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Lists · Day trips

The Best of Sintra in a Day

Sintra has a dozen palaces and gardens. These are the three that earn the trip — and the order to do them in.

Sintra rewards a plan. Start high at Pena Palace for the first ticket slot, walk down to Quinta da Regaleira’s gardens, then catch the coast on your way back. Everything here is worth it — we’ve said so honestly, and our verdicts never depend on commission.

The red and yellow towers of Pena Palace above the green Sintra hills.
Day trips

Pena Palace

Sintra hills · Sintra

Worth it — buy a timed ticket and go early; by noon the romance is buried under crowds.

Worth it Book
The spiral Initiation Well descending into the gardens of Quinta da Regaleira.
Day trips

Quinta da Regaleira

Sintra centre · Sintra

Worth it — the Initiation Well and gardens are the most fun you'll have in Sintra.

Worth it Book
Day trips

Boca do Inferno

Cascais coast · Cascais

Skip the detour unless you're already walking the coast — it's a nice cliff, not a destination.

Skip it