Sintra, Portugal: the Land of Castles and Coast

Sintra, Portugal was the most surprising stop on my January backpacking trip in 2019. The small town was overflowing with historic castles, extravagant palaces, and pastel-colored mansions dotting the landscape. The scenery I experienced in Sintra was unlike anything I had ever seen, making it my new favorite city in Europe.

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How to Visit Sintra, Portugal

Sintra is a popular day trip from Portugal’s capital, Lisbon. The cheap train tickets make the trip extremely enticing to even the most budget travelers in Portugal. To visit Sintra, grab a train from the Rossio-Sintra station. Trains to Sintra leave every half hour, and tickets cost only a few euros. The very last stop on the train is the center of Sintra.

My Experience in Sintra

Sintra amazed me with its diverse beauty in such a small space. The city is relatively small but packed with multiple places of interest. My only issue with Sintra is that each of the palaces and castles has an entrance fee if you want to go inside. As I was budgeting fairly heavily, I opted out of going inside, and instead admired the architecture and gardens outside.

Sunset views from Sintra historical center

After getting off the train, I and two other backpackers were immediately swarmed with locals offering rides around the city, and companies offering self-guided car tours. We decided to hire a local to drive us around and show us local sites for €20 rather than riding the crowded bus to the typical tourist locations. The locals took us to some lookout points so we could admire the architecture (for free!), and some local spots on the beach and in the mountains. Getting to know some locals were the best part of the trip!

What to See in Sintra, Portugal

As I said before, I only visited areas that did not require an admission fee. However, I will include the most popular palaces and mansions in this post to visit in the city. I did go to see the outside of them but did not enter due to my tight budget.

Locations with an Admission Fee

All of the palaces and mansions in Sintra have an entrance fee. However, if your budget allows, they are well worth it! The buildings range from the vividly painted Palácio Nacional da Pena, the lavish Quinta da Regaleira mansion, and the gothic palace Palácio Nacional da Sintra. Each of these buildings offers its own unique history and architecture. The Castelo dos Mouros is another historic castle, as it was the Moorish castle that was conquered by the Christian forces in 1147. I will definitely be back to explore the inside of these incredibly beautiful buildings! The 434 bus line will take you directly to each of these locations, and many visitors opt to take the bus as a cheap way to see the sights of the city.

The Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal

Locations with no Admission Fee

All of the palaces and mansions can be seen from the outside for free, and some of the grounds can be accessed for free as well. However, there are multiple beautiful spots in Sintra that are free to enjoy!
The historic center of the city is free to walk around and enjoy. You will exit the train right in the middle of the center! Walk around and enjoy the pastel buildings and the views of the historic palaces in the distance.

Visiting Portugal in January made for some chilly days, but a visit to Praia da Adraga Beach was still a must. This beach has been lucky enough to not be overrun with touristy restaurants and is mostly hidden from visitors. As such, this is a local hangout with a couple of great, small bars and a nearly empty beach surrounded by mountain peaks.

My personal favorite location in Sintra is the peaks of the mountains. The peak Cabo da Roca is by far the most popular and therefore the most crowded, but there are other hidden spots along the mountains for great views and little crowds. Cabo da Roca holds the Cabo da Roca lighthouse, which is the westernmost location in Portugal, and all of continental Europe. My local guide took me up a terrifying hidden dirt road to a different, unnamed peak. However, I still got a beautiful view of the lighthouse and the Atlantic ocean. The views of the sunset are breathtaking from this viewpoint!

Sintra mountains and Cabo Da Roca Lighthouse — The view of the Cabo da Roca Lighthouse from an unnamed mountain peak

Sintra is definitely worth a day visit from bustling Lisbon. There’s so much to explore in this small city that I would even suggest staying for a few days if you can! I will definitely be back to this gorgeous, laid back city in the future.