The colourful Pena Palace, Sintra - Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)Chaguo zilizobinafsishwa kulingana na mapendeleo yako na yaliyo karibu.
Sintra is a small hill town and UNESCO World Heritage landscape a short train ride northwest of Lisbon, where romantic palaces, ruined castles and dense green forest crowd a range of misty hills. Its symbol is the Pena Palace, a riot of red and yellow towers and Moorish domes perched on a peak above the trees, while…
Wakati mzuri wa kutembelea
Start at Pena Palace at opening time before the tour buses arrive, then work downhill through the sights to stay ahead of the crowds.
Vivutio na uzoefu unaostahili muda wako — kwa bei za uaminifu.
The famous romantic palace of red and yellow towers and Moorish domes crowning a forested peak, Sintra's must-see sight. Book a timed ticket online well ahead, arrive early, and allow time for the walk or shuttle up from the ticket gate through the park.
A romantic estate of gardens, grottoes, towers and the spiral Initiation Well descending underground, rich in symbolism. Ticketed entry with lots of walking and steps; go early to explore the tunnels and well before the crowds arrive.
The ruined tenth-century hilltop ramparts of the Castelo dos Mouros, snaking along a ridge with sweeping views over the town and coast. Ticketed entry with a steep climb along the walls; wear grippy shoes and take care in wind or rain.
The medieval royal palace in the heart of the old town, unmistakable for its two huge white conical kitchen chimneys and tiled interiors. Ticketed entry and central, so it is easy to combine with a wander and a pastry in the village.
The must-try local dishes, sweets and fruits — including the exotic ones you won't find back home.
SweetPhilip Mallis / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0A long, puffed pastry pillow, its name meaning cushion, made of flaky layers rolled around a sweet almond and egg-yolk cream and dusted with sugar. Created in Sintra's old town and most associated with the historic Piriquita bakery, it is the town's signature treat, best eaten fresh and warm.
Buy them fresh from a village bakery such as Piriquita and eat the same day; a short queue at the famous shop is normal, but nearby bakeries sell them too.
A small, firm sweet tart of fresh cheese, sugar, egg and cinnamon in a thin crisp pastry case, recorded in Sintra since the Middle Ages and once even used to pay rents. Sold in little paper-wrapped bundles, it is the town's oldest sweet and a lighter companion to the richer travesseiro.
They come in small bundles and keep a day or two, so they travel better than the travesseiro; try one of each with a coffee in the old town.
Ask travelers and locals — or help others and earn points.
Real restaurants, cafés, sights and things to do across the city — live from the map, with our fair-price and scam intelligence on top.
Kile wenyeji hulipa — angalia bei kabla ya kutoa fedha taslimu.
Weka nafasi moja kwa moja — mara nyingi ni nafuu kuliko kwenye majukwaa, na mara nyingi hutoa ughairi wa bure.
Uliza kuhusu kiwango cha mwanachama au cha programu pekee — mara nyingi kimefichwa kutoka kwa bei ya umma.
Uliza kuhusu kiwango cha mwanachama au cha programu pekee — mara nyingi kimefichwa kutoka kwa bei ya umma.
Bei kama hii mara nyingi hushuka karibu na tarehe — inafaa kusubiri kama mipango yako ni rahisi kubadilika.
Uliza kuhusu kiwango cha mwanachama au cha programu pekee — mara nyingi kimefichwa kutoka kwa bei ya umma.
Umeweka nafasi moja kwa moja? Wauzaji wengi hutoa ughairi wa bure ndani ya saa 24.
Weka nafasi moja kwa moja — mara nyingi ni nafuu kuliko kwenye majukwaa, na mara nyingi hutoa ughairi wa bure.
Nauli halisi, si bei za watalii.
The suburban line from Lisbon's Rossio and Oriente stations reaches Sintra in about forty minutes and is by far the cheapest and easiest way in. Trains are frequent; avoid peak times and use a rechargeable transport card.
A metered taxi or ride-hailing car from Lisbon covers the roughly thirty kilometres in around forty-five minutes but costs many times the train fare. Worthwhile only for a group or with heavy luggage.
Driving is quick from Lisbon but Sintra's narrow hill roads are congested and parking near the palaces is very limited in peak season. Park in the town and use the bus or a tuk-tuk rather than driving up to Pena.
The 434 circular bus links the station, the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace on a one-way loop and saves the steep climb. A day ticket beats singles, though queues build at peak times, especially going up.
Taxis and tuk-tuks run between the town and the hilltop palaces for those who prefer not to wait for the bus. Agree a total price and route first, and compare with the far cheaper 434.
The old town around the National Palace is best explored on foot, but the lanes are steep and cobbled. Walking up to Pena or the Moorish Castle through the park is possible but a hard, long climb best saved for cool mornings.
Late spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) bring mild, greener days and thinner crowds than the summer peak. Sintra's hills are often misty and noticeably cooler and wetter than Lisbon, so bring a layer, and avoid summer weekends when the palaces and roads are busiest.
Take the suburban train from Rossio or Oriente station; it runs every twenty minutes or so, takes about forty minutes and is very cheap. It is far better value than a taxi or organised tour for most visitors.
Yes for Pena Palace especially, which uses timed tickets that sell out in peak season. Book Pena and Regaleira online ahead, arrive early, and expect queues even with a ticket at the busiest times.
Yes, and most people do. A full day covers two or three sights at a sensible pace, typically Pena and Regaleira plus the town, but you cannot realistically do every palace well in one day.
The 434 tourist bus loops from the station up to the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace, and tuk-tuks and taxis also run up the hills. Walking is possible but steep, so save it for cool mornings and downhill stretches.
Sintra is famous for two pastries: the travesseiro, a long puff-pastry pillow filled with almond and egg cream, and the queijada, a small sweet cheese tart. Both are best eaten fresh from a village bakery such as Piriquita.