6 hours enough time in Sintra?

Can you go to Sintra the day before?

A bit puzzled by your math. It looks like the train is an hour each way between Lisbon and Sintra.

As I read your proposal you will have 5 hours in Sintra and get back to Lisbon 20 minutes before the tour meeting starts.

Even if you are staying at the tour hotel that seems to be cutting it close.

You are underestimating the amount of local transportation required, not to mention possible waiting in line for the most popular of the (many) entirely SEPARATE attractions in Sintra. Everything is spread out, and even Bill Gates' limo would be slowed-down by narrow roads and pedestrians blocking the roads. Even if you were to hire a taxi for six hours, you would have a hard time making the six houre fully productive. Do you plan to have a sit-down lunch? Are you on a budget? Is this in high season?

Thanks, for the input. We are going in October, so presumably it won't be as crowded, but I was worried that we would spend the day clock watching instead of enjoying. Our flight arrives at 8am the previous day, so maybe we will play it by ear and go that day if we get to our hotel early enough and we are not too jet-lagged.

Lisbon has become very popular, and I would not expect Sintra to be uncrowded in October. I visited last May, and Sintra was pretty mobbed then.

I'm not sure I would do a five hours tour of Sintra - maybe do something else instead like go to Belem (unless the tour covers that). But, if that's your only opportunity to go to Sintra, you could rush through it. Maybe up to the Pena palace without going in, then come back down the hill. Take a Tuk Tuk (little taxi) if the 434 bus is full or late. Buy your ticket to enter the Pena palace park ahead of time online - there will be big lines at the ticket booths and machines at the entrance, and you just won't have the time to waste.

Besides seeing the colorful Pena Palace, the highlight of Sintra for me was the Quinta da Regaleira, a quirky garden down on the same level as the town, about a 15 minute walk away. Really loved it.

If you figure out your return train and give yourself enough time to get to it, I'd get to Sintra, immediately go up to the Pena Palace park with your prepaid ticket, don't dwell up there, and then come back down and head over to the Quinta da Regaleira (perhaps no line there). At that point you can judge how much time you'll have to get back to the train station - maybe a 20-25 minute walk from Quinta da Regaleira.

Do not bother to go to Sintra on your arrival day. Jet lag will hit you.
If you don’t have your flights booked, add at least an extra day to your trip.
I am very surprised that Rick Steves skips Sintra as it is very high on most visitors’ lists of what to see and do. I would still expect crowds in October.

I was in Sintra in mid-May this year and there were lots of crowds at the main sights in the morning, and got worse as it got later. By mid-afternoon they were mostly gone, as you would be.

Instead of Sintra go to Cascais.

Sintra is very crowded year round. I also can’t believe Sintra wouldn’t be a part of your tour. You would have a much more enjoyable time with a tour as navigating on your own with public transport is challenging and takes a lot of time. RS doesn’t care for Cascais (and those of us who live here are great with that), so I agree with Chani - Cascais is much more doable with your time frame.

You could also take the ferry across the Tejo to Calcilhas for lunch. It would be much more slow paced - which is really more in tune with the way of life in Portugal.

If you still want to tr, best bets might be to limit yourself to 2 palaces, follow RS guidebook tips, buy tickets online in advance, take the earlier train that leaves around 8:10 so you get to your first palace a few minutes before it opens, bring some food so you don't need to go into town or wait in line for a cafe, take taxis if bus waits are long. I hope it is a mid-week day..

Colette,

You may want to consider another option; go straight to Sintra on day of arrival and spend your first night there.

This is exactly what my daughter and I did, and it worked out well because we visited the Pena Palace at around 4pm ( after a nice nap) once the crowds had left.

By choosing this option you avoid the crowds you’d face in the morning when everyone is trying to get to the palace.

The following morning you can visit the Quinta da Regaleira, enjoy a leisurely lunch, then stroll around the town before heading back to Lisbon.

Here’s my trip report if you’re interested.

Enjoy your trip!

I think Priscilla has the right idea (though I would resist the nap, it can prolong jetlag).

Otherwise a short visit would be better than none. I have done that (short visit) and been satisfied, but afterwards I felt that if I ever returned the best plan would be to spend the night.