A day in Sintra

Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage town, is about 40 minutes by suburban train (CP) from Rossio station in Lisbon.

Pena Palace (Palácio Nacional da Pena)

The 19th-century romantic palace at the top of the hill is Sintra's postcard image. Buy the ticket online in advance and choose your entry time — the queues on site are long, especially at weekends. The Pena Park surrounding the palace deserves at least an hour of wandering.

Quinta da Regaleira

A few minutes' walk from the historic centre, with its gardens, grottoes and the famous Initiation Well — an inverted tower with a spiral staircase. It's the most sought-after monument after Pena; arriving early avoids the crowds.

Historic centre

The National Palace of Sintra, with its two conical chimneys, dominates the town. The surrounding streets hold the travesseiros and queijadas pastry shops — the local sweets worth trying.

Castelo dos Mouros

The medieval walls snake along the ridge between Pena and the town, with views over the palace and the plain all the way to the sea.

Getting there

CP train (Sintra Line) from Rossio to Sintra station. From the station, bus 434 (Scotturb) runs the town ↔ Moorish Castle ↔ Pena Palace loop. The Carris/Metro/CP 24h day ticket (€11.40) covers the suburban train.

Practical tip

Sintra is cooler than Lisbon — bring a jacket even in summer. Arriving before 9:30 makes all the difference at the busiest monuments.