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15 Things to Do in Magical Sintra Portugal

Sherianne Higgins·
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Top Things to Do in Sintra Portugal

If you are planning a trip to Sintra Portugal and looking for the best things to do, see, and eat while visiting, you are in the right place.  Sintra Portugal is a magical land of a Disney-like castle, a medieval fortress, an abandoned convent, and palaces nestled into the pine trees of Serra da Sintra National Park all bordering a rocky coastline of caves. Doesn’t it sound heavenly? It is! The cherry on top is the short inexpensive train ride from Lisbon making this fairy tale destination a simple day trip. The downfall is the enormous amount of people who also want to step into this dream and crowd your space! Browse the must-see attractions, off-the-beaten-path experiences, outdoor activities, and museums to create your personal Sintra Portugal bucket list. Then, plan the itinerary for your Sintra Portugal trip with these top things to do, see, and eat. Enjoy your time out of the office!

READ Complete Travel Guide to Portugal
READ Pena Palace: The Hilltop Fairytale

Purchase your train ticket online. Round-trip tickets from Lisbon are 5 euros. Start the day early there is a lot to see and do in Sintra. Purchase a tourist bus day pass. Do not try to walk from the train station. You do not have enough time and it is a steep uphill climb. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket, it may be cool at the top. Here are the top things to do to ensure you experience the magic of Sintra Portugal.

Quinta da Regaleira Day Trip to Sintra Portugal Things to do
Quinta da Regaleira

Things to Do in and Around Sintra Portugal

Explore the city center and shop for souvenirs

Have lunch or afternoon tea on the terrace of Tivoli Palácio de Seteais

Take a shot of Ginja from a chocolate cup

Stop at Casa Piriquita and buy queijada and travesseiro (sweet treats) for the ride back to Lisbon

Tour the colorful Pena Palace and stroll through the grounds of Parque de Pena

Hike Cruz Alta for the classic view of the palace

Explore the caves, gardens, waterfall, initiation well, and grotto of Quinta da Regaleira

See the gardens and atrium of the Monserrate Palace

Walk the walls of the Castle of the Moors and enjoy the view

Explore the Convent of the Capuchos abandoned monastery built into the rock

See how the Portuguese Royalty lived at the National Palace of Sintra

Stop in Colares for wine tasting on your way to the coastline

Head to Cabo da Roca to see Europe’s westernmost point

Watch the enormous waves at Cresmina Beach

Stop by Boca do Inferno before heading onto Cascais

Pena Palace Sintra Portugal, things to do day trip itinerary
Pena Palace
Convent of the Capuchos Sintra Portugal, things to do day trip itinerary
Convent of the Capuchos
Boca do Inferno Day Trip to Sintra Portugal Things to do
Boca do Inferno

Check the Sintra Portugal Tourism Board website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.

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  • Go City Card Save up to 50% on attractions, tours and activities.
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  • Visitors Coverage Pick the right travel insurance for you.
  • Use code SAVE10 to pick up a travel guide from Lonely Planet to browse on the plane.
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20 Responses

  1. We were planning to visit Portugal this summer but I don’t think it is going to happen. Sintra day trip was on the list too. Will pin it for later (hopefully later this summer)

  2. This definitely brings back some amazing memories of my time there as well! You’ve done a great job at capturing the essence of the city!

  3. I’d love to see the Pena Palace! Looks amazing from the photos! What do you mean by initiation? The cliffs are so high and scary but I’d love to see it in real! It’s another wonderland for Asians!

  4. I absolutely loved Sintra. Its such a beautiful place with the colourful buildings. I remember it wasn’t that long a train ride but i do remember having to climb up that big hill to get to the castle. It’s interesting to see it from your perspective.

  5. The Pena and Monserrate Palaces look like castles from Disney movies. It’s hard to believe places that magical-looking exist! Walking the Moors sounds like a lovely time as well! Time to book a trip to Sintra!

  6. We loved Sintra which we visited a couple of years ago. It was in October, so the place wasn’t very crowded but the weather was still quite warm and nice! Our favorites in Sintra were the Castle of the Moors and the Palace of Monserrate. The sky was turning grey when we went to the Quinta da Regaleira, but it was still stunning. You’re right to say that the train tickets to and from Lisbon are not expensive! That’s why we decided not to stay overnight in Sintra. Since it was only 5€, we preferred to return to Sintra for another day later on our trip.

  7. Sintra looks like a magical place. The architecture is stunning and the colors really do make it feel like Disneyland! But with wine tasting! Good to know that the train station is not walkable, especially since it’s uphill. I’ll make sure to pack some good shoes and a jacket! Thanks for sharing.

  8. How can we not love Sintra… it’s beautiful! But, then again, I’m Portuguese 😉 You’re right about the crowds, but when you see all these beautiful monuments, this magical village, all is forgotten.

  9. I would love to go to Cabo da Roca to see Europe’s westernmost point. Is this the terminus of Portugal’s Camino where you cast your possessions into the sea and come back reborn? Sintra is so beautiful and full of life.

  10. Wow! I love all of the colors of the village. So pretty. What is Ginja? Of course, the chocolate cup sounds good. It really looks like a fairytale village. Is there a place to swim at the beach? I see all of the beautiful cliffs, but not a beach. Lovely place.

    1. It’s a cherry liquor, quite strong. There are several beaches along the coast, the water is cold but has the largest waves I have ever seen, larger than Hawaii’s North Shore for sure

  11. We visited Lisbon several times last year. And missed Sintra on every visit. Now I am even more sad we missed it. Good tip about getting a day pass and not walking up from the train station! We would want to save our energy for the way up to Cruz Alta. The view from Cabo da Roca looks stunning. And is often not included on a day trip to Sintra.

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