7 Magical Sintra Castles And Palaces You Cannot Miss!

Last Updated on January 5, 2025 by Soumya

Are you looking for the best palaces and castles in Sintra, Portugal? You’re at the right place.

Here’s my epic Sintra travel guide that lists the 7 most beautiful palaces in Sintra.

Sintra is a small, hilly town in South Portugal known for the colorful and eclectic Pena Palace. However, the town is also home to several more castles that remain off the beaten path (though some of them are not so offbeat anymore!).

In this post, we talk about all the beautiful castles in Sintra and how you can visit each of them.

Whether you’re visiting Sintra for a day or spending a couple of nights in this beautiful Portuguese town, you should definitely check out a few of these palaces/castles/mansions because they are out of this world!

Read next: How to Plan the Best Lisbon – Sintra Day Trip

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Best Sintra Castles and Palaces

Sintra’s palaces and castles are included under the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

For ticket prices and opening hours, visit Parques de Sintra’s official website.

📖 Read next: How to get to Sintra from Lisbon by train?

Pena Palace and Park

Pena Palace is definitely the most iconic and unmissable castle of Sintra.

Perched on the top of a hill in the Sintra mountains, this palace is a 19th-century, Romanticist castle and also one Portugal’s 7 Wonders! And rightfully so.

Built by King Ferdinand II on the spot of an old, ruined monastery, Pena Palace is an eclectic mix of architectural styles. You can see plenty of medieval and Islamic elements.

The Pena Park is equally remarkable. It is a series of gardens and walking paths that lead up to the palace.

These paths are filled with tropical plants, which add to the otherworldly feel of this castle. Don’t be surprised if you stumble upon a hidden pathway staring at a mysterious-looking statue.

Practical Information for Visiting Pena Palace

• Expect long queues even if you get here early in the morning. I recommend buying a Pena Palace ticket online here.
• The parks may be closed in the summer for fear of a forest fire because it can get really hot in Sintra.
• Palace is open all days except 1st Jan and 25th Dec between 9 am-7 pm.

📖 Read next: Ultimate Visitor’s Guide for Pena Palace in Sintra

Castle of the Moors

El Castelo dos Mouros, or the Moorish Castle in Sintra, is a hilltop castle that was constructed during the Moorish Era of the 8th and 9th centuries.

This castle was like a fort that gave the rulers a vantage point. It enabled them to see advancing enemy troops from a distance. No doubt, the views from the Moorish Castle are stunning.

You need to hike a bit to get to the top. But the views are worth it.

The Moorish Castle is also a great place to view and photograph the Pena Palace, which is not very far away.

Practical Information for visiting Moorish Castle Sintra

• Purchase tickets for the Moorish Castle online here to skip the lines.
• There’s a lot to walking and climbing. So, wear a pair of comfortable shoes.
• There isn’t much left of the castle here, mostly ruined walls and broken viewing towers. Tourists mainly come here for the views.
• The Historical Interpretation Centre of the Moorish Castle tells a fascinating story of the many layers of history that this place has seen.

Quinta da Regaleira

The most beautiful thing about Sintra castles is that they provide so much variety and complexity. At every new castle or palace, you experience something novel and extraordinary. La Quinta da Regaleira is probably the best example of it.

Built-in the early 20th century by an Italian architect who was hired by a well-traveled Brazilian-Portuguese businessman, Quinta da Regaleira is a heady mix of several architectural styles. You can see elements of Roman, Gothic, Renaissance, and Manueline styles here.

However, what attracted me most were the palace’s fascinating gardens and intriguing initiation wells.

A pair of spiraling initiation wells at Quinta da Regaleira are probably the most visited attraction in Sintra, apart from Pena Palace.

Practical Information for Visiting Quinta da Regaleira

• Try to get here during the day. We went here a little before sunset and it was already getting dark when we went down the initiation wells. This may not be the best time to experience the wells because visibility is low downstairs.
• At the bottom of the stairs, the two wells are connected. You can walk through this path. Make sure you carry a flashlight with you. The one on your mobile phone will also work.
• Buy your tickets for Quinta da Regaleira online here.

National Palace of Sintra

Often referred to as the beating heart of Sintra, the National Palace is also the oldest in Portugal.

The National Palace is located at the historical center of Sintra and is quite accessible. However, it is often skipped for the more famous Sintra castles, such as the Pena Palace or Quinta da Regaleira.

This palace has been around since the 13th century and has continuously been inhabited by various kings and queens, each leaving their marks on it. Therefore, you will see elements of Gothic, Manueline, Moorish, and Mudéjar architectural styles vying for attention here.

Some of the unmissable rooms at the Sintra National Palace are the Swan Room, the Palatine Chapel, the Coat of Arms Room, and the Magpie Room.

Practical Information for Visiting Sintra National Palace

• Check out the beautiful glazed tiles or the azulejos of various Arab-styled rooms at the National Palace. Do not miss the embellished patios, which are more beautiful than anything else you have seen before.
• Get your entrance tickets for Sintra National Palace here.

Palace and Park of Monserrate

Monserrate Palace is probably one of the prettiest villas in Sintra. Yet, it is one of the least visited and does not feature in day trip itineraries from Lisbon.

However, if you are staying in Sintra for a day or two, you must definitely visit this beautiful villa.

Featuring elements of Romanticism and Moorish Revival Architecture, Monserrate Palace is a treat for sore eyes. The Islamic influence is particularly noticeable in the domes, arches, and ornate stone filigree work.

The villa is a small one when compared to Pena Palace or Quinta da Regaleira. So, tourists often spend more time in the palace’s exuberant gardens filled with exotic species from all around the world.

Practical Information for Visiting Monserrate Palace

• It is not feasible to add Monserrate Palace to your Sintra day trip itinerary if you’re planning to visit Pena Palace and Moorish Castle. You may need to stay a night in Sintra if you wish to explore it after finishing up with the biggies listed above.
• You may also do a guided day tour from Lisbon that includes Regaleira and Monserrate. But it may not include Pena Palace, and that is sad.
• The Palace and Park of Monserrate are open from 9 am – 7 pm every day, and you can purchase tickets here.

Seteais Palace

A neoclassical palace from the 18th century, Seteais Palace was built by Daniel Gildemeester, then Dutch Consul in Portugal, on lands granted by the Marquis of Pombal.

The palace was expanded a couple of times in the 19th century. Soon, the consul’s house became one of its wings.

The palace’s façade is decorated with attractive neoclassical motifs such as vases, busts, and floral reliefs. Inside, the walls are painted with gorgeous frescoes that include plants, flowers, and mythological creatures.

Today, the palace operates as a luxury hotel and is one of the best places to stay in Sintra if you are prepared to splurge and experience the life of Portuguese royalty.

✦ Pro Tip: Click to book your luxurious stay at the Seteais Palace.

National Palace and Gardens of Queluz

The National Palace of Queluz and its historical gardens are yet another set of magnificent castles that you cannot miss when traveling in Portugal.

Located midway between Lisbon and Sintra (a little closer to Sintra, in fact), Queluz makes for an amazing day trip either way.

Truth be told, the National Palace of Queluz reminded me of the Versailles of France, albeit on a much smaller scale – resplendent and dripping with grandeur.

Queluz is filled with Rococo, an art form that you can also see in abundance at Potsdam’s Sanssouci Palace in Germany. The gardens are even more scenic, with grottoes, fountains, canals, and terraces.

The Palace of Queluz also holds some dark secrets like serving as a secret place of captivity for Queen Maria when she started going mad after her husband, Dom Pedro, died.

Now you know that the Queluz is absolutely an intriguing palace to add to your Sintra castles list.

Practical Information for Visiting Queluz Palace

• Since the palace is located midway between Lisbon and Sintra, you need not include it in your Sintra itinerary. You can actually do it as a separate day trip from Lisbon or Sintra.
• Book your Queluz Palace tickets online here before visiting.

Which Sintra Castle to Visit?

Now, that is really the million-dollar question. With so many great options to choose from and so little time, it is hard to figure out the right answer. But here are my two cents.

If you are visiting Sintra on a day trip from Lisbon by public transport, you will be strapped for time. I highly recommend deciding beforehand which Sintra castles you would want to visit.

I visited Pena Palace and Park, Moorish Castle, and La Quinta da Regaleira. Pena Palace and Moorish Castle are pretty close to each other, so you won’t spend much time commuting between the two.

However, if you are not very keen on fort walls and forests, honestly, you can skip Moorish Castle. Climbing up those walls takes time and energy.

If you would rather explore the opulent Palace of Monserrate or the beautiful National Palace at that time, then so be it.

I don’t recommend missing Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira for the world, though. Yes, even with all the crowd. Pena Palace is unique and something you will never see anywhere else in the world. And the initiation wells of Quinta da Regaleira are absolutely mindblowing.

Best Time to Visit Sintra

The best time to visit Sintra, Portugal, is in the spring and early fall when the temperatures are low and crowds are bearable. Summer, between July and August, can get extremely crowded!

Highly Recommended Guided Tours for Sintra Castles

Since there is so much to see here and so many beautiful castles to explore, I recommend doing a guided tour of Sintra so you do not miss out on your coveted monuments.

So, here are a few guided tours that are a great mix of everything nice that Sintra has to offer.

How to Get to Sintra?

Sintra by Train

Since we were staying in Lisbon, we took a train to Sintra from Lisbon Benfica station.

Read my detailed guide on how to take the train from Lisbon to Sintra and how to get to Sintra’s castles from the train station. The guide also includes details on how to get to Cabo da Roca and Cascais from Sintra if you wish to go further.

The sunset at Cabo da Roca (the westernmost point of mainland Europe) is stunning and a perfect end to the day at Sintra.

Sintra by Car and Bus

Getting to Sintra by train is the easiest and most convenient option. Traveling by car is complicated because Sintra’s streets are hilly, narrow, crowded, and difficult to maneuver.

There are direct buses from Lisbon to Sintra, but they take longer than trains.

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