Sintra in a Day: Complete Itinerary for Couples (+ Budget)

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Do you want to visit Sintra in a day? This guide to Sintra will cover everything you need to know about going on a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra.

Sintra is a perfect romantic day trip idea if you are spending 3 or 4 days in Lisbon. We visited the town in February and had a blast. From the incredible and unique palaces and mansions to the views and history, the day trip Sintra offers is definitely a visit we recommend while in Lisbon.

In this post, you will find everything about Sintra from how to get to Sintra and how to get around Sintra to our complete itinerary suggestion and additional unique things to do in Sintra.

***Some of the links in this post are affiliate links meaning we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not change the fact that we only recommend products, stays, activities and attractions we are satisfied with and all opinions expressed here are our own.

About this Sintra Day Trip itinerary

This one day Sintra itinerary is designed for couples who are looking to have a fun and global visit of Sintra without breaking the bank.

Sintra day trips from Lisbon are popular but one day is quite short to see absolutely everything. This itinerary includes the main landmarks that anyone visiting Sintra should see and couldn’t see anywhere else. 

It is perfect for couples spending a few days in Lisbon and looking at exploring a bit more of the countryside.

The pace of this itinerary is medium so you won’t have to run from one thing to another and you will be able to really enjoy the town. There is a bit of walking involved but you won’t have to walk for hours. 

This itinerary is built for couples who have to work within a certain budget. For example, you don’t have to rent a car to follow this itinerary. 

Sintra Questions and Answers

How to do Sintra in a day? There are different ways you can visit Sintra. Below, we have listed our one day itinerary which covers the main landmarks of Sintra.

Is Sintra a day trip from Lisbon? Yes, Sintra is an easy (and popular) day trip you can do from Lisbon. Below, you will find all the information on how to get to Sintra, what to do in Sintra and what budget you need. 

How to spend a day in Sintra? There are lots to do in Sintra, from visiting the main landmarks such as the castles, Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and the town. You can also pair Sintra with another town like Cascais for the day. 

What things make Lisbon worth it to visit? Lisbon is worth visiting for the history and its resemble with San Francisco. From the tramway to the hills and the red suspension bridge, Lisbon is lovely for couples who are looking for a sunny getaway. Lisbon is also close to a lot of interesting towns like Sintra. 

Why is Sintra a good destinations for couples?

Lisbon is a popular destinations among couples. The city is located in the south of Portugal and provides sun, and warmer temperatures all year round. It is perfect for couples who are looking for a sunny weekend break, want to go to romantic restaurants and stay at lovely hotels with romantic views.

Sintra is located only 25km from Lisbon and offers lots of things to do for couples. From historical sites and castles to romantic views on the sea and the country, the Lisbon Sintra day trip is a popular romantic getaway among tourists and locals. Driving from Lisbon to Sintra takes about one hour so we recommend bringing some romantic road trip games to pass time!

Sintra is a great place to play queen and king and experience new and unique adventures together. 

How long should you stay in Sintra? 

“How many days in Sintra” is a common question and for good reasons. Although hopping on a Sintra day tour from Lisbon is popular, it is worth asking yourself how long it takes to really visit Sintra. There are lots of things to do in the town and Sintra is home to some of the most famous landmarks in Portugal ! After we visited Sintra in one day, we would say that how long you should stay really depends on how much time you have and how well you want to know Sintra.  

Visiting Sintra in half a day

If you don’t have much time while in Lisbon, a Sintra half day might still be worth it if you leave early in the morning. You will need to choose what to visit though. If you only have a half day in Sintra, we would recommend either visiting the Pena Palace or Quinta da Regaleira. you might have time for both depending on how early you arrive. 

If you would prefer to hop on a guided tour, we recommend this half day in Sintra or this Sintra half day tour. 

Visiting Sintra in one day

This is what we did and we thought that was the perfect balance. If you have 3 or 4 days in Lisbon, spending one day in Sintra is a good option. In one day, you will have enough time to visit some of the main landmarks, see some of the others and walk around the town. You won’t have time to visit every single thing in Sintra, but you will get a good taste of this uniquely built town.

If you would prefer to hop on a tour, this day tour Sintra is well rated.

Visiting Sintra in two or more days

If you want to have time to visit everything in Sintra, you will most likely need to stay overnight. Two days seems reasonable although you could do with three days in Sintra if you really want to immerse yourself in the town and take your time during visits (e.g.: read everything, etc). We would not recommend staying more than two or three days as you would have seen everything then and it might become a bit boring. 

There are a few places that you could stay at in Sintra:

• Quinta Das Murtas: This 19th Century manor house will have you immersed in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park and the history of the town.
• Glamping in Sintra: Are you looking to stay at a unique accommodation while in Sintra? Then why not stay at these clamping pods? This is a unique experience that will complement your day trip to Sintra. 
• Casa do Valle: Located in the heart of Sintra next to Quinta da Regaleira, Casa do Valle is a romantic gem with beautiful views, comfortable large rooms and a large outdoor pool.
• Charm Inn Sintra: This is a lovely guest house located in the heart of Sintra with a pool and a great breakfast.

In this post, we share with you our Sintra 1 day itinerary as it is what we did and worked well for us. If you plan on staying longer in Sintra, you can easily build on our one day Sintra itinerary with additional visits and activities. 

Budget for a Sintra day trip

This Lisbon day trip to Sintra itinerary would not be complete without some information on the budget needed. In our experience, a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon will cost about €50 to €100 per person depending on your style of travel. 

Visits in Sintra usually cost between €10 and €20. Transportation to get to Sintra and to go around Sintra (including a Sintra day ticket for the bus) costs very little, and ours cost about €20 maximum for the whole day per person (that includes the guided tuktuk tour as explained below). Food was really cheap too. A full guided tour from Lisbon will also be in that range of price.

All together, if you are a budget traveller or trying to save money to travel more (aka stretch your budget), heading to Sintra is a great option! 

Sintra day trip from Lisbon: About Sintra town

Sintra day trips are popular and for good reasons! Sintra is a small and old town in Portugal, located about 25km in the West of Lisbon. Its name Sintra comes from the medieval word Suntria which means “sun” or “bright star”. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and is probably unlike any other town you’ve visited before.

In Sintra, you will find about a dozen castles and palaces (all very different and unique looking)  to visit along with a quaint town centre. The town is rich in history and a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra is usually a must for anyone coming to Lisbon. 

On top of the history, you will love discovering the food of Sintra and engaging with the friendly locals. 

How to get to Sintra

Visiting Sintra in one day from Lisbon is really easy. In this section, we set out the different ways to get to Sintra, and which ones we recommend. 

Sintra is located only 25 km from Lisbon and is accessible by car, train or by a Sintra day trip tour. 

A Sintra one day visit by car

Right away, we do not recommend visiting Sintra by car. Although you might have rented a car to visit more of portugal and might find it more comfortable, it’s actually not very convenient for Sintra. 

Sintra has very limited parking spaces and the town also has narrow streets. Some roads, including the one to Pena Palace, are also closed to non-residents during peak season. It’s not the easiest town to navigate by car and honestly, it’s not necessary either. 

We would only recommend visiting Sintra by car if you have difficulties walking. 

If you do decide to drive to Sintra, you will need to drive on the Avenida 24 de Julho, and then hop on Highway 37 (A37) to Sintra. There is limited parking at the Pena Palace, and Quinta de Regaleira. There is a car park by Sintra train station and one locate da couple of streets behind the National Palace of Sintra. 

Lisbon to Sintra day trip by train

The easiest way to reach Sintra from Lisbon is by train. This is what we did and it was super smooth and easy even though we don’t speak Portuguese. Trains to Sintra depart from both Rossio train station and Oriente train station. Depending on when you visit, there can be up to 3 trains per hour and the journey lasts about 45 minutes. 

The Rossio-Sintra route is usually the most popular as the Rossio station departs from Lisbon’s historical centre, just next to Rossio Square and the Santa Justa Elevator. The Oriente-Sintra route is most used by visitors who want to go to Sintra straight from the airport as the station is closer to the airport. The Oriente train station is much bigger than Rossio train station but is easy to navigate. 

The trains to Sintra are clean and modern. There is no food served on board though so make sure you bring snacks and water with you if you know you will be hungry.

Our experience: We went to Sintra through the Rossio-Sintra route as we were staying in the city centre. We grabbed tickets at the machine in 5 minutes and didn’t have to wait in line. We started our day at around 10am and visited in February. You can expect longer queues in the summer. Rossio station is relatively small and easy to navigate. There are big signs indicating the next trains with the destination and time. 

Insider Tip: Once we got on the train in Lisbon, we realised that everyone else had had the same idea as us! Sintra is very popular end therefore, you will most likely not be alone going on a day trip Sintra from Lisbon. In the off-season, it is manageable and although it will feel touristy it won’t feel overcrowded. However, in the summer, which is peak season, we recommend that you start your day early to avoid the crowds and enjoy your day to the fullest. To keep yourself occupied on the train, don’t forget to bring some couples questions with you or play one of our favorite couples road trip games.

Budget: Return tickets to Sintra from Lisbon cost about €5 per person. You can also use the Sintra one day pass to be well prepared. 

Sintra Day Tours

If you would prefer booking a Sintra full day tour, there are quite a few options that depart from Lisbon. Sintra tours are usually by tourist bus or minivan. One of the perks of booking a Sintra day pass with a tour is that you won’t need to handle any of the logistics and can just relax and enjoy your trip. 

We recommend the following tour of Sintra tickets:

• Sintra Highlights full day tour 
• Sintra, Quinta Da Regaleira and Pena Palace Guided Tour 

Where to stay for a Sintra Day trip 

If you plan to only visit Sintra in a day, then we would recommend staying in Lisbon so you can make the most of your time here. For easy access to Sintra, we recommend staying in the historical centre of Lisbon which is where you will find Rossio station. You can also stay near to Oriente station. Following are a few suggestions of great places to stay at in Lisbon:

• Beautiful and boutique Casa Balthazar: Located near Rossio station, this is where we stayed for our anniversary and we loved it. The hotel has an outdoor heated pool and our room had a large terrace with a hot tub and views on the city and the castle! 
• Heritage Avenida Liberdade: In the heart of Lisbon, this traditional building was renovated and welcomes you in a lovely interior. The hotel also has a nice indoor pool. 
• Hotel Hotel: Located near the St Georges’ castle, this hotel’s design is modern and offers a pool and modern rooms. 
• Hotel Pateo – Lisbon Lounge Suites: These suites and modern apartments are romantic and comfortable. The hotel is centrally located and the hotel has an outdoor pool. 
• Eurostars Universal Lisboa: Located near the Oriente station, this modern, comfortable and luxurious offers lovely rooms and a swimming pool on the rooftop! 

How to get around Sintra town

If you are anything like us decide to take a day trip Lisbon to Sintra without really thinking about it, you might get a bit overwhelmed when arriving at Sintra train station. 

One thing to know about Sintra is that the castles are quite spread out and can take up to 45 minutes of walking to get to. Visits are not concentrated in the town so it is best to be a bit organized. If you are staying one day in Sintra and don’t have a car, you will need to rely on other transportations. 

When you arrive at Sintra train station, you will have several options to get around which we have set out below. 

Sintra by Uber 

You will find Ubers right in front of Sintra train station. They can take you to the town and any of the castles or museums of Sintra. The journey costs about €10 to go to one of the landmarks.

Sintra by Tuk Tuk

Tuktuks are very common and popular in Lisbon and Sintra. Tuktuks are carriages with a small engine that are mainly open. Sometimes, if it’s too windy, tuktuks will have soft windows that can be zipped up. Beyond the fact that tuktuks take you from point A to B, they are also very fun and an experience in themselves. 

When we arrived at Sintra train station, we decided to hop on a tuktuk with our driver Mario. Our fist stop was Pena Palace but Mario turned the journey into a guided tour. He stopped us several times on our way to Pena Palace so we could see the different monuments and points of interests. Mario told us about the history of each landmark and he also offered to take photos of us.

As you can see, the tuktuk ride was more than just a ride: it was more of a guided tour which we loved! The tour lasted about 50 minutes.

Because we were visiting Sintra in a day, we knew that we wouldn’t have time to visit every landmark and castle in Sintra. The tuktuk tour showed us and taught us about places that we wouldn’t have seen otherwise (by taking a uber for example) so we are really happy we went with that option. 

Insider Tip: As tuktuks are mainly open, it can get a bit chilly especially with the wind and once you ge tup the mountain. We would recommend bringing a light jacket when visiting off season. 

Budget: €10 per person

Walking around Sintra

Sintra itself is a walkable town but honestly it might be a bit much to walk to every point of interest, especially when a lot of those paths are uphill. The castles in Sintra are quite spread out so it takes at least 30 minutes to go from one to another and 45 minutes to go from Pena Palace to the train station. There are lots of paths and few cars so it is safe to walk around. 

We decided against only walking as we only had one day in Sintra. 

One day in Sintra itinerary by bus

There are several buses that can take you around Sintra. 

Bus 434

The most popular bus is the 434 tourist bus. This one is also called the Pena Line. From Sintra train station, the 434 tourist bus takes you to the Castle of Mouros, the Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. It takes about 15 minutes to arrive at the Castle of Mouros. One thing to know about this bus line is that it is a single loop. So you will need to stop at the different castles in order. If you miss the stop to Castle of Mouros, then you will need a new ticket to go on a new loop. 

Budget: €6,90 per ticket (single loop)

Bus 435 (4 palaces line)

Bus 435 is a hop on hop off loop that takes you to the National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Palacio de Seteais and Palacio de Monserrate. Just like bus 434, you can only hop on and hop off one way until you’ve completed the route. The bus also departs from the train station, every 20 minutes between 9:30am and 7:50pm (or 6:10 pm in the off season).

Budget: about €5 per ticket

Best time of the year for a day trip to Sintra, Portugal

As you may imagine, there are pros and cons to everything and it’s no different when it comes to the best time to visit Sintra in one day. We have listed them below.

Peak Season

Peak season in Portugal would be from June to August with the shoulder season being April-May and September-October. The biggest con for visiting Sintra is the summer is that it is a busy time and the most touristy time of the year. The town becomes quite crowded with lines forming for everything. 

The pros are that summer in Sintra means really good weather, lots of sunshine and hot temperatures. 

If you decide to spend 1 day in Sintra in the summer, we would recommend avoiding weekends. Weekends are when locals also head to Sintra in addition to tourists so everything is even busier. The best day to visit Sintra in the summer would be during the week.

In any case, we recommend starting your day early and before 9am if possible. 

Off Season 

We experienced Sintra off season and loved it. When we went in February, the weather was mild and we only needed a light jacket and small scarf. We got lots of sun and no rain. The off season in Portugal is ,for sure, a lot more mild than in Ireland, where we live as expats! Of course, the weather is not as warm as in the summer but it’s still very much enjoyable for that time of the year.

A day trip to Sintra in the off season is very enjoyable as everything is open just like during the summer. You will be able to visit every landmark without waiting in lines (or by barely waiting in lines), and feeling cramped up like sardines.

Sintra Day Trip itinerary

We know that you might be wondering about what to do in Sintra for a day and what to see in Sintra in one day. In this day trip to Sintra itinerary, we share with you our own Sintra itinerary that ended working out well for us and allowed us to see most of the main landmarks of Sintra. 

As a warning, it is unlikely that you will be able to visit every single castle and museum in Sintra in just one day. A day trip to Sintra goes by fast so naturally we didn’t have time to visit everything. However, our itinerary allows you to visit the most unique palaces and mansions there is to see in Sintra while still seeing and learning about some of the other major landmarks there, giving you a great picture of the town. 

For information, we left our hotel at 9:30am and arrived at Sintra train station at 10:30am.

1. Take the train to Sintra

The first step in our itinerary is to hop on the train in Lisbon. We recommend departing from Rossio station as it is located in the historical centre, is small and easy to navigate. When entering the station, you will easily find machines to buy tickets or you can also buy tickets at the office. 

The train journey is about 45 minutes and takes you across areas of the Greater Lisbon. When approaching Sintra, there are two stations with the word “Sintra” in them. The first one “Portela de Sintra” is not the right station. The correct station that you should get off at is just called “Sintra” and is the last one on the line. 

A return ticket costs about €5 per person.

2. Tuktuk to Pena Palace

When arriving at Sintra train station, we recommend taking a tuktuk to Pena Palace. As we explained above, you can also take a Uber or a bus. However, these are just transporting you from point A to B. Tuktuk drivers provide a guided tour and historical facts about the different landmarks you will encounter on your way to Pena Palace, which we really loved.

As we knew we wouldn’t have time to visit everything in just one day in Sintra, we appreciated learning about other major historical landmarks in the town. Mario, our driver, told us and showed us more about the following:

• Sintra National Palace “Palacio Nacional”: our driver explained both the history and architecture of the palace
• Chalet Biester: this house was used Roman Polanski’s movie “The Ninth Gate” released in 1999 and starring amazingly talented Johnny Depp

• Unique views on Pena Palace: our driver stopped several times and showed us the palace and offered to take photos of us with the palace
• While driving, Mario told us more about the history of Portugal and how Sintra came together. 
• On top of that, the tuktuk tour is also an experience in itself and very fun!

This tuktuk ride cost €10 per person and was a lot of fun! 

3. Pena Palace

Your tuktuk ride ends once you arrive to Pena Palace. We have read comments on Pena Palace saying that the palace is not worth it and we are SO shocked! 

History of Pena Palace in Sintra

Pena Palace is one of the most unique and surprising palace we have ever seen and looks nothing like any medieval or French Loire castles you would have visited before. To be honest, Pena Palace is a little bit of a castle that seems to have been taken straight out of a Disney movie! 

The palace used to be a monastery during the Middle-Ages. In the 1800s, the King of Portugal decided he needed a bit more room (don’t we all though) and expanded the castle to turn it into his summer residence. So Pena Palace was essentially the King’s vacation home. In 1910, it became a national monument and a museum.

What to do at Pena Palace

There is a lot to do at Pena Palace. The palace is furnished and it is possible to visit the rooms. The most interesting part in our opinion is the terraces, and the outdoors of the castle which is where you really can see the unique styles of architecture, the bright colours, the towers, the blue tiles and sculptures. The palace is located on top of the mountain in the centre of a large park with gardens, ponds, forests and paths. 

From the walls of the palace, you get unbelievable views on the country but also on the Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros). 

Tickets to Pena Palace

There are two types of tickets you can purchase:

• Tickets for the park and the terraces: These are the tickets that we purchased. They give you access to the gardens and to the terraces of the castle. The only part that you don’t have access to is the rooms of the castle. But you do have access to the towers, the inside courtyard and everything outside the rooms. We really recommend those tickets if you are visiting Sintra for one day as they are cheaper and get you to see everything that is worth seeing. We have read that the rooms are really nice but if you have visited castles before, you won’t be missing out. 

Budget: €7,50 per person

• Tickets for the parks, terraces and the rooms. These tickets provide you with access to the grounds, the terraces and the rooms

Budget: €14 per person

We spent about 2 hours on site just exploring the terraces. 

Insider tip: We would recommend purchasing your tickets online before arriving in Sintra. You can skip the line by purchasing tickets here. There are both tickets machines and desks at the entrance of Pena Palace but there was a bit of a line when we visited in February so we can only imagine in the summer! There is also a QR code to book tickets online right from the palace but the internet wasn’t working there for us. 

4. Lunch at Pena Palace

Once at Pena Palace, there are limited options to get lunch. The summer might be different but in February, our only option up there was to go to Pena Palace café. There we found sandwiches, chips and water. There was also ice cream and coffee among other snacks. 

Alternatively, there are a couple of cafés halfway up to Pena Palace but that would imply to go back down the hill before your next visit. It is really up to you and the time that you have on the day. 

5. Tuktuk to Quinta Da Regaleira

Aside from Pena Palace, we really wanted to visit Quinta Da Regaleira. From Pena Palace, you can take a tuktuk or minivans to Quinta Da Regaleira. We chose to go with a minivan. Because of how the roads are set out, tuktuks and minivans will drop you off 15 minutes away (walking) from Quinta Da Regaleira so they can drive back to Pena Palace without having to go around the whole town again. 

During our ride, the driver was accompanied by a guide who explained everything to us about the history behind Quinta Da Regaleira and the Initiation Well. We learned about the secret society and that was very interesting. 

Budget: €5 total. 

6. Quinta Da Regaleira, a gothic mansion transporting you to the Jungle Book

Once we got dropped off, we walked about 15 minutes to Quinta Da Regaleira. The road was mostly flat so it was easy. 

About Quinta Da Regaleira

Quinta Da Regaleira is in our opinion an absolute must see on a Sintra Portugal day trip, compared to some of the other castles. For example, you can find medieval castles like Castelo dos Mouros in a lot of European cities. However, Quinta Da Regaleira is very unique and we have never seen anything like it in Europe. 

Designed in the 1900s, Quinta Da Regaleira is very different from Mouros Castle and Pena Palace. The site is really big and you could honestly spend a whole day here.

There are lots to do at Quinta Da Regaleira. The main landmarks are the gothic mansion which looks like it was taken straight out of the Jungle Book, and the Initiation Well. There are also a few gothic buildings, caves, ponds, and lush gardens making the whole site look like you have just been transported to Bali. 

Tickets to Quinta Da Regaleira

When you buy tickets, you are given a map which is very helpful. It is important to note that you cannot purchase tickets solely for the Initiation Well and separately from the Quinta Da Regaleira. They both come on one ticket. 

Budget: €18 per person 

7. Walk back to Sintra Town Centre

After visiting Quinta Da Regaleira, we would recommend walking back to the town centre where you can have a drink or a grab a bite. The walk back isn’t very long and is all downhill. 

8. Sintra Town Centre

In Sintra Town Centre, you can have grab a snack or a drink at a local café. There are also several small shops where you can buy souvenirs. the atmosphere there is really nice so it’s a nice place to kind of wander around and appreciate the place. You will also most likely come across some live music. 

9. Train back to Lisbon to end your Sintra Lisbon day trip

Head back to Sintra train station for the next train back to Lisbon. At the end of the day, the train might get busier. You can check the train schedule here. 

Unique things to do in Sintra

While in Sintra, what to do in a day that’s a bit unique? Well, there are quite a number of Sintra day tour that you can do in Sintra that are a bit different from the usual touristy historical visits. Have a look at the following and see if any of them tempt you:

Visit Sintra aboard a Tesla

You can spend a half day or a full day visiting Sintra aboard a Tesla from Lisbon. Teslas are quite fun to ride on so if this is something you’ve always wanted to try out, here’s your chance! 

7 hour Sintra Jeep Tour

This tour will take you around Sintra and its main highlights in a Portuguese Jeep. You’ll feel a sense of adventure while seeing the town like no-one else! 

Hop on a Jeep Safari

From seeing the main highlights of Sintra to visiting Cascais and Cabo da Roca and having tapas on the beach, this tour is a unique way to visit the Sintra area.  

Sintra Hidden gems

Discover Sintra’s hidden gems with this tour which includes Portuguese pastries.

Other things to do in Sintra: what to do in a day

A day trip from Lisbon to Sintra goes by really fast so naturally we didn’t have time to visit everything. in this section, we have included some of the other things to do in Sintra. Some of these are included in our itinerary as we have seen them but you can also visit them. 

National Palace

The National Palace is recognisable kilometres aways by its unique mix of architecture styles. Inside you will find the famous blue tile living room and the painted Swan room. Just like for the other visits, we recommend purchasing tickets to the National Palace online. You can spend  about 2 hours there.

Budget: €9,50 per adult

Castelo dos Mouros

Also called Moorish Castle, Mouros Castle of Castle of the Moors, this castle is essentially just walls dated back from the 8th Century and rebuilt many times. You can visit the walls and the towers. It is located a short walk from Pena Palace. You will need to go back to the main entrance of Pena Palace and head to Estrada Da Pena North and then up to the Moorish Castle.

Budget: €8 per adult

Grab a café or Tosta Mista in the town centre

Portuguese are known for their lovely cafés and Tosta Mista sandwiches. Sintra’s town centre is perfect to grab one of those and immerse yourself in the local life. 

Conveto dos Capuchos – the Convent of the Capuchos

The Convent of the Capuchos was first built in 1560 by the King of Portugal  and used to be a place of worship and pilgrimage. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. The convent is an interesting visit as it mixes the human construction with granite boulders and lots of vegetation. 

Budget: €7 per adult, €6,65 if you purchase tickets online.

Donkey Reserve

The Donkey Reserve is located right by the Capuchos Convent. Its purpose is to maintain and value donkeys while raising awareness about them. 

Budget: included in the Capuchos Convent ticket

Palacio de Monserrate 

If you are looking for a bit of Morocco in Sintra, you’ll find it in the Monserrate Palace. The construction follows the codes of Arabian design in an English garden. Often overlooked by visitors, it is quite a unique visit.

Budget: €8 per adult

Sintra tour from Lisbon: Where to eat in Sintra

Although the answer to “what to do in Sintra in one day” usually includes visiting castles and monuments, we cannot forget about trying out some delicious food in this charming town! In this section of our Sintra one day itinerary, we have included three food options in Sintra:

• Pena Palace café: this is a very small café which also offers a terrace and is located on the Pena Palace terraces. Here you will find mainly snack foods like sandwiches and chips. This is where we had lunch during our one day in Sintra, mainly because it was convenient and we didn’t want to waste time looking for something else. This is also one of the only options for food at Pena Palace. 
• Casa Piriquita: Located in the town centre, Case Piriquita is known for serving delicious empanadas. This is a greta option if you want to spend some time chilling in the town.
• Sopa d’Avó: Located in the town centre, Sopa d’Avó serves traditional cuisine and vegetarian dishes. We have heard great things about this restaurant!

Day trips from Sintra Portugal

There are two main day trips you can take from Sintra if you are looking for some more adventures! 

Cascais

Cascais is only 17km away from Sintra and is easily accessible by bus (direct route). It is possible to train to Cascais but the route goes through Lisbon which is impractical. Cascais is a coastal town with sandy beaches, a historic centre, restaurants and museums. 

Cabo da Roca

Cabo da Roca and its lighthouse are known as the most Western point in Europe. You can reach Cabo da Roca from Sintra by taking Bus 403 at Sintra train station. The journey costs around €3. 

Tours to Sintra, Cascais and Cabo da Roca

There are lots of tours that can take you to Sintra and Cascais, Sintra and Cabo da Roca, or all three: 

• This day tour takes you to Sintra, Cascais and Cabo da Roca with a small group (from Lisbon)
• This day tour takes you to Sintra, Cascais and Cabo da Roca (from Lisbon)
• This day tour as well with a slightly different itinerary
• This one includes a visit to Quinta da Regaleira
• This Countryside Gastronomic Tour in a Vintage Car offers a different perspective on visiting the Sintra area. 

Sintra Day Trip Essentials

• Good walking shoes: On a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon, it is likely that you will need to walk at least a little bit. We would recommend wearing shoes that you are comfortable in and in which you can walk at least a few kilometres. 
• A jacket and scarf for the winter: Although winter in Sintra is mild, temperatures can become a bit chilly when going to the top of the mountains or even when going to Cascais and the coast. Bringing a jacket and a scarf will come in handy for sure. 
• A reusable water bottle: We always recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to avoid plastic waste. On top of that, summer in Sintra is really hot and there isn’t always a lot of shade on the walks so you will be happy to have some water with you. 

Any questions on a Sintra day trip? Drop them in the comments or on insta and we will get back to you asap.