When we booked our tickets to Lisbon, Portugal, I immediately started planning our day trip to Sintra. Who could resist this enchanting city with its fusion of cultures and deep rooted history? Once a summer retreat for royalty and aristocrats, Sintra has gained popularity over the years. It’s no wonder the cultural landscape of Sintra has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

My husband and I set a day aside and had a wonderful time in this magical town. We did our own little tour viewing historical sites, palaces, and castles surrounded by breathtaking scenery. If you are traveling to Lisbon, a day trip to Sintra is a must. See how we pulled off our day trip and feel free to use our experience to plan your own day trip to Sintra!

Getting There

Car/Uber

We decided to take an Uber from our hotel in Lisbon to Sintra. It was an easy, 30-minute drive. As expected it was not the cheapest option, but we figured it was best the best way to get there quickly and make the most of the day.

Train

Another option is taking the train. We thought that this would take too long, which is why we took the Uber. We were wrong because the train ride is only 40 minutes. Luckily for us, we ended up taking the train back to Lisbon and realized how quick and easy it was.

There is a direct train from Rossio station (Lisboa-Rossio) to the Sintra station (and back). We only needed a one-way ticket for our return trip, but if you are taking the train from Lisbon, it is best to purchase a round-trip ticket (4.50 euros). Make sure you check train times and ticket prices beforehand.

Bus 434

Bus 434 is the best way to get around and see the major sights in Sintra. More on this below.

I personally wouldn’t bother to drive in Sintra.

Where to Eat

Recommended restaurants in Sintra include: Cafe Saudade, Nau Palatina, Incomum Restaurant, Curral dos Caprinos.

Where to Go and What to See

There were quite a few sights that I really wanted to see (some more than others). However, if you are doing a day trip to Sintra, you have to pace yourself to make it an enjoyable experience. We selected our top three sights, two of which included iconic landmarks – the Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors. However, one place in particular was at the top of my list … the main sight that drew me to Sintra from the beginning – the Quinta da Regaleira.

1. Quinta da Regaleira

Our experience at Quinta da Regaleira was by far our favorite in Sintra. There is a certain mystery to this place that I can’t explain.

The Quinta da Regaleira was our first stop so the Uber conveniently dropped us by the entrance. Perfectly planned because the Bus 434 does not stop at the Quinta da Regaleira. If you are taking the train from Lisbon to Sintra don’t worry, you will learn how to get to Quinta da Regaleira from the station later on in this post.

Quinta da Regaleira opens at 9:30 a.m. The entry fee is 6 euros for regular admission (4 euros for children and seniors), but you can pay an additional 4 euros for a guided tour. We like to do our own thing and go at our own pace, so we opted for the regular admission.

The Park/Garden

We started out by taking a walk in the park and exploring the entire property. This took a while and we enjoyed every minute of it!

Make sure you take the time to stroll through the garden. It is absolutely beautiful.

The rest of the property is just as stunning. The lake and winding pathways give a calming sense of serenity.

The history of Quinta da Regaleira is as fascinating as the place itself. This property dates all the way back to the 17th Century and had many owners over the years. In 1892, Carvalho Monteiro purchased the estate and hired Luigi Manini to design and build the extravagant layout with different structures. These structures contain symbols that represent various orders such as the Knights Templar, Free Masons, and Rosicrucians.

The Initiation Well (large)

My favorite structure is the large Initiation Well. There are actually two wells on the property, the smaller is known as the Unfinished Well. The larger well has an 88 foot spiral staircase that goes all the way down into the ground. Think of it as an inverted tower. I made my husband trek all the way to the rear of the property just to find this well. But he agreed, it was well worth the walk. Check out our view from the top.

Now check out our view from the bottom.

Yes, that’s right. You can walk all the way down that 88 foot staircase to the very bottom of the well. It was quite a descent, but it was pretty cool. We took several photos of ourselves with this view of the tunnel in the background.

By the way, that stairway is full of masonic symbols (and other symbols from various mystic beliefs and orders). Why? Because the wells were not used as wells at all. They were used for ceremonies and initiation rites.

The mystery of this Initiation Well doesn’t end there. It is connected to the smaller Unfinished Well by a tunnel. In fact, there is an underground network of tunnels that connect to certain structures at various entry/exit points, including the Chapel and the Waterfall Lake.

The Waterfall Lake is at the exit point of an underground tunnel below the large well. This enchanting lake greets you as you approach the exit.

If you veer right, you can go through a shorter tunnel and get to another exit point. This brings you to a set of stepping stones that allow you to walk across the lake.

Make sure you get someone to take a photo of you and try not to fall in (in case you are wondering, that’s green algae on top of the lake).

Palacio da Regaleira (The Palace)

The Palace is a definite must-see. It has Gothic-style architecture and consists of elaborate rooms with lavish decor displaying several masonic and templar influences. The Palace has 5 floors and several hallways, as well as a balcony and a terrace that overlooks the entire property.

The Chapel

There is an old Roman Catholic Chapel in front of the Palace. The Chapel has the typical Roman Catholic decor, consisting of frescoes, stained glass windows, and depictions of Christ, angels, and saints.

However, look a little closer and you will see symbols that represent the Free Masons.

What fascinated me about the chapel is that it appeared to be so small, yet had different levels. There is a spiral staircase that goes up into a cellar and down into a basement. The chapel is also linked to an underground tunnel.

Other structures include the Threshold of the gods, The Ibis Fountain, and the Portal of the Guardians.

Quinta da Regaleira was by far our favorite experience in Sintra. If you have to choose one place to visit in Sintra, this is the one. Many people will probably tell you Pena Palace is the place to see, but I promise you, Quinta da Regaleira is the better option. Maybe it’s the cool, random structures throughout the estate; or its enchanting lakes and garden; or maybe its deep, mysterious history and connection with different mystic cultures and orders. I say it’s all of the above. One thing is for sure, Quinta da Regaleira is an experience of a lifetime.

We spent most of our time at Quinta da Regaleira and then took a cool, easy walk down the hill to the nearest Bus 434 stop (roughly 10 minutes). We got to see more of the town once we came off the hill  and walked towards the stop. You could take some time here and explore this part of Sintra before catching the next 434 Bus. This would also be a good time to grab some lunch while in the town.

2. Castelo dos Mouros (The Castle of the Moors)

Our next stop was the magnificent Castle of the Moors. The Castle was built by the Moors during the period of Islamic rule of the Iberian Peninsula. Situated in a strategic location and military vantage point, the Castle served as a watchtower of the Atlantic Coast and the northern territories. The Castle was taken by Christian forces after the siege of Lisbon in 1147 during the 2nd Crusade.

The entrance fee for the Castle is 8 euros (adults) and 6.50 euros (children/seniors). However, you can walk all the way up to the castle without paying an entrance fee (you just won’t be able to enter the castle).

There are a few stopping points along the way where you can learn more about the history of the Castle. Plus you get to take in lovely views of the vast landscape below as you walk up the hill. Brace yourself, it is a steep walk but who can resist such a powerful landmark?

3. Palacio de Pena (Pena Palace)

Our next stop was the Pena Palace. Once used as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family, the Pena Palace is now a popular tourist attraction. This multicolored Palace overlooks the town from the summit of Serra de Sintra (mountain of Sintra) and is surrounded by the lush Pena Park.

The architecture of this elaborate structure reflects Moorish, Gothic, and Manueline Portuguese influences. There are several unique features and details throughout the Palace.

You can also enjoy lovely views of Sintra from various points.

It is definitely worth going in to see the Palace. The entry fee is 14 euros (12.50 euros for children/seniors and 49 euros for the entire family). However, since we had limited time, we opted for the cheaper option (7.50 euros), which gave us access to the palace terraces and the park. We were not allowed in the interior of the palace with this ticket option.

This worked out fine for us as the palace is huge and there was no way we were going to cover the palace in its entirety with the time we had. However, we saw and learned so much regardless. I recommend the cheaper option if you are doing a day trip.

The Pena Palace was our second favorite site in Sintra so we spent a good deal of time here before catching the bus back to the station. Keep in mind, the Pena Palace is a popular site and the crowds tend to be large, especially during the summer.

Once we were finished seeing the Pena Palace, we decided to head back to Lisbon. The 434 bus took us to the Sintra station where we purchased our one-way tickets to Lisbon (2.50 euros).

Quinta da Regaleira, The Castle of the Moors, and the Pena Palace are definite must-see sights in Sintra and we managed to visit each of them in one day. However, there are other sights to see in Sintra and you can tailor your day trip according to your preferences.

Other sights include: the Palacio Nacional (National Palace), Palacio de Monserrate (Monserrate Palace), Azenhas do Mar, and Convent of the Capuchos. The number of places you visit depend on how much time you have in the day, so start early! Or stay overnight and make it a 2 or 3 day trip!

Getting Around in Sintra – Bus 434

Bus 434 made visiting our selected landmarks in Sintra so easy. You pay 6.90 euros for a ticket, which allows access to the hop-on hop-off bus. Bus 434 travels in a one-directional loop and stops at various sights (every 15 minutes). This was great because we could spend as much time as we wanted at each location, then hop right on the next bus that came along. The first bus leaves the Sintra station at 9:15 a.m. and the last at 7:50 p.m. Stops include: the Sintra station, the Pena Palace, and The Castle of the Moors, as well as Sintra Vila and Sao Pedro de Sintra.

One downside to Bus 434 is that it can get very crowded, especially during the summer. The other downside is that the bus does not stop at the Quinta da Regaleira. However, I planned ahead for that and we took an Uber directly to Quinta da Regaleira as it was the first stop on our list.

However, if you are taking the round trip train from Lisbon, you can take Bus 434 from the Sintra station to the Centro Historico (Turismo stop) and take a taxi or tuk tuk to the Quinta da Regaleira. Some people decide to walk from the bus stop but I do not recommend walking up that steep hill. Take a taxi or tuk tuk instead.

Another (and probably cheaper) option is to take another bus – Bus 435 from the Sintra station to Quinta da Regaleira (the bus will drop you close to the entrance). When you are finished, you can walk down the hill to Centro Historico and catch Bus 434 to the other two sights. Sidenote: Bus 435 also goes to Monserrate Palace (after Quinta da Regaleira).

A Few Tips

• Wear comfortable shoes!
• Take snacks with you!
• Make sure you have your camera charged and enough storage for photos. You will be taking lots of photos.
• Sintra is in the hills so it tends to be a bit cool. Bring a sweater or a scarf just in case.
• If you are traveling on a budget, then definitely take the train (round trip) from Rossio station to Sintra and use the 434 bus.

We thoroughly enjoyed our day in Sintra and hope to return soon. If we could do it all over again, I would try to squeeze in a visit to the seaside village Azenahs do Mar, where we would end the day with a delicious seafood dinner and a breathtaking view. Ahhh next time! Because my husband and I agreed, we will definitely be back.