Can I do Sintra without a tour?

There are tours you can book that will take you around Sintra for the day (like this one), but I recommend making the trip independently if you can so you can see things at your own pace. Read on for all my tips for planning an epic day trip to Sintra on your own!



Yes, doing Sintra without a tour is not only possible but is often the preferred way for independent travelers to experience the region in 2026. To do it successfully, you should take the direct train from Lisbon’s Rossio Station (approx. 40 minutes, €2.45), which drops you right in the heart of the town. From there, you can use the 434 Tourist Bus, which follows a one-way loop connecting the train station, the Historic Center, the Moorish Castle, and the iconic Pena Palace. An independent trip allows you to set your own pace—for instance, arriving at Pena Palace the moment it opens at 9:00 AM to beat the massive tour bus crowds. You can also choose exactly which palaces to visit, such as the mystical Quinta da Regaleira or the quieter Monserrate Palace. The key to a "tour-free" success is booking all tickets online in advance and arriving early; by mid-morning, the bus lines and ticket queues can be hours long. With a 24-hour bus ticket (€13.50) and a bit of planning, you can see all the highlights of this "landscape of palaces" for a fraction of the cost of a guided tour.

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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.

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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.

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Portuguese tour guides are enthusiastic and knowledgeable, and the tours also cater for more worldly visitors. An organised tour is the only way to visit both Sintra and Cascais in a single day, as taking this route by public transport does not provide enough time for sightseeing.

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Sintra in half a day No matter what you've seen or read, half a day is not long enough to fully appreciate Sintra. Three hours is only just enough time to see the historic centre and the Quinta da Regaleira (or Palácio Nacional de Sintra).

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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.

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Starting your day before 9 a.m. is ideal! (The buses in Sintra start running between 9:15 and 9:30 a.m., so if you can be there around that time, it will be less crowded than later in the day.)

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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.

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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.

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One day is enough to see the most famous castles in Sintra. If you plan well and go fast, you can see Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, and either Palacio Nacional de Sintra or Quinta da Regaleira on the same day.

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Sintra is a place with something for everyone. You can discover some of Sintra's most emblematic monuments in just one day by taking one of these walking routes and drinking in the history and nature around you.

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Children up to 5 years old and Seniors > 80 years old have free admission, but requires a ticket. Once inside Quinta da Regaleira the visit rules must be respected. Keep your ticket until the end of your visit. Throughout the year the Palace, the Chapel and eventual exhibition spaces close 30 minutes before de garden.

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To reach Quinta da Regaleira from the Sintra train station, take bus 434 to Largo Ferreira Castro. The entrance to the palace is an 8 minute walk up the road from there. Alternatively, you can walk to Quinta da Regaleira. From Sintra train station it's a 22 minute walk, and from Sintra town it's about 15 minutes.

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In Sintra, you can get around by walking, by bus, or by taxi. If you're just in Sintra for 24 hours, walking will take up too much time. With that amount of time, it's best to take the train from Lisbon to Sintra, and then use Sintra's bus lines or taxis to get around. There are two bus routes you'll use in Sintra.

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