Best One Day In Sintra Itinerary For Busy Travelers

Planning to spend a day in Sintra, Portugal? We have you covered.

Sintra is a lovely little Portuguese town dotted with fairytale castles and historical legends. If you’ve heard of the quirky Pena Palace or the enigmatic Quinta da Regaleira, you’ll be pleased to know that they’re both located in Sintra.

The best part is that Sintra is only 20 miles from Lisbon, making it an excellent day trip destination for travelers. And trust me, a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon is one of the nicest things to do in Portugal.

There are two different ways to enjoy your short day in Sintra. One is to join a top-rated Sintra day tour and see the best with a local tour guide. The second is to plan your own day trip from Lisbon to Sintra by train and go at your own pace to see all of Sintra’s sights.

I went with the second option and saw a lot in one day.

That’s why I have this ultimate Sintra travel blog, where you’ll discover everything you need to plan your perfect day in Sintra, including how to get there, how to get around, what to do, and where to eat.

I also have a section with an amazing selection of Sintra guided tours if you prefer to leave the planning to the professionals.

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link on this post. This will be at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links help me keep this website up and running. Thanks for your support!

Quick links to Plan the Best Sintra One Day Itinerary

• Jump right away to the best one-day Sintra itinerary to help you make the most of your trip.

• Only looking for a transportation guide? Check out our post on how to visit Sintra by train from Lisbon.

• Get your skip-the-line tickets for Pena Palace unless you want to wait hours in queues.

• If you prefer a guided day trip to Sintra, this small-group tour, which includes the charming Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais, is highly recommended.

• Do not miss walking down the initiation well at Quinta da Regaleira. That is an absolutely surreal experience and very different from what you may have experienced in other European castles.

How to Get to Sintra from Lisbon?

First, let’s sort out the logistics. One of the common questions I get from my readers is “How to get to Sintra from Lisbon?”

Well, there are a couple of ways. You can either take the train (the cheapest option) or do a guided tour from Lisbon (the most convenient option).

Another way is to drive, but I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone. Driving on the narrow, hilly streets of Sintra is no joke! Add to that the pain of finding a decent parking space.

Key takeaway – don’t drive to or within Sintra.

If you decide to drive, here’s a list of parking spaces available on the outskirts of town.

I took the train to Sintra, and it was pretty convenient. You can take a train from the popular Rossio station in Lisbon or one of the smaller stations that I talk about in my Lisbon to Sintra train guide. Get down at Sintra train station. The ride takes around 40 minutes and costs 2.40€ each way.

If you want a great guided tour, check out our section on the highest-rated Sintra day tours from Lisbon.

Have a Lisbon Card?

If you already have a Lisbon Card, you can ride the train for free, like I did. The Lisbon Card allows you to travel for free to Sintra by train from Lisbon.

The Lisbon Card also offers 10% discounts on admission tickets at Pena Palace and Sintra National Palace and a 20% discount at Quinta da Regaleira. They also offer a 15% discount at the Moorish Castle (something I realized just now as I went through the inclusions page – gosh, I spent 15% extra the last time I visited. It always pays to read the fine print!).

As far as I am aware, these discounts are available only on tickets purchased at the ticket counters in Sintra. I don’t think they apply to online purchases.

Have a Navegante/Viva Viagem card?

Navegante Card (originally the Viva Viagem card) is the Lisbon transport card for non-frequent travelers. You can purchase one for 0.50€ and then load money onto it for your Sintra day out (2.40€ each way).

Alternatively, you can load a 24-hour Carris/Metro/CP pass onto your Viva Viagem card to cover all your transport costs for the day.

In my opinion, it is cheaper to zap your Viva Viagem card if you only want to do the Sintra train rides rather than buy the 24-hour pass.

Lisbon-Sintra Pass

Another option is to get the Lisbon—Sintra Pass. The pass includes a Lisbon Card (valid for one day) and tickets to Pena Palace. However, you still have to pay for your hop-on, hop-off bus rides to and from Sintra station to Pena Palace.

✦ Pro Tip: In my opinion, a Lisboa Card is far better value for money than a Lisbon—Sintra Day Pass.

How to Get around Sintra in 1 Day?

The best way to get around Sintra is by bus. Thankfully, Sintra has regular tourist buses (run by a company called SCOTTURB) for newbie tourists like us. These buses are 434 and 435.

Colored white with red and blue lines, 434 and 435 wait right outside Sintra train station. Exit the train station to your right and walk 100 meters to find the stop.

Sintra Bus 434 | Pena Circuit

434 is called the Pena Circuit or Circuito da Pena.

Because of Sintra’s mountainous roads, 434 goes in a one-way loop. Here is a list of all the stops.

• Sintra train station
• Sintra Vila is the city center where you can access the National Palace of Sintra.
• Moorish Castle
• Pena Palace
• Sintra Vila or the city center again
• Sintra train station

Get a Pena Circuit round-trip ticket for 8.40€ or a one-way ticket for 4.55€. Check out the latest prices here.

Alternately, you can also buy a 24-hour pass for all buses in Sintra for 13.50€ now. This includes both Pena Circuit and Villa Express (I talk about that below).

You can get your tickets from the helper standing right in front of the bus with a ticketing machine in hand, or you can buy them online on their official website here.

In summer, the 434 or Pena Circuit runs from 9:15 am – 7:50 pm. In winter, it runs from 9:30 am – 6:20 pm. It usually departs every 15 minutes, but sometimes, you may have to wait a little longer, say 4-5 minutes more.

✦ Pro Tip: If you’re spending only one day in Sintra, take Bus 434. Walking or hiking is not an option because it takes way too long.

Sintra Bus 435 | Villa Express

435 is called the Villa Express. That is because it stops at 4 palaces – National Palace (Palacio da Vila), Quinta da Regaleira, Seteais Palace, and Monserrate Palace. Note that Pena Palace is not included in this list.

A round-trip on the 435 will cost you 6€. But honestly, this does not make sense if you’re spending only one day in Sintra because you’ll want to see the Pena Palace in that one day.

Recommended One-Day Trip Itinerary for Sintra

Begin your day at Pena Palace

When you arrive in Sintra by train, exit the train station to your right and queue up for Bus #434 (Pena Circuit). Take the first available bus and head straight to Pena Palace, which is located at the highest point on the hill. For now, skip Sintra City Center and Moorish Castle.

Pena Palace opens at 9:30 am. If you manage to get on the first bus from Sintra station, you will also be one of the first ones to get into the palace, though the palace can already feel crowded at 9:30 am.

There are usually 3 queues to get into the Pena Palace.

• 1 – Queue at the ticketing counter – which you can skip if you purchase a ticket online.
• 2 – Queue at the entrance gate, which wasn’t very long. We entered almost instantly after getting our ticket and walked up the hill to the palace. It is a short 5-6 minute walk. However, if you choose to ride the bus that takes you from the gate to right outside the palace entrance, you will have to wait a few minutes.
• 3 – Queue to get into the staterooms – this one was pretty long, and it took us about 15 minutes to enter.

What to do at Pena Palace?

At Pena Palace, you can tour luxurious staterooms that were once the summer residence of the Portuguese royal family, visit its colorful and eclectic terraces, and stroll around its charming gardens, which are home to fountains, chalets, sculptures, and many exotic plants.

I suggest you begin your Pena Palace tour at the terraces, proceed to the state rooms, have a little something at the cafeteria, and finish with a walk through the gardens.

Here’s a free map of Pena Palace and Park for you to download.

Pena Palace terraces

The terraces were definitely the highlights of my day trip to Sintra. I urge you to see them first and then do the state rooms tour.

All the dreamy pictures that I had seen while researching for my Sintra visit came to life right there on the terraces of Pena Palace.

The terraces’ uniqueness was due to the mix of yellow, red, blue, and white. You will find pretty yellow arches, exquisite onion domes, and a plethora of interesting sculptures, like the mythical Triton. Add to that some gorgeous views of the valley and the Moorish Castle.

There are 3 terraces to visit at Pena Palace of which you can visit 2 with only the parks ticket. To enter the Queen’s Terrace, which is also the highest one, you’ll need a Palace and Park ticket. Learn more about Pena Palace tickets in the section here.

Pena Palace State Rooms

I know many people will tell you to skip the staterooms. But if you are a history buff like me or love to see what luxury meant to kings and queens of yesteryears, I urge you to visit the interiors.

Pena Palace was the summer residence of the Portuguese royal family for a long time. It is modest in size when compared with other palaces in Europe.

There is a dining room, bedrooms, a chapel, a noble room, and an adorable kitchen. Photography is not allowed within the staterooms.

You’ll also see a beautiful Manueline cloister that you can walk around and photograph. Remember the cloisters of the Jeronimos Monastery from our day trip to Belem? Well, this one is much smaller but similar.

Pena Palace Cafeteria

After walking through the rooms, you’ll head straight to the cafeteria-cum-restaurant, where you can have a sumptuous lunch.

When we visited a year ago, the cafeteria at Pena Palace served elaborate meals that included soup, salad, mains, and dessert. Quality was great then but has deteriorated lately, as I have heard from friends and family.

You won’t find any other food joint in the vicinity. So, it was a decent place to have lunch. But pack a sandwich with you if you wish to avoid the cafe.

They also have a terrace café which will be crowded at all times because hey! everyone wants to have a coffee on a Pena terrace!

Pena Palace park & gardens

Head to the gardens once you exit the palace building. Some of the highlights here are the Statue of King Fernando II, Cruz Alta (from where you get a good view of the palace), a Neo-Moorish pavilion, and the Chalet da Condessa d’Edla.

Unfortunately, when we traveled in September, it was super hot in Sintra, and the parks were closed for fear of a forest fire. Since we could only visit the palace, we got a cheaper ticket for the palace alone.

We could not visit the parks, so we decided to visit the Moorish Castle, which was the second stop on our one-day Sintra itinerary.

Pena Palace Tickets

Tickets for the palace and park are 20€ per adult. For just 10€, you can access only the gardens, which I think makes no sense because the palace is absolutely more attractive.

I highly recommend getting an online ticket for Pena Palace if you don’t want to wait hours in the ticketing queue.

You can also buy tickets online on their official website, although my preferred place is always the Get Your Guide portal. I love to have all my tickets in one place on Get Your Guide.

Pena Palace Opening Hours

Palace is open from 9:30 am – 6:30 pm.

The park is open from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm.

The ticket office closes at 5:30 pm.

📖 Read Next: Ultimate Pena Palace Travel Guide: Best Things To Do And See

Head to Moorish Castle

Moorish Castle, or Castelo dos Mouros, was our second stop for the day in Sintra.

It is just 0.5 miles (under 1km) from Pena Palace, and the walk is all downhill. You’ll reach Moorish Castle from Pena Palace in less than 10 minutes.

Do not take Bus 434 because that goes in a loop, and you’ll go all the way to the station and city center before you can return to Moorish Castle.

Once you are at the gates of the Moorish Castle, you will need to hike up to the fort walls, from where you can get some stunning views of the valley and Pena Palace.

Built in the 10th century by the Moors, this castle was once a strategic viewing point. The Historical Interpretation Center (located within the castle grounds) gives you an interesting perspective and deep dive into the castle’s history.

Download a free map of Moorish Castle here.

Moorish Castle tickets

One adult ticket for Castelo dos Mouros costs 12€.

Again, I highly recommend getting a skip-the-line ticket for Moorish Castle online. This Sinta itinerary is going to be extremely packed, and we want to save whatever time we can.

Moorish Castle opening hours

The castle is open from 9:00 am – 6:30 pm. The last admission is at 6:00 pm.

Take the bus to Sintra City Center

Hop on Bus 434 again and head to the Sintra City Center.

Visit the National Palace of Sintra

In the city center, you’ll find the Sintra National Palace, yet another jewel in the Sintra castle list.

The National Palace is the oldest palace in Portugal. On your way to Pena Palace, you’ll see it as you ride on Bus 434.

Unfortunately, I could not explore the National Palace in detail because I just did not have the time. Doing 4 castles in a day in Sintra was next to impossible. But if you really want to see the National Palace, skip Moorish Castle and get to the city center right after Pena Palace.

The National Palace is huge with many rooms. Spare at least 2 hours to see it all.

Here’s a free downloadable map for your easy reference.

What to do at the National Palace of Sintra?

There are many wonderful things to do at the National Palace of Sintra, including a tour of its magnificent state rooms, a trip to the Central Patio and Water Grotto, and a walk around the gardens. You cannot miss the mind-blowing ceiling of Blazons Hall and the tiled wall coverings that adorn several important rooms.

The most striking feature of the National Palace are two white, conical chimneys that stand tall over the royal kitchen.

The palace has several impressive rooms, such as the Manueline Room, the Arab Room (reminds of Palacio da Bolsa in Porto), the Swan Room, and the Palatine Chapel. You should not miss the Central Patio and the Water Grotto, which are decorated with beautiful Azulejo panels.

One of the highlights of the National Palace of Sintra is its majestic ceilings, which are an amazing blend of Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance architecture.

National Palace tickets

Tickets to the National Palace of Sintra are 13€ per adult, but you can visit the gardens for free.

Be sure to purchase your skip-the-line ticket for Sintra National Palace beforehand to avoid the queues.

National Palace opening hours

Palace and parks are open from 9:30 am – 6:30 pm. The last admission is at 6:00 pm.

Enjoy the Travesseiros of Casa Piriquita

Foodie or not, you will love the travesseiros of Casa Piriquita at the city center.

One of the best desserts in Portugal, travesseiros are pillow-shaped flaky pastries that are filled with almond cream. They are so soft they almost melt in your mouth.

Not many travelers know that Sintra is also popular for yet another sweet delicacy called the queijada. Apparently, this soft cheesecake was once the favorite dessert of the Portuguese king. You’ll find queijadas at Casa Piriquita as well as Queijadas da Sapa.

📖 Read Next: 9 Delicious Desserts to Try in Portugal

End your Sintra Day Trip at Quinta da Regaleira

The mysterious Quinta da Regaleira will be the last stop on this exciting Sintra day trip from Lisbon.

You can get here by Bus 435 (Villa Express) or simply walk from the city center. We walked, and it took us about 10 minutes to get there. Refer to the map below for directions.

Quinta means a large country estate. Sintra’s Quinta da Regaleira is a historic home dating back to the 19th century, built in a fusion of Manueline, Renaissance, and Medieval architectural styles.

This country home was owned by Antonio Augusto de Carvalho Monteiro and designed by Italian architect Luigi Manini. It is filled with interesting sculptures, fountains, benches, grottos, lakes, and, of course, two famous initiation wells.

Initiation wells of Quinta da Regaleira

The highlights of Quinta da Regaleira are a couple of mysterious initiation wells that were once used for ceremonial rites. These wells are believed to have been connected to Tarot mysticism and Templar myths.

You can climb down the spiral stairs of the first, more well-maintained initiation well and then follow a tunnel that connects it to another smaller well. At the bottom of the bigger well, you’ll see a beautiful floor lined with mosaics.

It is a little unnerving to realize that these wells were never used for storing water. Rather, they were once the venue for mysterious rituals that we will never know for sure.

If you keep going along the tunnel, you’ll come to a grotto at the end of the tunnel, beyond which lies a beautiful garden.

Note: There is no light inside the tunnel, and it may be pretty dark even during the day. Use your mobile flashlight to maneuver yourself through.

Quinta da Regaleira tickets

Tickets to Quinta da Regaleira cost 12€. The latest admission prices are on the venue’s official website, which can be found here.

Lisbon Cardholders get 20% off the ticket, but you’ll have to purchase the ticket at the counter.

Quinta da Regaleira hours

The palace is open from 10:00 am – 6:30 pm. Last admission at 5:30 pm. In summer, the palace is open until 7:30 pm.

Popular Quinta da Regaleira tours

Quinta da Regaleira is one of Sintra’s most popular castles. No wonder it is a favorite among tourists, too.

Therefore, there are several amazing guided tours dedicated solely to Quinta da Regaleira and a few smaller attractions. Here’s a list.

• This 6-hour tour from Lisbon to Sintra, which includes a 1.5-hour tour of Quinta da Regaleira, is extremely popular, affordable, and led by excellent guides.

• What can be more interesting than a tour of Quinta da Regaleira + some wine tasting? This exciting tour on Viator (with all 5 stars) does exactly that.

• On this highly-rated, small-group Sintra hidden gems tour, you will explore Quinta da Regaleira and discover the hidden Templar and Freemason symbols in the city.

Interactive map of Sintra Day Trip Attractions and Walking Trails

More than 1 day in Sintra?

• Beautiful castles and palaces abound in Sintra. If you have more than one day in Sintra, I strongly advise you to go to Monserrate Palace, which is located 5 miles (7 km) from the city center. Monserrate Palace is elegant and exceedingly attractive, with a mix of Gothic, Indian, and Moorish Revival architecture.
  Remember to get your skip-the-line ticket for Monserrate Palace before your visit.

• If you want to see more Portuguese mansions, check out our post on the 7 most stunning castles and palaces in Sintra.

• Visit Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe. It is easy to get to Cabo da Roca from Sintra by Buses 1253 and 1624 (details in my Lisbon to Sintra transport guide). This clifftop destination with stunning vistas is one of the best places to watch a sunset in Europe.

• Head to the coastal town of Cascais, a traditional Portuguese fishing town that is well-preserved even today.

• Stay at Seteais Palace and feel like royalty for a day.

Best Sintra Day Tours from Lisbon

There are several amazing day tours from Lisbon to Sintra. Here are some of my favorites that are also the highest-rated on Viator and GetYourGuide. By the way, Viator and Get Your Guide are two of my favorite online portals to book tours anywhere in the world, especially in Portugal.

• One of the most popular guided tours in the market, this full-day GetYourGuide tour takes you to the Pena Palace, Sintra’s city center, the stunning Cabo da Roca, and finally, the seaside town of Cascais—all this without burning a hole in your pocket.

• On this Sintra and Cascais small-group day trip, you’ll enjoy a more intimate experience of these beautiful towns of Southern Portugal.

• On this full-day tour from Lisbon, you’ll explore 3 of the most beautiful palaces in Sintra: Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and Monserrate Palace. This is probably the only comprehensive tour that does 3 castles in the same day. Check out availability and reviews here.

Sintra Day Trip FAQ

Can you do Sintra in a day?

Yes, you can easily visit Sintra in a day and see some of the most beautiful Portuguese castles, including Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. However, if you wish to see all of Sintra’s beautiful palaces, plan to spend at least two days here.

Is Sintra worth visiting?

Sintra, a charming hillside town in Portugal, is absolutely worth visiting. Sintra was long home to the kings of Portugal and is, therefore, full of stunning palaces and magical castles such as Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. The cultural landscape of Sintra was inscribed on the UNESCO heritage list in 1995.

Can you walk around Sintra?

Yes, you can walk around Sintra, but taking a bus or tuk-tuk is highly recommended in some steep areas. For instance, you can easily walk from the city center to Quinta da Regaleira and from Pena Palace to Moorish Castle. But it is advised that you take the bus from Sintra bus station to Pena Palace because the climb is very steep.

Can you do Sintra in half a day?

You cannot do a lot in Sintra in half a day, but you can definitely see one important castle. That has to be either Pena Palace or Quinta da Regaleira. You cannot do both in half a day.

How much time do I need in Sintra?

You need at least a couple of days to see all that Sintra has to offer – the castles, the gardens, the city center, and tasting of desserts. However, one day in Sintra (which is a popular day trip from Lisbon) is also a good way to see the highlights – Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, + one more palace (could be Moorish Castle or National Palace of Sintra).