The Best Day Trip From Lisbon to Sintra: An Unforgettable Day Trip Full of Castles

Lisbon to Sintra is one of the most popular day trips out of the bustling city of Lisbon and to a more nature filled and relaxing part of the country.

You can expect a day filled with castles, hiking trails, and a bit of history if you want that that dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries.

One thing we love about this day trip is that it’s super easy to get from Lisbon to Sintra. If you leave early enough in the morning you can have a complete day exploring all the beautiful and historic buildings.

From exploring the Pena Palace to hiking around the Castle of Moors you will be filled with views, history, architecture, nature, and adventure for a full day of fun, hopefully in the sun!

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Full Guide to the Perfect day trip from Lisbon to Sintra

This day trip from Lisbon to Sintra is perfect if you want to get away from the crowded and busy city life in Lisbon and out in nature surrounded by greenery, mountains, and castles.

We’re not saying that Sintra, Pena Palace, or Castle of Moors don’t get busy as well but there’s definitely ways to avoid the crowds and be immersed in nature enjoying the beauty of Sintra.

On top of being surrounded by nature, there are also some hiking trails in Sintra that are way less crowded than the main touristy paths!

You can definitely expect some quiet trails through forests and gardens around Pena Palace along with gorgeous views of the coast and Sintra castles up in the hills.

The best time to visit Sintra

Portugal has quite good weather all year round so there really is no bad time to go on a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra.

The summer months are when you really see the masses of tourists in Sintra. Summer is definitely the peak season in Portugal.

Of course summer might be the only time you can go so if it is then try and leave Lisbon early in the morning. You can buy your bus or train tickets from Lisbon to Sintra here in advance!

We personally love to travel in shoulder season. So for Portugal that’s usually April-May and September-October. This way you can still travel and visit places like Sintra while the weather is still good.

With the amount of nature, trees, and flora in Sintra the fall could be absolutely stunning to visit and explore the castles.

We did a road trip around Portugal in October with a camper-van and I can still remember how beautiful all the trees and nature was. Things tend to also be cheaper during shoulder-season.

Best and Cheapest ways to get from Lisbon to Sintra

The easiest and most convenient way to get to Sintra from Lisbon is by train. It’s a 45-minute train ride that costs about 3$ and has a few stops in Lisbon before making its way out towards Sintra.

The train leaves often so you don’t have to worry about timing. But if you do want to make the best of this full day trip we recommend one of the trains that leave around 8am.

This way you’ll be in Sintra before the majority of the crowds and even have some places more to yourself.

The same thing applies when you make your trip back to Lisbon. You can even buy a return ticket beforehand and then just hop on one of the trains on your way back to the city. You don’t need to pick a specific time you can just use the ticket on whichever train you take home.

We recommend getting one of the contactless travel cards that you can just top up at the train station. It’s easier to keep track of your tickets on the travel card and saves you from buying individual tickets every time.

Full guide to a day exploring Sintra

Once you’re off the train or bus from Lisbon to Sintra we recommend looking for the hop-off-and-on bus. You’ll be able to purchase a round-trip ticket that allows you to get off at every single stop once and it basically does a full round trip of all the stops.

A round-trip ticket in 2023 costs €11.50 so that is going to be the cheapest option. You can also hike your way up to the Castle of Moors like we did. It’s the best way to avoid the crowds and see a bit more nature.

Back to the 434 bus, you’ll find the bus as soon as you get off the train and you’ll be able to buy your tickets directly from the driver. Remember to bring cash!

First stop – Castle of Moors

The 434 bus goes in a loop so this day trip and stops are all in order of the stops that the bus makes. Going by foot and hiking the trails will also get you to the same spot. The first stop is the iconic Castle of Moors.

One thing we really recommend, no matter if you come early or not, is buying your entrance ticket beforehand on your phone. You can purchase a ticket for the Castle of Moors here so you can skip the line at the entrance (which can be quite long).

A ticket costs $8.8 no matter if you buy it on your phone or at the entrance, so you might as well save yourself the wait and avoid the queue of people buying their ticket at the entrance.

There’s so much to see and explore throughout this ancient watchtower. It’s been restored over the years and offers some pretty special views of the surrounding area.

The famous walls snake around the hills that overlook Sintra and offer some of the best viewpoints in the area. A stretch called the ‘Romantic Ruins’ leads you past the remains of ancient silos, which are being slowly consumed by undergrowth, and the guardhouse to the outer walls. 

On one of our trips from Lisbon to Sintra we hiked up from the town through the hills and up to the Castle of Moors and it was awesome! There were barely any people and it felt like we had the majority of the trail to ourselves.

Once you make it to the castle the outer walls are actually one of the sections that you can actually still walk on. It’s so cool being able to walk around this Moorish Castle and get an idea of what it used to be like back in the day guarding this area.

The next stop is Pena Palace! It’s about a 35-minute walk (or a short ride on the 434 bus) to the entrance of the palace from the Castle of Moors. When you’re ready to continue just can just walk on the trail.

The walking directions from the Moorish Castle to Pena Palace can be found here.

Second stop – Pena Palace 

We were fortunate and lucky enough to visit the Pena Palace during shoulder season when it wasn’t as busy as peak season during the summer months.

You may not be so lucky so we recommend buying your entrance ticket beforehand on your phone (just like for Castle of Moors). You can purchase a ticket for the Pena Palace here so you can skip the line at the entrance (which can be quite long).

A ticket costs $15.5 no matter if you buy it on your phone or at the entrance, so you might as well save yourself the wait.

This way you can skip the line waiting to buy your ticket and save a bunch of time (and get a small discount). Especially if you’re doing a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon like we did, we know time is quite important! 

Once you’re inside the grounds of the Palace there is an endless amount of stuff to do.

Pena Palace deserves its own post with everything to do inside the palace grounds. For now, let’s just talk about the highlights and what to do here in a few hours! 

Firstly, you can walk up the main path to the entrance of the Pena Palace where you’ll have great views of the towers and colours from the castle. There is a beautiful courtyard that’s all yellow and overlooks the Castle of Moors, Sintra, and the Portuguese coast.

There’s a reason this Palace was built up on the hills. Back in the day, you could see the enemies coming from such a distance that you’d have some time to prepare for the attack. Nowadays, the viewpoints are what attract people like you and us to Sintra. 

One thing a lot of people don’t end up doing that we think is totally worth it is the short hike to Cruz Alta (High Cross). From the castle, you’ll take one of the paths towards Cruz Alta where you’ll find a cross stacked on top of a bunch of rocks overlooking the Palace. 

The trail from the Pena to Cruz Alta can be found here. It should only take about 25-30 minutes to hike there.

From there you can head back down to the entrance where the shuttle bus (434) will be waiting for you (hopefully). If not, it’ll arrive shortly…remember it’s Portuguese time, stuff’s never on time!

If you chose to hike you can always hike back down the same way or find a different trail to go back. The beauty of the Sintra National Park is that there are plenty of awesome trails throughout the forest.

Third stop – Sintra National Palace 

The Sintra National Palace is a great last stop if you have the time for one more stop on this day trip.

Sintra Palace is the last important stop on the shuttle bus and it’s also near the train station that takes you back to Lisbon. You can see how you’re doing with time when you arrive back in Sintra and decide if you have the time for the Sintra National Palace or not! 

The National Palace is located right in the city center of Sintra and is said to be the only palace that spans through all of Portugal’s existence. It’s the oldest Moorish castle and has been around for longer than the country itself! The two chimneys stand out above the town and can be seen from almost anywhere in town.

You’ll have the option to pay for a ticket and roam around the different rooms in the palace or just walk freely around the garden and admire the white moonish-styled architecture from the outside. 

You can plan your visit with the timing of the train back to Lisbon. We’d recommend 30 minutes to walk from the National Palace back to the train station. Or else you can wait for the bus to take you back.

The walking trail from the Sintra National Palace to the train station can be found here.

Train back to Lisbon from Sintra

The good thing is that trains between Sintra and Lisbon run quite frequently. So if you miss one don’t worry, another one will come soon enough.

You can see the different times here and just buy a ticket once you actually get to the train station.

The three stops we recommended are the 3 main attractions in Sintra. Thankfully it’s not far from Lisbon and totally doable in a day. All you need to do is a bit of planning in advance and figure out how to make the best of your time! 

Prefer a guided tour? Click here to find a full-day Sintra tour from Lisbon.

Other related questions about a day trip to Sintra

Is a day trip to Sintra worth it?

Yes, Sintra is one of the 7 Wonders of Portugal and one of the most beautiful places in Portugal.

The Sintra National Park is covered in hundreds of different species of trees, castles, and palaces, and is home to one of the best national parks in the country.

If you love being outdoors and exploring the history of Portugal then a day trip to Sintra is absolutely worth it.

Can you go to Sintra without a tour?

Yes, you can easily go to Sintra without a tour. The main reason people go on a tour from Lisbon to Sintra is the convenience and to have a local guide share their knowledge on the area.

To be completely honest it’s quite easy to go to Sintra by yourself by taking the train and exploring the castles on your own.

How long is the day trip from Lisbon to Sintra?

The train from Lisbon to Sintra is right around an hour long each way. You can expect to spend about 2 hours (1 hour each way) on the train on your day trip from Lisbon to Sintra.

Which will hopefully give you at least 8 hours of exploring and enjoying this beautiful part of Portugal.

How do you get around Sintra without a car?

There are a few ways to get around Sintra without a car. The best and easiest way is to buy a ticket for the 434 bus right when you get off the train. The 434 shuttle bus is a tourist bus that you can hop off and on at all the main stops.

Other options are to hike along the awesome hiking trails that you can find inside the Sintra National Forest that connects all the palaces and castles together.

Lastly, you can also cruise on a tuk-tuk and get the full tourist experience. There are tuk-tuks all over Sintra so you just need to hop in one and the driver will guide you and

Is Pena Palace worth going inside?

Yes! One of the highlights of visiting Sintra is actually going to Pena Palace and exploring the ground and the palace.

Once you enter the grounds of Pena Palace you have the option to explore the palace and the gardens and parks that surround it.

There is also a beautiful hike to Cruz Alta which is inside the walls of Pena Palace. So 100% yes make sure to go inside Pena Palace and see what it’s all about.

How long should I spend in Sintra?

A day trip to Sintra is ideal because it gives you enough time to see most of the highlights.

If you have the chance to spend a night in Sintra and have at least one full day and one half-day to explore this wonderful area than that may be the best option!

How much time do you need in Pena Palace?

When you visit Pena Palace, you want to make sure you have at least 1.5 to 2 hours to explore! This place is so beautiful and the palace grounds are huge.

There’s the palace itself but then there’s also the botanical gardens and the short hike up to the cross which we mentioned earlier in this post.

If you buy the full-access ticket to Pena Palace, you might even want to schedule some more time to explore all the different rooms.

Why is Sintra famous?

Sintra is famous for many reasons but the main attraction that brings tourists from all around the world is the iconic red and yellow palace, Pena Palace!

The palace overlooks the area of Sintra where you can also see the Castle of Moors and the National Museum.

How much are tuk-tuks in Sintra?

The average tuk-tuk ride is $7 per person. It’s a bit more expensive than taking the 434 bus to Sintra but it is a fun way to speak with a local and learn a little about the area from someone who knows it quite well.

Is Sintra expensive?

Sintra is a touristy place but I wouldn’t say it’s that much more expensive than Lisbon or other touristy areas in Portugal.

You can still get coffee for $3 and meals for $10 if you don’t go to the most expensive places. There will also be classic tourist spots where things are a bit overpriced but in general, Sintra isn’t that expensive.

You may also like…

• The Best Ways to Get From Lisbon to Sintra
• Best Things to Do in Lisbon in 2 Days (A Weekend Guide)
• Hiking to the Famous Castle of Moors in Sintra
• 3 Amazing Day Trips From Lisbon You Can’t Miss
• Is Cascais the Best Day Trip From Lisbon?

A quick recap on a day trip to Sintra

1. So first check the time you want to leave from Lisbon. To get all the details on how to get from Lisbon to Sintra, you can read this post.
2. Read through this post again on the train.
3. Hop off the train and buy your shuttle bus ticket if you plan to explore Sintra by shuttle bus. Look for bus 434! The stop is about a 2-minute walk from the station. They should accept credit cards once you hop on the bus but bring some cash just in case. You can either buy the 1 loop pass for 11.5 euros (2023 prices) or the 24 hours pass that will cost a little more.
4. Enjoy the hiking, exploring, and all the different spots! Remember Pena Palace is the one that requires the most amount of time! We spent like 6 hours exploring the grounds but you might want to spread that out between the other sights.
5. Head back to Sintra and check when the trains depart here.
6. Enjoy the train ride back into the city after such a fun day exploring the Sintra area and all the beautiful castles and palaces. We sure did! =)

We hope you enjoy the day trip. We’d love to know which stop was your favorite or if you found any new and uncovered hidden gems in this beautiful town.

If you have any questions about Sintra, how to get there from Lisbon, or anything about this day trip then feel free to leave a comment. You can also DM us on Instagram @redwhiteadventures.

Have an awesome time in Sintra and we can’t wait to hear about it!

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