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Sintra & Cabo de Roca: The Complete Guide for Your Day Trip from Lisbon

Visiting Sintra soon? Plan your day trip from Lisbon with this complete guide to Sintra and Cabo de Roca. Learn the best routes, ticket tips, and free sights for visiting Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and Monserrat, caping off your adventure at Cabo de Roca.

Sintra & Cabo de Roca: The Complete Guide for Your Day Trip from Lisbon

Located just 30km northwest of Lisbon, Sintra is a captivating town nestled among lush hills, making it a popular destination for day trips.

In Sintra, you can explore enchanting palaces and castles, wander through mystical gardens, and enjoy the town's rich historical tapestry. Whether you're climbing the ancient steps of the Moors Castle or strolling through the romantic Pena Palace, Sintra offers a magical escape into Portugal's royal past.

This guide will cover what Sintra has to offer as well as commonly asked questions such as:

  • What to do in Sintra?
  • How to get to Sintra from Lisbon?
  • How to get around in Sintra?
  • Can I visit Sintra for free? How much does it cost to visit a palace in Sintra?
  • Can I visit Sintra in a day?
  • Other day trips to do from Lisbon?

What to do in Sintra?

Quinta De Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal

Top things to do in Sintra include:

  1. Centre of Sintra - Charming heart of Sintra, Portugal, boasting colorful streets, quaint shops, and delightful cafes with nice views.
  2. Catelo Dos Mouros (castle of the Moors) - Medieval fortress perched atop a hill in Sintra, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and a fascinating glimpse into Portugal's history.
  3. Palacio Da Pena (Pena Palace) - Enchanting palace in Sintra characterized by its vibrant colors, eclectic architecture, and stunning fairy-tale atmosphere.
  4. Quinta De Regaleira - Mystical estate in Sintra, featuring ornate gardens, mysterious tunnels, and intricate architecture The iconic Initiation Well is a must visit!
  5. Palacio Do Monserrate (Monserrate Palace) - Captivating palace surrounded by exotic gardens in Sintra, known for its exquisite blend of Gothic, Indian, and Moorish architectural styles.
  6. Palacio Nacional de Sintra (National Palace of Sintra) - Historic palace located in the heart of Sintra, renowned for its distinctive twin chimneys and opulent rooms adorned with intricate tilework.
  7. Cabo De Roca - The westernmost point of mainland Europe, where rugged cliffs meet the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Best sunset spot!
Map of places to visit in Sintra
Cabo de Roca, Portugal - The Westernmost Point of Continental Europe

How to get to Sintra from Lisbon?

To get to Sintra from Lisbon I recommend going by train. Trains to Sintra depart from Rossio Station (or any other nearby interurban train station) to Sintra (last stop) for €4.50 with return. Trains depart every 15-30 minutes.

You could also consider renting a car this option is 10x more expensive than going by train. Depending which time of the year you plan to visit Sintra, you will have a hard time finding a place to park and the roads are not the best either.

A guided tour would be convenient if you want to know more about the history, option to visit all palaces, and skip queues. Although they are very strict with the time and you have to follow a group.

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If you have a Navegante card you can also use this to go to Sintra. For more information about the Navegante card (especially if you are living in Lisbon) see the guide about Living in Lisbon? Monthly Lisbon Transport Pass.
Sintra Town, Portugal

How to get around in Sintra?

Everything is in hills! Technically you can walk to all castles and palaces, but if you want to save time you can take the following transportation methods:

  • Bus - One direction buses which include the 434 (Pena circuit) and 435 (Sintra to Cabo de Roca) which come a few times an hour so get the schedule right! The cost for a journey is around 4€ (cash only) unless you have the Navegante Card. See further below for recommended journeys =).
  • TukTuk - Common around Sintra. They may seem convenient, but watch out for overcharging. A ride from Sintra Town to Pena Palace should be around 5 euros per person.
  • Bolt/taxi - Bolt, Uber's competitor and most common transportation app in Portugal, is available in Sintra although depending where you are you might have to wait a long time for it to arrive...
  • Guided tour - Your guides will be with you every step, making everything easy. It's the simplest option. Guided tours will cost you around 40-60€ per person depending where you get it from.
Quinta da Regaleira Gardens, Sintra, Portugal

Can I visit Sintra for free? How much does it cost to visit a palace in Sintra?

You need to buy an entrance ticket for each castle, unless you are a resident. Adult tickets are between 11-20€ depending on the palace to visit. You can check the opening time and ticket prices for each palace in the Parques de Sintra official site.

For residents, you can visit Sintra palaces for FREE on Sundays. Just show proof of ID and proof of address at the till. Quinta da Regaleira is not free so you will need to pay the entrance to this palace (around 12€) or buy in advanced. Also, avoid busy months (e.g. July/August) to avoid wasting time at the queues.

Buying in advanced will save you money and long queues. Since you need to pay entrance to each castle, spend more time exploring a palace and its gardens rather than rushing through multiple ones.

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Tip: Purchase tickets online in advance to avoid long queues. Families with two children can save money by buying family tickets, saving about 5-6 euros per palace.
Initiation Well (Quinta de Regaleira), Monserrate Gardens, & Cabo de Roca

Can I visit Sintra in a day?

Yes, but not recommended. While a day in Sintra provides a great introduction, it may not be enough time to see everything thoroughly. The train ride is affordable and quick, taking under 45 minutes each way and you have to pay entrance to each palace so better not to rush it.

A recommended intinerary (based on my experience) would be:

Day 1: Quinta da Regaleira + Pena Palace + Sintra Town

These two are my personal favourite palaces and they are huge! It takes around 15-20min to walk from Sintra train station to Quinta da Regaleira. From Quinta to Pena Palace it takes around 35-45 minutes walking so maybe consider taking a bus or TukTuk instead. In Sintra Town, make sure to try the local Traveseiros they are super nice!

Day 2: Castelo Dos Mouros + Palacio Do Monserrate + Cabo de Roca

Castelo Dos Mouros is 15 minute walk from Pena Palace so if you have time consider visiting it in Day 1. That way you could take the bus straight from Sintra Train station to Palacio Do Monserrate and spend some time viewing the palace and its beautiful gardens. Just outside the palace you can take the bus that goes directly to Cabo de Roca where you can finishh the day with a sunset in the western point of mainland Europe =).

Sunset at the most western point in Europe at Cabo de Roca, Portugal
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Palaces open around 9-9.30AM so try to start your Day 1 early so you get to explore as much as you can with breaks. Day 2 is not as intense as Day 1 so feel free to mix based on your needs and preferences =).

Similar day trips like Sintra near Lisbon

Looking for more day trip ideas near Lisbon? Check out my blog profile or browse through my other articles on visiting Cascais & Boca do Inferno: Your Perfect Day Trip from Lisbon, Portugal. There are other memorable excursions just a short distance from Portugal's vibrant capital =).

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