SINTRA : ONE DAY

ONE DAY IN SINTRA

If you are in Lisbon, we highly advise you to go to Sintra, which is only a 40-minute train ride from Lisbon. You can use the same ticket you use for any transport within Lisbon city; the best deal is a 24-hour ticket costing €10.60, which allows you to use any transport in Lisbon and includes the round-trip train to Sintra. https://www.metrolisboa.pt/en/buy/

8:30 We strongly advise you to take the train early in the morning because there is a lot to see in Sintra. Once you arrive in Sintra, you need to take bus 434. The bus stop is next to the station entrance. The ticket costs €6 and can be purchased in front of the bus. This ticket allows unlimited rides on the 434 bus, which takes you to the most important monuments. If you are only spending one day in Sintra, this is the best itinerary.

10:00 The first stop is the Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle). The castle's origins date back to the 8th century and the invasion of the Muslim Moors from North Africa. The fortifications of the Castelo dos Mouros offer a great historical perspective and an amazing view. We advise you to buy your entrance tickets here for both the castle and the Palácio da Pena (the next stop). Purchasing a combined ticket (€21 per person) will save you money and allow you to skip the ticket line at the palace.

11:15 The second stop is the Palácio da Pena (Pena Palace), the most popular stop. You can walk between the two stops; it's not far at all and will save you time waiting for the bus. To access the palace, there is a small hill, so be prepared for your legs to burn, but it's so worth it. The Palácio da Pena is one of the world’s most magnificent palaces. Its Romantic architectural style is truly unique; we were so impressed and amazed by this monument. There are many lookouts to enjoy the views, and you can also visit the incredible interior. It's also Sintra's main attraction, so it's very crowded! Don't go too late, and if you can go earlier, do so! There is also a huge park surrounding the palace that you can visit. We didn't have time for it and decided to prioritize the park at the next stop.

13:00 Take the bus to the city center; it's the next stop called Centro Histórico (historic center). Here, you can have lunch and walk through the little streets of the town.

14:00 From the city center, you just need to walk 10 minutes to reach the last stop, Quinta da Regaleira (entrance price €8 per person). This extravagant 19th-century Gothic mansion is surrounded by the most elaborate of Sintra’s gardens. You will spend a lot of time in this incredible garden discovering caves, an initiation well, secret passages, fortifications, fountains, lakes, etc. We truly felt like we were in a fairytale landscape.

16:00 Walk back to the city center to take the bus towards the train station. Take the train back to Lisbon with the same ticket.

This day was intense and full of memories. We are really glad we visited the city of Sintra and discovered all these incredible and unique places. We spent a bit more money than usual for this day (€45 per person without food), but it was so worth it. We highly recommend doing this because you will not see anything like it anywhere else.