Best way for a day trip to Sintra
Apr 24th, 2022, 05:55 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Best way for a day trip to Sintra
I know many people have said that one day isn't enough, you need to stay overnight. But our shorter than I wished for trip (my husband has tended toward shorter trips as we get older - I need to work on this), only allows one day. So I have a few questions.
1) I'm inclined to just go on our own, rather than book a tour, I almost always like going on our own, I can stay somewhere if I like it and leave a place quickly if I don't. I saw a LOT of Sintra/Cascais trips, but I'd rather rmaximize my time in Sintra. Also, on our last day, we will have a car to drive back to Lisbon from Porto, and could, conceivably, see Cascais before turning in the car.
2) Transportation-wise, I'm leaning towards the train. I don't want to book a car for a single day and it sounds like driving and parking in Sintra is a nightmare. The bus seems like a less desirable option.
3) What to see and in what order. Pena Palace of course, Quinta da Regaleira, and the Moorish Castle. Since it appears everyone gets up at dawn to be at Pena Palace when it opens, I was considering not going there first. Maybe doing Quinta da Regaleira first, then the Moorish Castle and saving Pena Palace for last, maybe around 2 or 3 in the afternoon, I'm hoping it may be less crowded then. Does this make any sense?
4) It sounds like I should buy the skip the line ticket for Pena Palace, but I read that it only works for the outside, you still need to stand in a line for the inside. If the line is long, is it heresy to skip the inside? The outside views are gorgeous and I heard the grounds are beautiful as well.
What do you think? Does this make sense? Any tips or links would be much appreciated.
Alice
1) I'm inclined to just go on our own, rather than book a tour, I almost always like going on our own, I can stay somewhere if I like it and leave a place quickly if I don't. I saw a LOT of Sintra/Cascais trips, but I'd rather rmaximize my time in Sintra. Also, on our last day, we will have a car to drive back to Lisbon from Porto, and could, conceivably, see Cascais before turning in the car.
2) Transportation-wise, I'm leaning towards the train. I don't want to book a car for a single day and it sounds like driving and parking in Sintra is a nightmare. The bus seems like a less desirable option.
3) What to see and in what order. Pena Palace of course, Quinta da Regaleira, and the Moorish Castle. Since it appears everyone gets up at dawn to be at Pena Palace when it opens, I was considering not going there first. Maybe doing Quinta da Regaleira first, then the Moorish Castle and saving Pena Palace for last, maybe around 2 or 3 in the afternoon, I'm hoping it may be less crowded then. Does this make any sense?
4) It sounds like I should buy the skip the line ticket for Pena Palace, but I read that it only works for the outside, you still need to stand in a line for the inside. If the line is long, is it heresy to skip the inside? The outside views are gorgeous and I heard the grounds are beautiful as well.
What do you think? Does this make sense? Any tips or links would be much appreciated.
Alice
Apr 24th, 2022, 06:39 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
aliced,
1). Yes, the small group tours try to cover a lot of ground in one day--Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Cascais and the Estoril coast and in doing so, can't spend much time in Sintra and most just cover 1-2 monuments, Pena Palace, usually, and some time in the historic quarter. Private tours can tailor make the visit to participants' wishes.
2). You don't want to drive to Sintra because the historic quarter is closed to non-resident vehicles (other than taxis, ubers, tuk tuks, carriages, choo-choos, etc), and there is no longer public parking at the Pena Park. You can also encounter heavy traffic on the route from Lisbon to Sintra. I would take the train from Rossio station. It's a 40-minute ride.
From this thread, some have found no line at the Palace at 2 pm while others have found the lines very long at that hour. It seems to depend.
https://community.ricksteves.com/tra...ts-timed-entry.
The email I received from the Parques de Sintra office:
"Important note: Road traffic in Sintra has recently undergone changes, with unauthorized access to the Moorish Castle and the Park and Palace of Pena for private vehicles and circulation in the historic center limited to residents. We recommend that you prepare ahead your visit to Sintra, informing yourself about road circulation and access by public transport. Please see the "How to get there" section for the access conditions to get to all the sites: https://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/pl...-to-get-there/"
3). Because Sintra has become increasingly crowded (and I do mean crowded, as others can attest), it's really difficult to cover more than 3 monuments in a day, even with an early start.
As to the order, yes, most do start at Pena Park when its gates open because it is the most visited. If you want to visit the inside of the Palace (some do, some don't), you now need a timed ticket for the Palace interiors. The first time slot is at 9:30 am. Anecdotal reports (on RS Portugal forum) have noted that lines are still long at 2 pm but crowds depart at 5. Anecdotal reports have also indicated a back log to enter the Palace even with ticket in hand, because they still sell more tickets than the Palace interiors can handle (400 tickets per timed entry). If you do want until 5 pm, remember that the last entrance to the Palace is at 6, the Palace closes at 6:30 and the park closes at 7:00, so there's that to consider.
On our (very crowded late March Sintra day, from Cascais, we only attempted the National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate, the least visited. We skipped the Castle of the Moors and Pena because we had visited several times before.
4) You can skip the Palace interiors if you wish, your untimed ticket to the Park allows you to photograph from outside, from the belvederes, where on a good day w/o fog, you can enjoy wonderful views. Mel's fabulous photographs taken recently attest to that. It's often foggy in Sintra (our day was sunny, which astonished our Cascais hostess), so keep that in mind.
1). Yes, the small group tours try to cover a lot of ground in one day--Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Cascais and the Estoril coast and in doing so, can't spend much time in Sintra and most just cover 1-2 monuments, Pena Palace, usually, and some time in the historic quarter. Private tours can tailor make the visit to participants' wishes.
2). You don't want to drive to Sintra because the historic quarter is closed to non-resident vehicles (other than taxis, ubers, tuk tuks, carriages, choo-choos, etc), and there is no longer public parking at the Pena Park. You can also encounter heavy traffic on the route from Lisbon to Sintra. I would take the train from Rossio station. It's a 40-minute ride.
From this thread, some have found no line at the Palace at 2 pm while others have found the lines very long at that hour. It seems to depend.
https://community.ricksteves.com/tra...ts-timed-entry.
The email I received from the Parques de Sintra office:
"Important note: Road traffic in Sintra has recently undergone changes, with unauthorized access to the Moorish Castle and the Park and Palace of Pena for private vehicles and circulation in the historic center limited to residents. We recommend that you prepare ahead your visit to Sintra, informing yourself about road circulation and access by public transport. Please see the "How to get there" section for the access conditions to get to all the sites: https://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/pl...-to-get-there/"
3). Because Sintra has become increasingly crowded (and I do mean crowded, as others can attest), it's really difficult to cover more than 3 monuments in a day, even with an early start.
As to the order, yes, most do start at Pena Park when its gates open because it is the most visited. If you want to visit the inside of the Palace (some do, some don't), you now need a timed ticket for the Palace interiors. The first time slot is at 9:30 am. Anecdotal reports (on RS Portugal forum) have noted that lines are still long at 2 pm but crowds depart at 5. Anecdotal reports have also indicated a back log to enter the Palace even with ticket in hand, because they still sell more tickets than the Palace interiors can handle (400 tickets per timed entry). If you do want until 5 pm, remember that the last entrance to the Palace is at 6, the Palace closes at 6:30 and the park closes at 7:00, so there's that to consider.
On our (very crowded late March Sintra day, from Cascais, we only attempted the National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate, the least visited. We skipped the Castle of the Moors and Pena because we had visited several times before.
4) You can skip the Palace interiors if you wish, your untimed ticket to the Park allows you to photograph from outside, from the belvederes, where on a good day w/o fog, you can enjoy wonderful views. Mel's fabulous photographs taken recently attest to that. It's often foggy in Sintra (our day was sunny, which astonished our Cascais hostess), so keep that in mind.
Last edited by Maribel; Apr 24th, 2022 at 07:03 AM.
Apr 24th, 2022, 07:42 AM
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for such a detailed reply, Maribel. This confirms I want to take the train, a big help. Also I think you are recommending the skip the line ticket if I just want to see the exterior. And I'm leaning towards late afternoon for Pena Palace, but will look at the RIck Steves forum you recommend. Thanks so much for the link about road traffic and public transportation in Sintra, I think I will assign this to my husband!
And I think just seeing the three places I mentioned should be okay. There's really no way to do more, and those three would be my top choices (unless you think otherwise).
I DID see Mel's fabulous photos, I'm hoping for a sunny day, but will take what I can get (my travel mantra).
Again, thanks so much! I have been unusually late (for me) in doing planning because my son is getting married NEXT WEEKEND, and I've been a tad distracted. But certain things have to be planned in advance, and this is one of them.
Alice
And I think just seeing the three places I mentioned should be okay. There's really no way to do more, and those three would be my top choices (unless you think otherwise).
I DID see Mel's fabulous photos, I'm hoping for a sunny day, but will take what I can get (my travel mantra).
Again, thanks so much! I have been unusually late (for me) in doing planning because my son is getting married NEXT WEEKEND, and I've been a tad distracted. But certain things have to be planned in advance, and this is one of them.
Alice
Apr 24th, 2022, 08:07 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you decide to tackle Regaleira first and do Pena Park at the end of your day, I would purchase a ticket online in advance for Regaleira and get there when it opens at 10 am (which means a 9:00 am train from Lisbon's Rossio station).
Regaleira is not run by the Parques de Sintra but instead is in private hands and now has an online ticket purchasing system that it didn't have before.
https://regaleira.byblueticket.pt.
There are signs at the Regaleira ticket office that advise you to purchase your tickets online during the high season.
We didn't. On our day there were 5 ticket booths open, so the line went quickly, but again, it was a "slow" day in late March and not a weekend, a holiday or a Monday.
Mondays can be busy in Sintra because most Belém monuments are closed on Mon, so tourists head to Sintra.
Our day at Regaleira was, according to a tour guide leading a small group in front of us, quite a "slow day" and we had a very short wait to descend into the Initiation Well. He added that on a busy day, the wait in line for the well could be up to an hour! YMMV.
If you do want to experience the popular descent into the Initiation Well, I would go early and head to it first before the crowds arrive. It's at the top, so expect a climb. And I would use the flashlight on your cell phone, as the descent becomes darker and darker as you go down. The guide also advised me of that.
Tickets to Pena Park (without timed entrance to the Palace) can be purchased here:
https://bilheteira.parquesdesintra.p...da-pena/249/en
When purchasing, you should add the "supplement transfer" for 3 euros, (a shuttle bus) so as to avoid another longish climb from the Park entrance to the entrance to the Palace grounds.
Regaleira is not run by the Parques de Sintra but instead is in private hands and now has an online ticket purchasing system that it didn't have before.
https://regaleira.byblueticket.pt.
There are signs at the Regaleira ticket office that advise you to purchase your tickets online during the high season.
We didn't. On our day there were 5 ticket booths open, so the line went quickly, but again, it was a "slow" day in late March and not a weekend, a holiday or a Monday.
Mondays can be busy in Sintra because most Belém monuments are closed on Mon, so tourists head to Sintra.
Our day at Regaleira was, according to a tour guide leading a small group in front of us, quite a "slow day" and we had a very short wait to descend into the Initiation Well. He added that on a busy day, the wait in line for the well could be up to an hour! YMMV.
If you do want to experience the popular descent into the Initiation Well, I would go early and head to it first before the crowds arrive. It's at the top, so expect a climb. And I would use the flashlight on your cell phone, as the descent becomes darker and darker as you go down. The guide also advised me of that.
Tickets to Pena Park (without timed entrance to the Palace) can be purchased here:
https://bilheteira.parquesdesintra.p...da-pena/249/en
When purchasing, you should add the "supplement transfer" for 3 euros, (a shuttle bus) so as to avoid another longish climb from the Park entrance to the entrance to the Palace grounds.
Apr 24th, 2022, 08:34 AM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maribel you are always a veritable FONT of wisdom. Thanks so much for the links and the useful hints. We will likely be going on a Thursday or Friday.
Good tip about the supplement transfer AND the cell phone flashlight.
Thanks again,
Alice
Good tip about the supplement transfer AND the cell phone flashlight.
Thanks again,
Alice
Apr 24th, 2022, 11:55 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi
I agree with Maribel, take the train from Lisbon.
Regarding which monuments to skip, it depends on your personal area of interest and which type of monuments you have seen before.
If I had to advise on skipping a monument it would be the Castle.
Unlike some castles in other countries that had palacial accommodations for the monarchy castles in Portugal were military installations with exterior stone walls and usually a stone tower in the interior.
Other interior structures were made of wood and have long desintegrated.
The castle in Sintra is only partially rebuilt.
The exception is if you are a photographer, on a clear day the castle offers great views and photography opportunities for the surrounding area and the walking area of the castle walls - when I showed my photos to a work colleague they compared it to a mini wall of China ( their words not mine).
Happy travels
I agree with Maribel, take the train from Lisbon.
Regarding which monuments to skip, it depends on your personal area of interest and which type of monuments you have seen before.
If I had to advise on skipping a monument it would be the Castle.
Unlike some castles in other countries that had palacial accommodations for the monarchy castles in Portugal were military installations with exterior stone walls and usually a stone tower in the interior.
Other interior structures were made of wood and have long desintegrated.
The castle in Sintra is only partially rebuilt.
The exception is if you are a photographer, on a clear day the castle offers great views and photography opportunities for the surrounding area and the walking area of the castle walls - when I showed my photos to a work colleague they compared it to a mini wall of China ( their words not mine).
Happy travels
Apr 25th, 2022, 09:37 AM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks aulop, the train is a done deal then. Now if I'm just there for the day, which monuments would you recommend. Now I'm not a REAL photographer, but a big part of traveling for me is taking photos (that I can enjoy long after the trip). But if there's something more interesting to see, that's something else.
Alice
Alice
Apr 25th, 2022, 02:56 PM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks aulop, the train is a done deal then. Now if I'm just there for the day, which monuments would you recommend. Now I'm not a REAL photographer, but a big part of traveling for me is taking photos (that I can enjoy long after the trip). But if there's something more interesting to see, that's something else.
Alice
Alice
I have visited Sintra numerous times and visited all of it's attractions.
The place that I enjoy the most is
Monserrate Palace and gardens.
It's small but I really enjoy the architecture (very photogenic), and walking the gardens.
Not too many people visit it and always found it relaxing and peaceful.
You may want to consider it.
https://www.sintra-portugal.com/Attr...te-sintra.html
Happy travels
Apr 25th, 2022, 03:24 PM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I enthusiastically agree with aulop, especially now since the tourist crowds in Sintra are extremely heavy. We thoroughly enjoyed Monserrate's serenity, its beautiful architecture, and the vast grounds made us feel like we were miles away from the hordes. And it has a pleasant café installed in the former stables, tucked away, with an outdoor terrace. Very peaceful, as aulop says.
https://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/pa...of-monserrate/
You can reach it from the rail station on the less crowded 435 Scotturb loop bus, the "Villa Express 4 Palácios".
https://scotturb.com/en/carreira-435-eb/.
Do note that the return to the trail station from Monserrate takes about 20 minutes because of the new traffic patterns set in 2020 around the town.
https://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/pa...of-monserrate/
You can reach it from the rail station on the less crowded 435 Scotturb loop bus, the "Villa Express 4 Palácios".
https://scotturb.com/en/carreira-435-eb/.
Do note that the return to the trail station from Monserrate takes about 20 minutes because of the new traffic patterns set in 2020 around the town.
Apr 28th, 2022, 10:03 AM
#12
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We booked an 8 hour private tour for our day trip to Sintra from Lisbon on Friday, May 27th. I thought that by doing that we could see "everything." But the tour company says we will have time for only two monuments.
I don't want to be the American know it all, but it seems like we should be able to fit in more. Part of the tour is supposed to be walking around the "labyrinth like" streets of the old town, but if the town is as crowded as I think it will be, that doesn't sound fun.
Pena Palace is a definite. I'd also like to put the Moorish Castle on the list. My third choice would be Monserrate, but looking at the map, it seems like Quinta da Regaleira might be easier to fit in.
Would it be crazy to try to fit in three different sites? We are totally willing to bring our own lunch, so we don't have to battle crowds trying to find food.
I don't want to be the American know it all, but it seems like we should be able to fit in more. Part of the tour is supposed to be walking around the "labyrinth like" streets of the old town, but if the town is as crowded as I think it will be, that doesn't sound fun.
Pena Palace is a definite. I'd also like to put the Moorish Castle on the list. My third choice would be Monserrate, but looking at the map, it seems like Quinta da Regaleira might be easier to fit in.
Would it be crazy to try to fit in three different sites? We are totally willing to bring our own lunch, so we don't have to battle crowds trying to find food.
Apr 28th, 2022, 10:06 AM
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We're going on our own (after all the good suggestions on this thread) and plan to try to see 3 - but leaving Pena Palace for LAST, when it might be less crowded. I think we'll do the Regaleira first, as it's closest to the train station (I think). I AM surprised that a private tour can't fit in more than 2 monuments.
Alice
Alice
Apr 28th, 2022, 10:13 AM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
realgirl58,
Does your 8-hour private tour include a trip out to Cabo da Roca and a visit or lunch to seaside Cascais? That may be the reason why it only includes 2 monuments. I would think that a private tour could/should be tailored to your wishes and needs. I do know that some private tours don't do the time consuming Cabo da Roca-Cascais-Estoril loop and concentrate on Sintra monuments only.
Regaleira would be easier to fit in than Monserrate, that sits further afield, but Regaleira will be very crowded. Monserrate doesn't get the high number of visitors that can swamp Regaleira.
Does your 8-hour private tour include a trip out to Cabo da Roca and a visit or lunch to seaside Cascais? That may be the reason why it only includes 2 monuments. I would think that a private tour could/should be tailored to your wishes and needs. I do know that some private tours don't do the time consuming Cabo da Roca-Cascais-Estoril loop and concentrate on Sintra monuments only.
Regaleira would be easier to fit in than Monserrate, that sits further afield, but Regaleira will be very crowded. Monserrate doesn't get the high number of visitors that can swamp Regaleira.
Apr 28th, 2022, 10:20 AM
#15
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maribel, the email from the tour operator said that if we wanted to visit Cabo da Roca or Cascais, we would only have time to visit ONE monument in Sintra! The tour operator (Jump in Tours) is very well reviewed on Trip Advisor.
I had originally emailed to ask if we should buy our tickets to sites in advance. He said no; I said "not even to Pena Palace?" and his reply was "I'll make sure you visit at a noncrowded time." Given that there is now timed entry, that doesn't seem like a good plan to me.
Okay, maybe I AM an American know it all. I don't want to discount the company's experience, but I'm not feeling super comfortable.
I had originally emailed to ask if we should buy our tickets to sites in advance. He said no; I said "not even to Pena Palace?" and his reply was "I'll make sure you visit at a noncrowded time." Given that there is now timed entry, that doesn't seem like a good plan to me.
Okay, maybe I AM an American know it all. I don't want to discount the company's experience, but I'm not feeling super comfortable.
Apr 28th, 2022, 10:26 AM
#16
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree, realgirl58, that's just not a good plan.
The drive by visit to Cabo da Roca and the stopover in Cascais are going to be time consuming, so that's why tour companies who do this only hit one Sintra monument.
I don't know this company, but those who want to visit the inside of Pena Palace MUST have a timed entry ticket. This is new.
From the Pena Palace site:
The drive by visit to Cabo da Roca and the stopover in Cascais are going to be time consuming, so that's why tour companies who do this only hit one Sintra monument.
I don't know this company, but those who want to visit the inside of Pena Palace MUST have a timed entry ticket. This is new.
From the Pena Palace site:
- Ticket holders for the Pena National Palace have access to the palace's interior route only on the date and time indicated on the ticket.
- Please check the date and time on you ticket, which are the date and time you have selected during the purchase process.
- The date and time on your ticket correspond to your entry date and time to the interior museum circuit of the Palace of Pena; you must arrive at that entrance at the scheduled time.
- There is no delay tolerance.
- Tickets cannot be changed or refunded in case of failure to show up at the scheduled time.
- Please take into account that the journey from the entrance to the park to the entrance of the palace interior route takes about 30 minutes.
- Plan your route through Sintra in advance, according to your mode of travel, in order to arrive at the location at the desired time.
Apr 28th, 2022, 10:54 AM
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LOL. There is a company that spends the entire day at Sintra monuments, but the visit is very pricey for just 2 people, because it's with an official licensed guide to escort you through the monuments (a requirement) and a separate limo driver.
I looked through my list of package Sintra tours and most try to "throw in" either the beaches of Guincho or the Palace of Queluz (not in Sintra) or wine tasting at Colares or Cabo da Roca or Cascais, etc.
That's probably the issue, 6 actual hours on the Sintra tour.
I looked through my list of package Sintra tours and most try to "throw in" either the beaches of Guincho or the Palace of Queluz (not in Sintra) or wine tasting at Colares or Cabo da Roca or Cascais, etc.
That's probably the issue, 6 actual hours on the Sintra tour.
Apr 28th, 2022, 10:59 AM
#19
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ah, the Fodor's forums are as helpful as I remember them. I haven't done real planning for a European trip since 2014, so I have rarely been on here since then. Still great people giving great advice.
May 16th, 2022, 10:33 AM
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 783
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For anyone who's been having trouble purchasing Pena Palace and Park tickets online - the website if functional again! Just bought my tickets for later this week.
Thank goodness, I preferred to use this site rather than a third party.
Alice
Thank goodness, I preferred to use this site rather than a third party.
Alice
