Holiday in Sintra
City in Portugal — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇵🇹
Country
Portugal
Type
City
Best time to travel
April–June, September–October
Budget/day
80–130 €
Getting there from Germany
By train from Lisbon Rossio in 40 minutes. Lisbon is reachable by direct flight from Germany in about 3 hours.
About Sintra
Sintra is a fairy-tale masterpiece of extravagant palaces, enchanted gardens, and mystical forests, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. Located just 30 kilometers west of Lisbon, some of the most extraordinary buildings in Europe crown the fog-covered hills of the Serra de Sintra. The Palácio Nacional da Pena, a colorful castle in red, yellow, and violet, combines Moorish, Gothic, and Manueline styles into an architectural unique, often referred to as the Neuschwanstein of Portugal. The Quinta da Regaleira fascinates with its mysterious initiation well — a 27-meter deep spiral staircase that leads into the earth and is permeated with Masonic symbolism. Underground tunnels connect the well with grottos and an artificial lake. The Palácio Nacional in the city center, with its two distinctive chimneys, was the summer residence of Portuguese kings for centuries. The Castelo dos Mouros, a Moorish fortress ruin from the 8th century, offers breathtaking views over Sintra to the Atlantic from its ramparts. The region is famous for its Queijadas and Travesseiros — traditional pastries best tasted at the historic bakery Piriquita. Sintra is perfectly explored as a day trip from Lisbon, but those wishing to visit all the palaces and the nearby Cabo da Roca — the westernmost point of Europe — should plan for at least two days.
Top 4 highlights in Sintra
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Palácio da Pena
The colorful palace on a hilltop is the masterpiece of Romanticism in Portugal and offers views to the Atlantic on clear days.
Quinta da Regaleira
The mysterious estate impresses with the famous initiation well, a spiral tower that leads 27 meters deep.
Castelo dos Mouros
The ruins of the Moorish castle from the 8th century sit atop a ridge and offer spectacular views.
Palácio Nacional de Sintra
The national palace in the town center with its two distinctive conical chimneys was a royal residence for over 500 years.
Hotels in Sintra
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
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Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to travel for Sintra
Recommended travel time
April–June, September–October
Summer
Mild, 20–27 °C, often foggy in the morning
Winter
Cool, 8–14 °C, damp and green
How much does a holiday in Sintra cost?
Average costs per person per day
Budget
40–60 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
80–130 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
180–350 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
Book a package holiday to Sintra
Compare thousands of package holidays to Sintra and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays now5 travel tips for Sintra
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Arrive as early as possible (before 9:30 AM) – Sintra gets extremely crowded by noon.
Buy combo tickets for multiple palaces online in advance to avoid queues.
Wear sturdy footwear – the paths between the sights are steep and sometimes unpaved.
Bus 434 connects the train station with the Palácio da Pena and the Castelo dos Mouros.
Try the Queijadas de Sintra and Travesseiros – local pastry specialties since the 13th century.
Food & drink in Sintra
These specialties you must try!
