Sintra
Discover Sintra
Sintra is a town in Greater Lisbon, Estremadura, Portugal. Its spectacular setting, 28 km from Lisbon, houses a Royal Palace, used by generations of Portuguese royalty prior to the 1910 revolution. The surrounding hills are surmounted by the remains of the Moorish Castle and by the 19th century Pena Palace. Near Estoril, the majestic Sintra Mountains cast a veil of mystery over the town nestling on its northern slopes. The hills and the surrounding area have been classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site for their cultural significance and for their outstanding natural beauty.
What to Experience in Sintra
Taste of Sintra...
Not available
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe town proper is a 10-minute walk from the train station. However, city buses to the center can be caught from the small bus stop directly on the right as one exits said station. These are the same buses that take circular routes to all the tourist sites, and offer tickets good for all day, so odds are one would be buying one of their tickets anyway. Cycling in Sintra can be an interesting day out for those who are fit and have some experience. If staying in Sintra and around a local company is a good option for you. In case you are visiting Sintra then your best bet is to book a tour or rent a bike e.g. in Lisbon, take the commuters train from Rossio station to explore Sintra and/or the Nature Reserve finishing in Cascais, a beautiful day trip on a bicycle, in the end take a train back to Cais do Sodre station in Lisbon where you may drop back your bicycle. Adult return ticket is around 3 or €4 and bicycles travel for free every day of the week....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
It's probably best for most visitors to take one or more of the public bus routes. The routes are one-way and circular, with a stop in front of each of the major tourist sights, so keep this in mind when planning the order in which you see each sight. One ticket is good for all day on that particular bus route. Think a relatively cheap hop-on/hop-off bus route, and you have the idea. All the buses stop directly at the train station as well (just to the right upon exiting), so they can be caught immediately upon arrival via train. There are several of these circular routes, but probably for most the 434 and 435 routes are of greatest interest. 434: Route: Sintra Train Station -> Sintra City Center -> Moorish Castle -> Pena Castle -> return 435: Route: Sintra Train Station -> Sintra City Center -> Regaleira Palace -> Seteais Palace -> Monserrate Palace -> return.
Money & Budget
Souvenirs and Porto wine are all on sale in the Sintra historic district. There are a number of shops that sell standard tourist items (post cards, t-shirts, etc.) and shops that sell ceramics, pieces of art and hand crafts. If you are looking for gifts for friends and family, Sintra has a broad selection of items to choose from. To get something truly unique and local, consider cork products that range from wallets to umbrellas. These original products wear like leather and are environmentally sound, as well as attractive.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Sintra
Palácio da Pena, Portugal
brown and white concrete building near green trees under blue sky during daytime
Palace of Pena from a distance.
Pena palace in Sintra, Portugal
a large building on a hill
an aerial view of a city with many buildings
a large building on a hill
The Castle of the Moors. SIntra, Portugal. Built in the 8th and 9th centuries.
a large building on top of a lush green hillside
A breathtaking view from the colorful castle of the Sintra castle near Lisbon, Portugal
Palácio da Pena, Portugal
brown and white concrete building near green trees under blue sky during daytime
Palace of Pena from a distance.