How To Get Around Sintra Without A Car
Road Affair is reader-supported and may earn commission from purchases made through links in this article.
While the joys of visiting Portugal are now quite well known among travelers, many are still surprised by all the incredible destinations this beautiful state has to offering. That'southward because even smaller destinations like the town of Sintra are able to completely overwhelm you with their charm and wonders. Sintra may be i of the well-nigh popular day trips from Lisbon and would be reason enough to visit this part of Portugal even if Lisbon were boring (which information technology most definitely is not!)
To tell you why Sintra needs to exist in your travel plans and how to get the most from a visit, we've assembled this comprehensive guide to Sintra that's packed full of useful data. Hopefully it will answer all the questions you have regarding travel to Sintra, from where to visit to how to get at that place and just how long you actually need to experience information technology properly.
Don't Forget Your Travel Insurance!
Travel insurance covers you in the event of medical emergencies or evacuation, trip cancellation, and lost, damaged, or stolen luggage. Heymondo offers tailor-made, cypher-deductible insurance plans with COVID-19 coverage and 24/vii worldwide assistance.
Get Your Quote Now!
Brief Background of Sintra in Portugal
Rather than immediately dive into what to see and do in Sintra, let's starting time with a general background and what makes a visit special. The boondocks of Sintra lies within its ain municipality in Lisbon District at the human foot of the hills of the Serra de Sintra. From some outlooks, you tin conspicuously make out the nearby coast of the Atlantic Ocean, dwelling to beaches and the popular Cabo da Roca viewpoint.
While the natural beauty of the landscape effectually the boondocks is definitely impressive, the primary draw for tourists is usually its history. That's because Sintra is home to an enticing collection of castles, palaces, and villas, some of which even have a royal connexion. These sights and their beautiful Romantic compages hark back to the 19th century when Sintra was a thriving retreat for the majestic family and Lisbon nobility.
That said, there are landmarks and palaces in Sintra that predate this period as well. Near noteworthy are the medieval remains of the Castelo dos Mouros and the Convent of the Capuchos. Little wonder then that these impressive historical landmarks were classified past UNESCO as the Cultural Mural of Sintra World Heritage site.
How to Go to Sintra from Lisbon
Sintra is institute to the northwest of Lisbon just beyond its city limits. Well-nigh people visit Sintra equally part of their travels in and effectually the capital. The proximity means that you shouldn't take any difficulty adding it to your Portugal itinerary, particularly since there are a nice range of options for how to get to Sintra.
- On a Guided Tour: If you lot're looking to savor your visit without the hassle of finding your fashion almost, then it's best to go with a guided Sintra tour. Non simply do you lot remove the worry about send throughout the day, yous'll besides have someone show you the near interesting places and explain why they're so special. You can book a guided bout here.
- By Train: Past far the cheapest and easiest independent option for getting from Lisbon to Sintra is to travel past railroad train. From Lisboa Rossio station, direct trains depart every 30 minutes and take 40 minutes. Utilize your preloaded Lisboa Viva card to pay for the journey as you would for travel on public transport in the metropolis. Just make sure not to take the train to Mira Sintra-Melecas as that'southward a different identify entirely.
- By Car: If you lot're planning to explore more of Portugal beyond Lisbon and Sintra, it may brand sense to rent a car for your trip. Driving to Sintra from Lisbon is quite quick, taking just under one-half an hr to get to the town center.
How Long to Visit Sintra
When planning a trip to Sintra, most people terminate up only allowing one day to explore the town and its sights. While one day in Sintra volition definitely enable you to experience the highlights of this charming royal town, many visitors won't feel information technology to be quite long enough. Most solar day tours only include a few of the main Sintra sights to allow for stops elsewhere similar Cascais and Estoril.
It will ultimately depend on your interest levels in the local palaces and castles in Sintra and how long you spend exploring each. Then at that place are the woods and hiking trails through the hills, which are gorgeous and peaceful but something most people just don't have time for. Basically, if y'all're bang-up on seeing everything Sintra has to offer, and so you probably need at to the lowest degree 2 days.
This is where having flexible travel plans can come up in quite handy. You lot could always do a bout or 24-hour interval trip to Sintra to offset and and so meet whether you lot want to come back for another day.
How to Become Around Sintra
Sintra may not be a big town but its attractions are quite spread out, then you lot will have to give some idea to how you get around. Some means of transport volition depend on how y'all go in that location, but there are basically three options.
ane. On Foot
Not for the faint-hearted or unfit, it is possible to walk everywhere in Sintra if you're up for information technology. While wandering effectually the town itself isn't besides hard, things get more challenging when it comes to climbing the surrounding hills.
The Castelo dos Mouros and Pena Palace may non wait far abroad on the map, but the walking trails and roads are uphill all the mode. Look a much longer walk, through pretty wood listen you lot, if you desire to achieve the Convent of the Capuchos, however. Walking volition take up a considerable corporeality of time, so information technology'south best suited to travelers who programme on spending more than one day in Sintra.
two. By Tourist Passenger vehicle
A quicker and more sensible approach to travel in Sintra is to apply the local tourist buses designed to take you from one attraction to the next. At that place are several that run routes throughout Sintra and its hills, so you'll likely employ several different ones throughout the 24-hour interval.
Two routes worth knowing are the 435 from the station into the town center and the 434 bus that runs from the Sintra National Palace up to Pena Palace. The downside is that at that place are no ordinary local buses hither, and tickets for the tourist buses are relatively expensive. Individual tickets are from €3.90 for a single trip on the 434 bus, while a 24-hr ticket costs €15.10.
3. By Car
Finally, if yous're already driving over to Sintra, it makes sense that you use your car to go from one allure to the next. Information technology will certainly assistance with outlying ones like the Convent of the Capuchos. Off-white warning, though: the roads through the hills to many attractions can go quite narrow and winding.
Map of Sintra
Here is the official passenger vehicle map for Sintra to help plan your itinerary.
Best Time to Visit Sintra
As for virtually places in Portugal, some times are amend than others for your visit. Both Lisbon and Sintra are at their busiest during the summer months, when crowds of tourists flock to feel their civilisation and the upper-case letter's beaches. So, naturally, from the perspective of crowds and adaptation availability, summer is far from an ideal time to come.
Instead, the best time to visit Sintra is generally during the shoulder seasons of spring and early autumn. Visit either side of summer, and y'all still get the pleasant conditions and longer days while avoiding the hot conditions and peak tourist period. An added bonus is seeing all the trees and nature around Sintra blooming with life in bound and speckled with color during autumn.
Where to Stay in Sintra (or Lisbon)
There are really ii means you lot tin get nigh planning your visit to Sintra, regardless of how long y'all plan on spending there. Whether it'southward i twenty-four hour period or longer, you're going to demand to stay somewhere user-friendly. Your options really boil down to staying in Sintra with everything close by or traveling to and from Lisbon and staying in that location. Both approaches work well, so information technology'due south actually upwards to you lot.
one. Staying in Sintra
Even though it sees more often than not day-trippers, there'south a good for you variety of places to stay in Sintra. One nice bonus of staying there is that the town actually settles down once the day-trippers head abode, so you can soak in its quaint splendor in peace. Near hotels in Sintra are located betwixt the historical center and the Portela de Sintra area, although there are a few places amid its scenic hills.
If you're after a grand stay conforming the boondocks'south royal nature, Sintra Marmoris Palace is the way to get. Set inside a 19th-century manor house, this luxurious guesthouse is full of elegant touches, including a heated outdoor swimming pool.
For a glamorous stay without a hefty price tag, it's hard to beat Chalet Saudade, situated in the center of boondocks. Y'all'll get a cute room inside a magnificent historic building and a delicious breakfast too.
You tin can also find places to stay on Airbnb, which is fifty-fifty ameliorate when y'all get up to $55 off your adjacent booking by using our link.
There aren't equally many budget options in Sintra as there are in Lisbon, merely one dainty fundamental spot is the Lanui Guest House. With a friendly host, enviable location, and free breakfast, it has all the basics fix for you.
2. Staying in Lisbon
Near people choose to stay in Lisbon. This fashion you lot tin explore Sintra during the twenty-four hours and so have advantage of all the slap-up restaurants, confined, and nightlife in Lisbon.
To really have your trip to the next level, choose the excellent Santiago de Alfama boutique hotel in Lisbon'southward mannerly Alfama district. This refined and traditional hotel offers river views and plenty of condolement.
If you lot're interested in staying somewhere a petty more midrange, then y'all may want to look at The seven Hotel. Centrally positioned inside the Baixa district, this boutique hotel offers studios with chic decor and plenty of comfort.
Of course, there are Airbnb options in Lisbon as well. Be sure to employ our link on your side by side booking to go up to $55 off.
You lot should have no trouble finding hostels in Lisbon for budget travelers thanks to places like the Lisbon Destination Hostel. This slap-up hostel has a breezy expect to it with lots of room and calorie-free, not to mention a fun indoor patio area to hang out in.
For even more than accommodation options, accept a look at CozyCozy, a search engine that compares all the bachelor vacation rentals in Sintra and Lisbon.
Extra Tips for Visiting Sintra
Here are a few extra tips for visiting Sintra just to help as all-time we can:
1. Arrive Early or Late
Because Sintra is such a popular mean solar day-trip destination, it's by and large at its busiest during the late morning and afternoon. This means that if yous visit the most popular spots either early or late, yous're probable to take a more than enjoyable fourth dimension sightseeing.
Many attractions in Sintra don't open until 10 a.m., but if you tin go to them as they open up, they may be a little quieter. Alternatively, some attractions don't close until 6 p.m. in spring, summertime, and autumn, so yous could hold off seeing them until the belatedly afternoon. You may besides notice the calorie-free is ameliorate for photography at these times — non that these scenic places necessarily demand it.
2. Means to Relieve Money
Portugal is typically i of Europe'due south more affordable destinations, only it's e'er squeamish to save money where possible. One way you can reduce the price of a day trip to Sintra is with the Sintra Green Card. This special laissez passer bundles your train travel with the 434 motorcoach circuit and entry to Pena Palace, Sintra National Palace, and a museum of your choice.
3. Things to Pack
Sintra isn't the kind of place where what you pack is absolutely crucial, only at that place are all the same some things worth bringing for a pleasant experience. You won't take whatever problem getting nutrient or drinks in town, but make sure you're stocked up on h2o and snacks when you lot head off to walk effectually Pena Park or to outlying attractions like Monserrate Palace.
Most of the places to visit in Sintra are primarily outdoor destinations, so brand sure to bring a sun chapeau and sunscreen during summertime. Same goes for an umbrella or jacket if the weather is rainy. Information technology's too wise to clothing comfortable walking shoes if y'all plan on doing any walking or exploring the expansive grounds of Pena Park.
Best Things to Do in Sintra
Now that you have everything you need to plan a trip to Sintra, permit's take a await at the best places to visit so you lot can build your itinerary. This will by no ways be a complete list of attractions in Sintra, as there are plenty of villas and minor museums that you could make time to come across.
Of course, there is likewise the historic center which is worth a wander and the many walking trails through the forest of the Serra de Sintra. The following are just the most important attractions you may desire to go on in mind.
Pena Palace and Park
By far the well-nigh famous and most adored attraction in Sintra is the Pena Palace and Park. After all, it's not everyday that you become to visit a boldly painted yellow and red palace that would fit right in at Disneyland. It may exist hard to believe that the palace is the real deal, only its lively colors and unusual architecture trace back to its construction in 1854.
With a visit hither, you tin cull to either simply explore the park and the terraces of the palace or head inside and experience Pena Palace completely. Many volition exist content with only getting to encounter this vivid palace up close and have in the sweeping views it provides, but the ornate tiles and lavish furnishings of the interior are quite pretty as well.
Often rapidly skipped, the enormous park that surrounds Pena Palace offers plenty to see. Gentle walking trails lead right through the placidity forest and gardens, bringing yous to beautiful spots like the Chalet of the Countess of Edla and the scenic viewpoint by the Cruz Alta cross. Information technology's really from Cruz Alta that you get i of the all-time views of Pena Palace, and yet many visitors miss it completely.
Buy your skip-the-line tickets for the Pena Palace here!
Castelo dos Mouros
Sitting immediately over the town of Sintra are the crenelated walls and remains of Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors). Built by the Moors during their occupation of the region in the ninth century, this hilltop castle lost importance after the creation of the Kingdom of Portugal. Luckily, the castle remains were restored, and visitors today can walk along its walls, climb its towers, and appreciate the sweeping views that the castle boasts.
Buy your skip-the-line tickets for the Castle of the Moors here!
Quinta da Regaleira
I of many villas that grace the hills around Sintra, the Quinta da Regaleira is an extravagant gothic manor with one very special sight that y'all won't want to miss. The interior of this 20th century villa is quite stately and worth a walk through, but it's out in the villa park with its grottos and terraces where tourists will exist properly enchanted.
That'southward because the Quinta da Regaleira is home to the surreal Initiation Well, a deep vertical tunnel lined with screw staircases that make for an incredibly atmospheric place to explore. Trust u.s.a., the view from the lesser looking up is pretty astounding.
Sintra National Palace
Institute in the heart of the town and identified by its twin white towers, the Sintra National Palace offers far more than meets the eye. This palace actually dates back to the 15th century, making it one of the older attractions effectually town. Add together in the fact that this was a royal residence for centuries and its intriguing mix of architectural styles, and y'all have an attraction with lots to offer.
Convent of the Capuchos
An interesting contrast from the glamor of the local palaces is the humble nature of the Convent of the Capuchos. Hidden away in the forested hills, this historic convent is quite fascinating despite its modesty. That's because the personal quarters and rooms that one time housed the Franciscan monks are incredibly small, making you appreciate what living there must have been like. Another interesting item of this 16th century convent is the remaining cork paneling that in one case covered its interior.
Monserrate Palace
One terminal allure that'll you desire to exist mindful of is the beautiful Monserrate Palace to the w of the town center. While several kilometers abroad from the main sights of Sintra, information technology'due south also one of the most peaceful and quite different to the other places you will see.
Monserrate Palace has the strongest Mudéjar Moorish Revival influence of all the sights, even though the current villa dates from the same 19th century period as the others. Interestingly, the palace has a strong English language connection, having had a long list of English owners over the years.
Buy your skip-the-line tickets for the Monserrate Palace here!
Twenty-four hours Trip to Sintra Itinerary
The sample itinerary below is an all-solar day take a chance and is best done with a hop-on hop-off bus ticket. Don't effort to walk it all if yous only have a day in Sintra, every bit certain parts of this Sintra itinerary require a very long uphill walk.
- Pena Palace and Park: As soon every bit y'all arrive at the train station in Sintra town, hop on Bus 434 and head straight to the Pena Palace.
- Castelo dos Mouros: Walk from Pena Palace to the Castle of the Moors.
- Lunch in Sintra Town: Take Bus 434 dorsum to Sintra boondocks for some luncheon.
- Sintra National Palace: Afterwards dejeuner, take either Bus 434 or 435 to Sintra National Palace.
- Quinta da Regaleira: Walk from Sintra National Palace to Quinta da Regaleira. Once you are washed exploring, it's but a short walk back to the Sintra railroad train station.
So in that location you have information technology, a comprehensive look at the town of Sintra and what you need to know before you visit. At that place should be no doubt now that a trip in that location is essential when you travel to this region of Portugal.
Source: https://www.roadaffair.com/visiting-sintra-portugal-guide/
0 Response to "How To Get Around Sintra Without A Car"
Post a Comment