Sintra, Portugal Travel Guide

Sintra is home to enchanting castles, hidden hiking trails, an adorable downtown area, and plenty to see and do. While many travelers just take a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon, Sintra is certainly worth spending a couple days in. Read on to discover your perfect Sintra, Portugal Travel Guide.

This village is a gem in Europe, and cannot be missed on a trip to Portugal. In this Sintra, Portugal Travel Guide we will go over the best castles to see in Sintra, the best things to do in Sintra, the best places to dine in Sintra, and the best places to stay in Sintra.

Map of Sintra

History of Sintra

The the history of Sintra is very long, so I will try my best to sum it up for you. One of my first questions I get from travelers looking to visit Sintra is why are there so many castles? The answer is because Sintra was once a summer retreat to Portuguese Royalty. The 8th century castles also served as a place to control routes between Northern Portugal and Southern Portugal.

To learn more about the history of Sintra read this article by UNESCO.

Best Hotels In Sintra

🛎️Luxury Hotel In Sintra - Penha Longa Resort

🛎️Middle Range Hotel In Sintra - Sintra Marmòris Palace

🛎️Budget Hotel In Sintra - Sintra Boutique Hotel

What To Do In Sintra

Explore The Castles of Sintra

The Castles of Sintra are the main reason anyone visits the Portuguese village, and for good reason.

There are five castles in Sintra - Pena Palace, Moorish Castle, National Palace of Sintra, Quinta da Regaleira, and the Monserrate Palace.

My favorites were Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, and the National Palace of Sintra. So these three are must visits in my book.

⭐Quick Tip - Visit Pena Palace first or book a tour to insure you see it. Pena Palace gets super crowded and sometimes people don't get to see it as it books out for whole days at a time!

🚗Lisbon To Sintra Day Tour - If you are planning on just doing a day trip I strongly suggest doing a tour (esp. if you want to see Pena Palace) as it gets super crowded during the day in Sintra.

Go Hiking

There are so many underrated hiking spots in and around Sintra. The one that I did was the Sintra Main Square to Moorish Castle hike which is about 2.5 miles and pretty much all up hill. I loved this hike because of the viewpoints along the way and at the end you will be met with the stunning Moorish Castle in the hills!

Another lovely hike in Sintra is the Parque de Monserrate Route in Sintra-Cascais Nature Park. This trail is a 3 mile loop and is pretty flat.

🥾Discover Sintra's Hidden Trails

Visit The Beach

Okay so technically Sintra is not located right on the beach, but some of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal is only a few kilometers from Sintra!

There are a few stunning remote beaches near Sintra - Ursa Beach and Praia da Adraga.

Ursa Beach is my favorite as it is 'deserted' and home to some incredible views of the Portuguese coastline (rocks jutting out from the sea, cliffs overlooking the water, and amazing surf).

Praia da Adraga is also a lovely beach to checkout near Sintra. It is a bit less rugged than Ursa, but still has captivating views and is a great place for a beach day!

🐳Private Tuk Tuk Tour of Sintra and Beaches

Explore The Village

Sintras' Village is small, but absolutely charming. In the village you will find colorful buildings, cobblestone alleyways lined with shops and eateries, and views of the National Palace of Sintra. In the village be sure to checkout Restaurante Sabores Do Mercado and to pop into all the unique boutiques!

Try Pastel de Natas

Pastel de Natas are a Portuguese delicacy. These custard filled pastries are absolutely delicious, and Sintra is a great place to try them.

Be sure to stop by Dona Estefânia in the village to try pastel de natas! I traveled all around Portugal ate pastel de natas in every city I went to and Dona Estefânia's in Sintra were my favorites!

Take In The Views At Cape Roca

Cape Roca is the westernmost point in Europe. But don't visit because of some weird satitisic like that, you should go to Cape Roca because of its stunning views. I honestly don't know why this place isn't more popular, it is absolutely beautiful (like on the same caliber as the Cliff of Moher in Ireland)!

You can drive right up to the cliff, but I recommend doing the Praia da Ursa Trail.

Where To Dine In Sintra

Best Coffee Shops In Sintra

☕Café Saudade

☕Nata Pura

Best Restaurants In Sintra

🍴Restaurante Sabores Do Mercado

🍴Nau Palatina

Best Tours To Take In Sintra

🚗Private Tour Sintra from Lisbon

🚗Sintra Jeep Safari

🚗Taste of Sintra’s Wonders

🚗Sunset Hike, Tapas & Wine at Secret Beach

How To Get To Sintra

There are four ways to get to Sintra - renting a car and driving, uber/taxi, bus, and tour.

What I did was take an Uber, but that was because I was staying for a while. If you are just doing a day trip, I would definitely take a tour. Just because you want to make sure you can see all the castles.

If you are on a strict budget a bus is also an option. Just try to go early (especially on the weekends as it gets super busy). If you are visiting Sintra from Lisbon take bus 434.

Sintra, Portugal FAQS:

How many days do you need to see Sintra Portugal?

Honetaly to see all of the highlights of the village, you really only need one day. If you can stay longer so you can have a more low key and relaxed time!

Is Sintra, Portugal worth visiting?

Yes! Sintra was one of my favorite parts of my trip to Portugal. It is a must do day trip from Lisbon.

What not to miss in Sintra?

Don't miss Pena Palace & The Moorish Castle in Sintra.

What to know before going to Sintra?

Book your tickets in advance. They book out days at a time and you definitely don't want to get to Sintra and not be able to see the castles.

Is Sintra a walkable city?

The village itself is very walkable, but to get to the castles you may need to take one of the tuk tuks that zip around on a regular basis.

What should I visit first in Sintra?

Pena Palace because it is the most busy.

Why is Sintra so famous?

Well, mainly the captivating castels, but also because of its natural beauty.