Things to Do in Sintra

Protected coastal and forest landscape with marked walking trails from the town out to the Cabo da Roca lighthouse and coastal cliffs. No entry fee.

🕐 Open 24 hours; some trails may be closed in high fire risk weather. No facilities on the trails.

💡 Start from the town's train station and follow the PR6 trail to Pena Palace and then down to the cliffs. Wear sturdy shoes – the cobbled paths are slippery when wet.

A lavish early 20th-century estate with mysterious gardens, grottoes, fountains and the famous Initiation Well – a spiralling underground tower.

🕐 09:30-19:00 (summer), 09:30-17:00 (winter). Closed 25 Dec and 1 Jan.

💡 Buy the combined ticket with Pena Palace online to save a few euros. Visit the Initiation Well last – it gets crowded by mid-morning.

A 15th-16th century royal palace right in the town centre, known for its twin conical chimneys and richly decorated rooms with azulejo tiles.

🕐 09:30-19:00 (summer), 09:30-17:30 (winter). Last entry 45 min before close.

💡 The audioguide is included and excellent – it explains the tile patterns in detail. Go on a weekday afternoon for quieter halls.

A 19th-century Romanticist palace atop a hill, with colourful turrets and extensive woodland parkland. The exterior and grounds are partially accessible for free from certain public paths.

🕐 09:00-18:30 (last entry 17:30); park closes at dusk. Check seasonal variations.

💡 Skip the queue by booking online. The park alone is worth a visit for the views over the coast, and you can walk up from town via forest trails to save the bus fare.

Ruins of a 9th-century Moorish fortress with dramatic battlements and panoramic views of Sintra and the Atlantic. Low-cost entry compared to Pena.

🕐 09:00-19:00 (summer), 10:00-17:00 (winter). Last entry 30 min before close.

💡 Go early (before 10am) to have the walls almost to yourself. It's a steep 20-minute walk from the historic centre, but the exercise is worth it for the silence.