A Day Trip to Sintra from Lisbon

Aug 29

6 min read

Soft Life Experience in Sintra

Palaces, gardens, winding roads, and a day that taught me Sintra deserves more time than you think.

Sintra is one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon, and after visiting for myself, I understand why. Between historic palaces, elaborate gardens, forest-covered hills, and beautiful architecture, it feels completely different from Lisbon despite being close enough to visit for the day.

I decided to make the trip from Lisbon without an overly packed itinerary. My main plans were to have lunch at 1743 Palácio Fonte Nova, visit Monserrate Palace, and make my way to Pena Palace later in the day.

I technically had enough time.

What I underestimated was how much time you can lose simply getting from one place to another.

So while my Sintra day didn't go exactly as planned, it gave me a much better idea of how I'd plan it next time.

Quick Facts

Location: Sintra, Portugal

Trip From: Lisbon

Getting There: Uber from Lisbon

Getting Back: Train to Lisbon

Best For: Palaces, architecture, gardens, photography,

history, and an easy escape from Lisbon

How Long I'd Recommend: One full day if you're focused

on the main attractions

My Biggest Tip: Start early

Getting From Lisbon to Sintra

I took an Uber there and the train back.

Instead of taking the train both ways, I started my day with an Uber from Lisbon to Sintra.

For me, the convenience made sense. I could leave directly from where I was staying and head toward my first stop without adding another step to the beginning of the day.

For the return trip, I took the train back toward Lisbon, which made getting back into the city easy and a little cheaper. (Uber was about $30 USD and train was about $5 USD)

And because apparently I can't just go directly back to my hotel, I ended up stopping at a beer festival along the way.

Sometimes the unplanned parts of a travel day become part of the story too.

Lunch at 1743 Palácio Fonte Nova

Starting my Sintra day with lunch inside a palace.

My first stop of the day was 1743 Palácio Fonte Nova, an elegant restaurant set inside a historic palace near Sintra.

And honestly, this was a very me way to begin a day of palace hopping.

I had veal tartare with truffle, lamb ravioli, and a strawberry cocktail. Between the beautiful setting and elevated meal, lunch felt less like something I needed to squeeze in before sightseeing and more like the first experience of the day.

If you enjoy making dining part of your travel itinerary rather than simply grabbing something between attractions, 1743 is the kind of place I'd intentionally leave time for.

Explore my full 1743 Palácio Fonte Nova restaurant review →

🎥 Want to see the experience in motion? Watch my 1743 Palácio Fonte Nova Reel.

Monserrate Palace

The palace I actually got to explore.

After lunch, I made my way to Monserrate Palace.

The property is known for its elaborate architecture and surrounding gardens, although there was construction happening on the exterior during my visit. That meant I wasn't able to experience or photograph the full exterior the way I had hoped.

Even with that limitation, I was glad I included Monserrate in my day.

What I didn't account for was how long it would take to leave.

I ended up waiting in line for transportation afterward, and that delay ultimately affected whether I'd make it to my final stop in time.

My Pena Palace mistake

Getting there before closing doesn't necessarily mean you're getting inside.

Pena Palace was supposed to be my final major stop of the day.

I made it there before the official closing time, but I learned something important when I arrived: the ticket gate closes before the attraction itself does.

By the time I reached the entrance, ticket access had already closed roughly 10 to 15 minutes earlier.

And that was it.

No Pena Palace for me.

The frustrating part was that waiting for transportation after Monserrate had eaten into the time I thought I had available.

If Pena Palace is one of your priorities, I would not make the same mistake I did and leave it for the end of the day with a narrow window before closing. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive, get through the entrance, and actually enjoy it.

What I would do different next time

I wouldn't necessarily try to cram more palaces into the same amount of time.

I'd simply start earlier.

I'd also prioritize whichever palace mattered most to me and schedule that earlier in the day rather than assuming I could fit it in toward closing.

But my next trip to Sintra would actually look completely different.

I'd stay overnight.

Not because I think you need multiple days just to visit the palaces. For most travelers visiting from Lisbon, I still think a well-planned day trip can work.

I'd stay because next time I want to explore beyond the traditional Sintra palace circuit and spend time along the Sintra coast.

That's the part of the area I didn't get to experience on this trip, and it's exactly what would bring me back.

Is One Day enough for Sintra?

Yes, but you need to start early.

After doing it myself, I do think you can visit Sintra as a day trip from Lisbon.

If your goal is to see a few of the palaces and major attractions, one full day can be enough.

But I would start early in the morning.

Sintra isn't a place where I'd create an itinerary based only on how long Google says each attraction takes. You also need to account for getting between the palaces, waiting for transportation, walking, eating, and the possibility that ticket entry ends before an attraction's official closing time.

That's where my day got away from me.

If you're determined to visit several major palaces in one day, give yourself more breathing room than you think you'll need.

My Honest verdict

What to Know Before Booking

Sintra was one of those travel days that reminded me that not seeing everything doesn't mean the day was unsuccessful.

I explored Monserrate Palace. I had an incredible lunch inside another beautiful palace. I attempted Pena Palace and learned exactly what I'd do differently next time. And somehow my trip back to Lisbon included an unexpected beer festival.

Not exactly the perfectly timed Sintra itinerary.

But definitely a day worth having.

If you're visiting Sintra from Lisbon, give yourself the full day, start early, prioritize the places you absolutely don't want to miss, and leave a little room for the day to become something you didn't plan.

Who is this experience for?

Is Sintra Right for You?

Best suited for:

First-time visitors to Portugal who want an easy day trip from Lisbon
Architecture and design lovers who want to explore Sintra's elaborate palaces and historic estates
Travelers who enjoy gardens, beautiful landscapes, and photography
Solo travelers who are comfortable exploring independently and moving between attractions at their own pace
Travelers who want to combine sightseeing with a memorable dining experience
Anyone who wants to experience Sintra without committing to an overnight stay

May not be ideal for:

Travelers who prefer slow, unstructured days and don't want to think about attraction times
Anyone hoping to see every major palace in a single relaxed day
Travelers who don't enjoy walking, hills, or moving between multiple attractions