Is Sintra Worth Visiting? My Honest Take After a Day Trip

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Sintra is one of the most talked-about day trips from Lisbon, but is it really worth the hype?

I recently spent a day there, and while I was genuinely impressed by the palaces and lush gardens, the crowds were intense, even on a weekday in mid-October. I’ll be honest: when I first arrived and saw how packed it was, I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy the day at all.

But as the day went on, Sintra slowly won me over with its fairytale-like scenery and atmospheric landmarks. That said, I still wouldn’t recommend visiting in peak summer, it’s just too much.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the real pros and cons of visiting Sintra, from jaw-dropping palaces to frustrating logistics, so you can decide whether or not it deserves a spot on your Portugal itinerary.

Table of Contents

The Pros of Visiting Sintra

Unique Palaces & Castles

Colorful view of Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal, with its vibrant yellow, red, and lavender towers rising above lush green trees at sunset. The sky is painted with dramatic hues of pink, purple, and gold, adding a magical backdrop to the Romanticist castle's whimsical architecture. — The famous Pena Palace in Sintra

A round palace with intricate details in an Arabic style — The famous Pena Palace in Sintra

One of Sintra’s biggest draws is its variety of architectural styles, no two sites feel the same.

Pena Palace is the most famous, a colorful palace perched high above the town. Its mix of Romantic architecture and bright colors make it incredibly photogenic. While it wasn’t my personal favorite (more on that later), it’s undeniably iconic.
Quinta da Regaleira was my personal favorite, with its Gothic façade, lush gardens, and mysterious grottos. It felt like a real-life fairytale setting.
The Moorish Castle offers an entirely different vibe, ancient stone walls, panoramic views, and a sense of history that’s more rugged and wild.
Monserrate Palace is a quieter gem, blending Gothic, Moorish, and Indian styles. Its exotic design and tranquil gardens make it feel worlds away from the crowds.

Magical Gardens

View down a well, there's a stairwell leading to the bottom; Is Sintra worth visiting? Yes, so you can see this amazing well — The inverted tower was one of the highlights of Sintra for me

View from inside a rocky grotto looking out through a curtain of falling water into a lush garden with green water and stone pathways. Two people can be seen in the distance crossing a small bridge surrounded by greenery and rugged rock formations. — The inverted tower was one of the highlights of Sintra for me

Sintra’s gardens are just as memorable as its buildings, especially Regaleira’s, with its hidden tunnels, mossy towers, and archways.

The Initiation Well, an inverted tower that spirals underground into a cave system, was a definite highlight for me. I had to queue for about 20 minutes, even in October, but it was worth the wait.

Easy Day Trip from Lisbon

One major advantage of visiting Sintra is how simple it is to get there. Trains run every 20 minutes from Rossio Station, and the journey takes about 40 minutes. It’s cheap, direct, and drops you near all the major attractions.

You don’t need a tour to visit Sintra, I did it independently, and it was completely doable. That said, if you want to combine Sintra with Cabo da Roca or Cascais, a tour could be a good option. Otherwise, check out my day trip guide to Sintra from Lisbon by train.

The Cons of Visiting Sintra

While Sintra is beautiful, it’s far from a hidden gem. Between the crowds, logistics, and costs, there are some real drawbacks to be aware of, especially if you’re visiting in peak season.

Overwhelming Crowds

A big crowd of people at the Sintra train station; the train is the best way of how to get to Sintra from Lisbon — A LOT of people take the train; picture from Sintra train station

By far the biggest downside is how incredibly crowded Sintra gets, even outside the summer months.

I visited on a weekday in mid-October, and it was still packed. The train station was full, the palace entrances had long queues, and the historic center felt too busy to enjoy. I even skipped some things because the I couldn’t stand the crowds.

If you’re visiting Portugal in July or August, I honestly wouldn’t recommend adding Sintra to your itinerary, I’d imagine it to be just too hectic.

Pena Palace Is… Overrated?

A colourful castle you can see on a Sintra day trip from Lisbon — The colorful Palácio da Pena on top of the hill is the reason why most people do a Sintra day trip

Pena Palace is iconic, but also massively overhyped, in my opinion. Even with time-slot tickets, the interior felt overcrowded and rushed. It was hard to enjoy the architecture or atmosphere with people constantly moving through narrow rooms.

While the outside is undeniably striking, the inside experience was my least favorite part of the day.

Entrance Fees Add Up

Each palace or site in Sintra has its own ticket, and while they’re individually reasonable (€8–€14), it adds up fast if you want to see more than two.

There are no combined passes or discounts, so be ready to pay separately for each palace, garden, or castle you visit.

Getting Around Is Tricky

A tourist train next to many cars; Sintra is very crowded but I would still answer the question, Is Sintra worth visiting? with yes — The tourist train is one option of getting around Sintra

Sintra looks compact on a map, but the town is built on steep hills, and the main sights are spread out. Walking between them can be exhausting, especially in the heat.

The tourist bus and tuk-tuks are popular, but they also get crowded and stuck in traffic. And the roads are narrow and often jammed, especially near Pena Palace.

I found it best to take the bus up to Pena Palace and walk downhill afterwards.

So, Is Sintra Worth Visiting?

Sintra is undeniably stunning, the palaces, gardens, and landscapes are some of the most unique in Portugal. For architecture lovers, photography fans, or anyone who enjoys fairytale settings, it absolutely has the wow factor.

But it’s also one of the most crowded destinations in the country. Even in the shoulder season, the sheer number of tourists made parts of the day feel frustrating and rushed.

If you plan carefully, visit outside of summer, and know what to expect, Sintra can absolutely be worth it. But if you’re traveling in peak season or don’t have much patience for crowds, you might want to consider other day trip options instead.

👉 Want help comparing destinations? Check out my post on the best day trips from Lisbon for more options that might suit your travel style better.

Tina Riegelnegg

Tina Riegelnegg is the founder of Veganderlust. She's a vegan with wanderlust, who shares tips and stories from her travels to 31 countries as a vegan minimalist. After 2.5 years of full-time travel with just a personal item-sized bag, she’s now based in Vienna, helping fellow travelers explore the world with ease and compassion.