Sintra in one day
Sintra lies in the hills northwest of Lisbon. The town has several palaces, a castle, a large estate with gardens and a village centre, all spread over steep slopes. You cannot see everything in a day. Most visitors pick two or three sights and plan around the time slots.
The key rule for 2026: the Pena Palace ticket carries a fixed time slot for the palace, and you cannot get in if you are late. Plan the rest of the day around that slot, not the other way round.
Getting to Sintra by train
The train is the simplest way and the one the park operator recommends over driving.
Which station
Trains of the Sintra line leave from Rossio in the centre of Lisbon. They also stop at Oriente and Entrecampos. The ride takes about 40 minutes.
Airport to city →Check the destination
On the Rossio departure board, trains leave in a 20-minute pattern. They alternate between Sintra and Mira Sintra-Meleças, so not every train goes all the way. Read the destination before you board. On weekends the gaps can be longer.
What it costs
A single trip costs roughly €2.50, but fares were not confirmed for 2026, so check the current CP tariff. If you also use metro, buses or the Cascais line that day, the 24-hour ticket for €11.40 covers the Sintra and Cascais lines. The Navegante card costs €0.50 extra.
Lisboa Card →Our picks: Sintra from Lisbon
Check which option includes the palace tickets before you book.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Sintra, Pena, Regaleira, Cabo and Cascais by minivan
A minivan with a live guide in seven languages. Pena and Regaleira entries are only included with the ticket option; no hotel pick-up.
Check availability →
Sintra, Pena, Cascais and Cabo day tour with tickets
A van from Avenida da Liberdade with a guided Pena visit, depending on the option, plus free time in Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais.
Check availability →
Sintra, Pena, Regaleira, Cabo da Roca and Cascais
A guided day with Guincho beach and free time in Cascais. The low from-price is without entry tickets; Pena and Regaleira only with the ticket option.
Check availability →Sintra tours from Lisbon
Guided day trips with transport, small-group palace tours and combinations with Cascais and Cabo da Roca, with live prices and availability.
From the station to the palaces
The sights lie on the hills above the station. Private vehicles have no access to the roads leading to Pena and the Moorish Castle, and traffic in the historic centre is limited to residents. Visitors who drive have to use car parks on the edge of town, such as Lourel, and continue by bus or on foot. In 2026 the municipality tightened signs and traffic checks under a mobility plan for the village.
Two bus lines serve the sights. Bus 434 runs the Pena circuit and operates roughly from 8:50 am to 6:40 pm, about every 10 minutes. Bus 435 serves Monserrate, Quinta da Regaleira and Seteais and starts around 9:00 am. Travellers report that the 435 is less reliable. A 24-hour hop-on hop-off ticket costs €13.50; buying online is cheaper by about 8 percent.
The Lisboa Card is not valid on buses 434 and 435. Rides with Uber and similar services are possible only from marked stops, which the park operator shows on its map.
Sintra ticket prices 2026
Adult prices, ages 18 to 64, as published for 2026. Older guides quote lower numbers.
| Sight | Adult price | Other prices | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pena Palace, Essential Visit | €20 | Ages 6 to 17 and 65+: €18; family €65 | Fixed palace time slot |
| Pena Palace, Full Tour | €45 | Youth €20; seniors €35; family €115 | All accessible rooms, groups of up to 20 |
| Pena Park only | €12 | Youth and seniors €10; family €40 | No palace entry |
| Moorish Castle | €12 | Youth and seniors €10; family €33 | Ticket office closed 12:00 to 13:00, machines work |
| Monserrate | €12 | Youth and seniors €10; family €33 | Restoration work in the palace until March 2027 |
| Sintra National Palace | €13 | Full Visit €35 | Royal chapel under restoration |
| Quinta da Regaleira | €20 | Ages 6 to 17 and 65+: €15; family €60 | Time slot at the start of the visit |
With the Lisboa Card the Sintra palaces are not free. You get a discount, but you have to show the card at the ticket office and pay the difference. Buying online with the card is not possible.
The Pena time slot
The Pena Palace ticket is valid for a date and a time. That time applies to the palace, not to the park entrance. Arrive before your slot and you wait. Arrive after it and you are not admitted and not refunded.
From the park entrance to the palace is about 30 minutes uphill. You can walk, or add the shuttle for €4.50 return (from age 6), which you buy in advance. Online tickets can be rebooked for up to a year. Details on prices and opening hours are on our Pena Palace page.
On 11 November 2026 Pena closes at 2 pm. Work continues in parts of the park after storm damage in March 2025, with no end date announced.
The best order for the day
The park operator suggests a Pena palace slot in the afternoon, when it is currently less busy, and the park in the morning.
Morning: Regaleira or the castle
Take an early train and go to Quinta da Regaleira first. It has a time slot at the start of the visit with up to one hour of tolerance. Alternatively, start with the Moorish Castle from 9:30 am.
Quinta da Regaleira →Midday: eat and ride
Use the bus ticket to get up the hill. If you chose the castle, note that its ticket office closes from 12:00 to 13:00.
Afternoon: Pena
Book a slot after lunch and be at the park entrance about 30 minutes before. The palace closes at 6:30 pm with last entry at 5:30 pm.
Pena Palace →Evening: back to Lisbon
The last Pena departure of the 434 is at 7:08 pm. Check the last trains on the station board.
3 days in Lisbon →A sample budget for one adult, without food: train about €5 return (unconfirmed), bus €13.50, Pena Essential €20, Moorish Castle €12 and Regaleira €20. That is around €70. The Full Tour and Monserrate cost more.
Combine Sintra with other trips
Sintra fills a whole day, but nearby places fit on a second one.
Sintra day trip: frequently asked questions
How do I get from Lisbon to Sintra?
Take the Sintra line train from Rossio. It takes about 40 minutes. Check that the destination reads Sintra, because some trains end at Mira Sintra-Meleças.
Can I drive to Pena Palace?
No. Private vehicles have no access to the roads to Pena and the Moorish Castle, and the historic centre is limited to residents. Park at the edge of town and use buses 434 or 435.
What happens if I miss my Pena time slot?
You are not admitted and the ticket is not refunded. The slot applies to the palace, so allow about 30 minutes to walk up from the park entrance.
Is one day enough for Sintra?
For two or three sights, yes. Pena, the Moorish Castle and Regaleira together are a long day. Add Monserrate or the National Palace only if you stay overnight or return.
Does the Lisboa Card work in Sintra?
It gives a discount at the palaces, which you pay at the ticket office. It is not valid on buses 434 and 435, and you cannot use it for online bookings.
How much does a Sintra day trip cost?
Plan roughly €70 per adult for train, bus and three paid sights in 2026, without food. Prices on the day may differ.