If you are in Lisbon, you may be looking for things to do around the city. In my complete and detailed article on Lisbon, I advised you to go to Sintra, which in my opinion is really worth a visit.
In this article, I'm going to detail everything you can do in a day in this beautiful picturesque city, with a mixture of Portuguese and Arabic culture!
How do I get to Sintra?
To get to Sintra, there are several ways depending on where you are.
Getting to Sintra from Lisbon by Uber or Bolt
As far as I'm concerned, I went to Sintra from Lisbon using the Uber.
Know that Ubers in Portugal for a French salary are really derisory.
The average one-way ticket costs €20. Sometimes you can find them for €15. So if there are several of you traveling, taking an Uber is much faster and cheaper!
It takes around 35 minutes to drive to the historic center of Sintra.
Solo Backpacker Tip : If I need to advise you on the drop off point, choose Sintra National Palace.
Getting to Sintra from Lisbon by train
From the station Sete Rios, you will reach Sintra in 35 min. Be aware that there is a train every 30 minutes on weekends and every 10 minutes during the week, so don't rush if you ever miss your train!
Why choose to leave from Sete Rios? Because you have the Azul metro (blue line) that runs through the entire city of Lisbon through the city center. Getting off at the station Jardim Zoológico, you will then be right next to the train station.
So if you have chosen to stay in the historic center of Lisbon, you will have no trouble heading to Sete Rios via the metro.
Roundtrip ticket price : 4.90€ (+3.70€ with the metro)
Getting to SinTra from Cascais
In my opinion, you can either take the Uber or take a bus from Cascais.
If you opt for the bus, take The number 1623. You can take it from the Cascais train station. It will take you to Sintra train station. The journey time is approximately 42 min.
If you opt for Uber, The price of a one-way trip costs around €15. The travel time is approximately 20 min.
Where to stay in Sintra?
Personally, I did not stay in Sintra, but if you want to stay longer to explore the region around Sintra even more, then I can suggest some accommodations that are highly rated.
Casa Azul Hostel : a budget accommodation located right next to the Sintra train station. It offers bunk beds and a very attractive price. Count around €20 per night.
Sintra Green Chalet Bed & Breakfast : same location as the previous one, but with the particularity of being very cozy with a natural and floral decor. It offers private rooms for a cost of around €100 per night.
To help you in your search for accommodation, you can otherwise choose to find it using the tool just below!
What to do in Sintra?
The city of Sintra is relatively large and often requires the use of transport if you want to visit places that are a bit more remote.
But generally speaking, the main tourist spots are concentrated in a well-defined area.
For explorers looking for secret places, maybe staying an extra day or two will allow you to discover in depth this place full of cultural treasures!
Here, I will mainly give you the places to visit at least once if you are passing through Sintra. I made sure to maximize the walking to fully enjoy the nice little places.
In summary, here is what you will discover in this complete 1-day itinerary:
- The historic center and the national palace of Sintra
- La Quinta da Regaleira and its garden
- Hike to Villa Sassetti in the direction of the palace
- Pena National Palace
The historic center and the national palace of Sintra
When you arrive in the city, the first thing you will discover is the historic center and the National Palace of Sintra.
You will then be in the middle of the hills surrounded by trees and vegetation. To this, you add buildings with a very rich historical past culturally to obtain a breathtaking landscape!
A few quick notes on its history : The historic center of Sintra is an area classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is distinguished by traditional Portuguese houses, and paved streets, reflecting continuous human occupation since medieval times and a strong influence of 19th century romantic architecture.
As for the Sintra National Palace, it is located in the heart of the historic center. You will have no trouble seeing it thanks to its two large white conical chimneys, visible from all over the city.
A few quick notes on its history : Summer residence of Portuguese kings for several centuries, the palace maintains a rich interior decorated with azulejos, painted ceilings and iconic rooms.
Stroll around the center to discover many nice places. Among other things, you will find quite a few small restaurants and souvenir shops.
La Quinta da Regaleira and its garden
Continue on your way by following the main road in the direction of Quinta da Regaleira.
Many tourists forget this place that I thought was really fantastic, both for its architecture and for its simply incredible garden!
Because when you think of the city of Sintra, you associate it a lot with its famous Pena Palace. And for the moment, it was rather the Quinta da Regaleira that I liked the most.
Know that Admission costs €21 using Get Your Guide. Using this platform allows you to choose the date and time slot that suits you while booking your tickets in advance.
Solo Backpacker Tip : Please note that places are limited. I advise you to book in advance to avoid surprises once there!
Once there, simply enjoy the beauty of the garden, its beautiful tower where you can climb to the top and admire the view of the entire park.
If you go up the garden hill, you will reach this famous monument called Poço Iniciático. It is a spiritual place where there is a spiral staircase with a cave labyrinth at the end.
A few quick notes on its history : The Poço Iniciático has a strong spiritual and symbolic meaning: it represents an initiatory journey, a descent into the depths of oneself followed by an ascent to the light, evoking a path of inner transformation and spiritual elevation.
At the end of the tour, you can enter Quinta da Regaleira, a mixture between castle and mansion with unique Gothic architecture.
Hike to Villa Sassetti in the direction of Pena Palace
Once your visit to Quinta da Regaleira is over, return to the historic center of Sintra, then embark on the Estrada de Pena, a magical hike dotted with exotic vegetation and a beautiful path awaits you to take you to the Pena Palace.
On the way, you will find Villa Sassetti. It is a 1.2-hectare estate that includes landscaped gardens with winding paths, artificial waterways, and lush vegetation.
A few quick notes on its history : Villa Sassetti is a historic residence built between 1890 and 1894 by the Italian architect Luigi Manini for Victor Carlos Sassetti, a Portuguese hotelier passionate about his native city.
The hike is relatively simple, but it still takes a good 30-minute walk to reach the end.
Once you arrive, you will be in front of the entrance to Pena Palace.
Pena National Palace
That's it, you have arrived at the main place that everyone is waiting for: the Pena Palace.
But before you go home, you will have to pay for the entrance. And now you have two choices:
- Or you decide to only visit the park around the palace, with the possibility of seeing the palace up close. On Get Your Guide, the entrance will cost you €10.
- Or you decide to visit both the park and the palace. In this case, the entrance will cost you €20.
For my part, I could only visit the park, as all the places for entry into the palace were full.
Solo Backpacker Tip : I really recommend that you book your tickets in advance. As many tourists rush to visit the palace, get your tickets in advance.
It is of course due to its architecture and its very original colors that make this palace a very popular place for tourists. It is a mixture of medieval and oriental styles and together forms a palace that is very beautiful from the outside.
As for its surrounding park, take your time to discover the various exotic plants, as well as several guided paths to fully enjoy your visit to the palace.
What else to see and do in Sintra?
These are recommendations that I offer you if you still have time to spare. As a result, I did not do them due to lack of time, but that I would have liked to do!
- Monserrate Palace : a little less well known than the Pena National Palace, but its architecture combining Arab, Gothic and Indian culture at the same time makes it one of the places to really visit. You can book your tickets from Get Your Guide for a price of €12.
- The castle of the Moors : this castle is located higher up in the hills of Sintra. It once belonged to the Moors, a Muslim population of mostly Berber and Arab origins, originally from North Africa. You can book your tickets from Get Your Guide for a price of €12.
- Cabo da Roca : Located at the very western end of the coast of the Sintra - Cascais National Park, this place is simply a visual treasure. You will be amazed by its cliffs, its beautiful paths and the Atlantic Sea! To get there, go to the historic center of Sintra and then take The 1253 bus. The duration of the trip is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.
What to eat in Sintra?
For my part, I did not eat in a restaurant around town. But according to some recommendations, why not try these restaurants:
- Metamorphosis : Located right next to the Sintra train station. This is a well-rated restaurant that offers typical dishes from Portugal. The prices are affordable and start from €15.
- Tascantiga : Located in a very charming street corner in the historic center of Sintra, you can sit on the restaurant's terraces and have tapas, sandwiches or a drink during a lunch break! On average, the price varies depending on what you eat, but expect around €15 to eat well.
Solo Backpacker Tip : Given where you will be (or if you are already there in Portugal), plan to bring a sandwich or a picnic instead, because you will really have places to rest and just take full advantage of the nature that makes up the city. It's more economical, and more user-friendly in my opinion!
Conclusion
I really liked the city of Sintra, and all the monuments and historic districts that make it up. Clearly, a day will allow you to discover the beauty of the history of this region.
At this, you can take advantage of the surrounding nature to stroll and simply enjoy the beauty of the exotic vegetation.
So for me it is a place that must be visited, especially if you are staying in Lisbon or Cascais!
