Although it is close to Lisbon and there is a direct connection, visiting Sintra may not be as easy as it seems. This is because Sintra is a mountain, has narrow streets (most of them one-way) and is smaller than you might think. Understanding this will make all the difference!
Keep an eye on these tips so that your dream day in the enchanted land doesn't turn into a real nightmare.
Start early
We know that when you're on vacation, the last thing you want to hear is the alarm clock. It feels good to sleep in a bit more and not worry about getting up early, right? Wrong, to visit Sintra it's best to come early.
Trust me, it will be worth it.
In Sintra, you want to start early, especially on the high season (that goes from April until the end of October). If you can arrive in Sintra before 9am, you'll be able to avoid the crowds and endless traffic queues.
At 11 a.m., Sintra starts to attract many people. That's a synonym for traffic and lines in some of the monuments. So if you don't want to get stuck in traffic or lines and lose time with that, wake up early and come starting at 9 to Sintra. The earlier you start, the more things you'll see.
Do not come with your private car
Avoid it at all costs. Sintra is not for amateurs. Even the locals who live in the town center find it difficult to get around by car on busy days, so avoid bringing your own.
Navigation in Sintra can be tricky, especially for first-timers. Most streets are one-way, and a wrong turn can lead to a long detour down the mountain, wasting precious time.
Many streets are narrow, and some roads are forbidden for private cars, only for guides and locals, like the one that goes to Pena Palace.
Many times, it is challenging to find parking spaces as well. If you're adventurous and looking for a good, free, and safe parking lot, go to Praça Dom Fernando II.
Taking an Uber to Sintra, will cost you around 24€, or you can even take the train to Sintra from Rossio (Downtown Lisbon) for €6 round trip. When you arrive at Sintra train station, be careful because you will be bombarded by supposed “guides” trying to sell you a transfer to the Palacio da Pena. You can read more about this here.
Be Prepared
That is a trap that many people fall into!
"Oh, it's hot in Lisbon, so I will put on my shirt and shorts and go to Sintra."
Get ready, you'll get freezing. Most of the summer, Sintra got around 30ºF less than Lisbon or Cascais.
So always bring a jacket or a sweatshirt, and don't forget the sun cream, if you spend a lot of time in the sun or in queues, you'll certainly appreciate not looking like a lobster at night.
Another thing to be prepared for (especially ladies) is to bring comfortable walking shoes. As already mentioned, Sintra is a mountain, there are many steep streets, lots of ups and downs, so please leave your high-heeled shoes at the hotel (they're a good option for going to a bar or disco, but not for coming to Sintra).
Sintra It's not just Pena Palace
Most people come just to visit the Palacio da pena, which receives around 6,000 visitors a day. That's a lot of people!
Sintra it's not only Pena Palace, or even Quinta da Regaleira. There's so much more to see and discover in Sintra. Sintra is full of stories and legends for those who like the idea.
Sintra is a county with more than 9 monuments that are possible to visit
Would you like the list of them all?
Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Monserrate Palace, Moorish Castle, Biester Palace, National Palace of Sintra, Seteais Palace, Convento dos Capuchos and Queluz Palace (Outside Sintra, closer to Lisbon)
So, If you're visiting on your own, please do yourself a favor and reserve at least two days for Sintra, and don't forget the "queijadas"
Buy your tickets ahead
Don't like waiting in lines or getting stuck outside waiting for your timeslot turn?
One of the key tips for a smooth visit to Sintra is to purchase your tickets in advance. This not only saves you from waiting in long lines but also often comes with a 15% discount.
This way, you can go straight into the monuments and even enjoy a 15% discount. Pena Palace (Inside) and Quinta da Regaleira are the only ones with a timeslot system.
Don't miss the coast
The coastline in Sintra is not just exceptional. It's breathtaking!
With its many beaches, villages on the cliffs like Azenhas do Mar, and home to the westernmost point of continental Europe, it's a sight you don't want to miss.
Have a tour guide
This is a big one!
With so much to see, learn, and magical history behind every monument in Sintra, having a tour guide will take your experience to another level.
If you're the kind of person who wants to relax, learn a lot, eat great food, have beautiful pictures taken of you, your friends and family, and not miss a thing, then this is it. In the end, this is why you're taking vacations. To relax and experience new things.
When you don't have a guide explaining what you see, you only absorb 10% of what you have in front of you. Having a tour guide makes you live what you're seeing with your eyes.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy this tour of Sintra by van with a local guide, or find out more about all our private tours.
The point here is not whether you can do Sintra on your own, which, with these tips, you will already be able to do. The point is to immerse yourself in the culture, history, and country and have fun!
Being a tour guide for 7 years has given me feedback from people who have never had a tour guide, who say that from now on, this will be their priority whenever they travel to a new country.
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If you're looking to have the right tour guide in an comfortable van giving you a full-day or half-day tour in Sintra so you can relax and enjoy this piece of paradise, just contact us and we'll help you with everything.
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So this is it! I hope these tips can help you visit Sintra!
Feel free to write any questions below.
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