down and the bottom looking up.

The line moves quickly, and so does your visit. It is one of the most memorable parts of a visit to Quinta Regaleira.

After exiting the well, you’ll continue to explore the grounds making your way down the hill.

There are grottos, lakes, statues, and well-manicured landscaping the whole way down.

You’ll find a chapel and a lake toward the bottom of the hill. The walk from the lake toward the palace will give you some great photo opportunities.

Enter the palace from the chapel side. Only the 1st floor is open, so there are few rooms to explore, but it’s still worth entering.

The building is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and it felt like it was out of a movie. The estate is extravagant, which makes it very fun to explore!

Sintra

After visiting Quinta Regaleira continue your journey downhill to Sintra. Stop for a coffee, a snack, or a souvenir in the town. If you’re not gluten-free, try a travesseiro from Piriquita.

Portuguese friends called them “little pillows of heaven,” and based on the reaction from our friends, it was a very accurate description. There are cute little shops along the streets. Look for a sardine shop with a very impressive Ferris Wheel made of children’s toys and sardine cans.

National Palace of Sintra

The National Palace is an iconic building with two giant, white, smokestack domes jutting out of it. This palace was last on my list.

I visited all four significant attractions, so you don’t have to. Seeing all of Sintra in 1 day is a lot. This palace is skippable if you’re tired or aren’t feeling it.

This medieval royal palace is home to a pretty fantastic kitchen. The smoke stacks from the inside are pretty fun to see.

The palace was a favorite of the royals, so you’ll also find elaborate ceilings and some beautiful azulejo tiles. It was a good visit, but it was easily less interesting than the other three sites I’d visited during my time in Sintra.

Tickets are €10 and can be bought when you arrive or early. It’s best to wait.

Make sure you feel like visiting after a long day.

The Logistics Of Visiting Sintra in 1 Day

Where is Sintra

The city of Sintra is 29 km, about 30 minutes drive from Lisbon. The little town sits at the base of a mountain.

What to See in Sintra

There are five places to consider seeing on your visit. If you want to see everything, it will be a long day, and you’ll need to plan. It’s possible to do it, though!

Consider seeing Pena National Palace, Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle), Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra National Palace, and the city of Sintra. Yes, there are two national palaces… Not at all confusing when you’re planning. Pena Palace is colorful. Sintra National Palace has two giant white smokestacks.

What to Wear to Sintra

The day involves a great deal of walking. A fair bit of it is walking up or downhill on cobblestones. Wear your most comfortable shoes.

The temperature can vary significantly between the top of the hill at Pena Palace and closer to the bottom at Quinta da Regaleira. Wear layers or bring a jacket.

Ladies, I wore a knee-length dress. It was a mistake.

Midi, Maxi, or pants, my friends.

It can be very windy at Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle. I’m sure some other visitors got more of a view than they bargained for during the first gust of wind.

What to Eat

You can plan to eat lunch in Old Town Sintra, but the day will be more leisurely if you at least pack snacks. It worked out for me to have a lunch packed to eat in between attractions when I was hungry. There are places to eat near the attractions in the form of benches. There were picnic tables in the Moorish Castle.

Pro-Tip

Download the map of the area to your phone before leaving the hotel. There was spotty but pretty good cell coverage as I walked around the park. Making your way from site to site is easy, but having access to a map feels better.

Is a specific order best to see everything in Sintra?

Yes, I think so. There are several different ways it can work out but starting at the top and working down was definitely a win.

This post highlights the locations in the order I visited them. Starting with Pena National Palace makes a lot of sense for several reasons.

First, this is the biggest attraction in Sintra; one picture makes it easy to see why. Starting your day here means you can beat some of the crowds. I could see parts of the palace with no one else in the room because the madness hadn’t started yet.

Second, Pena Palace sits on top of the hill, so much easier to walk downhill the whole time! Beginning at the top is so much easier!

Sintra in 1 Day

It’s possible to visit Sintra in 1 day or to spend more time hiking and exploring the natural areas in the park. Both are valid. If you’re not looking for a jam-packed day, I’d recommend Pena Palace and Quinta de Regaleira. The Moorish castle is certainly interesting to visit if you have time.

Other Day Trips from Lisbon

This day trip is a must-do when you’re in Lisbon and, if you plan it right, will likely be one of your favorite days! But, don’t miss out on the other great options: Mafra National Palace, Évora, and Tomar to name a few!

If you’re headed north, check out Porto!