We planned a one day trip from Lisbon to Sintra. Using the RS guide we took the train from the Rossio station. First clue of a potential problem was the packed 10:00 train (should have left earlier). Chaos at the Sintra station as two trains arrived and everyone was rushing to get a bus or Tuk Tuk. Prices double the RS book. 11.30 E for bus and 10 E for one way TukTuk. Got to the Pena Palace and waited in half hour line to get tickets. Told at that time there was a 2 hour line to get into Pena Palace. Walked to Moorish Castle. The Castle is well worth it but the hike around the site can be strenuous. Went back to Pena Palace. Line now about 15 mins to get in but still packed. It was a slow crowded walk through the palace. Then stood in line for a hour to get a bus down the hill. Lessons learned
- go earlier
- Buy tickets ahead of time
- Don’t take the bus. More expensive to take a Tuk Tuk or cab but at least you have a little more personal space and likely a lot quicker.
Posted by
San Francisco
184 posts
We were worried about all these issues, so we signed up for a minivan day tour which included the coast, Cascais, the town of Sintra, and finally the Peña Palace where we were driven up to the entrance to the grounds. Our friends did their own thing similar to you, and had all the same issues. We were very pleased with our day.
Posted by
Paris
6920 posts
Thank you for the report! You are indeed not the first one to mention crowds on trains and on ground transportation in Sintra; it was a very common complaint in the few years before COVID.
I actually find that taking an Uber (or equivalent) all the way from central Lisbon to Pena Palace is very effective to beat the hassles you describe. It saves a lot of time, too, and it costs less than 30€, so it is not an extravagance!
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15601 posts
I went in mid-May 2019 with a 3N stay. I waited in the center for quite a while for the bus, finally agreed with 2 others to share a tuktuk to Pena Palace. The ride was exciting as the driver sped up the hill and around the curves, passing the long, long line of buses and cars waiting to discharge passengers and/or get into a parking lot, so it was much faster than any other vehicle. I already had my ticket but waited in line some 10-15 minutes to buy a bus ticket up to the palace then waited in line about 20 minutes for the bus. The line to get into the Palace was less than 10 minutes (I got there about 10 am). However, once inside you moved at the pace of the crowds - no lingering, no passing. Another RS forum member, Priscilla, arrived in Sintra that morning, went to the palace in the afternoon and said there were no crowds at all!.
Posted by
Philly
247 posts
Hi. Thanks for sharing. What day of the week was this? What time did u Finally queue up and enter the palace?
Posted by
OP
Missouri City, TX, USA
18 posts
Friday. Queued for Palace at 2:00 pm and went in by 2:15 pm .