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Fairytale atmosphere, for a truly magical and suggestive city. Sintra deserves at least a couple of days to be fully appreciated. Yet, even today, it is relegated to a simple daily stage (and, unfortunately, it was also for me).
Moreover, nearby Lisbon is always the undisputed prima donna, for a weekend.
If you are planning to make a short stop in Sintra, the ideal is to plan your route in the best possible way, and, above all, to choose according to your subjective tastes.
Without neglecting the movements and the period of your vacation.
ONE DAY IN SINTRA
HOW TO ARRIVE AND MOVE
Daily connections from the capital by train. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at the station at a cost of €2.25, to which €0.50 must be added for the Viva Viagem card (if you do not already have it).
Consider purchasing the combined ticket TRAIN & BUS with which you can use the train to / from Lisbon and move throughout the day with the Sintra buses.
For a vacation of One day in Sintra, the use of the bus is almost obligatory: to reach certain sites, you have to walk for up to an hour from the center. Although the walk may be suggestive, with truly unique views of the city, it would take away precious time from visiting the monuments.
Buses 434 and 435 are, in this sense, the reference point for getting around Sintra. They cost, respectively, 7.10€ and 5.50€ for round trips.
The alternative to single tickets are convenient cumulative passes (Sintra Green Card on all, or BUS & TRAIN if you are interested in transport only).
WHAT TO SEE IN ONE DAY IN SINTRA
PALACIO DA PENA
One day in Sintra can only start from the Palacio da Pena, one of the best known places in the city and in Portugal. The site is visited every year by hundreds of thousands of tourists and, in high season, you will almost certainly find long queues at the entrance.
The best idea is to visit it during opening hours, around 09:30, arriving in the area by bus 434. Before taking the bus (if you have time available), stop at Piriquitas, at R. Padarias 1, in the center. . At the historic patisserie you can enjoy travesseiros and quijadas. Another good idea is to get an entrance ticket by purchasing it directly online. In this way you can save precious time, avoiding the crowding of tourist buses.
From this link, all the info on this wonderful palace.
DOS MOUROS CASTLE
The next stop is the Castle dos Mouros, a fascinating building whose name testifies to its Moorish origins. Its construction, in fact, dates back to the eighth century but after several alterations, it took on its current appearance around the nineteenth century, after a massive renovation.
From the Palace you can arrive by bus 434, or a walk of about ten minutes. If you come from the center of Sintra, the route is more challenging, through two uphill paths (for a half hour walk).
The Castle is one of the unmissable stops for a one day vacation in Sintra. It boasts around 450 meters of ramparts and 13 Towers. Walk along the walls and the steep walkways. The most suggestive point is the one you can enjoy from the Real Tower, one of the favorite places of King Ferdinand II: you go up for about 500 steps to reach the panoramic point from which you can admire the city.
Within the walls, the Igreja de São Pedro is one of the oldest churches in Sintra.
The view is the highlight. In case of strong clouds, fog or mist (especially in autumn and winter), avoid visiting the Castle!
TIMETABLES AND TICKETS OF THE CASTLE
The Castelo dos Mouros is open every day, from Monday to Sunday, from 09:00 to 18:30. Entrance is allowed within 30 minutes of closing.
Adults aged 18 to 64 pay the standard rate of €8.00.
Children aged 6 to 18 and over 65 pay the reduced rate of €6.50. Free for children up to 6 years old.
The BILHETE FAMILIA is available which allows access to two adults and 2 children at a cost of €26.
HISTORICAL CENTER AND PALACIO NACIONAL
If you managed to visit the two attractions in half a day, the ideal is to make a stop in the historic center, to stop and refresh yourself. To not waste time, you can use the 434 bus.
In the splendid streets of the center you will find numerous welcoming places to eat. Portuguese cuisine remains a favorite. The prices are average, not too cheap, as the city is quite touristy. Bacalhau na Vila is great for those who love cod, prepared in various ways (including burgers in a sandwich).
The cobbled streets, the splendid colorful buildings and the many shops are ideal for a break before visiting the Palacio Nacional.
The medieval building, in Gothic style, was one of the favorite destinations of Portuguese nobles. From the outside you can see the unmistakable shape of the two conical chimneys. What you admire today of the Palacio Nacional de Sintra is a complex of buildings that have been built, added and restored over the course of several centuries. The first building should have been built around the 10th century (but nothing is certain).
Today you can admire the interiors, including the Swan Room, the small chapel, the kitchens with rather original fireplaces, the Manueline Room, and the well-kept gardens. Don’t miss the famous majolica collection.
In 1910 it was declared a national monument.
The palace is one of the most visited places during a day trip to Sintra. Considering the location, many find it as soon as they arrive in the city.
TIMETABLES AND TICKETS OF THE PALACIO NACIONAL
Palazzo and Giardini are open every day, from Monday to Sunday, from 09:30 to 18:30. Admission is allowed up to 30 minutes before closing.
Adults aged 18 to 64 pay the standard rate of €10.00.
Children aged 6 to 18 and over 65 pay the reduced rate of €8.50. Free for children up to 6 years old.
The BILHETE FAMILIA is available which allows access to two adults and 2 children at a cost of €33.
Entrance to the Gardens is always FREE.
QUINTA DA REGALEIRA
Making choices is a must during a day trip to Sintra. During my vacation, after various insights, I decided to opt for the visit of Quinta da Regaleira, a splendid complex not far from the Palacio Nacional, a worthy continuation and conclusion of the trip.
It is located near the Palacio de Seteais and its can be reached on foot and by bus 435.
Quinta da Regaleira is a wonderful Palace with attached gardens, in the beautiful Sintra. Built in the early 1900s, it is a place as fascinating as it is mysterious. Right here you can admire the Initiatic Well and the Unfinished Well, with numerous references related to Freemasonry and esotericism.
In the 4 hectares of the estate, in addition to the main building, there are statues, ponds, caves, small temples. And of course a lot of vegetation. Numerous architectural styles, and many hidden corners to discover. It seems to be projected out of time. A really great experience.
TIMETABLES AND TICKETS QUINTA DA REGALEIRA
The complex is open every day, including Sundays and holidays, from 09:30 to 18:30. Admission allowed up to 30 minutes before closing.
The ticket for adults, from 18 to 64 years, costs 11€.
Children aged 6 to 17, and people aged 65 to 79, pay the reduced rate of 6€.
Also available the FAMILY TICKET at a cost of € 25.00 for two adults and 4 children up to 18 years old.
Free for children up to 5 years, and over 80.
The audioguide costs 4€ per person.
20% discount for those in possession of the Lisboa Card.
PLAN YOUR ONE DAY HOLIDAY LEFT
A day trip to Sintra is a real tour de force. Visiting this beautiful city in two days would be ideal but it hardly happens in practice.
The best thing is to organize yourself well, especially with timetables and tickets.
Arriving already equipped with tickets is the ideal solution to avoid unnecessary queues. Sintra Green Pass 2 Palácios, in this sense, is ideal. It can be purchased directly at the Lisbon train station and allows you to access the Palacio Nacional and the Palacio da Pena, use all the Sintra buses and the train to Lisbon, within a day. You don’t save much, but on the other hand, it’s very convenient.
An excellent solution is to buy the tickets for the monuments directly online. In Lisbon, in this case, it is better to buy the BUS & TRAIN ticket for unlimited travel throughout the day on Sintra’s trains and buses. It costs 16€ per person.
Most of the attractions are open from 09.30 to 18.30.
Overall, you can get around with the Scotturb buses 434 and 435. If you are going to get to Faro do Cabo, you use the 403 line.
From Lisboa-Rossio there are departures every 30 minutes, starting at 05:41. With the 08:11 train, you arrive in Sintra just before 09:00, just in time for a breakfast and to arrive at the newly opened Palacio da Pena. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, the train departs at 08:01, arriving at 08:41. The next train is at 09:01!
From Lisboa-Oriente, there are buses every 10 and 20 minutes, on weekdays, starting at 05:58. With the 08:08 train (also active on weekends and public holidays) you will arrive at around 09 in Sintra.
From Sintra you will have no trouble finding a train back. For Rossio and Oriente there are buses from early morning until about midnight, from Monday to Sunday, including holidays.