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.

Getting to the top of Sintra—specifically to the Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle—requires navigating a steep, winding ascent that is now largely closed to private car traffic. In 2026, the most popular method remains the 434 Tourist Bus, which loops from the Sintra Train Station to the palace gates. However, due to extreme popularity, queues for this bus can be over an hour long. A faster, more private alternative is hiring a Tuk-Tuk or a ride-hailing service like Uber or Bolt, though these vehicles face the same narrow-road congestion as the buses. For the physically fit, there are several forested hiking trails, such as the Villa Sassetti trail, which takes about 45 to 60 minutes of strenuous uphill walking but offers stunning, crowd-free views. Once at the main gate of Pena Palace, there is still a final 10-minute steep walk up to the castle itself; a small internal shuttle is available for a fee if you wish to skip this final climb. It is essential to book your timed entry tickets well in advance, as the "top" of Sintra is one of Europe's most regulated tourist sites.