Historic landmarks
Main monuments, best viewpoints, and what’s worth your time in Sintra.
Private transfers & day trips
Private Transfers in Sintra, Airport & Day Trips
Private and reliable transfers in Sintra, airport, hotel, business travel and day trips across Portugal.
Explore the best of Sintra
Sintra is in the Lisbon & Surroundings region of Portugal, about 28 km from Lisbon Airport.
Weather
17°CMostly clear
Lisbon time 16:09 • 05 Nov 2026
Nearest airport
LIS28 km
Lisbon Airport (LIS) · 28 kmRegion
Lisbon & Surroundings
Portugal
Population
385,606
Residents
Overview
Plan your visit: the sights of Sintra, what to eat and where to stay.
Sintra travel guide
Sintra sits in the wooded hills of the Serra de Sintra, about 30 km west of Lisbon. Kings and aristocrats built their summer palaces here, and the result is a romantic landscape of palaces, gardens and castles on misty hilltops, listed by UNESCO as a cultural landscape.
What to see
The colourful Pena Palace crowns the hills, with the walls of the Moorish Castle on the next ridge. Down in the village, the National Palace of Sintra is easy to spot by its two great chimneys, and Quinta da Regaleira hides grottos and an initiation well in its gardens. The Monserrate Palace is quieter and surrounded by a superb botanical garden. On the coast, Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of mainland Europe, and Azenhas do Mar is one of Portugal's most photographed villages.
What to eat
Stop for a travesseiro, a puff pastry pillow with almond and egg cream, and a queijada, Sintra's traditional cheese tart. Wine lovers should look for Colares, a rare wine grown in sand near the coast.
Nearby
Combine Sintra with Cascais along the coast road, or base yourself in Lisbon.
Getting there
Sintra is about 30 km from Lisbon Airport. Parking near the palaces is limited, so a private transfer is the easiest option: GoToo offers transfers at a fixed price per vehicle and full-day tours with the driver waiting between visits.
Landmarks · Cuisine · Hotels
Hotels & stays
Book the right stay in Sintra: best areas, smart picks, and options for every budget.
Pena Palace
A flamboyant 19th-century Romanticist palace perched above the Sintra mountains, yellow, red and tile-clad, with sweeping views and a 200-hectare park of exotic trees and grottos. Know more → Pena Palace
Moorish Castle
A 9th-century Moorish hilltop fortress with snaking crenellated walls along the Sintra ridge, restored in the 19th century. Sweeping 360° views of Sintra, the Atlantic, and on clear days Lisbon itself. Know more → Moorish Castle
Quinta da Regaleira
A romantic palace and garden full of symbols, grottos, tunnels and the famous spiral Initiation Well.
National Palace of Sintra
The best-preserved medieval royal palace in Portugal, defined by its two unmistakable 33m conical chimneys. Built on Moorish foundations and home to Portuguese kings from the 12th to the late 19th century. Know more → National Palace of Sintra
Monserrate Palace
A Romantic-era exotic palace fusing Gothic, Mughal and Moorish styles, set within Sintra's most spectacular botanical garden, 30 hectares of exotic plants from five continents, and far quieter than Pena. Know more → Monserrate Palace
Cabo da Roca
The westernmost point of continental Europe, 140-metre cliffs plunging into the Atlantic, an 18th-century lighthouse, and the famous Camões inscription "Where the land ends and the sea begins." Know more → Cabo da Roca
Azenhas do Mar
A cliff-side fishing village in Sintra municipality where whitewashed houses cascade down dramatic rock walls to a natural Atlantic swimming pool, one of Portugal's most photographed coastal scenes. Know more → Azenhas do Mar
Travesseiro de Sintra
Sintra's signature pastry, a flaky rectangular puff-pastry "pillow" filled with sweet egg-and-almond cream, invented by the Piriquita bakery in 1940 and still made from the same family recipe today. Know more → Travesseiro de Sintra
Queijada de Sintra
Sintra's oldest sweet, small open tarts of fresh cheese, egg yolk, sugar and cinnamon, produced in the Sintra region since at least the 13th century. Casa Sapa has been baking them since 1756. Know more → Queijada de Sintra
Colares wine
One of Europe's rarest wines, grown on phylloxera-free ungrafted vines in Atlantic sand dunes near Sintra. A DOC region demarcated in 1908, today producing less than 20 hectares of Ramisco reds and Malvasia whites. Know more → Colares wine
Mel de Sintra
Artisan honey from the unique microclimate of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, eucalyptus, heather, rosemary and wildflower varieties produced by small family beekeepers in a 145 km² protected landscape. Know more → Mel de Sintra
Casa da Vila Restaurant
A celebrated Pero Pinheiro restaurant ranked #1 of 4 in the village on Tripadvisor, Chef Xico serves traditional Portuguese cuisine with a focus on grilled fish, monkfish and seafood, plus a dedicated sushi space on the ground floor. Know more → Casa da Vila Restaurant
Frequently asked questions
Yes. In one day you can see two or three palaces, usually Pena, Quinta da Regaleira and the Moorish Castle or the National Palace. Book tickets in advance in high season.
Pena Palace is the most iconic; Quinta da Regaleira is the most fun to explore; Monserrate is the quietest.
Not really: roads are narrow and parking near the palaces is limited. A private transfer or tour with a driver avoids the hassle.
About 30 km. GoToo runs private transfers at a fixed price per vehicle, and full-day tours with waiting time.
Map of Sintra
Highlights
- UNESCO World Heritage Site with iconic palaces and castles
- Famous Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and Moorish Castle
- Walkable historic centre with cafés and local shops
- One of the most popular day trips from Lisbon
- Lush hills and cooler climate compared to Lisbon
- Easy to combine with Cascais on the same day
Private transfers in Sintra
- ✓ Fixed price · no surprises
- ✓ Up to 90 min airport waiting included
- ✓ Professional licensed driver
Getting to Sintra
Sintra sits about 30 km from Lisbon Airport, roughly 28 minutes by road. Public transport often means changes and waiting, and may leave you a walk from where you want to be. A private transfer takes you door-to-door, with a fixed price and no connections, from €51 from Lisbon Airport.
Events in Sintra
Upcoming festivals, exhibitions and cultural events in Sintra, with dates and venues. Information is updated regularly from official tourism sources.
Elisa (Miranda do Corvo)
Elisa (Miranda do Corvo) takes place on 14 November 2026 at Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, Sintra in Sintra.
Elisa, the Madeiran singer who won the 2020 Festival da Canção with 'Medo de Sentir', brings her heartfelt performances to the Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval. Influenced by classic artists like The Beatles and ABBA, she has since released her debut album 'No Meu Canto' and several new singles. Her gentle voice and stage presence make for an intimate live experience.
Venue: Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, Sintra · Official website
Pedro Abrunhosa, Tour Inverbo (Sintra)
Pedro Abrunhosa, Tour Inverbo (Sintra) takes place on 27 November 2026 at Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, Sintra in Sintra.
Pedro Abrunhosa takes his INVERBO tour to the Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval in Sintra, presenting material from his latest album alongside well-known songs from his back catalogue. The show reflects his focus on the power of language and poetry, blending new compositions with tracks that span several generations of listeners.
Venue: Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, Sintra · Official website
David Fonseca, Viagem sem Mapa (Sintra)
David Fonseca, Viagem sem Mapa (Sintra) takes place on 4 December 2026 at Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, Sintra in Sintra.
David Fonseca brings a musical and visual show to Sintra that takes audiences inside his creative process, exploring how ideas connect and transform into songs. Drawing on 25 years of career, the performance blends music with abstract and imaginative storytelling. It's an introspective journey through the mind of one of Portugal's most distinctive artists.
Venue: Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, Sintra · Official website
Os Quatro e Meia, Tour "Interior" (Sintra)
Os Quatro e Meia, Tour "Interior" (Sintra) takes place on 18 December 2026 at Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, Sintra in Sintra.
Os Quatro e Meia, a popular band from Coimbra known for blending fresh sounds with Portuguese music, brings their 'Interior' tour to Sintra. The format strips things back to a more intimate, relaxed setting, a nod to the band's university roots. Expect familiar hits in a closer, more personal atmosphere.
Venue: Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, Sintra · Official website
Bárbara Tinoco | “Tem lá uma tristeza” (Sintra)
Bárbara Tinoco | “Tem lá uma tristeza” (Sintra) takes place on 22 January 2027 at Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, Sintra in Sintra.
Bárbara Tinoco brings her acoustic tour 'Tem lá uma tristeza' to Sintra, performing alongside a string sextet for the first time. The show promises an intimate yet powerful atmosphere. One of Portugal's most celebrated young artists, Tinoco has earned multiple awards since her debut in 2019.
Venue: Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, Sintra · Official website
Nena | Debaixo de água, contigo (Sintra)
Nena | Debaixo de água, contigo (Sintra) takes place on 27 February 2027 at Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, Sintra in Sintra.
Portuguese singer Nena brings her 'Debaixo de água, contigo' tour to Sintra, performing both fan favorites like 'Portas do Sol' and new tracks from her latest album. The show moves between quiet, intimate moments and bursts of energy, creating a space for reflection and connection with the audience.
Venue: Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval, Sintra · Official website
Routes passing through Sintra
Longer routes that include this city as a stop.
