How many days in Sintra? 3 days, palaces early and the Atlantic coast after
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Sintra is a hill town 25 km west of Lisbon where Portuguese kings and 19th-century romantics built palaces in a misty forest. Most people try to see it in one day from Lisbon and spend half of it in queues for the bus to Pena Palace. Give it three days and sleep there: palaces in the first hour after opening, the old town in the evening when the day-trippers leave, and a day on the wild Atlantic coast at Cabo da Roca, mainland Europe's westernmost point.
Short answer
Two days covers Pena, the Moorish Castle, Quinta da Regaleira and the National Palace without rushing. The third day adds Monserrate, the cork-lined Capuchos convent and the cliffs and villages of the coast.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle
Morning. Book the first timed slot at Pena Palace, usually 9:30, on the Parques de Sintra website (palace and park about €20). Take the 434 circuit bus from the station or the old town, or walk about 45-60 minutes uphill through the forest. Inside, the royal rooms are kept as they were in 1910; outside, walk the terraces for the view to the sea.
Afternoon. Walk through the Pena Park to the High Cross (Cruz Alta), the highest point of the hills at about 528 metres, then down to the Moorish Castle (about €12-14), 10th-century walls running along the ridge. The walk along the battlements takes about an hour and has the best view of Pena itself.
Evening. Walk back down to the old town by the forest path, about 25 minutes, and have dinner in the lanes of the old town, the Vila. A main course costs about €14-20.
Tuk-tuks and taxis wait in the old town; for two or three people, a ride up to Pena costs about €5-10 per person and saves the queue for the 434.
Day 2: Quinta da Regaleira and the National Palace
Morning. Be at Quinta da Regaleira (about €15-20) at opening, 10 minutes' walk from the centre. Its gardens are full of grottoes, tunnels and towers built around 1910 by a millionaire fascinated with symbols, and the Initiation Well spirals 27 metres down into the ground. The queue for the well grows quickly after 10:30.
Afternoon. Visit the National Palace of Sintra (about €13) in the main square, recognisable by its two huge white conical chimneys, which belong to the medieval kitchen. Look for the Magpie Room and the Swan Room ceilings and the 16th-century tiles of the Arab Room.
Evening. Buy travesseiros (puff pastry with almond cream) and queijadas (small cheese tarts) at the old pastry shop Piriquita on Rua das Padarias, then walk along Volta do Duche to the station area for dinner.
In summer, buy all palace tickets online for a specific time. Same-day tickets for Pena can sell out by midday.
Day 3: Monserrate, the Capuchos and the coast
Morning. Take a taxi or the bus to Monserrate (about €12), 4 km west of the town, a palace of carved stone arches set in gardens planted with species from all over the world. Continue by taxi to the Convent of the Capuchos (about €10), where Franciscan friars lived in tiny cells lined with cork from 1560.
Afternoon. Go to Cabo da Roca, 18 km from Sintra, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, with a lighthouse and cliffs 140 metres above the Atlantic. Then drive or take the bus to Azenhas do Mar, a white village on a cliff over a natural sea pool, and Praia da Adraga, a sandy beach between rocks.
Evening. Stay at Praia das Macas for sunset and grilled fish, about €18-25 for a main, or continue by bus to Cascais for dinner and the train to Lisbon (about 40 minutes).
The Atlantic here is cold, rough and has strong currents. Swim only where there are lifeguards in summer, and check the flag colour.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1 as written and combine Quinta da Regaleira with either Monserrate or Cabo da Roca on Day 2. With 1 day from Lisbon, choose Pena and Regaleira only, and start before 9:00.
Got extra days?
A 4th day can go to Cascais and Estoril for beaches and the coastal path, to the palace of Queluz on the way back to Lisbon, or to the town of Mafra with its enormous palace and convent, about 30 minutes by car.
Where to stay in Sintra
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Near Sintra station / Estefania | Guesthouses and hostels 2-10 minutes from the Lisbon train. | €60-110 |
| Mid-range | Old town (Vila) | Walk to the palaces and the evening restaurants, quiet after 18:00. | €110-200 |
| Mid-range | Colares / Praia das Macas | Between the hills and the sea, near the beaches; a car is useful. | €90-170 |
| Comfort | Historic quintas around Sintra | Manor houses and palace hotels with gardens on the slopes of the hills. | €200-450 |
Getting around
Trains from Lisbon Rossio station reach Sintra in about 40 minutes, with departures every 20-30 minutes, for about €2-3 with a rechargeable card. From the station, the old town is a 10-15 minute walk. The 434 circuit bus links the station, the old town, the Moorish Castle and Pena, and the 403 runs to Cabo da Roca and Cascais; check current fares and timetables. Driving up to the palaces is restricted, and parking is very limited, so leave the car at your hotel.
What to eat in Sintra
Sintra's sweets are the main event: travesseiros, warm puff-pastry pillows filled with almond and egg cream, and queijadas de Sintra, small tarts of fresh cheese and cinnamon, made here since at least the 13th century. For a meal, eat in Sao Pedro de Sintra, the village just above the old town, or by the sea at Praia das Macas and Azenhas do Mar for grilled fish and arroz de marisco (seafood rice). Try the wine of Colares, made from vines grown in sand near the coast. A set lunch (prato do dia) costs €10-14 away from the palace streets.
Best time to visit
April-June and September-October, with 18-25°C. Sintra has its own climate: it is cooler, greener and often misty compared with Lisbon, even in summer, so bring a light jacket. July and August are the busiest months, with long queues. Winter is mild, wet and quiet, with palaces open on shorter hours.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €40 | €80 | €170 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €45 | €80 |
| Sights & tickets | €25 | €35 | €50 |
| Local transport | €6 | €15 | €40 |
| Total per person, per day | about €95 | about €175 | about €340 |
Approximate 2026 prices in euros; palace tickets are the biggest daily cost. Sintra charges a municipal tourist tax of about €2 per person per night.
Before you go
Common questions
Which palaces should I choose if I have one day?
Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. Book Pena for the first slot of the day, walk through the park to the Moorish Castle walls if you have energy, then go down to Regaleira in the afternoon. Add the National Palace only if you still have an hour before closing. Trying to see all five in one day means mostly queuing.
Can I walk between the palaces?
Partly. The old town, the National Palace and Quinta da Regaleira are within 10-15 minutes of each other. Pena and the Moorish Castle are on the hill above, about 45-60 minutes uphill on forest paths, and the walk down takes about 25 minutes. Monserrate and the Capuchos are several kilometres away and need a bus or taxi.
Is it worth staying overnight in Sintra?
Yes. Staying the night lets you be first at the palace gates when most visitors are still on the train from Lisbon, and the old town is calm and pleasant after 18:00. Prices are similar to central Lisbon, and the train back to the city takes only about 40 minutes if you want an evening there.
Should I drive to Sintra?
Not to the palaces: traffic in the narrow lanes is restricted, and parking near Pena and the old town is minimal. A car is useful only for the coast, Colares and the beaches. Most visitors take the train from Rossio and use the 434 bus, taxis or tuk-tuks on the hill.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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