The 7 Best Sintra Castles to Visit During Your Trip to Portugal

Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the village of Sintra is located high up in a mountain range. The Sintra Castles are spectacular historical landmarks with breathtaking views, making this ancient and romantic town a sure destination for everyone visiting Portugal.

Bordered to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and the south by Cascais, Sintra is located less than 20 miles from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Featuring the typical freshness of the mountain regions and a cozy little city center, Sintra has a lot more to offer than you may think.

The city is famous mainly for its medieval castle and palaces with designs that border on the magical, idealized from the aspirations of the royalty and the elite who spent their days of rest there.

Because of its geographical and natural features, the Sintra area has been recognized as a natural heritage of great value. Also, the more than 900 years of Portugal’s history have left abundant archeological remains in the region.

Traces of human occupation in this region date back to the Neolithic, almost 12,000 years ago. The fertility of the soils and the richness of the region’s fauna and flora have attracted humankind since the 10^th century BC.

And how were so many castles built there? Well, between the 18th century and the 20th century, many nobles chose the town of Sintra to build their palaces and castles. During the same period, Sintra was also chosen by artists and writers as a stronghold for their creations.

And of course, it could not be otherwise that Sintra became the most romantic corner of Portugal. The main factors that helped to boost Sintra’s development were its climate and proximity to Lisbon.

Whatever you include in your Portugal itinerary and regardless of how long it is, Sintra cannot be left out of your trip.

The best Sintra Castles to visit

1. Palácio da Pena

Located inside Parque da Pena and situated on one of the highest peaks in Sintra, Pena Palace is Sintra’s most famous postcard and the most visited Portuguese castle.

Or are you going to say that you never associated Sintra with the image of the playful red and yellow castle? Its fame, history, and beauty made the palace be elected one of the 7 Wonders of Portugal in 2007.

The building was originally a monastery acquired by King Fernando III, who enlarged it from a Moorish construction and transformed it into a summer residence of the Portuguese court.

A leading exponent of 19th-century Romanticism, the palace still has all the decorations from the last century, which takes the tourist on a trip back in time.

One of its wings was formed by the old Manueline convent, and the second wing was ordered in the 19th century by King Fernando II.

The two wings are surrounded by a third structure,e where we find a fantasy castle, a drawbridge, watchtowers, and several tunnels.

The surrounding park includes 85 hectares of green paths, fountains, and buildings as surprising as the palace itself. Not to mention that is where you will find the Chalet of the Countess of Edla.

Due to its size, the richness of details, and even the number of tourists, you might need around 3 hours to visit it.

However, I recommend visiting only the palace’s exterior since the inside can be a bit too crowded, and the outside is its true highlight with all the terraces and breathtaking views from different angles.

Entry fee and opening hours

The ticket, which covers both the entrance to the palace and the gardens, costs 14 euros per adult. The palace is open to visitors every day from 9 am to 6 pm. Also, you do not need a guided tour to explore its grounds since there are many explanatory signs.

2. Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle)

Also high up in Sintra, near the Pena Palace, is the Moorish Castle. This is actually a ruined castle nestled among the lush forests of the Sintra Mountains.

Built during the 9^th century by North African Moors, the castle was intended to be a military base to protect the town of Sintra. From the top of its fortresses, it was possible to see enemy troops approaching from miles away.

However, the castle’s importance gradually declined over the centuries, until in the 15^th century, its only inhabitants were Jewish settlers. Actually, the authorities never had much interest in the former military base, and when the Jews were expelled from Portugal, the castle was completely abandoned.

However, the history of a castle destined to be forgotten changed when King Fernando II, obsessed with art, drama, bohemia, and the Middle Ages, decided to transform the entire Sintra region by ordering the reconstruction of the castle.

The Moorish Castle is a highly recommended attraction in Sintra and is quite different from the other attractions in town precisely because they are ruins on top of a mountain.

In fact, this was my favorite castle in Sintra, mainly because it offers the most beautiful view of the region, covering the Atlantic Ocean, the town itself, and other Portuguese castles, such as the Pena Palace.

Entry fee and opening hours

Open 9 am to 6:30 pm, the ticket costs 8 euros per adult. And prepare your legs, because there are many stairs to go up and down along the walls of this unique fortress. This is yet another castle that does not require a guided tour to be explored.

3. Quinta da Regaleira

Pena Palace may be the most apotheotic, but Sintra has no attractions that are more leisurely than Quinta da Regaleira. The enthralling space occupied by Quinta da Regaleira consists of the palace, the gardens, and enigmatic constructions spread over 4 hectares.

When the Portuguese monarchy was breathing its last breaths, more precisely in the period between 1904 and 1910, Quinta da Regaleira was built in a large green area very close to the center of Sintra.

What you’ll see there is a magical, mystical, and mysterious setting. With genius minds behind the project, the summer estate of the royal family was transformed into a private enchanted forest.

The woods and gardens occupy most of the estate’s grounds and are the areas that most deserve attention during your visit. Scattered (and mostly hidden) throughout the woods you will find Greek divinities, a neo-gothic chapel, towers, gardens, fountains, caves, labyrinths, and underground passages.

With an underground spiral staircase divided into nine levels, the Initiation Well is the highlight at Quinta da Regaleira.

It is actually an underground gallery surrounded by mysteries: it is said to have this name because it was used in initiation rituals for Freemasonry.

It is one of the most enchanting places in Sintra and more than in any other attraction in town, the little map offered at the ticket office is fundamental here. If you have time, however, it is best to simply get lost and use the map to find yourself.

Entry fee and opening hours

Quinta da Regaleira is open every day from 10 am to 5:30 pm and the ticket is 10 euros per adult. You can choose between a guided tour, a free tour, or an audio tour.

VERY IMPORTANT – I booked a guided tour and I totally recommend it. First of all because you skip the line, and second because the guide will share very interesting informaiton about the site, anecdotes and interesting facts. The guided tour usually last 1 hour and then you have all the time to walk around the site on your own. BOOK YOUR TOUR

4. Palácio Nacional Da Pena

Also known as the Village Palace, the Sintra National Palace is the most easily accessible attraction since it is located in the town’s central square, overlooking the valley.

The building served as a residence for the Portuguese royal family from the 12^th century on and was used as a “summer house”, mainly for hunting purposes. Well preserved, in its interior you will have access to furniture and objects, used by kings and queens who lived there.

Its construction is Arab-inspired and what stands out are the two conical white towers, which are actually chimneys that had an eminently practical function. They were part of a huge kitchen that once served the Portuguese royal family.

All the rooms are furnished and very well preserved. In fact, one of the main reasons to visit the National Palace is because it is the only palace built by the Portuguese monarchs during the Middle Ages that is still practically intact, maintaining the forms from the 16^th century. The highlight is the largest collection of Hispano-Mooric tiles that can be seen in Portugal.

Entry fee and opening hours

The Sintra National Palace entrance fee is 10 euros per adult and the gardens are free of charge. Both the palace and the gardens are open from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm and it will take you around 1 hour to explore it.

5. Palácio de Monserrate

Like the Pena Palace, the Palace of Monserrate is one of the most important examples of Romantic architecture in Portugal.

The Palace was originally built in 1856 to be the summer residence of a wealthy English family, taking advantage of the ruins of a neo-Gothic mansion that already existed there.

State-owned since 1949, the Palace belonged to a few wealthy Englishmen until its latest owner, Sir Francis Cook received the title of Viscount of Monserrate and transformed it into what is now one of Portugal’s most important examples of Romantic architecture.

Combining Gothic, Indian and Moorish influences, the interior is beautiful, with arabesques, sculptures, and jaw-dropping stained glass windows.

The library and music room are equally charming. The gardens received species from all over the world and were organized by areas. From the gate to the house, the visitor passes by ruins, a sarcophagus, waterfalls, and narrow paths.

Although it is a little far from the center of Sintra, it is worth visiting not only because it is beautiful but also because it is not as crowded or as big as some of the other Sintra palaces.

Entry fee and opening hours

At the entrance of the property, there is the possibility to buy the ticket for the transport directly to the palace since it is necessary to cross the gardens to get there.

However, the Palace itself is not large and the building is practically empty inside which makes the gardens one of the main attractions there. It takes between 40 minutes and 1 hour to visit the whole palace and the ticket costs 8 euros per adult.

5. Palácio de Queluz

Also known as the Versailles of Portugal, Queluz Palace was designed by D. Pedro III in the second half of the 18^th century. As a summer residence and marked by French and Italian influence, it became a place of leisure and the stage for royal festivities in the summer.

After mentioning Versailles, you may guess that they must have beautiful gardens, and you are not wrong.

One of the jewels of the gardens is the Tiled Canal, where the royal family used to go boating. Yes, they took a boat ride on a canal made of tiles inside the palace gardens.

Due to its location between Lisbon and Sintra, the palace is easier to visit by car. But, it is also possible to take a train from the Sintra station to the Monte Abraão station in Queluz. The walk from the station to the palace takes approximately 30 minutes.

Entry fee and opening hours

The palace is open for visitation from 9 am to 5:30 pm. The combined entrance fee for the Palace + Gardens is 10 euros for adults. It is also possible to visit the gardens alone at a reduced rate, but it is best to buy a combined ticket, as the palace interior is fascinating.

Chalet e Jardim da Condessa D’Edla

The Chalet of the Countess of Edla is a beautiful surprise in Pena Park. With a magical atmosphere, the chalet was built by D. Fernando II and his second wife, the Countess of Edla, as a place of refuge and recreation for the couple.

Inspired by the chalets in the Alps, the Chalet of the Countess has a unique architecture with walls covered with paintings. On the upper floor, a balcony runs along the entire exterior.

With a magical and cozy atmosphere that seems to be straight out of a fable, one of the most picturesque details of the Chalet’s facade are the cork linings on the door and window frames, which also imitate vines.

Also notice the plaster covering the building, simulating wooden planks. The interior of the Chalet is not very large but is richly decorated, with varying styles.

You can get to the Chalet of the Countess of Edla using the electric hop-on hop-off transportation that circulates through Pena Park (included in the ticket).

Another option is to walk the pleasant 1.2-mile path from the Pena Palace to the Chalet of the Countess of Edla.

Opening hours

The Chalet is open to visitors between 9 am and 7 pm, with the last entrance at 6 pm.