Embark on a 5-6 hour tuk-tuk tour through Sintra's enchanting landscapes and visit its iconic palaces, castles, and gardens.
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24-hour unlimited Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with 360-degree panoramic views of Sintra. Access to 2 bus routes around Sintra, with stops near palaces, parks, and beaches. Create your own itinerary to explore the city and its popular attractions.
The 434 bus service is designed for tourists, and the fares reflect this. The highly promoted 24-hour ticket costs €15, a single fare costs € 4.10, and the Pena Circuit Round Trip €7.60.
Sintra is a hilly town and since some palaces and castles are located a bit far away from each other, it's not always possible to walk everywhere. For bigger distances, you can use local buses, tuk-tuks, and taxis.
You can visit Sintra without a tour and that's how many people will do it. But going from Lisbon to Sintra for the day does involve quite a few logistics, including the train to get there, the bus to get around, tickets at each sight – not to mention dealing with the crowds!
Sintra town is divided into two separate areas…. the new and old town. Both areas are small and very walkable. The old town centers around the National Palace of Sintra and the original village.
Tuk-tuks are best suited to short trips. Often it would cost the same (or even be cheaper) to take a cab to the same destination, but the smaller and more nimble tuk tuk will go a lot faster.
Standard fare is 5 euros per person. They are slower than taxi but make for a very pleasant, open air ride up to Pena Palace. And no waiting for bus. There are tuk tuks waiting at the train station, at city center/National Palace, at Pena Palace and at Moorish Castle.
The disadvantages include exposure to the pollution, the less comfortable ride and the heat if you stop at a traffic light for a long time. Of course, tuk-tuks are reasonable for only very short trips.
Palácio da Pena and Castelo dos Mouros are the two finest attractions of Sintra, but they are situated at the top of a very steep hill. There is a demanding 55-minute uphill footpath (the Caminho de Santa Maria), but for most visitors the best way of reaching these is to catch the 434 tourist bus.
How long to spend in the Palacio da Pena? A visit to the Palacio da Pena will take at least two and half hours, and could be much longer. The staterooms and interior of the palace take 40 minutes to fully appreciate, while the terraces need another 30 minutes.
An alternative option is to follow the Caminho de Santa Maria footpath, which leads uphill from the historic centre of Sintra to the Castelo dos Mouros and Pena Palace. Be warned, this is a very steep hill and a demanding 55-minute hike, which can be very tiring in the heat of summer.
Sintra is generally a safe place, even during the night. It's a popular tourist destination and the local police maintain a solid presence. However, like anywhere, it's important to stay vigilant, especially when walking alone. Avoid deserted areas and always be aware of your surroundings.
Scotturb (www.scotturb.com/en) operates two bus routes that connect most sights in and around Sintra, as well as extra routes that connect Sintra with other towns in the area, such as Cascais. Those bus routes are the 434 (`Circuito da Pena`) and the 435 (`Villa Express 4 Palacios`).
Hidden among its majestic pine forest, you will discover whimsical palaces, extravagant villas and the ruins of a 10th-century Moorish castle. This variety of fascinating historic buildings and stunning natural scenery, makes Sintra an outstanding tourist destination.
Even though magnificent royal residences in the Romantic style are often to be found in 19th and 20th century Europe, Sintra is a pioneer work of European romanticism, bringing together its incredible botanical richness and a diversity of monuments and buildings from a long period of history.