Sintra is a charming Portuguese town in the cooling hills of the Serra de Sintra. This picturesque area was once the summer retreat for Portugal's nobility and royalty, who built the opulent palaces, extravagant villas and historic estates that dot the landscape. The most famous of these are the colourful Palácio da Pena, the ancient Castelo dos Mouros, and the mystical gardens of the Quinta da Regaleira

While Sintra is regarded as the best day trip from the Lisbon region, a single, rushed visit barely scratches the surface of what the area has to offer. To experience Sintra's true character, you must venture beyond the main tourist trail, where you will discover dense forests, a rugged coastline, secluded religious sites, and wonderful viewpoints. A longer stay transforms Sintra from a fleeting excursion into a chance to discover its secrets and the wild beauty of its coastline.

Sintra can also be used as a fantastic base from which to explore the surrounding region. The town has a relaxed and calm ambience in the evening once the crowds have departed, and it is well-connected by public transport for day trips to Lisbon, Cascais, and the Palácio de Queluz

So, instead of asking 'How many days to spend in Sintra?', the question you should be asking is 'How many days do you have to discover Sintra?'. This guide will provide suggested itineraries for 1-day, 2-day and 3-day trips, along with ideas for a week-long holiday based here.
Related articles: The sights of Sintra – Sintra day trip

The colourful Palácio da Pena is always a highlight of a trip to Sintra

For most visitors, Sintra is experienced as a day trip from Lisbon, focusing on its most famous sights. A popular itinerary begins with the train journey from the capital, followed by a ride on the 434 tourist bus, which climbs the steep hill from the station to the Palácio da Pena. The morning can be spent exploring this masterpiece of 19th-century Romanticism, a dazzling fantasy of domes, battlements, and pastel hues that crowns the highest peak of the Sintra hills. Time permitting, you could then visit the nearby Castelo dos Mouros, an ancient fortress whose stone ramparts offer panoramic views over the entire region.

After visiting the hilltop sights, the 434 bus provides a convenient route back down to the historic centre of Sintra for lunch. The second half of the day is spent exploring the historic town centre and visiting the Quinta da Regaleira. Here, you can discover enigmatic gardens filled with secret passages, grottoes, and the legendary Initiation Well, an inverted tower that descends deep into the earth. The day trip typically concludes with a walk through the town back to the train station for the return journey.

The Castelo dos Mouros standing high above Sintra

For those visiting during the peak season, or for anyone enjoying a second day in Sintra, an excellent itinerary can be planned around the town's quieter sights. This route offers a chance to avoid the largest crowds while still experiencing some of the region's architectural gems.

The day could begin with a visit to the Palácio de Monserrate, an exquisite villa celebrated for its delicate fusion of Gothic, Indian, and Moorish details. After exploring the palace, you can wander through its magnificent gardens, considered among Portugal’s richest botanical collections. Following your visit, you can return to the historic centre for lunch.

The afternoon offers a chance to explore two unique palaces. You could visit the Palácio Biester, a masterpiece of late Romanticism with theatrical interiors and a mystical Gothic atmosphere. Afterwards, you can explore the Palácio Nacional de Sintra, Portugal’s best-preserved medieval royal residence, which is instantly recognisable by the two colossal conical chimneys that rise above its kitchens.

Palácio Nacional de Sintra

A third day provides a wonderful opportunity to explore the region's dramatic coastline. The morning could begin with a scenic ride on the traditional tram that connects Sintra to the charming beach town of Praia das Maçãs. For the afternoon, you could explore further north to the picturesque village of Azenhas do Mar, which is known for its distinctive cliff-top houses and natural ocean-fed swimming pool. The day could conclude at Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, a headland of towering cliffs and powerful Atlantic waves that is a magical location to watch the sunset.

As an alternative for a third day (or day 4), you could combine another of the region's royal residences with a scenic hike. The morning could be spent visiting the magnificent Palácio de Queluz, an opulent 18th-century palace that served as a lavish summer retreat for Portuguese royalty. For the afternoon, you could return to Sintra for a walk along the Caminho de Santa Maria. This is a scenic footpath that leads from the historic centre of Sintra up to the Castelo dos Mouros.

The interactive map below displays a map of Sintra with the main sights and the suggested itineraries. (Note: zoom out to see all of the points)

Day 1: 1) Palácio da Pena 2) Castelo dos Mouros 3) historic centre of Sintra 4) Quinta da Regaleira
Day 2: 5) Palácio de Monserrate 6) Palácio Biester 7) Palácio Nacional de Sintra
Day 3: 8) Sintra tram 9) Praia das Maçãs 10) Azenhas do Mar 11) Cabo da Roca
Day 4: 12) Palácio de Queluz 13) Caminho de Santa Maria hiking trail

The majority of visitors to Sintra are day trippers from Lisbon or the Cascais coastline. You can visit the main sights of Sintra in a single day, which is sufficient for most tourists.

The best day trip (if there are no crowds) involves taking the train from Lisbon (or bus from Cascais/Estoril) then starting the day by visiting the Gothic Palácio Nacional de Sintra or the mystical grounds of the Quinta da Regaleira. You can then explore the historic centre of Sintra and have lunch here.

In the afternoon, ride the 434 bus service to the top of the hill and visit the Palácio da Pena and - if you have the time/energy - the Castelo dos Mouros, before catching the bus back to the train station.

The whimsical exterior of the Palácio da Pena

The standout attraction of Sintra during this day trip is the extravagant Palácio da Pena, with its wonderous exterior and beautifully restored state rooms. In our opinion, the next best sight is the Quinta da Regaleira, with its gardens containing a hidden cave network of passages, a ceremonial well (the Poço Iniciático).

The steps descending down the Poço Iniciático in the Quinta da Regaleira

The Castelo dos Mouros is a 9th-century castle that spans a craggy ridge high above Sintra, providing spectacular views over the entire region. The Palácio Nacional de Sintra is a Gothic-style palace that is rich in Portuguese history and has many beautifully painted state rooms.

The amazing views from the battlements of the Castelo dos Mouros

The three sights seen in the day trip (Pena, Regaleira and Mouros) are all unique, fascinating and worth visiting even if you're not much into history.

Sintra is extremely popular and gets very crowded during the peak season. There will be long queues for the bus up to the Pena Palace, limited time slots to enter the Palace, and restaurants will be packed at lunchtime.

For any trip to Sintra always start as early in the day as possible. If you have time, you may want to give yourself two days to see the sights at a more relaxed and enjoyable pace.

The Palácio Nacional de Sintra was the most lived-in and used palace, being used continuously by the Portuguese nobility from the 15th century up until 1910.

The huge crowds in Sintra - especially if a number of cruise ships have moored in Lisbon - can be overwhelming and off-putting.

An enjoyable day trip, which avoids the peak crowds and skips the Palácio da Pena, is:

Catch the train to Sintra (bus from Cascais or Estoril), then from Sintra train station ride the 435 bus to the Palácio de Monserrate. This wonderous, Arabic-inspired villa is arguably more beautiful than the Palácio da Pena (just on a smaller scale) and will be significantly quieter. Afterwards, ride the bus back to Sintra and explore the historic centre.

After a late lunch (restaurants are less busy after 2pm), visit the Palácio Nacional de Sintra or Quinta da Regaleira, when they will also be less crowded. By the afternoon, most visitors have headed up to the Moors castle or Pena palace, so the town will be a bit quieter.

The Arabic inspired Palácio de Monserrate, with its intricate stone details and latticework

No matter what you've seen or read, half a day is not long enough to fully appreciate Sintra. Three hours is only just enough time to see the historic centre and the Quinta da Regaleira (or Palácio Nacional de Sintra).

Equally, it can take up to 90 minutes to get to the terraces of the Palácio da Pena from the train station – between waiting for the bus, the 20-minute bus ride, queueing for tickets and finally walking to the palace. Sintra deserves at least a full day of sightseeing and should not be combined with any other towns.

The only way it is possible to see a bit of Sintra and another town (usually Cascais) is via an organised tour, which removes the hassle of public transport and provides you with a knowledgeable guide. We have worked with GetYourGuide for the previous seven years, and some of their best tours of Sintra include:
• Sintra Highlights Full-Day Tour
• Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais Full-Day Tour from Lisbon
• Sintra, Cascais and Cabo da Roca Coast Day Tour

Warning: Never consider driving to Sintra, as there is limited car parking and the historic centre is closed off to traffic. In summer, the road up to the Pena Palace is closed to cars, and there is a constant traffic jam around the town as frustrated drivers hunt for parking spaces. For any trip to Sintra, take the train.

Two days in Sintra allows a more relaxed approach to sightseeing and provides more time to discover the sights.

A prime example of this is the Parque da Pena, the expansive grounds that surround the Palácio da Pena. Found within them is the warrior statue (Estátua do Guerreiro), the Cruz Alta (highest point of the region at 529m), the Chalet e Jardim da Condessa d'Edla (an alpine-inspired lodge), along with numerous forested footpaths.

The Chalet da Condessa d'Edla, a pretty 1.3km walk from the Pena Palace

An addition to the Castelo dos Mouros is the Caminho de Santa Maria, a scenic downhill footpath that leads into the centre of Sintra, avoiding the need to catch the busy 434 bus.

For your two days in Sintra, you could either take two separate day trips from Lisbon or base yourself in the town for one night. Once the tourists have left for the day, Sintra has a relaxed and calm ambience, and it is actually a pleasurable experience to dine out.

If you have two days in Sintra, we would suggest:
• Day 1 Morning: Palácio da Pena and Parque da Pena
• Day 1 Afternoon: Castelo dos Mouros and Caminho de Santa Maria walk
• Day 1 Evening: Sunset at Cabo da Roca (via the 403 bus)
• Day 2 Morning: Quinta da Regaleira, Palácio Nacional de Sintra and the historic centre
• Day 2 afternoon: Palácio de Monserrate and the gardens of the Palácio de Seteais

The Cabo da Roca is the most westerly point of mainland Europe, and a magical location to watch the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean

The Palácio de Seteais is a grand 18th mansion, which has been converted into a high-end hotel, but its gardens are open to non-residents

If you're planning to stay overnight in Sintra, it's essential to book your accommodation well in advance. The town has a limited number of hotels and rental rooms, and the best locations are often fully booked during peak season.

The map below shows the location of hotels and rental rooms in Sintra, and by altering the date to your holiday, the map will display current prices:

The third day in Sintra could take in many of the interesting sights of the surrounding region.

If it is summer, we’d suggest a ride on the quaint tram down to the pretty beach town of Praia das Maçãs. This is the best beach that is easily accessible from Sintra.

From Praia das Maçãs you could follow the coastline south to the popular surfing beach of Praia Grande. An alternative is to catch a taxi from Praia das Maçãs to Azenhas do Mar (2km to the north), a picturesque village perched at the edge of cliffs. It's also the setting for one of the best restaurants of the region, the Restaurante Azenhas do Mar.

The Praia das Maçãs is the best beach close to Sintra

Instead of a beach-focused day, you could visit the Convento dos Capuchos, a Franciscan monastery nestled among the forest and giant boulders of the region. With a car, you could also visit the Capela de Nossa Senhora da Peninha, a small chapel with a wonderful viewpoint.

An enjoyable holiday could be had based in Sintra, discovering the best sights of the town as well as the surrounding region.
• Day 1: Palácio da Pena and dos Mouros
• Day 2: Quinta da Regaleira and Palácio Nacional de Sintra
• Day 3: Praia das Maçãs (beach day)
• Day 4: Lisbon day trip - Alfama and Baixa districts
• Day 5: Cascais day trip
• Day 6: Lisbon day trip - Belem districts
• Day 7: Queluz palace

The traditional tram of Lisbon passing the Se Cathedral

Our most popular guides to Sintra