1 hour was enough for us to see the grounds. It was during this period that many of the palaces and villas were regenerated in the Romantic architectural style the town is famed for today. Traditional restaurants closer to the ferry boat station, like the famous Ponto Final, serve mainly fresh seafood. A visit to Castle dos Mouros only really takes an hour or so. In our opinion and this is what we did you should plan to start at Pena Palace at the crest of the hill above the town of Sintra, and work your way downhill from there. Whether you surf or not, the beaches are one of Peniches main attractions, where Baleal and Supertubos are the best-known breaks amongst those who love to ride the waves. From here its possible to walk to Praia da Ursa, one of Portugals most beautiful beaches. At just 45 minutes away from Lisbon by train from Rossio Station in Baixa, a day trip to Sintra is a great option if youre looking to add a trip out of the city to your Lisbon itinerary. On your way back to the ferry station, have a peek at ADAO, a local arts organization that refurbished the former firefighters' headquarters. This traditional Portuguese tapas spot has excellent views of the village and countryside from the outdoor terrace. Located a short distance from Sintra, deeper into the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, the Palcio de Monserrate is another amazing architectural wonder of Portugal. It has a good restaurant that attracts a trendy and bohemian crowd from Lisbon. That section of So Francisco church was decorated top to bottom with bones and skulls to remind Catholic church-goers that life is fleeting. Sintra is the hottest and most crowded in peak season which spans the summer months of June, July, and August. With ornate monuments set against a beautiful forested backdrop, Sintra feels like stepping into the pages of a storybook. Heading east from here, you reach Sesimbra, a popular resort town known for its seafood restaurants and with a wide bay with family-friendly beaches. All, Read More One Day in Lisbon: How to See the Best of Lisbon in 24 HoursContinue. Sign up receive our monthly newsletter with updates and new in-depth guides.. Lisbon: Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, & Cascais Day Trip 2. In this guide, well take you through exactly how to plan a Lisbon to Sintra day trip on your own, from how to get there, how to structure your time, and exactly what we think you should do and see based on our own experience. Go to Caf Alentejo for petiscos (finger food and snacks) like scrambled eggs with farinheira (a meatless sausage) or Taberna Tpica Quarta-Feira for typical dishes like fried pork meat. We couldnt find any really good directions on how to get to the castle. Its about 1 hours away via the A8 and 1 hours via the A1. In the summer, take the 45-minute boat trip to Berlenga Grande island to roam its beaches and nature reserve. It stops in the historic city center before heading up the mountain to the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace. These travel guides can help: Hi there! That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we dont stand behind 100%. Once youre all done, grab the bus back down the mountain to town. 19 Best Sintra Tours from Lisbon: Unlock the Secrets of Sintra Its Europes westernmost point, and is located between Cascais and Sintra, but the bus from Sintra takes longer, and youll need plenty of time to see all of that towns magnificent palaces. Your email address will not be published. What to wear when dining out to the best way to get around, our Porto resident gives you the lowdown on things to know before you go to Portugal. Fall and spring are the best times to visit Sintra for nice weather and minimal crowds. This perfectly-preserved historic town is surrounded by medieval walls and was once an important Roman city, as evidenced by a landmark temple. There are more things to see and do in Sintra but with 1 day this is what we opted to do and we wouldn't change it! The best way to get there is to jump on the 435 bus or grab an uber or taxi. Once youre in the town of Sintra, youve got a few options for reaching each of the attractions. Well cover them both in this section. Here are our in-depth European travel guides to help you plan a trip full of learning, discovery, and unforgettable experiences. If you drive, theres a small parking lot across from the palace entrance. The bus ride up the mountain takes around 20 minutes and its a wild one. Rua Direita the towns main road is lined with chocolate and sour cherryliqueur (ginjinha) shops to entice its many visitors, but make time for a rewarding wander deeper into the town's winding streets too. Heads up: Youll need to walk back out to the main road (Estrada de Pena) to catch the bus, a taxi, or a tuk-tuk. Learn more. Cannon said we could have spent all day there just running around and exploring. The Portuguese capital is a great base to explore different parts of central and southern Portugal, which public transportation makes easily accessible. Built by an English merchant in 1790, the grand palace is one of the best examples of European eclecticism, with a mix of Indian, Moorish, and Gothic influences, topped with a dome inspired by the Duomo in Florence. The Castle of the Moors is a rocky hilltop fortification that dates back to the 10th century. It was a 40 minute ride and we got off at Sintra which was the end of the track (there is an additional Sintra stop before this one dont get off at that one! Plus the walk up and down to the palace. 2. 6 of the best day trips from Lisbon - Lonely Planet Day Trip to Sintra from Lisbon - The Lisbon Travel Guide - Updated 2023 The park is open daily from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm, with the last entry at 6:00 pm. In terms of visiting the Palace, you have three main options which wed recommend tackling in the order listed below (if you choose to do the interior). The palace has architectural influences from around the world and its relaxing to spend the afternoon wandering through the gardens. You can buy transportation up from where you get your tickets to the palace. From surfing hubs and romantic mountain towns to emerging art destinations and heritage sites, be inspired to explore beyond thecapital of Portugalwith this list of places that are only a short journey away. Either jump on the 434 bus or take an Uber, taxi, or Tuk-Tuk to the palace entrance. 1. It has plenty of hills (which means both incredible views and also getting sweaty trying to get to those views), it has a big red bridge, and its earthquake prone. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. We made the walk from the Moors castle to here and it was totally doable for us but there is uphill and downhill walking so be prepared for that. Meet Elsewhere, Lonely Planet's new travel-planning service. So head inside first, then come back out to admire the famous exterior of the Palace when the fog starts to burn off. Ideal as a short road trip from Lisbon, head to sunny vora for great food, wine and historical landmarks. Plus there were other people walking as well so it was totally fine to walk. Were Matt and Alysha, the two endlessly curious travelers behind this site., We spent the past two years traveling, which included 18 national parks here in the United States, and an extended trip to Europe., Recently, we have chosen to put down roots in Portland, Oregon, and look forward to exploring even more of the Pacific Northwest (Matt grew up in Seattle, so he knows it well).. See more of Portugal with these top day trips from Lisbon BONDART PHOTOGRAPHY / Shutterstock. 2023 Wheelchair Accessible Group Trip to Portugal These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Beyond the building, you'll notice the white-sand beach, Alburrica, famous for its windmills and occasional river surfers. With its exquisite tiled churches, spectacular viewpoints, indulgent local dishes, and namesake port wine,, Read More One Day in Porto: How to See the Best of Porto in 24 HoursContinue, When we started researching for a trip to Lisbon, I wasnt quite sure what to expect in terms of coffee. This also meant we had time to study the map we were given of the property, when we bought our tickets, to figure out where we wanted to go. Surfers headed north to Peniche long before the giant waves of neighboring Nazar put Portugal on the map. Riding waves on the river, with the help of ferries during rush hour, is a trend that was started by local sports organization Gasoline. At the roundabout, take the first left and walk down the street called Volta do Duche. [Update: The Vila Sassetti trail is temporarily closed for maintenance. All the info you need about getting a visa for Portugal, how long you can stay and the new visa-waiver program coming in 2024. When youve wrapped up at Pena, head downhill to the Moorish Castle. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Mystic and romantic, Sintra is one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon. Monserrate is the least crowded and most tranquil of the Sintra palaces. From here you can drive north to the beautiful beach of Lagoa de Albufeira, where a lagoon meets the Atlantic, or south to the cape of Espichel, a beautiful and mystical site with massive cliffs and a sanctuary from the 18th century. A one-way ticket costs around 2.45. We certainly think so. Lisbon on a high: daring street art and hilltop lookouts in Portugal's One of the highlights of the estate is The Initiation Well (Poo Inicitico), which features an imposing Gothic spiral staircase filled with mysterious symbolism. As you come out of the ferry, walk to the left until you reach the old train station. Follow this walking route, which is downhill all the way. There are car parking locations outside of the city center. A former industrial city on the south bank of Tagus River, Barreiro is slowly coming out of the smoky shadows of its factory-heavy past and is now an up-and-coming day trip destination. If this seems too much, reduce the day trip to just two sights. Bus 434 runs in a one-way loop from the Sintra train station. If it during high season you probably want to buy your tickets ahead of time online here. We didnt go inside weve seen plenty of rich peoples palaces over the years, and generally find them underwhelming unless theres something special or unique about them. You could realistically spend an entire day in the gardens of the Pena Palace alone, and the travel time between each attraction would also be exhausting. Experience an unforgetable. However, if you continue walking south from the crowded center of the town of Caparica, youll eventually find the perfect spot for you, with plenty of space to spread your towel and enjoy the view and the scent of the pine and acacia trees. How to get to vora from Lisbon: Buses depart from both Oriente and Sete Rios stations and can be found on the Rede Expressos website. After the walk down to town, break for lunch and pastries, and then tackle some of the sights in and around town before heading home. Just let them enjoy exploring the grounds! We did have to walk on a tight sidewalk but it was totally doable and cool to see the city as we walked through it. From there, make your way downhill, stopping to admire the views from the site of an old hilltop castle, and indulging in Sintras famous pastries the Travesseiro. Trying to drive between the sights is much more hassle than its worth. There are several great places to grab lunch in Sintra town, depending on what type of food you want to eat.