Sintra City
City in Lisbon, known for its palaces
Sintra stacks palaces and parks on steep green hills: Pena Palace’s painted façades, Quinta da Regaleira’s initiation wells, Moorish castle ruins and narrow cobbled lanes. Day-trippers come for castles, coastal cliffs and travesseiros pastries.
Why Visit Sintra?#
Perched among forested hills outside Lisbon, Sintra draws visitors for its 19th-century palaces and romantic gardens, notably the colorful Pena Palace and the hilltop Castelo dos Mouros. The historic town center and pastelarias serving queijadas de Sintra and travesseiros add a culinary layer to the Moorish and Romantic-era architecture. It’s a compact place where palace-hopping, historic villas and cool mountain air create a marked contrast with nearby Lisbon.
Best Things to Do in Sintra#
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Sintra Bucket List#
Palácio Nacional da Pena - 19th-century Romantic palace perched atop Sintra with lavish decorated rooms.
Quinta da Regaleira - Mysterious estate featuring gardens, initiatic wells and elaborate grottoes to explore.
Palácio Nacional de Sintra - Medieval royal palace in the town center with iconic twin chimneys.
Chalet da Condessa d’Edla - Charming alpine-style chalet and secluded gardens within Pena estate’s grounds.
Convent of the Capuchos - Tiny Franciscan convent carved into the rock, noted for its simplicity and silence.
Praia da Adraga - A rugged Atlantic beach with sea caves and dramatic coastal walks.
Cabo da Roca - Westernmost point of continental Europe with cliffs and panoramic Atlantic views.
Cascais - Coastal town offering marina promenades, sandy beaches and lively seafood restaurants.
Best Time to Visit Sintra#
Sintra is most enjoyable in spring or autumn when mild temperatures and softer light show off palaces and forests without summer crowds. Summers are warm and busy; winters are cool and wet but atmospheric.
June - August
18-28°C (64-82°F)
Warm, often sunny days perfect for exploring palaces and coastal viewpoints, but expect crowds and higher accommodation prices.
December - February
8-15°C (46-59°F)
Cool, wet and quiet - castles look atmospheric in low light, fewer tourists and lower prices, but bring layers and rain protection.
March - May & September - November
12-22°C (54-72°F)
Mild temperatures, blooming gardens or soft autumn light - the sweet spot for sightseeing with manageable crowds and very pleasant walking weather.
Sintra's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Mediterranean - Warm-Summer Mediterranean climate with warm summers (peaking in August) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 8°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (734 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 14°C and lows of 8°C. Significant rainfall (102 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 22°C and lows of 15°C. Light rainfall.
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July
July is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 16°C. The driest month with just 8 mm.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 16°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 16°C. Moderate rainfall (30 mm).
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October
October is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (79 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 11°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 9°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (114 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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How to Get to Sintra#
Sintra is a short commuter rail ride from Lisbon (CP Sintra Line) and is well served by buses to nearby coastal and mountain sites. Trains from central Lisbon are frequent and are the easiest way to reach Sintra’s town centre and historic core.
Humberto Delgado / Lisbon (LIS): Lisbon Airport is the usual entry point for Sintra. From LIS take the metro (Red Line) to a rail interchange (Oriente or Alameda), then transfer to the CP suburban (Linha de Sintra) to Sintra - total journey about 40-50 minutes, combined fares typically around €3-€4 using a topped-up Viva Viagem card.
Cascais / Porto (regional airports): Cascais has no commercial airport; visitors from Porto or Faro will usually connect via Lisbon. Direct transfers from Faro/Porto are longer and usually done by train or long-distance bus.
Train: CP’s Sintra Line runs from Rossio (central Lisbon), Oriente and Entrecampos to Sintra - journey time ~40-45 minutes, single fares are around €2.25-€2.50 (use a Viva Viagem card).
Bus: Scotturb buses link Sintra to nearby sites (Cascais, Cabo da Roca, Colares) and run from Sintra’s Praça da República / central bus stops. Local buses are handy for hilltop sights not served by the train; fares typically €1.90-€3.50 depending on the route.
How to Get Around Sintra#
Sintra is most easily reached by the CP suburban train from Lisbon; once in town use local Scotturb buses, official shuttle/tour buses or taxis to reach hillside palaces. Walking covers the centre but attractions are spread and hilly.
- CP suburban train (Linha de Sintra) (€2.25-€2.50) - The Sintra Line is the primary public-transport link from Lisbon. Trains run frequently from Rossio/Oriente/Entracampo stations and take about 40-45 minutes to Sintra. Buy a Viva Viagem card and validate before boarding.
- Scotturb / local bus (€1.90-€3.50) - Scotturb operates several routes to Cascais, Cabo da Roca and local points of interest; buses serve the train station and town centre. Use buses for sites not walkable from the station (e.g., Moorish Castle access points).
- Tour bus / hop-on hop-off (€6-15) - Tour buses and shuttle services focus on the main attractions (Quinta da Regaleira, Palácio da Pena). They save time but cost more; useful if you have limited time and want to avoid complex transfers.
- Taxi / Private transfer (€35-60 (Lisbon-Sintra)) - Taxis and private transfers are convenient for door-to-door travel between Lisbon and Sintra or for flexible day trips around the Sintra hills. Expect higher cost but faster, especially outside train times.
- Bicycle / Scooter (€10-30/day) - Parts of Sintra are hilly and some roads narrow; a bicycle or scooter works for short distances but is strenuous and not ideal for steep tourist routes. Use with caution on busy roads.
- Walking - Sintra’s historic centre and many palaces are best explored on foot once you arrive; be prepared for steep climbs and cobbled streets. Comfortable shoes are essential.
Where to Stay in Sintra#
Historic centre / Vila - €25-60/night
Sintra offers several budget guesthouses and hostels close to the historic centre; book early in peak season.
Sintra Hostel - Basic dorms close to centre.
Various budget guesthouses (listings) - Small family-run guesthouses available.
Historic centre / Quinta da Regaleira area - €80-180/night
Strong mid-range selection in and around the old town, many in restored historic buildings with good services.
Tivoli Palácio de Seteais - Elegant palace hotel near the castle.
Pestana Sintra Golf Resort & SPA - Comfortable resort with good amenities.
Quinta da Regaleira / Penha Longa - €200+/night
Sintra and its surroundings host several high-end resorts and palace hotels - book well ahead during summer and weekends.
Penha Longa Resort - Luxury resort with spa and golf.
Tivoli Palácio de Seteais - Palatial luxury with gardens and views.
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Sintra’s restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Shopping in Sintra#
Shopping in Sintra is geared toward visitors: souvenir shops, bakeries selling local pastries (like travesseiros), and small artisan stalls around the historic centre. You’ll also find gift shops at major sights such as Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. For more conventional shopping or supermarkets, use the commercial areas near the train station or travel to nearby Cascais or Lisbon.
Nightlife in Sintra#
Sintra’s evening scene is relaxed and focused on cafés, wine bars and quiet restaurants in the old town. Late-night partying is rare; many venues close earlier than coastal resort towns. Summer evenings sometimes bring live music or cultural events, but if you want a busy nightlife you’ll need to head to Lisbon or Cascais.
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