How to Plan a Day trip from Lisbon to Sintra: One day itinerary

Lisbon, the largest and capital city of Portugal, is also one of the oldest civilizations in Europe. This bustling metropolis boasts a rich and vibrant cultural heritage and is often considered as the gateway to Portugal.

Sintra is a picturesque town located around 19 miles (30 kilometers) from Lisbon and is known for its magnificent palaces, spectacular castles and beautiful beaches. Nestled in the hills of Serra de Sintra, this quaint Portuguese town has befittingly made its way in the distinguished list of a UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

We have visited Sintra a few times from Lisbon and can unequivocally vouch for  the exceptional natural beauty of the surroundings combined with some of the most awe-inspiring architecture you can find in the Iberian Peninsula. We highly recommend visiting Sintra, especially the acclaimed Pena Palace, also widely known as the “fairytale palace”.

Lisbon offers innumerable day trips to some of the most splendid destinations around the region and in this post, we have listed some of our recommendations to experience the charm of Sintra from the country’s capital city. Additionally, if you wish to add a few more memories to your day tour from Lisbon to Sintra, we have also included alternative trips that will help you to soak in the allure of Sintra and its surroundings. 

How to get to Sintra from Lisbon

Sintra is an integral part of the Portuguese Riviera and there are a few ways to get there from Lisbon. 

Lisbon to Sintra by Car Rental 

Renting a car is a great alternative for this round day trip from Lisbon to Sintra. During our second visit to Lisbon, we rented a car to explore Sintra along with its surroundings and enormously benefited from the comfort and flexibility rendered by this option. The one-way driving distance between Lisbon and Sintra is approximately 19 miles (30 kilometers) via A37 motorway and takes around 30-45 minutes. You can rent a car via Discover Car Rentals for the best car rental and insurance options.  

If you are planning to rent a car, it is worth noting that parking in a car park or on a number of public roads within Sintra requires payment. Additionally, access to some of the areas around major tourist attractions are restricted to authorized vehicles only, which means you will have to park your car in Sintra town and take a public bus to attractions like Pena Palace and Moorish Castle. During one of our Sintra day trips, we parked our rented car in one of the public car parks in the town and took Bus 434 to visit Pena Palace and Moorish Castle.    

TravelTip: For this round road trip from Lisbon to Sintra, you will be subject to motorway toll fees. Portugal has a very good network of autoestrada or motorways but driving on these motorways is subject to tolls. Car rental companies usually offer the option of renting a Via Verde device that enables automatic payment of tolls which will be charged to your credit card at the end of your trip.   

Book your Lisbon to Sintra Car Rental here.

• Lisbon to Sintra by Train

Sintra is well connected to Lisbon via train service. For this round trip, you have a number of trains departing from Lisbon’s Oriente Train Station (Gare do Oriente), Rossio Train Station (Estação Ferroviária do Rossio) and Santa Apolonia Train Station (Estação Ferroviária de Santa Apolônia). The first train from Lisbon usually leaves around 05:30 am  and the last train from Sintra Train Station (Estação Ferroviária de Sintra) departs around 11:00 pm, providing you with ample options to plan your departure and arrival in Lisbon. 

To access some of the prime attractions like Pena Palace and Moorish Castle, you can conveniently board Bus 434 from right outside the train station – less than a minute walk from the train station platforms. 

For more information on timetables/schedules, tickets and fares visit Comboios de Portugal – Schedule/Fares 

• Lisbon to Sintra by Private Tour 

A private guided tour is a fantastic option to visit multiple attractions in Sintra with ease without having to spend time mapping out the travel plan.

During our first trip to Lisbon, we booked this Full Day Tour from Lisbon to Sintra which included visits to Sintra Town, Pena Palace, Initiation Well, Sintra Palace and Monserrate Palace. The guided tours of the historic palaces helped us to gain a deeper understanding of the rich cultural heritage of these stunning architectural marvels. We had a comfortable round trip in an air-conditioned van and had plenty of free time to explore Sintra. 

Book this guided Full Day Tour from Lisbon to Sintra here

• Lisbon to Sintra by Taxi / Uber

One of the most convenient ways to travel from your accommodation in Lisbon to Sintra Town Centre. A one way ride by regular taxi or Uber takes around 30 – 45 minutes and typically costs between €30 – €45. If you are planning to taxi or Uber, be mindful of fluctuating rates depending on the time of the day and traffic conditions. 

Lisbon to Sintra Tour

Embark on this full-day tour from Lisbon to the town of Sintra, where you are guaranteed to be enchanted by a one-of-a-kind landscape that encompasses breathtaking vistas of innate beauty of architectural grandeur coupled with treasured legacy of the bygone era. 

Start your day basking in the good old Portuguese charm of Sintra Town Center, where you have tons of options to savour on some delicious breakfast and a brew. The town center also hosts a number of local shops selling traditional crafts and souvenirs.

  Whether you choose a bus/coach, train or private tour for this day trip, using 434 bus service to access Moorish Castle and Pena Palace in our opinion, is the most affordable and convenient option. Unlike Lisbon, the town of Sintra does not have a metro station. The road leading up the hill to the castle and palace is extremely narrow and has restricted access to private vehicular traffic or tourist buses. Bus 434, with scheduled departures from the bus stop located right outside Sintra Train Station (Estação Ferroviária de Sintra), follows a loop with stops at Moorish Castle and Pena Palace. The 434 bus service typically has departures every 15 minutes and a 2-way ticket for this service costs around €7.60. Tickets for this 434 public transport service can be purchased from the bus drivers. 

TravelTip: Some of the other alternatives to access Moorish Castle and Pena Palace  from Sintra town center include hiring a taxi/Uber or hiking up the hill. During busy seasons, hiring a taxi or Uber could prove costly given the uphill traffic congestion. Hiking up the hill to visit the castle and palace from Sintra town center takes around 1 hour one-way and given your timelines, we do not recommend an uphill hike for this day trip.

• Pena Palace (Palácio da Pena)

Pena Palace, the erstwhile residence of the Portuguese royal family, is undoubtedly one of the most iconic structures in the continental Europe. The palace was constructed under the patronage of King Ferdinand II and his first wife Queen Maria II around the mid-19th century and served as the official residence of the monarchy. Pena Palace is part of UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape of Sintra and a designated National Monument. 

Our first glimpse of the magnificent Pena Palace was nothing short of a captivating odyssey through some awe-inspiring architectural styles that gracefully added a touch of enchantment over the scene. We have visited this magical palace via private tour and by renting a car from Lisbon. 

Admission to Pena Palace

Opening Hours 

• Everyday from 09:00 am – 06:00 pm with last admission at 05:30 pm

Cost of Tickets :

• Entry to Pena Palace : €20 for Adults (Entry for children 5 years & under is free)
• Entry to Pena Palace Park and Exterior : €10 for Adults

You can purchase entrance tickets at the ticket office located by the palace gates, however remember you could experience long wait times during busy seasons. With this one day tour, we recommend beating the rush by booking your Entrance Ticket to Pena Palace  online. With the private tour option, your ticket covers admission to the palace.

• Initiation Well – Quinta da Regaleira 

Initiation Well, located within the Quinta da Regaleira estate, is approximately 1.6 miles (2.5 kilometers) from Sintra City Center. You can either take the 434 Bus from outside of Sintra Train Station (Estação Ferroviária de Sintra) or walk the distance from Sinta Town Center to the Initiation Well which takes around 20-25 minutes. If you plan on taking Bus 434, you will have to get down at Estrada Pena N16 bus stop which is a short 0.6 mile (1 kilometer) from the Quinta da Regaleira estate. Additionally, for this route, Bus 434 has scheduled departures every 15 minutes from Sintra Train Station. 

Designed by Italian architect Luigi Manini, the Initiation Well is one of the main attractions at Quinta da Regaleira Estate. This 19th century UNESCO World Heritage Site encompasses the Palace of Regaleira surrounded by beautiful gardens complete with fountains and statutes, the Regaleira Chapel of the Holy Trinity and the renowned Initiation Well.

  The Well, built between 1904 and 1911, epitomizes symbolism rooted in initiation ceremonies and is essentially an inverted tower that descends around 27 meters into the earth. This unique structure has a nine-level spiral descending staircase that connects to an underground grid of tunnels and caves that boasts multiple egress to attractions, including an underground lake and a waterfall. Visitors can walk down this spiral staircase and discover the fascinating stories and secrets hidden within the passages and walls of this captivating Initiation Well.

Book your Entry to Quinta da Regaleira  and skip the queue to access this Portuguese National Monument.

Plan to spend around 1.5-2 hours at Quinta da Regaleira

Admission to Quinta da Regaleira

Opening Hours 

• Everyday from 09:30 am – 07:00 pm with last entry at 05:30 pm

Cost of Tickets :

• Entry to Quinta da Regaleira : €21 for Adults (Entry for children 5 years & under is free)

• Moorish Castle (Optional Activity)

Given the time constraints for this day trip, we suggest keeping a visit to the Moorish Castle as an optional excursion. If you are taking the 434 service, the bus stops at the Moorish Castle before continuing to Pena Palace. Additionally, if you opt for the private guided tour from Lisbon to Sintra, this castle is not covered in the itinerary but you will get a chance to pass by this historic place.

Perched on the hill of Serra de Sintra, this castle was built by the Moors during the 8th and 9th centuries. The castle with its elevated location and defensive fortifications, enjoyed a strategic advantage against invasions. Today, the castle viewpoints offer outstanding panoramic vistas of Sintra and the surroundings. 

Admission to Moorish Castle

Opening Hours 

• Everyday from 09:30 am – 06:00 pm with last admission at 05:30 pm

Cost of Tickets

• Entry to Moorish Castle : €12 for Adults, €10 for Youths and Seniors
• Entry to Moorish Castle + Pena Palace : 

• National Palace of Sintra (Palácio Nacional de Sintra)

Located in Sintra city centre, the National Palace of Sinta is one of the oldest palaces in Portugal. The palace, for centuries, has hosted the Portuguese monarchy, leaving a legacy of distinctive contributions and enduring memories. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the National Palace of Sinta continues to be one of the best-conserved medieval structures in Portugal. 

Discover the grandeur of the Sintra National Palace, where Moorish, Gothic, Mudejar, Baroque, Manueline, and Renaissance influences tastefully unite in harmonious splendor. As you step inside the rooms of this iconic national palace, you will be instantly intrigued by its opulent interiors, embellished with elaborate ceilings, gorgeous azulejos tilework and tasteful furnishings that reflect the affluent lifestyles of the former royals. Admire Sintra’s enduring symbol—the palace’s two towering 33-meter-high chimneys, towering over the city for over 500 years, serving the grand royal kitchen.  

Plan to spend around 1 hour at National Palace of Sinta

Admission to National Palace of Sintra

Opening Hours 

• Everyday from 09:00 am – 06:00 pm with last admission at 05:30 pm

Cost of Tickets

• Entry to National Palace of Sinta : €13 for Adults, €10 for Youths and Seniors
• Entry to Moorish Castle + Pena Palace : 

Book your Entry to the National Palace of Sintra and skip the queue to enter this Portuguese heritage site.