A day trip to Sintra: 9 Unforgettable Places to Visit

If you find yourself in Lisbon, the day trip to Sintra is one of the must-have things to do! Sintra has stunning palaces, ruins of a castle and other beautiful buildings, all located in the magnificent setting of the Serra de Sintra National Park which resulted in the classification of the town and its historic passage as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here is a post with what you need to see, how to get there, where to eat… Hope you like it!

How to get there

The best way to get to Sintra is by train, and there are two train services which depart from Lisbon. The majority of visitors depart from Rossio station as it is close to the popular tourist areas, while the Estação do Oriente station is better for visitors traveling to/from the airport.

Palácio da Pena

First of all, if you want to visit Palácio da Pena, don’t be scared by the morning fog. It usually disappears around noon. Last time we went there, it was foggy but it quickly disappeared as you can see in the photos.
Palácio da Pena is a Romanticist Palace. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. The palace was purchased by Portuguese State in 1889, and after the Republican Revolution in 1910, the complex was declared as a national monument and was turned into a museum.

It looks straight out of a fairy tale. It can’t be said that the styles exactly blend seamlessly (because they don’t at all) but they sure do produce a “wow” factor. The bright exterior colors were restored in the 1990s and are the original colors.
If you love photography like me, you’ll never want to leave. Palácio da Pena is beautiful and you can find so many different perspectives and angles you can play with. Be creative and don’t be afraid to try new things.

At a minimum, it takes 40 minutes to view all of the staterooms, 30 minutes to admire the terraces, and 15 minutes to walk from the ticket office to the palace entrance. This time could be easily doubled to either enjoy the visit, or to take the perfect Instagram photo.

Palácio de Queluz

Palácio de Queluz was the royal residence for Queen D. Maria I and her husband Dom Pedro III. It’s one of the last great Rococo buildings to be designed in Europe. The gardens are so pretty. When I went to Queluz Palace, I saw less than 10 people there which means that it’s a great place to visit and keep the proper social distance. There is a place called Canal de Azulejos and it’s the largest open-air tile surface produced in the second half of the 18th century. The internal walls of the canal, the arch and even the stairs are covered with tiles.

6 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN SINTRA

Palácio de Monserrate

The Palace combines gothic and indian influences, as well as moorish suggestions, with exotic and vegetable motifs that extend harmoniously to the outside. The gardens received species from all corners of the world.

Quinta da Regaleira

Classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and built at the turn of the 20th century, Quinta da Regaleira consists of a palace, a chapel and beautiful gardens.

Castelo dos Mouros

Castelo dos Mouros is a military fortification and a proof of the Islamic presence in the region. It was probably built between the 8th and 9th centuries. Overlooking the town of Sintra, it served as a watchtower.

Sintra National Palace

The National Palace of Sintra was the summer home of Portuguese royalty, thanks to the town’s more pleasant climate.

Old town of Sintra

Although Sintra is relatively small, it has many buildings and remains from different eras and cultural movements. It’s a great place to walk around, with lots of things to do, whether it is eating, shopping or visiting the historical sites. 

Try the famous Queijada and Travesseiro de Sintra

Queijada de Sintra is one of the most traditional and emblematic Portuguese pastries, rooted in the origins of conventual pastries and Travesseiros de Sintra are famed worldwide. Your visit to this romantic village isn’t complete without tasting one of these delights.

Where to eat

After visiting Palácio da Pena, we stopped at Café Saudade to eat. The food is absolutely delicious. The decor is beautiful, as you can see, and the staff is very friendly. If you’re looking for a great place to eat in Sintra, you have to go to Café Saudade.

I hope you liked it and found it useful! Feel free to check my Dubai City Guide and my Paris City Guide.

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