Add dates

Things to do in Sintra District

Our most recommended things to do in Sintra District

Lisbon: Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, & Cascais Daytrip

1. Lisbon: Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, & Cascais Daytrip

Escape Lisbon and go on a full-day, guided journey to some of Portugal’s most popular locations stopping at the iconic Pena Palace in Sintra, the awe-inspiring cliffs of Cabo da Roca, and the ritzy seaside town of Cascais. Choose between the shared tour or private tour options. Your journey from Lisbon starts at the famous city of Sintra, whose Romanticist architecture, historic estates and villas, and numerous royal palaces and castles have made it a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy the freedom of choice on whether you want an included entry ticket and tour of the colorful Pena Palace, or whether you prefer to gain some extra free time instead. Arriving early at Sintra means greater chances of avoiding long lines if you choose to go with your guide on a comprehensive tour through its lavish interiors and lush gardens. Marvel at the palace’s fairy-tale-like appearance, beautiful facade and extravagant interior. Next, head over to the center of Sintra and get 1.5-hour of free time to wander on your own. Get recommendations of the city’s must-see locations as well as the best restaurant options for delicious traditional Portuguese dining from your guide. Continue to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe, and take in the impressive views of the ocean crashing against the high rocky cliffs. If weather permitting, stop at Guincho beach, whose strong winds and high swells have made it a popular surfing destination. Lastly, arrive in Cascais, an elegant seaside resort town on the Portuguese Riviera. Stroll through the lovely city center and make sure to check out Cascais’ luxury marina, its charming fishing port, and a restored fort that houses many local craftsmen. After your free exploration time in Cascais, relax back on board your air-conditioned vehicle, and admire more breathtaking views of the Portuguese coast as you make your way back to Lisbon.

Sintra: Quinta da Regaleira and Moors Tickets with Audios

2. Sintra: Quinta da Regaleira and Moors Tickets with Audios

Experience Quinta da Regaleira at your own pace with a skip-the-line e-ticket and an engaging self-guided audio tour on your smartphone. Receive your ticket by Email, download the app and the audio tour on your phone, and travel back in time to the glory of the Quinta da Regaleira. Put on your headphones and discover the aquarium, Fountain of Abundance, and greenhouse as well as the castle’s treasures. Learn historical information and hear lesser-known stories about Sintra.  Benefit from in-depth research combined with original storytelling that will make your visit both engaging and informative. Gain valuable insights into one of Sintra’s main and most well-known attractions, the Quinta da Regaleira, and relate to your surroundings in an entirely original way.

From Lisbon: Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, & Pena Palace Trip

3. From Lisbon: Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, & Pena Palace Trip

Discover Sintra’s beautiful architecture, admire the beauty of one of the highest hills of the region Walk the narrow streets of Sintra in your free time and visit with our fantastic tour guide Quinta da Regaleira. Arrive at the romantic Pena Palace in Sintra, which has a profusion of styles much in accordance with the exotic taste of Romanticism. Explore the ancient castle, which was one of the favorite residences of the royal family throughout the 19th century. Walk through the fairytale-style building and learn about its fascinating history. Take some free time to stroll through Sintra and purchase lunch if you're feeling hungry. Get recommendations on what to see and eat in the area. Afterward, begin a guided tour of the main landmarks of Sintra, and hear about local secrets and stories. Visit the picturesque village of Cascais, linked to the Portuguese royals who summered here. Stroll along beautiful beaches, mansions, museums and photogenic streets. Return to Lisbon at the end of the day.

Sintra: Pena Palace and Park Entrance Ticket

4. Sintra: Pena Palace and Park Entrance Ticket

The palace is situated in the eastern part of the Park of Pena, which one has to pass through to reach the steep ramp built by the Baron of Eschwege that provides access to the castle-like building. The palace itself is composed of two wings: the former Manueline monastery of the Order of St. Jerome and the wing built in the 19th century by King Ferdinand II. These wings are ringed by a third architectural structure that is a fantastical version of an imaginary castle, whose walls one can walk around and which comprises battlements, watchtowers, an entrance tunnel and even a drawbridge. In 1838, King Ferdinand II acquired the former Hieronymite monastery of Our Lady of Pena, which was built by King Manuel I in 1511 on the top of the hill above Sintra and had been left unoccupied since 1834 when the religious orders were suppressed in Portugal. The monastery consisted of the cloister and its outbuildings, the chapel, the sacristy and the bell tower, which today form the northern section of the Palace of Pena, or the Old Palace as it is known. King Ferdinand began by making repairs to the former monastery, which, according to the historical sources of that time, was in very bad condition. He refurbished the whole of the upper floor, replacing the fourteen cells used by the monks with larger-sized rooms and covering them with the vaulted ceilings that can still be seen today. In roughly 1843, the king decided to enlarge the palace by building a new wing (the New Palace) with even larger rooms (the Great Hall is a good example of this), ending in a circular tower next to the new kitchens. The building work was directed by the Baron of Eschwege. The 1994 repair works restored the original colors of the Palace’s exterior: pink for the former monastery and ochre for the New Palace. In transforming a former monastery into a castle-like residence, King Ferdinand showed that he was heavily influenced by German romanticism, and that he probably found his inspiration in the Stolzenfels and Rheinstein castles on the banks of the Rhine, as well as Babelsberg Palace in Potsdam. These building works at the Palace of Pena ended in the mid-1860s, although further work was also undertaken at later dates for the decoration of the interiors. King Ferdinand also ordered the Park of Pena to be planted in the Palace’s surrounding areas in the style of the romantic gardens of that time, with winding paths, pavilions and stone benches placed at different points along its routes, as well as trees and other plants originating from the four corners of the earth. In this way, the king took advantage of the mild and damp climate of the Sintra hills to create an entirely new and exotic park with over five hundred different species of trees. The Palace of Pena was designated a National Monument in 1910 and forms part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, which has been classified by UNESCO as World Heritage since 1995.

Lisbon Card: 24, 48, or 72-Hour Pass

5. Lisbon Card: 24, 48, or 72-Hour Pass

Unlock the city of Lisbon with the flexible Lisbon Card. Enjoy unlimited travel on city transport, and free admission to 39 museums, historic buildings, and more. Benefit from discounts at a vast range of attractions, vouchers for different shops, and a handy guide that explains how to use the card. After exchanging your GetYourGuide voucher for the magnetic card, the Lisbon Card immediately provides 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour access to the public transport system. Eligible on the Carris metro, buses, trams, and cable railways, it also works on CP trains between Cais do Sodré and Cascais, and trains between Oriente, Rossio, and Sintra.   Skip the lines to enter Jerónimos Monastery, and climb the Belem Tower. Enjoy free access to the National Tile Museum, the National Coach Museum, and others. Admire stunning palaces, including the Mafra National Palace and the Ajuda National Palace. Ride the famous Santa Justa Lift, and much more—all with one card. The Libson Card provides free entry to the following attractions: • Jerónimos Monastery / Monasterio de los Jerónimos• Pilar7 Bridge Experience / Experiencia Pilar 7 • LISBOA Story Centre• National Tile Museum / Museo Nacional del Azulejo   • National Coach Museum / Museo Nacional de Carruajes  • National Ancient Art Museum / Museo Nacional de Arte Antigua• Sintra Mitos e Lendas• Santa Justa Elevator / Ascensor de Santa Justa• Mafra National Palace / Palacio Nacional de Mafra• CARRIS• METRO• CP-Comboios de Portugal• FERTAGUS• National Pantheon / Panteón Nacional• Ajuda National Palace / Palacio Nacional de Ajuda• Chiado Museum - National Museum of Contemporary Art / Museo del Chiado Museo Nacional de Arte Contemporânea• National Ethnology Museum / Museo Nacional de Etnología      • National Costume Museum / Museo Nacional del Traje     • National Museum of Theatre and Dance / Museo Nacional del Teatro y de Danza  • National Archaeology Museum / Museo Nacional de Arqueología• National Music Museum Music / Museo Nacional de la Música• Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves Museum-Residence / Casa-Museo Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves• Republican National Guard Museum / Museo de la Guardia Nacional Republicana• Ceramics Museum - Sacavém / Museo de la Cerámica - Sacavém• Air Museum / Museo del Aire• Batalha Monastery / Monasterio de Batalha • Alcobaça Monastery / Monasterio de Alcobaça• Tomar Convent of Christ / Convento de Cristo - Tomar• Museum of Neo Realism - Vila Franca de Xira / Museo del Neo Realismo - Vila Franca de Xira• Museum of the work Michel Giacometti / Museo del Trabajo Michel Giacometti• Casa da Cerca - Museum of Contemporary Art - Almada / Casa da Cerca - Museu de Arte Contemporanea - Almada• Chapel of the Holy Spirit of the Mareantes - Sesimbra / Capilla del Espíritu Santo de los Mareantes - Sesimbra• Museum of Setúbal - Municipal Gallery / Museo de Setúbal - Galería Municipal• Rua Augusta Arch / Arco da Rua Augusta• Greenhouse / Invernadero Frío• Maritime Museum of Sesimbra / Museo Marítimo de Sesimbra• Museum Tesouro Real• CIRES – Roaz Interpretive Center of the Sado Estuary / CIRES - Centro Interpretativo del Roaz del Estuario del Sado• Royal Treasure Museum / Museu do Tesouro Real  The Libson Card also provides discounts on the following attractions:• Dom Fernando II e Glória ship – 20% discount• Biester Palace (Sintra) – 10% discount• Video mapping (Immersivus Lisboa – O Cubo) – 15% discount• SEOTours – 15% discount• Setubal Alive – 10% discount• MAAT - Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology – 15% discount

From Lisbon: Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais Full-Day Tour

6. From Lisbon: Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais Full-Day Tour

Discover Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on this day tour. Admire the town via minivan, surrounded by a natural park, a medieval castle, palaces, and chalets. Walk along the medieval streets of Sintra and drive through the national park. Take in the rare fauna, the unique trees, the Moorish Castle, Monserrate Palace, and the several chalets along the road. Next, visit Pena Palace, one of the most impressive architectural expressions of 19th-century Romanticism in the world, and one of Portugal’s seven wonders. Continue on to the westernmost point of continental Europe at Roca Cape. Finally, travel along the Atlantic coast. Discover the natural seawater pools at Azenhas do Mar beach. Stop in Cascais, was once a holiday retreat for the royal family and the European aristocracy.

From Lisbon: Sintra, Regaleira and Pena Palace Guided Tour

7. From Lisbon: Sintra, Regaleira and Pena Palace Guided Tour

Benefit from a guided tour inside the Quinta Regaleira and Pena Palace. Fall in love with Sintra, a village full of magic and mystery, the lasting symbol of Portugal's Romantic period and also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Opt to treat yourself and your loved ones to a private experience with your own guide and pickup from your own hotel. Alternatively, you can get picked up from a convenient location in the center of Lisbon. Accompanied by a tour guide, visit Quinta da Regaleira and enjoy its lush gardens, lakes, grottoes, and enigmatic constructions, including the world-famous Initiation Well. Uncover the mysteries of each place and learn about the orders of the Freemasons and the Knights Templar. During the lunch break in Sintra's old town, you will have free time to explore the historical and charming streets. You will also have time to taste the traditional pastry, travesseiro. After buying your entry ticket with your guide, step into a fairy tale when you enter the romantic Pena Palace and Park. Understand its unique architectural expression of Romanticism. Spot how it blends many styles, including Gothic, neo-Manueline, neo-Islamic, and neo-Renaissance. Stroll around the park with its astonishing variety of plants and trees. Marvel at the palace's amazing views of the castle and the Atlantic Ocean, a perfect way to end the day before returning to Lisbon.

Sintra: Moorish Castle & Quinta da Regaleira e-Tickets

8. Sintra: Moorish Castle & Quinta da Regaleira e-Tickets

Experience the Moorish Castle and the Quinta da Regaleira, at your own pace with two skip-the-line e-tickets and two audio tours, and a fascinating self-guided walking audio tour of the city of Sintra on your smartphone. Receive your ticket by email, download the app and the audio tours on your phone, prior to your visit, and travel back in time to to experience the grandeur of Sintra, from the city’s unique mysteries and stories to its dazzling Castle and Palaces. Put on your headphones and discover the Castle Keep, the Royal Tower and the Aquarium through the power of storytelling and historical information and uncommon stories and anecdotes from the past. It is also your chance to explore Sintra with a self-guided city walking tour on your phone and immerse yourself in the beauty of its stories. The content of the tours is the result of in-depth research, distilled into brief original stories that will make your visit both engaging and informative. The audio tours can be used repeatedly and at any time, before or after your visit. This is an unmissable opportunity to gain valuable insights into the enchanting scenery and cultural richness of Sintra, and relate to your surroundings in an entirely original way.

Mafra: National Palace of Mafra Entry Ticket

9. Mafra: National Palace of Mafra Entry Ticket

Make the most of your visit to Portugal by visiting the Palace of Mafra. Book your entry ticket and soak up the Neoclassical and Baroque architecture of this 18th-century masterpiece. Your ticket grants you access to the royal palace, convent, and basilica. The palace complex has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019. During your visit, travel back in time to the 18th century when the palace was regularly visited by kings and members of the royal family to attend religious feasts or hunt in the game reserve. The palace also boasts important collections of Italian sculptures, Italian and Portuguese paintings, a unique library with over 36,000 volumes, two carillons, six historical organs, and an 18th-century hospital.

Sintra: Moorish Castle Entrance E-Ticket With Audio Tour

10. Sintra: Moorish Castle Entrance E-Ticket With Audio Tour

Experience the Moorish Castle in Sintra at your own pace with a skip-the-line e-ticket and a fascinating self-guided audio tour on your smartphone. Visit the fascinating castle at your leisure, without having to abide by large group tour schedules or long waiting lines. Receive your ticket by email, download the app and the audio tour on your smartphone prior to your visit, and travel back in time to experience the glory of one of Sintra’s main attractions, the magnificent Moorish Castle. Put on your headphones and discover the breathtaking Castle Keep, the Royal Tower, the Second Circle of Walls, and the Castle’s breathtaking treasures through the power of storytelling. Learn historical facts and uncommon stories and anecdotes for this spectacular attraction of Sintra. Leaving knowing you've gained valuable insights into one of Sintra’s main and most well-known attractions, the Moorish Castle, and relate to your surroundings in an entirely original way.

All activities

259 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 17

Frequently asked questions about Sintra District

What top attractions are a must-see in Sintra District?

Other Sightseeing Options in Sintra District

Want to discover all there is to do in Sintra District? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Sintra District

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 29,070 reviews

Our tour guide Nunu is a local and very knowledgeable about the place. He told us the most romantic love story of the Queen Dona Maria II and the King consort Ferdinand. Ferdinand acquired the old castle to remodel and extend it for the Queen Maria. It took 12 years to complete but sadly the Queen died of giving birth to their 11th child and didn’t see the completed palace. As we entered Peña Palace, it made us feel everything inside has a story to tell…….

We had a trip on 7.03. Everything was amazing! Miguel is very cool guide. He is as a real local , knows many nuances how to avoid crowded places and big lines, that made this trip very comfortable.he told us about history and much more. Totally recommend. Everything went smooth, interesting and very funny))

Magical place exceptional exhibition. Interesting comments !! No queue ... Easy access to the paintings because not too many people ... rare ... I had taken premium tickets but it was not useful suddenly .. (1st week February holidays)

Great tour. An early start to avoid the crowds in Pina. Plenty of exercise, quite cool. Excellent narration with loads of good personality. Everything was well done.

Fascinating architecture and period furnishings. Plaques at each room explained the occupant and their place in the royal family. Thoroughly enjoyable!