Easy Day Trip to Sintra from Lisbon (2024)

Taking a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon is dreamy. Not only is it one of the easiest day trips from the city, but it’s also one of the most fairytale-esque locations in Portugal.

I took a half-day trip to Sintra from Lisbon, and my only regret was that I didn’t spend a full day.

From Pena Palace to the Castle of the Moors to enjoying the picturesque town itself, there are so many places to visit.

Let’s get right into how to get to Sintra, itinerary options, and helpful tips for your quick adventure.

This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) on qualifying purchases so we can continue to create helpful content. Thank you, and we appreciate it. See our disclosure policy for more information.

Best Time to Visit Sintra

The best time to visit Sintra is spring and fall when the weather is still warm but the crowds are fewer.

Summer is a busy time in Sintra, and winter is the least busy time but the weather gets cooler and wet.

I visited Sintra in May and while there were crowds, I didn’t find them overwhelming and was able to find less crowded spots even at popular attractions like Pena Palace.

Getting to Sintra From Lisbon

Train To Sintra From Lisbon

The best way to get from Lisbon to Sintra is by train. You can catch the train at Rossio Station. It costs about 5 USD each way and takes under an hour.

The train drops you off at the Sintra train station, which isn’t too far out of town. Buses and taxis will be waiting just outside the entrance to the right.

I took the train from Lisbon to Sintra and liked that it was included in the Lisboa Card. The Lisboa Card gives unlimited access to Lisbon’s public transportation and many museums.

Bus To Sintra From Lisbon

The bus route is less convenient than the train, but it’s possible. The bus costs around $8 USD-$12 USD per way.

There are two main bus stations in Lisbon: Oriente Bus Station and Sete Rios Bus Station. The stations aren’t as convenient as the Rossio Train Station, and the bus usually takes about an hour and a half.

Taxi From Lisbon To Sintra

A taxi from Lisbon to Sintra is the most expensive and easiest option. A taxi costs 35-45 USD each way.

A taxi or transfer service can pick you up right from your accommodation in Lisbon and drop you off exactly where you need to be. You can also easily get a return taxi from Sintra to Lisbon for around the same price.

Driving To Sintra From Lisbon

Renting a car and driving yourself is the fastest way to get from Lisbon to Sintra and back when there isn’t traffic.

The ride takes only about 30 minutes without traffic, but 1.5 hours when there is. One of the best things about this option is that you can make several other stops.

For example, the National Palace of Queluz is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Portugal, and it’s just 15 minutes outside of Lisbon toward Sintra. This is an excellent way to spice up the traditional day trip to Sintra.

You can also work on your timetable, not having to worry about departure times, meetup points, or any of those finer details.

Unlike other locations in Portugal where scooter rentals are fun and easy, I don’t recommend renting a scooter here. It’s very hilly in Sintra.

Getting Around in Sintra

Getting around in Sintra is so easy. While they don’t have something like Lisbon’s cablecars, they have easy-to-use tourist buses.

The 434 and 435 are the main tourist buses that go to all the main attractions, including Pena Castle. You can also walk, take a taxi between the different Sintra sites, or join a guided tour that creates the itinerary and handles transportation.

Unfortunately, your Lisboa Card doesn’t work inside Sintra. So, while you can use it to get from Lisbon to Sintra via train, taking the tourist bus is a separate cost.

The bus also goes in a loop through one-way streets, meaning it can take longer than walking when in Sintra town. So you might opt to take Uber to get around instead. I chose to ride the bus which is just outside the train station to the right.

Things to Do in Sintra

• Pena Palace – A romanticist castle on the top of the Sintra mountains. Its iconic colourful exterior makes it the most popular place to visit in Sintra, Portugal.
• Moorish Castle – A hilltop medieval castle overlooking Sintra. You can see Pena Palace from it and on a clear day the towns of Mafra and Ericeira.
• Quinta da Regaleira – A castle with romantic architecture. The castle grounds are beautiful, and there are many fun things to do here. The Initiation Well is one of the most popular places in Sintra.
• Monserrate Palace – Another castle, smaller than Pena Palace and Moorish Castle. It’s an equally impressive display of Romanticist architecture and beautiful gardens but without as much of a time commitment. More of a hidden gem.
• Convent of the Capuches – An old Franciscan monastery in the center of Contra-Cascais National Park. It’s an interesting place, especially if you’re visiting the Lisbon Cathedral or other monuments. It’s a little further from Sintra town, so it might be hard to squeeze in a visit on a day trip to Sintra.
• Spend a day in Sintra town – Sintra is known for its mesmerizing castles and natural beauty, but the city is charming and endearing. You’ll find many good cafes, little restaurants, cute buildings, narrow streets, and souvenir shopping.

Half-Day Sintra Day Trip Itinerary

Moorish Castle

Moorish Castle or Castelo Dos Mouros, is a highlight in Sintra.

Even though most people do Pena Palace first, I recommend visiting Moorish Castle before Peña Palace. Because the common route is to visit Pena Palace first and then Moorish Castle, you’ll encounter smaller crowds if you visit Moorish Castle first.

Moorish Castle is a medieval castle on the hills of Sintra. It was built in AD 711 to defend the area and serve as a maritime lookout around Lisbon. There’s no question it’s different from any other castle you’ll find in the area, including Lisbon Castle and other famous ones.

Today, you can explore the battlements and walk up the steep steps of the castle for incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean and the rest of Sintra. It was cool to look across and see Pena Palace as a preview of visiting it later.

Pena Palace

The National Palace of Pena is another incredible castle in Sintra. While Moorish Castle is an impressive blend of Moorish and Islamic architecture from the 8th Century, Pena Palace portrays the beauty of Romanticist architecture from the 19th century.

Pena Palace was built in the 12th Century as the Royal Monastery of Our Lady Pena. An earthquake tore down the castle in 1755 and it was later rebuilt in the 19th century.

You can explore the palace and the battlements. There are breathtaking terraces painted with vivid colours and statues of mythical creatures all over the palace. But one of the best things about Pena Palace is the dazzling, bright colours in a backdrop of dense greenery.

Again, most tourists visit Pena Palace and then Moorish Castle. I went to Moorish Castle first, though, and I think it’s the best way to go for fewer crowds.

At one point, there were only a dozen of us in the main area of Pena so I got some great photos that became some of my favourite from my trip to Portugal. I loved seeing the beautiful colourful architecture and haven’t seen anything like it before or after.

3 Best Sintra Day Tours from Lisbon

Take away the logistics and get right into enjoying your time in Sintra on one of the top Sintra tours: 

Sintra Private Tour from Lisbon – travel to Sintra in an air-conditioned minivan and a live tour guide, visiting Quinta da Regaleira, Praia Grande, Cascais, the Palacio Nacional de Pena, and the historical center of Sintra.

Sintra and Cascais Tour – small group tour to Sintra, visiting Pena Palace, Moorish Castle, Quinta de Regalara, and more. It also goes to the Atlantic Coast for some incredible views.

Sintra & Cascais with a Local – small-group guided tour where you’ll Sintra with a local, visiting, Quinta de Regalara, Colares, an incredible viewpoint on the Sintra Mountains, and pass through Cascais. This tour does not go to Pena Palace or Moorish Castle.

Is Sintra Worth a Day Trip?

Yes, Sintra is worth a day trip from Lisbon. It’s very easy, especially if you take the train and use the Lisboa Card or even book a tour that coordinates transportation. But no matter how you get there, you’ll enjoy the town of castles.

Pena Palace and Moorish Castle are the two most popular Sintra tourist attractions, and a one-day trip to Sintra from Lisbon gives you plenty of time to visit both. However, if you want something more authentic and less touristy, there are also plenty of options.

Sintra is truly a magical place, and Lisbon is the perfect starting point for exploring its history, culture, and beauty.

Final Thoughts on Planning a Day Trip to Sintra From Lisbon

A Sintra day trip from Lisbon is a must. It’s easy to get to and incredible to explore. Sintra is known as the land of castles, and for good reasons.

In just one day, you can explore some incredible castle grounds and be treated to views of a lifetime.

The Moorish Castle and Pena Palace are some Sintra highlights you can easily visit in one day from Lisbon. Most people go to Pena Palace first, followed by Moorish Castle, but I recommend doing the reverse to avoid some of the crowds. 

There’s no question that a day trip to Sintra deserves a spot in your Lisbon itinerary!

Happy travelling!