Exploring Magical Sintra

Sintra is one of those places in Portugal that you should not miss. Secluded in deep enchanting forests with lots of palaces and castles around, the little city is located less than an hour train ride from Lisbon.  

Back in the days, Sintra was ruled by tribes, until the Romans overtook the place around and later the Spanish kings tried to settle here. Sintra was for sure a city of interest for many nations around Europe and was regularly changing its ruler. 

Then, in the nineteenth century, Sintra flourished, as lots of mansions, castles, palaces were built by one of the richest kings and men in Europe. King Ferdinand the second, managed to build notorious Pena Castle up on the hill over a ruined monastery so that the Portuguese royal family can have a summer residence. Later, the other castles and palaces were reconstructed or built in the same architectural styles, so they turned the city into a magical place that was one of a kind. This made Sintra the heart of Romanticism in Europe during the nineteenth century.

I have visited Sintra last year, but since my best friend came to visit me while on Erasmus in Portugal, I knew that we should definitely visit Sintra on our trip. That’s why we decided to start our trip to this magical city early in the morning so that we can see as much as possible.

How to get to Sintra?

Getting to Sintra is very easy and convenient. You can get the train from Lisbon to Sintra from Rossio train station or Oriente train station. The ticket costs 2.25 euros per ride and takes around forty to fifty minutes to the Sintra train station.

However, when you buy your ticket you will also have to get the Viva Viagem card, which is a travel card made for tourists and infrequent travellers. It costs fifty cents and you can add tickets to it or money. It is not a personalized card, but only one person can use it, so keep that in mind. The card is valid for one year from the date of purchase, so keep the receipt with you, just in case. Also, before you to get on the train, validate the card on the validators around the station. This is a must, so don’t forget it.

Transportation in Sintra

If you wonder whether you will need to use public transport in Sintra, don’t. You for sure will need it! I am talking serious here. First of all, Sintra is a hilly city and it is not easy to navigate around the narrow streets. Second, if you want to visit most of the cool palaces, it is better to use public transport, which is really convenient and reliable.

So, to go to the Monserrate Palace you will have to use bus 435, which also stops at Quinta da Regaleira and the National Palace of Sintra. A single ride on the bus is 3 euros and if you want to use the bus for the whole day it is 5 euros. Also, the bus ride takes around 15 to 20 minutes and the buses are quite frequent, so you won’t lose a lot of time waiting for them.

You can buy the ticket from the bus driver and it is better to have cash. The bus stop is next to the train station, just below the bus stop for the bus to Pena Palace. If you can’t find it you can always ask at the tourist office.

Keep in mind that the bus has a specific route – it goes to the National Palace, then Quinta da Regaleira and then to Monserrate Palace. On the way back from Monserrate Palace it goes straight to the train station. Thus, if you want to go to Quinta da Regaleira, just show the driver your ticket for the full day and stay on the bus.

However, if you want to go to Pena palace there is a way to do in from a hidden path near Quinta da Regaleira. Keep in mind that you will have to climb quite a bit and this will take you around 30 minutes to get there. Even though, I can assure you that if you choose this path, you won’t regret it, as it provides one of the best views over the Quinta da Regaleira from above, the Moorish castle and Pena. Furthermore, you will have the chance to see the famous Villa Sasseti, which sits on a hill and overlooks straight to the Quinta da Regaleira.

Although, to go fast to the Pena Palace it is good to get on bus 434, which stops at the National Palace of Sintra, the Moorish Castle and then at Pena. If you just plan to go up by bus and then go down by walking, just buy a single ticket, which is 3.90 euros. If you don’t want to walk down and I would suggest you don’t, as the streets are very narrow and it is hard for two cars to fit, buy the daily ticket with is 6.90 euros. The bus stop is exactly on the side of the train station and you will recognize it, as lots of people are waiting there. The ride takes around 20 minutes to the Pena Palace, which is better than an hour of climbing up to it.

The weather in Sintra

The weather in Sintra can be quite unpredictable. The first time I went there it was sunny at the beginning of the day and then it started raining and became very cold, so I had to buy long pants. However, this time when I went there it was sunnier than ever and it was even hot during the day. Although I would suggest you get a warm jacket, as in the afternoon and evening it becomes a bit chilly.

After all, Sintra is not a city near the coast but is very hilly and sort of mountainous, thus you can expect harsher weather there and a mystical fog to approach the city out of nowhere. So be prepared!

Best time to visit Sintra and its landmarks?

I have visited Sintra twice, once in the middle of June and then at the beginning of October and I would say that the best time for visiting is in spring or early autumn. To justify this, I will be honest with you and tell you that no matter when you go to Sintra, there will always be lots of people. However, in the spring or early autumn crowds are not that much. Going to Sintra in the summer is not a good option, as it can be unbearably hot, humid and crowded. Thus, you won’t enjoy it for sure.

Furthermore, try to stay in Sintra for at least two days if you want to visit most of its beautiful highlights, as I think that a one-day trip to Sintra is quite exhausting. Also, start your trip to the sights early in the morning to avoid the crowds or go there late in the afternoon, as most of the people will be gone. Avoid visiting the sights around 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, as this is the time that most of the people are there and you won’t have a good time waiting in line for everything. 

Where and what to eat in Sintra?

You will find lots of places to eat in Sintra, some of them expensive, some of them cheap. It depends on where you plan to have your lunch or dinner and what you would like to eat.

For example, when me and my friend got very hungry we went to the Metamorphosis restaurant, which is near the train station of Sintra. We did that simply, as it was also near to our bus stop for the Quinta da Regaleira bus. The restaurant is very nice and traditional, as well as the staff and has plenty of food options from meat to fish and deserts. I chose the Bacalhau à Brás, which is a traditional Portuguese meal with codfish, potatoes and eggs. They even had the famous Francezinha, which is a typical meal from the north part of Portugal.

Then, if you are craving something sweet go to Casa das Queijadas de Sintra, where you will find the famous pastries Queijada de Sintra. I have to say that this became one of my favorite pastries in Portugal. If I have to be honest, I prefer it more than the Pastel de Nata now.

What to see in Sintra on a day trip?

In Sintra, you will see some of the most colourful and fascinating palaces and castles along with their captivating gardens that spread around. This magical city is definitely one of the places that will make you feel like you are in an entirely different place or dimension.

The city is not that big, but visiting the sights takes time, thus, it is good to be able to manage your time properly, so that you can check most of the highlights of Sintra. To do that I have provided the places that I have visited below exactly in the order that I have visited them. I believe that by following that order you will have time for all the sights and won't have to rush from place to place. 

The Palácio Nacional de Sintra

After our train ride, we headed to the center of Sintra, where we saw the notable Palace of Sintra. I have to say that it is one of the most beautiful medieval palaces I have ever seen. It was also a preferred destination for a lot of noble families in the past and even one of the Portuguese kings resided there for quite a long time.

Unfortunately, we did not enter the palace, as it was not open yet, but the price of the ticket is 10 euros per person. Even though, we walked around the palace and went under one of the arches which will lead you to the back of the palace. In the afternoon, you can expect a lot of people here, as it is considered to be a gathering point for tourist groups and locals.

Then, we roamed around the streets in the historic center of Sintra, until we went back to the train station to find the stop for our bus to the Monserrate Palace.

Palácio de Monserrate

We took bus 435 from the bus stop a bit further from the train station and in less than 20 minutes we were at the Monserrate Palace. The price of the ticket is 8 euros and it opens at 9:30 in the morning. Thus, since we have arrived early at the place there were almost no people around and so our adventure began.

At first, when we entered, we had to walk a bit following the signs to reach the castle. Thus, since we were not in a rush, we walked around and talked about girly things, until we reached the most mesmerizing palace I have ever seen. It was built in the typical Romanticism architectural style for the region and looked both like an Indian or Arabic palace to me, with Gothic touches. Then, we went on to explore the rooms inside it, which were styled in different ways. My favourite part of the palace was the corridor with the beautiful arches on top and the mini-gardens on its terrace.

After that, we went on to explore the gardens of the palace, as the nearest one was the Rose garden. Then, we went further to the Mexican garden, which was nicely arranged with lots of huge palms and cactuses. Going further, we saw a little pond along the way and then we had to climb a lot to get back to the top. While doing so, the path took us to the waterfallof this mansion and after a bit, we were at the gate waiting for our bus and another adventure.

Quinta da Regaleira

After our 2 hours of adventure, we caught bus 435, which took us to the train station and thus we stayed on the bus, so we could get to Quinta da Regaleira. In less than fifteen minutes we took off at the bus stop at Regaleira and got to the ticket office that was a bit further from the bus stop. Unsurprisingly, there were lots of people waiting in line to buy tickets, but the cashiers were fast, so we got our tickets for 8 euros and we began our journey in the mysticism.

We began from the path surrounded by majestic tall trees and then went on the right to reach the Initiation Well that is situated in the north part of the park. The “well” was never used as a water source, but instead as a secret place for rituals by the owner of the estate. It has a narrow spiral staircase that brings you to its bottom and into a cave from which you can take on a couple of paths. So, we just followed the group of people in front of us and ended up at the artificial lake and waterfallfrom which you have to jump on stones to exit it and get back on the road. It was really funny to do it, as I was also afraid to not fall in the lake and break my camera, but overall I had fun jumping around like a kid.

Then, we began ascending to the lower part of the park until we ended at the tower of Regaleira. Built in its typical Gothic style it really does look mysterious and somewhat beautiful. So we couldn’t wait to get on top and see what the view offers. Climbing was not that exhausting, but the spiral staircase was even narrower this time and it was hard to get on top, as you have to wait for people to get down. Even when we got there it was too crowded and there were around 6 people. So you can imagine how small the tower truly is. However, we got to see the Moorish castle standing tall on the rocks surrounded by lush forests along with the Pena Palace and Villa Sassetti.

After that, we went on with our nice walk only to reach the fountain of Abundance where we had a little break from that walk and climbing. If you have the chance take a look at the fine details and colours of the fountain. You will be surprised by their uniqueness and mysteriousness, as there are lots of weird symbols around the park.

Next, we walked to the Patamar dos Deuses or the Path of the Gods. It is a path filled with statues of Roman and Greek gods from the classical mythology along with the statue of a lion that belonged to the Baroness of Regaleira. I can say that this part of the park is one of my favourite, as it really shows the true beauty and the idea and meaning behind the creation of the park.

Last but not least, we went on to the castle itself. It is built in the typical Gothic style and has a beautiful tall tower that adds to its beauty, lots of arches and gargoyles that make it so mysterious. Once you get inside you will be fascinated by the way the rooms are styled and do not miss to look up at its ceiling, as most of them are hand-painted. A true masterpiece!

My favourite part of the castle is its dining room, along with the fireplace and the huge balconies overlooking the gardens. This castle is definitely a dreamy place and for sure makes you feel like you are in another world.

In addition to that, I got to know that this castle was sold to a Portuguese wealthy man, that was known to be a Freemason. He redecorated and added a lot of underground tunnels, “wells” and secret paths around the property as part of his ideologies and beliefs in mysticism.

Vila Sassetti 

Once we ended our tour in Quinta de Regaleira we walked down the road until we reached the entrance for the Villa Sassetti. The path going through the villa’s gardens to the Pena Palace is not well-known and crowded and is somewhat secret to the public, so it is definitely a nice experience and a chance to escape the crowds. The villa is not very famous and not many people choose to go this way, but it is one of the most beautiful paths you can go on. However, be prepared for a lot of climbing and a bit of sweating, as it is not the easiest path, but it is thefastest path to the Pena Palace.

Along the way, we saw the beautiful gardens of the villa filled with lots of roses and other beautiful flowers. The villa itself is built in the distinctive Romantic architectural style for Sintra’s palaces and castles and has a beautiful fountain in front of it.

It took us around thirty minutes to get to the crossroad, where we had the opportunity to choose whether to go to the Pena Palace or the Moorish castle. Furthermore, it presented us with a beautiful view over Sintra and some of the most famous castles around the city. Eventually, we decided to visit the Pena Palace.

Palácio da Pena

The Palácio da Pena is yet another example of the Romanticism architecture style that is distinctive for all of Sintra’s palaces. It is interesting to share with you that before the palace there was a monastery, which was destroyed by the great earthquake of Lisbon. However, King Ferdinand decided to create a summer palace for the Portuguese royal family. Thus, in the middle of the 19th century, the palace was almost finished along with its decoration.

We went there by following the path from Villa Sassetti, which ends near the entrance of the Pena Palace. As it was late in the afternoon, we got the tickets only to check out the park and terraces of the Palace, which costs 7.50 euros. If you are curious to check out the rooms of the palace the ticket costs 14 euros.

Anyway, we started our walk up to the castle by first visiting the huge pond at the entrance that is filled with old ruins. Then, we proceeded further to check out the gardens of the palace and its lush forests. So in no time, we were up there in front of its main gate that was quite solid and full of ornaments.

Going further I was very fascinated by the bright colours in which the palace was painted and also the huge statues on some of them, especially the statue of the scary gargoyle. Another beautiful part of the palace’s exterior was the watchtower and the queen’s terrace, which has one of the most beautiful views around, especially at sunset. Thus, we roamed around the palace for a bit and decided to go back to the city, as it became very windy and cold.

After this long daily trip, I can for sure say that I felt fulfilled, even though my legs hurt. Sintra is going to be in my heart forever and especially the Monserrate and Pena palace, that were absolutely marvellous along with their beautiful gardens.

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