Chasing Sintra's Charm: A Day Trip Through Palaces and Fairytale Hills

@TravelforLifeGuide
When you only have a day in Sintra, you don’t want to waste precious time stuck in the traffic.  Sintra, Portugal offers a variety of transportation options to get you around its charming streets and historical sites. Here are some of the most popular choices to get around Sintra:
  • Tuk-tuks:These motorized rickshaws are a fun and unique way to explore Sintra, especially for small groups. Be sure to negotiate the fare before getting in.
  • Scotturb: This public bus company operates several routes within Sintra and to surrounding areas like Cabo da Roca and Cascais. Buses are affordable and convenient, but can get crowded during peak season.
  • Walking: The historic center of Sintra is relatively compact and pedestrian-friendly, making it a great option for exploring at your own pace. However, keep in mind that some of the attractions, like the Pena National Palace, are located uphill and require a bit of a climb.

Video 1.  Sintra: Lovely day trip from Lisbon (YouTube link)

One-Day Itinerary 


Based on [1], here are Chelsea's recommendation for a day trip from either Lisbon or Cascais:
  1. 9:15am: Arrive at Pena Palace (Portuguese: Nacional Palácio da Pena)
  2. 9:30-11:15am: Explore Pena Palace
  3. 11:15am: Walk to Castle of the Moors  (Portuguese: Castelo dos Mouros)
  4. 11:30am-12:30pm: Explore the Castle of the Moors
  5. 12:30-2pm: Travel to Sintra town center and eat lunch
  6. 2:15-3:45pm: Visit the National Palace (Portuguese: Palácio Nacional de Sintra)
  7. 3:45-4pm: Walk to Quinta da Regaleira
  8. 4-5pm: Explore Quinta da Regaleira
Click here for an interactive Sintra map on Google MyMaps.
 
Figure 1.  One-day walking tour in Sintra (credit: [1])

How to Access Sintra



LISBON > SINTRA: Train (Comboios de Portugal railway company) – Sintra Line
Bus 434 ( Pena Circuit; additional info: here)


SINTRA (railway station) > PENA: Bus n.º 434 (Scotturb)
  • From Vila de Sintra, bus n.º 434 makes the connection between the train station and Palácio da Pena
  • Due to the narrow roads of Sintra, the bus only operates in one direction:
    • Sintra Station> Historic Center, Tourism, National Palace of Sintra > Castle of the Moors > Pena Palace > Historic Center, National Palace of Sintra > Sintra Station
Figure 2.  Pena Palace (Portuguese: Nacional Palácio da Pena)

Pena National Park and Palace


Palacio da Pena is the most famous of all the castles in Sintra, and the one you’ll see on all the Portugal guide book photos. The brightly colored red and yellow towers are visible from all around Sintra, as this castle is high on the hillside and the gardens include the highest point in Sintra.  Pena Park is huge, and a maze of footpaths.  Make sure you pick up a map, you will need it to find your way around! 

Entrance to the Palace by appointment only (buy the ticket online here).

Figure 3.  Castle of the Moors  (Portuguese: Castelo dos Mouros)

Castle of the Moors


Castle of the Moors is a UNESCO world heritage site for its architecture and the surrounding landscape. The castle was built at the top of the Sintra hills, on extremely uneven terrain, by the Moors in the 8th or 9th century. It was conquered by King Afonso Henriques at the time the country was founded in 1147.


Figure 4.  National Palace of Sintra (Palácio Nacional de Sintra)

National Palace


The Palácio Nacional de Sintra, located in the historic town center, was inhabited for nearly eight centuries by the Portuguese monarchy and its court. It was much used, particularly during the Middle Ages, as a hunting retreat and summer resort, as well as a refuge from outbreaks of disease in the capital.

Figure 5.  Quinta da Regaleira


Quinta da Regaleira


The owner of the Quinta da Regaleira was a wealthy Brazilian mining owner, who was fascinated by the secretive religious orders of the Knights Templar and Freemasons, and allowed his mind to run wild in the construction of his wonderous villa (Portuguese: Quinta).

Video 2.  Sintra's mysterious 'inverted tower' - BBC REEL (YouTube link)

References

  1. 1 Day Sintra Itinerary: A Super Efficient Guide
  2. The Best Views of Pena Palace & Gardens in Sintra, Portugal
  3. Lisbon in Three Days - A Suggested Itinerary and Tour
  4. Where to Eat in Lagos Portugal: Take a Lagos Food Tour
  5. The Best Benagil Cave Tour to visit the Benagil Caves Portugal
  6. 45 THINGS TO DO IN FUNCHAL, MADEIRA, PORTUGAL
  7. Magical Fairytale Castles in Europe You Can Actually Visit
  8. Your New Mountain Getaway In Portugal: Casas Da Lapa
  9. Why Visit Lisbon in Winter?
  10. What not to do in Lisbon Portugal?
  11. When temperatures drop across Europe, head south for some winter sun in Portugal
  12. Visit These Picturesque Places In Portugal In December To Have A Fun 2022 Winter Vacay
  13. Where to take the best photographs in Lisbon
  14. The 19 best things to do in Lisbon
  15. Learning Portuguese
  16. Bus n.º 434
  17. Public Transport in Sintra

Welcome to Travel for Life! I share immersive travel experiences designed to inspire a lifetime of exploration.

I believe that travel is the key to understanding our world. As the creator of Travel 4 a Purpose and Travel 2 Health, I combine the beauty of global destinations with a mindful approach to living well.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” — Mark Twain

Be a traveler, not a tourist. Look beyond what’s right in front of you.

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