FAIRYTALE CASTLES IN SINTRA PORTUGAL

Sintra is truly a fairytale and a dream come true. After seeing multiple photos of the beautiful Palacio da Pena on social media I was inspired to visit! I had no idea there were so many castles located in Sintra, I was blown away and it’s worth a day trip from Lisbon.

During my second time visiting we only had time for Pena Palace. Make sure to get advance tickets online by entry time and get 5% off your entrance tickets.

GETTING TO SINTRA

The train departs Lisbon from the Rossio train station, located in central Lisbon. Sintra is located roughly 40 minutes from Lisbon by train. I highly suggest leaving as early as possible from Lisbon since you will need the entire day if you want to see all the castles.

HOW TO GET AROUND SINTRA

Most castles are far from one another. Once you arrive by train you are dropped off at the city center of Sintra. From here we purchased a ticket for the bus to the castles.

Visiting the fairytale castles in Sintra

Palacio da Pena/Pena Palace

Our first stop was Palacio da Pena. The moment we laid our eyes on the castle we were mesmerized by the beautiful bright colors and fairytale castle. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. We truly felt like princesses in this castle and explored the entire castle. It is free to roam around the castle but there is a small fee to go inside to see how people used to live.

Guests can also add a shuttle pass ticket for 3 euros. From the entrance it’s about a 15 minute walk up the hill to the castle, it’s not a bad walk. All tickets are 5% off through this link for all the parks in Sintra.

Castle of the Moors/Moorish Castle

From Pena Palace we walked to the Castle of the Moors, also called Moorish Castle. It is roughly a 10-minute walk down the hill. Quite easy to get to and entrance fee is around $10. It is a hilltop medieval castle and has stunning views!

Quinta da Regaleira

Our last stop for the day was Quinta da Regaleira. It is a 20th century estate located near the city center of Sintra. Roughly a 15-minute walk. This gothic like property has a beautiful park, fountains, garden and an initiation well you must visit!

Cabo da Roca & Cascais

If you have time, make sure to visit Cabo da Roca. It is the westernmost point of Europe with beautiful ocean views. The hop on hop off bus has a stop here. From here you are able to go visit a small town called Cascais, 25 minutes south of Cabo da Roca. You will need to hire a taxi to get here since the bus does not stop in Cascais.

MORE PORTUGAL TRAVEL POSTS:

Lisbon City Guide

Sofitel Lisbon Luxury Hotel Review

What to do in Porto

Where to Stay in Douro Valley: Lamego Hotel

Where to Stay in Algarve: Tivoli Carvoeiro

Share your favorite castle in the comments below!