We will be flying into Lisbon next month on a Friday. I will be reserving either Saturday or Sunday for a long day trip to Sintra. I’m reading that many sites in Sintra are free to Portugal residents on Sunday, which leads me to believe that sites may be more crowded on that day. Could anyone offer some advice?
Posted by
1 posts
If you’re concerned about crowds, consider visiting Sintra on Saturday to avoid the potential influx of locals taking advantage of free entry on Sunday. This way, you can enjoy the sites with fewer visitors and have a more relaxed monkey mart experience.
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
2018 posts
Sintra is extremely crowded every day. At this point, I doubt many locals go there at all because of the crowds. I haven’t been in a number of years for that reason. There will be smaller crowds at the lesser known sites such as Montserrat, but it’s not right in Sintra.
Hopefully, you aren’t going in the week before or after Easter, when the crowds swell due to Spanish tourists coming for the Easter break.
Taking a small group or even private tour is likely the best way, as they provide you with transport between the sites.
Posted by
OP
Washington DC
79 posts
Unfortunately, yes, this is one week after Easter, because it's our own school spring break.