Sintra itinerary: 1 to 3 days
Plans for one to three days in Sintra, day by day: Pena Palace and the coastal village of Azenhas do Mar first, then the Convent of the Capuchos, Monserrate Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and the Castle of the Moors, and Colares and Praia da Adraga as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Sintra in 1 day
Day 1
Pena Palace
Brightly coloured 19th-century Romantic palace on a hilltop above Sintra, with royal rooms, terraces and a large park.
Quinta da Regaleira
Estate with a Neo-Manueline palace and mysterious gardens of grottoes, tunnels and the spiral Initiation Well.
Sintra National Palace
A palace in the centre of Sintra, known for its twin conical chimneys and rooms decorated with azulejo tiles.
Azenhas do Mar
Small whitewashed village spilling down a cliff to a natural seawater pool, with a viewpoint and a seafood restaurant.
Sintra in 2 days
Day 1
Pena Palace
Brightly coloured 19th-century Romantic palace on a hilltop above Sintra, with royal rooms, terraces and a large park.
Castle of the Moors
Medieval castle walls running along a ridge above Sintra, with views over Pena Palace, the town and the coast.
Sintra National Palace
A palace in the centre of Sintra, known for its twin conical chimneys and rooms decorated with azulejo tiles.
Azenhas do Mar
Small whitewashed village spilling down a cliff to a natural seawater pool, with a viewpoint and a seafood restaurant.
Day 2
Quinta da Regaleira
Estate with a Neo-Manueline palace and mysterious gardens of grottoes, tunnels and the spiral Initiation Well.
Monserrate Palace
19th-century palace mixing Gothic, Moorish and Indian styles, set in large botanical gardens with plants from around the world.
Convent of the Capuchos
Tiny 16th-century Franciscan friary in the forest, its cells lined with cork, a quiet contrast to the palaces.
Cabo da Roca
The westernmost point of mainland Europe, with high cliffs above the Atlantic, a lighthouse and wide ocean views.
Sintra in 3 days
Day 1
Pena Palace
Brightly coloured 19th-century Romantic palace on a hilltop above Sintra, with royal rooms, terraces and a large park.
Castle of the Moors
Medieval castle walls running along a ridge above Sintra, with views over Pena Palace, the town and the coast.
Sintra National Palace
A palace in the centre of Sintra, known for its twin conical chimneys and rooms decorated with azulejo tiles.
Azenhas do Mar
Small whitewashed village spilling down a cliff to a natural seawater pool, with a viewpoint and a seafood restaurant.
Day 2
Quinta da Regaleira
Estate with a Neo-Manueline palace and mysterious gardens of grottoes, tunnels and the spiral Initiation Well.
Monserrate Palace
19th-century palace mixing Gothic, Moorish and Indian styles, set in large botanical gardens with plants from around the world.
Convent of the Capuchos
Tiny 16th-century Franciscan friary in the forest, its cells lined with cork, a quiet contrast to the palaces.
Day 3
Cabo da Roca
The westernmost point of mainland Europe, with high cliffs above the Atlantic, a lighthouse and wide ocean views.
Praia da Adraga
Sandy Atlantic beach in a cove framed by cliffs and rock arches, with a beach restaurant.
Colares
Village west of Sintra known for its sandy-soil Colares wines, with a regional wine cellar and a vintage tram line.
Watch: Sintra
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Sintra
April to June and September to October are the best months for Sintra, with mild weather for walking between the palaces and gardens. July and August are busiest, with long queues at Pena Palace, though the hills stay cooler than Lisbon. Winter is mild but damp and often misty in the hills, with far fewer visitors.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Sintra on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Sintra on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Sintra on GetYourGuide
- From the airport: a private transfer in Sintra with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Portugal from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Sintra with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Sintra
- Pena Palace has timed entry to the palace interior; book online, choose an early slot and allow time for the large park around it.
- Avoid driving into the historic centre, where roads are narrow and one-way; the 434 bus loops from the station to the Castle of the Moors and Pena.
- Trains from Lisbon Rossio reach Sintra in about 40 minutes; go on a weekday morning to avoid the worst crowds.
- Arrive at Quinta da Regaleira at opening time to see the Initiation Well before queues form on its spiral staircase.
- The Sintra hills are often misty and cooler than Lisbon; bring a layer, and swim at the Atlantic beaches only where lifeguards are on duty.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Azenhas do Mar: The original uploader was Husond at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cabo da Roca: Olga1969, CC BY 4.0
- Castle of the Moors: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Colares: The original uploader was Husond at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Convent of the Capuchos: Mangelbenito, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monserrate Palace: Jorge Lobo, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pena Palace: www.GlynLowe.com from Hamburg, Germany, CC BY 2.0
- Praia da Adraga: Adrião, CC BY-SA 2.5
- Quinta da Regaleira: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Sintra National Palace: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
