The Ultimate Self-Guided Walking Tour Of Sintra, Portugal
Sintra is a resort town that rests in the foothills of the Sintra Mountains in Portugal, not too far from Lisbon. What was once a summer retreat for filthy rich people and royalty now stands as a UNESCO World Heritage site littered with large homes, uniquely-styled castles, enchanting gardens, and more.
Is Sintra Worth Visiting?
While I’m not one to glorify the lives of rich people living grandly, a visit to Sintra was well worth it and is possible to do on a budget. The gardens captivated me more than anything and meandering about the winding and narrow roads gave me a sense that I had transported into one of the fairytale books that I had read so longingly as a child. Green flora and fauna seemed to peek through old windows and push through stone cracks throughout the city, leaving you with a feeling that you were close to nature even while submerged in a tourism hotspot.
What To Know Before You Go
I visited in the “quieter” months of the tourism season in January and the place was still pretty packed. If you can, avoid visiting during the summer months and go on a weekday instead of a weekend. We visited on a Sunday but were able to avoid long lines by buying our tickets ahead of time online.
This is the official website where, as of 2024, you can get a 15% discount for purchasing your tickets online in advance. That meant that while entering all of our stops was easy, once inside it was hard to find a quiet spot without tourists snapping pictures of every little thing. Waking up a little bit early to beat the crowds (as much as possible) is totally worth it! You can also find epic free walking tours of Sintra here led by a locals including a Portuguese Crown Jewel Tour; Portuguese Fairytale Tour; and History, Mystery, Tradition Tour.
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Do I Need A Tour Guide For Sintra?
If you’re anything like me and prefer to not zip around from place to place, skip hiring a tour guide and opt for a self-guided day instead. We saw three major attractions in one day and felt that it would have been a bit stressful and rushed with a scheduled tour guide, especially when you can read up on the place that you’ll be visiting online ahead of time or after your visit. But if you’d rather join a group and not have to worry about finding your way around while getting a history lesson, you can book a private tour of the city (wine tasting included!), hop on one of these free walking tours of Sintra, or check out these day trips:
Is Sintra Walkable?
Sintra is very walkable for those who are able to walk on somewhat uneven surfaces and don’t mind going up and downhill often. If you only have a day and plan on doing a self-guided walking tour of Sintra, I highly recommend getting on the 434 bus once you arrive and pay for a one-way ticket. You’ll also have the option to get a 24 hour ticket or a round-trip ticket, but the one-way is the most budget-friendly option and will leave space for you to explore more by walking from destination to destination. Here’s where you can purchase your bus ticket ahead of time.
After completing our day in Sintra, we were very pleased with our decision to catch the bus up to the Pena Palace and then walk the rest of the way back down. It can be a little confusing to walk from place to place without cellphone service like we did, but it’s all part of the adventure and there are many trail markers, maps, and locals who can point you in the right direction.
If you’re going to spend the day doing a walking tour of Sintra, be sure to get up and at it early in the day. The hours of admission vary during different seasons, so be sure to check the website where you bought your tickets and try to get to your first destination a little bit before it opens. We ended up getting to the Rossio bus station in Lisbon by 8 AM and that landed us in Sintra a little bit before 9 AM, which was perfect because that was when the first 434 bus left.
How To Get To Sintra From Lisbon, Portugal
The cheapest way to get from Lisbon to Sintra is to hop on the train at the Rossio station in Lisbon and take it all the way to Sintra. It’s pretty straight forward once you get there, and if you haven’t taken public transportation yet in Lisbon you can head to the ticket counter to buy your ticket or do it via the machine. Once on board you can relax because Sintra is the last stop (the ride took about 40 minutes) and your train will end its route in the Sintra station. Once there you’ll see a bus stop to your right where you can hop on the 434 bus and buy your tickets on board with cash or a credit card.
Or, if you have the money to spend and would rather go with a guide, this day trip to Sintra provides round-trip transportation.
What To Bring With You To Sintra
If you’re on a budget I highly recommend bringing your own plant-based lunch and snacks along with you for the day. While there are some vegan options in town, including a 100% plant-based restaurant called Mela Canela, food is a bit expensive and the restaurants can be crowded. Bringing your own food is better for your wallet and will help you save time that can be spent on admiring the epic beauty of Sintra. We ate our lunch in the gardens of Pena Palace, and the view was better than anything we could have found at a busy restaurant. There are many benches throughout the gardens and by the stables you’ll find some wonderful picnic spots in the grass.
Looking for easy and affordable plant-based meal ideas? Check out the complete food section in The Art of Unruly Travel on A Budget!
In addition to bringing a packed lunch, be sure to wear good walking shoes, have plenty of hydration on hand, and pack layers so that you can adjust to different temperatures during your day. In the summer you’ll want to pack sunglasses and sunblock but during the winter opt for a hat and a jacket instead. So you’re all good on food and clothing, but what about travel insurance? If you’re still in need of travel and health insurance for your upcoming trip (or even the one that you’re currently on!), check out my favorite insurance providers, SafetyWing.
What To Do In Sintra For A Day
I read online from other travelers that you could spend a full day just visiting one or two highlights of Sintra and a day and I believe it. But I have a hard time being immersed in large crowds for long periods of time, so a day in the actual downtown of Sintra was good enough for me. If you’re looking to stay longer and visit the rugged coastline or spend more time contemplating the wonders of Sintra (because, let’s be honest, it’s a captivating town), check you these budget-friendly accommodations on HostelWorld.
Catching The 434 Bus
As stated before, it’s easy to catch the 434 bus once you arrive to the Sintra station. Just walk outside and you should see a bus stop running parallel to the station. From there I had 3 places that were on my bucket list: the Pena Palace gardens, the Moorish Castle, and the Quinta da Regaleira. I recommend using your one-way ticket to bus to the entrance of the Pena Palace.
1. Enjoy The Pena Gardens
Despite the fact that we were one of the first waves to arrive at the Pena Palace, we could see a crowed of buzzing tourists eager to get their tourism on and get inside the castle. To save money and time we decided to skip the inside tour of the castle, which ended up being one of our best decisions of the day. If you’re interested in seeing the inside, remember that you MUST be on time with the corresponding ticket slot that you bought. Be sure to buy your ticket online ahead of time. If you are late they will not let you inside or reimburse you for your ticket. And come mentally prepared to tangle with a big crowd, regardless of the season.
If you’d like to skip the line and come prepared with an audio guide, you can purchase a fast-track entry ticket to the Pena Palace here.
Pena Palace Gardens
But if you’re like us and are more interested in seeing the castle from the outside and then spending more time in the gardens, just purchase a ticket for the Pena Palace Gardens. I recommend still walking up to the entrance of the castle so that you can see it up-close, but then it’s time to hit the greenery and get lost in a world of fairytale-like wonder. If you’ve passed the first ticket check, you’re technically in the garden. There is no specific entrance to start your garden tour. We decided to just follow our interest and go where we pleased, taking our time to follow the winding stone paths that took us past trees from all over the world, past detailed waterfalls, and to points of interest that we never imagined to see in a garden.
We spent a few hours walking around the garden and even had our lunch there in a nice sunny spot by the stables. When it’s time to leave, it is best to exit near the Valley of The Lakes (just follow the signs) and then pick up the trail to the Moorish Castle. It took us around 30 minutes to hike the trail up to the entrance once we got on the right track.
2. Traverse The Moorish Castle
As with all of these points of interests, be sure to buy your ticket for the Moorish Castle online ahead of time. Once you exit from the Valley of The Lakes, walk into the parking lot that is right in front of you across the road. From there, you can keep walking straight through the parking lot and end up on the hiking trail that will lead you straight to the Moorish Castle. The epic wall will tease you throughout the hike, so don’t forget up and to the left to motivate yourself to keep going.
Follow signs (or the crowd) to arrive at the Moorish Castle. From there it’s easy to scan your ticket with the gate keeper and walk the Moorish wall. We enjoyed walking the wall and catching bird’s eye views of the city below. When you’re ready for your last destination, exit the way you entered and continue your journey on foot.
3. Marvel At Quinta De Regaleira
Getting to your last destination can be done by following the signs that you’ll see for the “Historic Center”. You’ll follow the trail is marked by a red and yellow line (it looks like an = sign) and more signs posted along the way. The trail will take you out onto a street and eventually spit you back out into the city. This trail is completely downhill from the Moorish Castle, so if you’re going uphill it is time to backtrack and take out a map. Once in the city again you can follow signs, ask for directions, or consult your trusty phone GPS. The Quinta da Regalia chapel can’t be missed and the pathways inside are well market in terms of points of interest. If you’re looking to skip the lines, purchase your ticket online ahead of time.
I was completely in awe of the gothic architecture and nature-inspired buildings and grottos that filled the space. You may be tired by the time that you make it here, but be sure to at least visit the Initiatic Well before your visit is over. You’ve probably already seen pictures of it, but it’s what lies down below that really peaked my interest.
Taking The Train From Sintra To Lisbon
When it’s all said and seen, it’s time to take the train back to Lisbon. You’ll head back to the station where you arrived where you can check the board to see when the next train will leave. If you have any questions on how to get back, you can walk past the bus stop and you’ll find a building where you can purchase tickets, add credits to your train pass, or talk to a real human about any issues that you have.
Once on board sit tight and rest your feet until you find yourself back in the Rossio stop. If you’re looking for a good podcast to listen to on the train journey, the Unruly Travel podcast is here to keep you entertained. Tune in for epic adventures, exceptional storytelling, and practical ways to kickstart your adventures, regardless of income.
Traveling through England or Wale nexts? Check out my vegan and queer-friendly two week roadtrip guide!
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