Sintra after the storms

I was in Sintra on 5April 3025. The grounds of the Quinta de Regaleira were fully opened. The walk from the Moorish Castle to Pena Palace is also open and only about 10 minutes. The walks from both ticket gates to the attractions are also 10 -15 minutes each and beautiful. Except for the main path, the Pena Palace gardens are completely shut, but you still get a great appreciation of the countryside from the main path and from the Moorish Castle. The Palace was crowded but I have no reference to know whether it was busier than usual. The trip was highly enjoyable and worth it, especially climbing the Moorish Castle walls and the sweeping vistas as our weather was clear.

Thank you so much. This is incredibly helpful.

In your experience, does it make more sense to do the Moorish Castle first and then walk to Pena Palace, or the reverse? (We will probably visit Quinta de Regaleira on a different day.)

We have just come from Sintra. There are signs of repair at Pena Castle (scaffolding up and wall walk is closed) and on some of the roads.

A few things we learned - avoid Sintra during Holy Week, as there are dozens of school groups here and it is one of the most crowded weeks of the year. Also suggest getting a tuk-tuk driver rather than the #434 bus suggested in the Rick Steves guidebook, as the company running the bus line provided poor service (it is not public transport but appears to be as you arrive at the train station). There is also a public bus but we did not see this until it was too late.

joansrose can you clarify about the 434 bus. Are there two buses with that same number, one public and one private? It was my impression that 434 was a public bus.

In your experience, does it make more sense to do the Moorish Castle
first and then walk to Pena Palace, or the reverse?

I don't think it matters. Since you require a timed ticket if you want to visit inside the Palace, the time of that ticket may determine which you do first. In September we used Uber for €9 to get us to the Moorish Castle first (looooved it!), then we walked the path to Pena Palace. We only had terrace tickets and didn't care about the inside so which we did first so it wasn't an issue. We caught an Uber for €9 back to Sintra. If you're taking an Uber it might make sense to do Pena last as there seemed to be a lot more traffic to there and getting an Uber took just a few minutes.

We were recently in Sintra and can confirm that although some areas of the Pena Palace park were closed due to storm damage, the main path is open and still offers stunning views. The inside of the palace remains accessible, but it’s good to book tickets early, especially during busy weeks like Easter.

As for the walk between Moorish Castle and Pena Palace — it’s open and quite short (10–15 minutes max), though parts can be steep. Both directions are fine, but if you have a timed entry for the Palace, just plan your route around that.

The 434 bus has been inconsistent, and we noticed a lot of people waiting frustrated at the station. We ended up hiring a tuk-tuk instead, and it was one of the best decisions of the day — faster, more flexible, and the guide shared great tips and local stories.

If you're considering that option, we booked with Yes, You Deserve and they were fantastic — private electric tuk-tuks, very professional and easy to coordinate with. It also helped us avoid the crowds and skip some of the uphill walking.

Storms or not, Sintra is still magical — just takes a bit more planning than usual right now!

2 cents here:

Ignore all blogs and guide books including RS for Sinta logistics

1. Most of the desired parts of Oenna Place does not require Palace ticket. Ground ticket will let you enjoy all the colorful terraces (except one) and even cafeteria. Grounds tickets don't sell out and could be bought same morning (you want to double check Sinta weather as it could be very different from Lisbon)

2. Make sure to buy mini us to let as it will save both time and energy and it is ok to stand in the bus as journey is only 10 minutes

3. Take Uber/bolt directly from your hotel to the Pena Palace and go as soon as possible in the morning.

4. you will have better luck of getting Uber/bolt from Pena Palace rather than moorish castle due to the logistics of one way road

5.uber/bolt from Palace to Q4 will be about 5 euro.
Make sure that driver drops you at top entrance up the hill. He will like to drop you are exit because it is easier for him to get fare from there.

1. Cascais is not from from Sintra. Using Uber/bolt you should be able to combine the two

Avoid tuktik, trains, 434 bus, etc.

We were in Sintra just 3 weeks ago and spent two nights. It seems a shame to just take a day trip and have to rush around without savoring the wonderful sites.
We bought online timed tickets to Pena Palace for the opening 9:30 time. Tickets become available 45 or 60 days in advance and are discounted when purchased online. We also purchased the "transport" bus shuttle from the main gate to the palace and got to the main gate with Uber (Bolt is also a good option) from our hotel in Sintra. The weather was particularly bad that morning with occasional downpours, so the views from the outside of the palace were not great. The inside was interesting and not crowded at that time. If getting the 9:30 time slot, arrive at least 20 minutes ahead because the line at the main gate starts forming well in advance.
The Rick Steves book mentions getting a trail map at the main gate or gift shop. There actually are no printed maps. However, you can scan a QR code at the gift shop (at the palace), which links you to a map that will guide you by GPS to various points within Pena Palace Park. There is an extensive network of trails and the GPS guidance is crucial. There are many interesting follies within the park. People who do the hit and run visit to the Palace and Moorish Castle really miss an opportunity. You can take a leisurely walk through park, then visit the Moorish Castle, which doesn't require a timed ticket. Then you can follow the signs to the Vila Sassetti, which is trail that leads past the Vila and into town.
The Moorish Castle is worth a visit, which you can walk to after exploring the Pena Palace Park and exiting at the lower gate. Many people find the Moorish Castle a favorite compared to Pena Palace and there are good views of the palace from the castle.
Exploring Pena Palace, Pena Palace Park and Moorish Castle, then down town Sintra makes for leisurely full day.
On the second day in Sintra I would recommend Quinta da Regalaire with its wonderful grounds and and iconic initiation well. Get opening time 10:00 timed tickets well in advance to avoid the crowds and explore the grounds first, starting at the initiation well and working your way down. The house is OK, but not the main reason for the visit.
Totally overlooked is the Palacio Biester (not in the Rick Steves book), right next door to the Regalaire estate. If you want an uncrowded experience and beautifully appointed interior, along with a nice quiet light lunch in the teahouse, this is the place to go immediately after visiting Regalaire. Follow that with a visit to the National Palace of Sintra for a history lesson and you have a full but still unrushed day.
A third day in Sintra, which we did not do, could include Monserrate (a short ride share from Sintra down town) and maybe Cascais.
We had a great relaxed two day stay in Sintra.
If you stay in Sintra, I would highly recommend the Chalet Saudaude, not far from the train station and within 10 minutes walk of the main area of town. The Chalet is an historic home with a very helpful staff and includes standard but plentiful breakfast at the Cafe Saudaude, a 1-2 minute walk away. The cafe is also a good place to stop for a lunch or snack. One scone is big enough for two people.
We were only in Sintra for two full days, and cannot compare all restaurant options, but A Raposa is a phenomenal restaurant just around the corner from Chalet Saudaude. Do not refuse their couvert, which includes mouth-watering bread and an olive oil dip. Reservations strongly recommended. We also ate at the Apeadeiro, good local food, but did not measure up to A Raposa.

Great info, especially from Kirk. We go in 2 weeks for 3 days and have a full agenda. Thank you for restaurant suggestions.

KIrk, what helpful information!

In addition to Biester, Monserrate is worth visiting and very peaceful after the business of the palaces in town. For Monserrate, it makes sense to plan and get logistics in place prior to the visit.

Another great restaurant is InComum