A Sintra day trip fits neatly into a Lisbon itinerary: Sintra is about 28 km from Lisbon, and the trip is estimated at 40 minutes. The town’s palaces and parks make it easy to shape the day around historic sites, with the train from Rossio as the starting point.
- Getting there: The Sintra Line connects Lisbon and Sintra, with trains from Rossio station.
- Plan around: Reserved palace-interior entry times and the journey from Pena Park’s entrance to the palace.
- Tickets: Prices and opening hours vary by site; check the relevant official operator before travelling.
Is Sintra a practical day trip?
Sintra is a practical day trip from Lisbon because the two places are connected by train and the area has several major visitor sites. The National Palace of Sintra, Quinta da Regaleira, Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle are among the sites in the area.
For a relaxed plan, choose the sites you most want to see before setting out rather than trying to fit every palace and park into one day. Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle cannot be reached by private vehicle, and driving in Sintra’s historic centre is restricted to residents. Plan on using public transport or walking once you arrive.
How do you get from Lisbon to Sintra?
The train from Lisbon city centre to Sintra starts at Rossio station, and the Sintra Line connects the two. If you are sorting out how to reach the departure station within Lisbon, this guide to Lisbon public transport from Marquês de Pombal covers the city’s local connections.
CP publishes complete and short timetables for the Lisbon–Sintra/Azambuja urban line, as well as live departure and arrival status. Fares on Lisbon’s urban trains are based on the number of fare zones crossed. Check the official site before you go.
Lisbon’s urban train network includes the Sintra, Azambuja, Cascais and Sado lines, with 67 stations. The trains offer wheelchair accessibility and spacious vestibules for baby strollers.
How should you plan palace and park visits?
Plan palace visits around the ticket rules and opening patterns for each site, and leave time for moving between entrances. Parques de Sintra says its parks and monuments generally open every day apart from 24 and 25 December and 31 December and 1 January; individual sites can also close because of exceptional events, fire risk or extreme weather.
Pena Palace and Park
Pena’s Essential Visit includes the New Palace wing, the entire Park of Pena and the Chalet of the Countess of Edla. Transport is not included, though optional transfer and Park Hop On Hop Off services are available.
The park’s hours are 09:00–19:00, with last ticket and admission at 18:00; the palace is open 09:30–18:30, with last ticket at 17:30 and last admission at 18:00.
The Essential Visit costs €20 for adults aged 18–64, €18 for youths aged 6–17 and seniors over 65, and €65 for a family ticket covering 2 adults and 2 youths.
Entry to the palace interior requires a ticket for a chosen date and time. That booking time is the entry time for the interior circuit, with no delay tolerance, so allow for the approach from the park entrance.
National Palace of Sintra
The National Palace of Sintra is open 09:30–18:30, with last ticket and entry at 17:30. Its Essential Visit ticket costs €13 for adults, €10 for youths and seniors, and €35 for a family ticket covering 2 adults and 2 youths; children under 6 enter free.
Moorish Castle and Monserrate
The Moorish Castle is open 09:30–18:00, with last ticket and entry at 17:30. Tickets cost €12 for adults aged 18–64, €10 for youths aged 6–17 and seniors over 65, and €33 for a family ticket covering 2 adults and 2 youths.
At Monserrate, the park is open 09:00–19:00, with last ticket and entry at 18:00. The palace is open 09:30–18:00, with last ticket at 17:00 and last entry at 17:30.
Getting around Sintra
Plan to continue on foot or by public transport after reaching Sintra, particularly for Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle. The journey from the entrance to the Park of Pena to the palace interior entrance takes about 30 minutes, whether you walk or use the transfer service.
Advance online tickets require a reserved visit date. Parques de Sintra says these bookings can be automatically rescheduled on its website within one year. Check the ticket details for the site you plan to visit, especially if your day includes the timed palace interior circuit.
Timing, tickets and return travel
Build your day around the ticketed entry time and the site’s last admission, then leave time to get back to Sintra station for the return train.
CP provides timetable options and real-time service status. For a wider city plan around the excursion, a one-day Lisbon route from Marquês de Pombal can help you arrange the rest of your sightseeing separately.
Sintra is about a 40-minute trip from Magnolia Guesthouse, a bed and breakfast in Lisbon.
FAQs
Which train should you take from Lisbon to Sintra?
Take the Sintra Line from Rossio station in Lisbon city centre. CP publishes timetables and real-time departure and arrival status for its services.
Do you need a timed ticket for Pena Palace?
Yes. Entry to the palace interior requires a ticket for a chosen date and time, and the booked time is the entry time for the interior circuit. Allow about 30 minutes to get from the Park of Pena entrance to the palace interior entrance.
Can you drive to Pena Palace or the Moorish Castle?
Private vehicles cannot access either site, and driving in Sintra’s historic centre is limited to residents. Plan to walk or use public transport or an available transfer service.
How can you plan the rest of a Lisbon visit?
A one-day route from Marquês de Pombal offers a way to organize city sightseeing separately from the Sintra excursion.