Sintra palaces

I really enjoyed Quinta da Regaleira and walked around it the day I arrived - but I arrived mid-day. The next day, I did take the bus up to Pena and it is also very enjoyable. It was foggy the entire time, so didn't get the views. I also did quite a lot of other things on my 2nd day (not just Pena). Depending on how long you like to spend looking through individual rooms, etc - I think you could do both in a day - would just need to plan accordingly since not sure what hours they operate in April. I'd say maybe Regaleria in the morning, lunch/snack break, and then Pena in afternoon. Both are unique and worthwhile.

I'd do Regaleria in the morning perhaps seeing the Initiation well and Palace first since those are the two locations that get lines. Then you can enjoy the rest of the gardens. Afterwards, you can catch a bus to the Monserrate. The gardens there are wonderful and it's peaceful compared to the rest of Sintra.

You can have lunch at Regaleria (they have a decent cafe) or bring a lunch for Monserrate to eat on the lawn outside the palace. Lots of families and kids rolling down the grassy hill having fun. This is my favorite palace.

The National is open later than the other palaces. I've added it as a 3rd palace at the end of the day and that worked out well.

I'd do Pena on a separate day (arrival or departure day) It's very crowded and can become overwhelming, so I wouldn't see it on the same day as the other palaces. After I've seen Pena, I tend to be exhausted and feel like I've had it. Last time I was there, it was claustrophobic around the palace and this was off season with covid.

The views from the Moorish castle are nice. I enjoyed it. Walking distance from Pena. You really need 2 full days for Sintra. One day for Regaleria/Monserrate, and the other day for Pena/Moorish. National palace end of day on either.

Thank you Connie and Gail. Connie, what time of year were you there?

When I first started to plan this trip, I thought this would be the one and only trip to Portugal, since my "Europe Wish list" is quite long. After a bit, I decided I might have to duck back in a bit when we visit Galicia, Spain for more of Minho. And now, after more research, I think I love Portugal and haven't even been, yet! I think I will have to plan Sintra with the idea that we'll be back.

I think Pena will be a lot like our experience at the Vatican museum and Versailles. We were glad we went, but wow, too much humanity for me. Since my husband is about a foot taller than I am, I feel like he had a totally different experience. He actually lifted me up once in Versailles so I could see, and at 5-4, I'm really not that short.

I think I'm going to hope that we can catch the National Palace the day we arrive. That's the one we are least interested in, but it happens to be the most convenient. The next day go to Monserrate and Regaleira, then end the day at Pena and Moorish castles, if possible, knowing that we'll probably only be able to do just the gardens.

Can anyone recommend viewpoints where we can get pictures of Pena? Especially places that we could access when the palaces are closed?

I welcome more input.

The walls around the Moorish castle have good viewpoints of Pena for nice pictures.

Absolutely not necessary to go inside Peña. We found it underwhelming and crowded. Spend your time there in the gardens and terraces.

Thanks, Gail.

Previous posts talked about Pena palace lines and people waiting hours beyond their ticket times. Hoping someone that has been there recently could say if Pena admissions still run way behind ticket time.

I was in Sintra December 2019. I had 2 days, arrived mid-day and went to Regaleria. Next morning went to Peña. Because of the fog, did not spend time at Moorish castle because couldn’t see a thing. There were lines at Peña, but moved along at good pace. I think it got worse as the day progressed. And, maybe because people didn’t want to go due to the fog. I still enjoyed looking around and actually like some of my foggy pictures - made the place seem more mystical! I also did not find National very interesting but was able to go there after coming back from Peña. I stayed at a bnb just above the main town and found a restaurant with outdoor seating around the corner that looked at National. Really enjoyed sipping a glass of wine there and watching the sun set and lights come up in town and at National. So, I did all 3 with spending 2 nights and 1 1/2 days in Sintra.

A couple days ago there was a post about airline schedule changes. Someone piped in and said that they've used schedule changes to rebook a better itinerary. I've done that in the past, and that's exactly what happened to me this morning. Delta changed my itinerary (actually AirFrance, a codeshare) I took the opportunity to make a better itinerary. I now get to Lisbon at 8am. So, depending on how long it takes at the Lisbon airport, I now have almost 2 full days in Sintra. Granted, it will be with jetlag, but we usually do ok "powering" through it. I will plan Regaleria and Monserrate for the first day and Pena at 9:30 (first time slot) followed by the Moorish palace and possibly the National the second day.

We'll probably taxi/uber to get us to Pena by 9am and walk the rest of that day. Perhaps, we'll hit Regaleria at opening and walk to Monserrate, depending on how pleasant the road and conditions are.

I welcome any comments.

There is a bus that connects Regaleria to Monserrate. There's already going to be a lot of walking for both Regaleria and Monserrate. I wouldn't recommend adding the walk between the two locations. I've actually walked back to town from Monserrate. There really isn't any shoulder on the road so you need to be careful to get out of the way of cars if you do choose to walk it.

Thanks Gail, bus it is.

Hi Jules,

In Pena Ubers don´t go to there, only authorized tourist vehicles, as private drivers or local tuk tuks do it, there are plenty of them there.

For Lisbon to Sintra you can go by train, 10 min from airport or taxi or shuttle.

A tip is to buy entrance tickes online with the entry hour, so you dont have to be on the line waiting and have a direct entrace.

I would say go to Pena palace, then Mourisch Castle, get a tuck to Regaleira, there you waste more time, then you go down to the central city and can see Sintra Palace.

For second day i would suggest you get a tuk, private driver or bus that pass by Monserrate Palace, does a great nature Sintra trip until Cabo Da Roca, that is the most extreme point of Europe and a great view hotspot.