Whereas Lisbon is considered one of my favorite cities, visiting Sintra with children is considered one of my favorite day journeys once I’m in Portugal – a magical spot that’s not like wherever else.
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From the technicolour confection that’s the Pena Palace, its vivid splashes of yellow and tiles glinting underneath the blue sky, to the ornate decorations hidden underneath the quirky white pepperpot towers of the Nationwide Palace, the forbidding gray stone of the Moorish fortress clinging to the hillside and the fairytale wonderland of Quinta da Regaleira with its towers and tunnels, it’s simple to consider you’ve left the true world behind.
As soon as the royal household’s summer season retreat, this Unesco World Heritage web site actually is unmissable – however with a lot to tempt, so many locations to slot in, listed here are my ideas you probably have simply at some point in Sintra with children.
Must know: visiting Sintra with children
The very first thing to know when you’re planning a day in Sintra with children is that it’s prone to contain a whole lot of strolling (we racked up eight miles, regardless of hopping repeatedly onto a bus) and you’ll’t match all the pieces in.
So relying how outdated your children are and what’s prone to attraction most, it’s price deciding what tops your checklist, what’s sensible (particularly with youthful children) after which making a plan – I’ve acquired recommendations on all the pieces from the way to get round Sintra to what order to go to the totally different websites in.
For those who’re visiting Sintra with youthful children, a whole lot of the city actually just isn’t buggy pleasant so a child service is a better option: in addition to steep hills, you’ll discover uneven surfaces, roads the place the pavement disappears, uneven surfaces and outdated buildings not designed with infants and toddlers in thoughts.
With older children, contemplate this self-guided treasure hunt of Sintra to entertain them on the stroll. You can too choose up a Sintra journey pocket book to plan your day and use as a journal to seize what you noticed, plus it has some useful Portuguese phrases inside.
Try my full information to Portugal with children right here
When to go to Sintra
Set excessive within the hills, considered one of Sintra’s greatest points of interest was that it was a cooler retreat for the royal household – which signifies that when temperatures peak in Lisbon, it’s typically extra nice right here however you’ll additionally discover clouds when town is bathed in sunshine.
Nevertheless, it may possibly nonetheless get extremely popular in summer season and the crowds are greatest throughout peak season.
Shoulder season – round April/Might and September/October – is usually your finest likelihood of getting blue skies with out fairly as many different guests.
Exterior these instances, there’s extra likelihood of a gray day but it surely’s additionally cooler when you’re strolling from place to position. I’ve visited in wonderful sunshine in November, cloud in February and a hazy day in August prior to now although!
The place to go to in Sintra with children
I’ve by no means managed to go to greater than three points of interest in Sintra in at some point – and that’s factoring in a reasonably full day exploring, a nine-year-old’s power ranges, comparatively quiet customer numbers in February post-pandemic, and packing a picnic (much less enjoyable than consuming out but additionally loads faster).
I wouldn’t advise making an attempt to pack in additional than this – it may be attainable, however you’ll be dashing between websites, so higher to do just a few in additional depth. Or spend longer than at some point in Sintra, after all!
For locations to remain in Sintra with children, take a look at these resorts from reserving.com
Personally I believe the Pena Palace is unmissable – when you see nowhere else, make it this vibrant fairytale fantasy of a constructing.
The Castelo dos Mouros is close by, really easy to mix. There are some steep slopes and many strolling, however this eighth century fortress is a ‘correct fortress’ as my daughter described it, good for uplifting ideas of knights, quests, journey and really presumably dragons.
Quinta da Regaleira made up our third selection for our current day in Sintra. It’s barely additional to get to than someplace just like the Nationwide Palace within the centre of Sintra itself, however its fairytale really feel and magical touches imply it’s good to see with children.
Or discover Sintra city, with a go to to the Nationwide Palace in addition to wandering the outdated streets to take in the ambiance
Learn on to see extra element about every of those points of interest and the opposite sights to contemplate in Sintra with children
What ticket do you want for at some point in Sintra?
There’s no official ‘Sintra go’ not like in Lisbon, however you possibly can typically purchase ticket bundles which might lower your expenses in your go to.
This Lisbon-Sintra go choice contains entry to the Pena Palace and Fortress of the Moors, in addition to transport between Lisbon and Sintra (though not inside Sintra), and a 48-hour Lisboa Card, plus two audio guides.
Alternatively, you probably have a Lisboa card, you get a reduction on entry to the Pena Palace, Nationwide Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and Castelo dos Mouros of between 10 and 20% every – that does imply you possibly can’t prebook tickets although.
You can too use your Lisboa card free of charge journey between Lisbon and Sintra. Because the playing cards are legitimate for twenty-four/48/72h from first activation, we timed ours in order that it was nonetheless legitimate for the prepare out to Sintra earlier than expiring fairly than losing a day’s validity whereas we have been in Sintra for pretty small financial savings.
Tickets to the person points of interest are additionally accessible prematurely, typically with reductions, from websites like Tiqets and Get Your Information.
For particulars of how to get to Sintra and between the totally different sights, scroll down
The way to get to Sintra with children
Transport is certainly one of many trickiest elements of a day in Sintra with children, particularly when you go to in the course of the busy summer season months, with professionals and cons to every choice.
By prepare
By far the best method to go to, when you’re coming from Lisbon, is to take the prepare. These go away from a number of totally different stations throughout town together with Rossio, which is essentially the most central, in addition to Oriente on the Parque das Nacoes, Entrecampos and Sete Rios (close to Lisbon Zoo).
For those who’re staying in central Lisbon, Rossio station is essentially the most handy and trains take round 40 minutes, departing twice an hour on weekdays (hourly at weekends).
Examine the prepare instances and ticket prices right here
If in case you have a Viva Viagem card already from utilizing Lisbon’s metro or buses (and aren’t utilizing a Lisboa card on your prepare journey), deliver this with you as your ticket may be loaded onto it, to avoid wasting you shopping for one other short-term card.
For those who’re staying in Cascais or Estoril, it’s higher to take the bus instantly as in any other case you must take a prepare to Lisbon earlier than heading to Sintra by rail.
By automobile
You can too drive to Sintra from Lisbon and the coast, however you’ll have to arrive early to have any likelihood of discovering a parking house (except you’re very fortunate) particularly in peak season.
There’s additionally a one-way system across the city, and whereas it’s simple to observe, it’s additionally simple to get caught in a queue of visitors behind the buses and tuktuks making their sluggish method alongside the twisting slim roads up the hills.
For those who do drive, it’s finest to seek out someplace to park for the day and go away the automobile, then have a look at different transport between points of interest in any other case you danger spending a whole lot of time fruitlessly looking for a parking house.
By tour
You can too take day excursions of Sintra with children – some mix the journey with time at Cascais and Cabo da Roca, the westernmost level of continental Europe. Each of that are nicely price visiting, however as you possibly can spend greater than a day in Sintra alone, I wouldn’t suggest making an attempt to cram any extra in!
This full-day Sintra Highlights tour from Lisbon visits the Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira, in addition to the Monserrate Palace, plus an opportunity to discover the city centre.
Getting round Sintra
When you arrive in Sintra, it’s also possible to use public transport to discover Sintra, with a number of bus routes which run in a loop from the station. Flip disregarded of the station to seek out the bus stops, and you need to use contactless credit score/debit playing cards to purchase your tickets in addition to money.
The 434 route (Circuito da Pena) is essentially the most helpful, connecting the station with the city centre, the Moorish fortress and Pena Palace. Buses are scheduled to run each quarter-hour (not all the time the case in actual life!)
The 435 route travels by way of the city centre to Quinta da Regaleira and out to the Monserrate Palace, with buses because of run each half-hour.
A hop-on hop-off ticket prices 11 euros (plus 50 cents for the cardboard) and is legitimate for all Sintra’s routes – there are different ticket choices for single journeys, however to be sincere, it was so complicated to work out pricing – and given I guessed we’d be taking not less than three journeys – that the day go was by far the best.
For those who’re staying a Cascais or Estoril, bus 417 and 418 join Sintra with the coast and you should buy tickets which cowl journey in Sintra in addition to the journey to the city.
Keep in mind that even outdoors peak instances, you possibly can count on packed buses (relying the place you get on) and generally lengthy waits – strolling between websites may be higher, relying on the age of your children.
It’s not far between the Castelo dos Mouros and Pena Palace, for instance, with somewhat woodland path between the 2 – take the bus to the Pena Palace and go to this primary earlier than it will get busy, then stroll downhill to the Fortress of the Moors and choose the bus up right here earlier than the crowds on the Pena Palace attempt to get on.
It’s a longer trek from the city centre to Quinta da Regaleira, particularly if it’s your final cease of the day, but when there isn’t any bus 435 in sight, it’s walkable.
Do enable loads of time to catch the bus again in time on your prepare as nicely, particularly if you must purchase tickets – whereas we had travelled out utilizing our Lisboa playing cards, we would have liked to purchase a return ticket and found the one ticket machine was out of order, so needed to queue up, catching the prepare with solely minutes to spare.
You’ll additionally see tuk tuks in all places – the usual charge is round 5 euros per particular person for a single journey, otherwise you’ll additionally discover tuk tuk sightseeing excursions.
Among the tuk tuk tour guides may additionally make preparations to behave as a private driver for the day, dropping you on the numerous sights and arranging to select you up later, which may work out higher than continually choosing up a brand new experience.
Uber additionally operates in Sintra, though chances are you’ll discover that cell reception and knowledge is patchy up within the hills at instances.
Pena Palace
For those who see just one place in Sintra, it needs to be the colorful Pena Palace, with its vivid domes and fairytale turrets.
My daughter was solely 4 the primary time we visited and was simply as mesmerised on our current go to (as was I) – there’s fairly merely no place prefer it.
On a sunny day, it’s notably dramatic, the yellow and deep orange in opposition to the sky, the standard azulejo tiles glowing, and a few spectacular views out from its hilltop perch.
Constructed as a summer season retreat for the Portuguese royal household within the nineteenth century, it’s thought-about the best instance of the Portuguese Romanticism model, with its mixture of influences from Islamic structure to medieval and gothic components.
In observe this implies there’s all the time a brand new element to identify wherever you look, from ornate gates to gargoyles, these eye-catching tiles and vivid colors, plus the grandeur of the residences inside.
Don’t miss the wall stroll – or sentry stroll – for the very best views: maintain on tight to toddlers as there are some low partitions although too.
Alongside the best way, you’ll weave across the palace, wandering you into courtyards and previous towers – the courtyard of the arches is considered one of my favourites the place every go to I’ve a photograph of my daughter looking down the hillside.
As you head inside, the Manuelline cloister is one other treasure trove of tiles and carvings.
And alongside the best way, a peek behind the scenes of the palace, from the pantry and eating room to the luxurious bedrooms of the royal household, with lavish velvets and carved darkish wooden for the beds.
Alongside the best way, there’s a glimpse of a number of the precious items owned by Portugal’s former kings and queens, but it surely’s the prospect to spy these personal rooms which might as soon as have been off limits that I discover particularly fascinating.
Maybe essentially the most dramatic room of all needs to be the Nice Corridor with its 70-candle chandelier and life-sized torchbearers, full with turbans, holding up their very own lights.
When you’ve explored the palace, there are grounds of the Parque da Pena, with a powerful 200 acres full with specifically designed winding woodland paths.
You may simply spend all day on the Pena Palace and its grounds alone, venturing to the lake and wandering to the chalet alongside the best way, in addition to discovering a number of the closing echoes of the monastery which as soon as stood right here – such because the Grotto of the Monk.
If time is restricted, take a fast stroll by way of the gardens not less than – it’s solely a brief detour on the trail again to the doorway, plus you’ll see a number of the grounds from the landscaped paths as you stroll as much as the palace. It’s a great place for a picnic too!
Pena Palace: Must know
Tickets together with the Palace and the Park can be found prematurely from Tiqets and Get Your Information – these embrace entry to the Chalet of the Countess of Edla too.
To get from the primary entrance and the ticket desks to the doorway to the Pena Palace itself includes a stroll uphill, which takes not less than 10 minutes (relying how briskly you go).
At the moment the official steering says you want a time slot to go contained in the palace however we weren’t requested for one throughout our go to – finest to go inside early to keep away from queuing although.
There may be additionally a shuttle bus which runs round each quarter-hour which may take you up the hill if you wish to save your power.
Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Fortress)
Whereas the Pena Palace is the very best recognized web site in Sintra, the Moorish Fortress – or Castelo dos Mouros – is the oldest.
Constructed between the eighth and ninth century, when Portugal was underneath the management of the Moors, it’s only a brief stroll from the decrease Pena Park entrance – then one other stroll from the primary highway to the doorway to the fortress correct.
Alongside the best way, there’s somewhat museum with a number of the finds from archaeological digs over time, in addition to different proof of the individuals who as soon as lived on this hillside centuries in the past, together with grain silos hollowed out within the rock.
Later, after the land was conquered by Afonso Henriques, the primary King of Portugal, the city of Sintra was put underneath the management of the Knights Templar – however because the medieval inhabitants grew, and the city unfold, it was now not wanted to defend Sintra.
Restored by King Ferdinand, similtaneously the Pena Palace was constructed, the snaking stone partitions of the fortress fortifications are the spotlight of any go to.
Clinging to the slope as the primary line of defence for the unique fortress, you’ll be glad to not be carrying armour as you climb all of the steps!
On a transparent day, the views are unbelievable, proper out to the Atlantic. However even on a cloudy day like our current go to, there’s one thing very atmospheric about standing on the lonely stones as wisps of mist float throughout the countryside beneath.
It’s one other one which’s higher with barely older children – the sheer sides should not meant for toddlers, and the steps will certainly tax the leg muscle mass at instances earlier than you head again to the extra open courtyard space.
With a deep cistern to assist the inhabitants maintain out in opposition to assault (and warmth) – together with these silos – you possibly can peer inside in addition to seeing a number of the different stays of the outdated buildings inside the partitions.
Castelo dos Mouros: Must know
Tickets can be found prematurely from Tiqets. For those who haven’t purchased them on-line, choose them up on the machine by the little cafe earlier than you head inside – there’s no ticket sales space.
It’s simple to overlook if there’s a crowd and the tickets themselves solely get scanned on the entrance, so that you’ll simply want to go again to purchase them in any other case (or stroll as much as the Pena Palace if the machine is out of order) so higher to purchase prematurely, and have them downloaded in your cellphone or printed out.
The route from the primary highway to the fortress additionally hyperlinks to the strolling paths again all the way down to the city centre, when you select to go down on foot fairly than await the bus.
Alternatively, the bus cease is on the opposite aspect of the highway. There are normally fewer folks ready to get on at this cease, however equally extra folks get off on the subsequent cease.
If you wish to choose up a tuk tuk again to Sintra city centre (Sintra Vila), head as much as the Pena Palace the place there are loads ready outdoors.
Quinta da Regaleira
Constructed at first of the twentieth century for a rich Portuguese businessman, Quinta da Regaleira is maybe essentially the most uncommon attraction in a city filled with sudden gems.
Whereas there’s a neo-Gothic home on the centre, it’s the gardens – and particularly the quirky particulars hidden inside them – that are the largest draw.
As you wander previous grottos and tunnels, with carvings and towers hidden among the many timber and vegetation, little waterfalls and twisting stone steps tucked away to find, the otherworldly ambiance makes it simple to consider you’ve wandered right into a parallel fairytale world.
The unmissable spotlight is the 88ft deep Initiation Effectively – impressed by myths and legends, fairly than getting used for any explicit initiation ceremonies (so far as we all know), you spiral down the stone steps to the ornamental Templar cross on the centre, earlier than twinkling lights lead you off alongside a stone tunnel.
Flip a technique, and also you’ll end up behind somewhat cascade of water: enterprise the opposite and you allow this underground world behind, returning to the daylight among the many lush vegetation.
We then spent an entertaining chunk of time looking for our method again to the skin of the little waterfall, to cross over the bridge we’d noticed from the tunnel – with a string of improper turns and serendipitous discoveries alongside the best way.
In all places you flip there appears to be one thing new to identify – particulars impressed by mythology and traditional literature, turrets which appears designed purely for trapping princesses
I’d hardly have been shocked if a dragon had emerged lazily from a tunnel or we’d seen a faun skipping fortunately throughout a hillside – away from the most well-liked corners, it was simple to consider that no-one else was round… and that we’d crossed into Faerie, or Narnia after the snow had melted, even Center Earth.
By this stage, my daughter was flagging and our time was operating out, in any other case we’d have hunted for extra caves resulting in the unfinished nicely and the stepping stones, in addition to heading inside the home.
Quinta da Regaleira: Must know
Tickets can be found prematurely in addition to an choices together with a guided tour – a good way to make sure you don’t miss all of the highlights you probably have restricted time, though in any other case it’s enjoyable for youths to have the ability to discover at their very own tempo.
For those who’re travelling round Sintra on the buses, route 435 stops simply reverse the exit gate – the doorway is barely additional up the hill. In any other case, it’s round a 20 minute stroll (uphill) from the vacationer info centre, near the bus cease for route 434.
Palacio Nacional (Nationwide Palace of Sintra)
In comparison with the colors of the Pena Palace, Sintra’s Nationwide Palace – or Palacio Nacional – appears to be like positively restrained on the skin. It’s solely the massive pepperpot towers which stand out on this comparatively minimalist white constructing.
However the exterior hides rooms match for the royal household, from ornate embellished ceilings to spectacular examples of tiles, in addition to just a few distinctly sudden rooms contained in the palace.
The one palace that spans your entire historical past of Portugal, the present buildings have been added to and tailored over the centuries but it surely’s believed the primary was constructed whereas Sintra was nonetheless underneath Moorish rule and there’s a report by the thirteenth century.
A favorite of medieval Portuguese monarchs, virtually each one of many nation’s kings and queens have spent a while right here – as you discover, you possibly can see the combo of architectural types. Now a museum, current renovation initiatives have opened up new areas as nicely.
Don’t neglect to search for as you discover: the rooms are named for the decorations on the ceiling – swans within the Swan Room, ships within the Galleon room, a mermaid within the Mermaid room (as soon as a wardrobe).
Probably the most memorable is the magpie room, with 136 of the birds, every holding a rose in its mouth and the phrases ‘Por Bem’, the motto of King Joao I. The flowers are regarded as the image of the English home of Lancaster – the king’s spouse was Philippa of Lancaster – however different tales have grown as much as clarify its inspiration.
One says that the king had given a rose to one of many queen’s girls in ready, earlier than a magpie snatched it away. He excused himself by saying, ‘por bem’ – ‘for the great’ – and ordered the ornament with one magpie for every of the women in ready on the court docket.
One of the vital sudden tales comes on the room of Afonso VI – stored prisoner in his bedchamber right here after being deposed by his brother, following years in exile within the Azores.
His room nonetheless has iron bars, and for the 9 years till his dying, he was guarded by 300 troopers.
Elsewhere, the Arab room with its fountain, was as soon as the location of a tower which collapsed within the 1755 earthquake, whereas the tiled Water Grotto options water spouts from little holes within the wall.
Nationwide Palace of Sintra: Must know
Tickets can be found prematurely from tiqets. It’s additionally free to enter the gardens.
That is typically one of many much less visited points of interest in Sintra with children, when you’re feeling overwhelmed by crowds however might be higher with older youngsters.
The place else to go to in Sintra with children
Discover Sintra city
Save a while to walk by way of the centre of Sintra itself – wandering the slim streets previous vibrant buildings, with the castles and palaces perched within the hills above is like exploring a storybook village.
There are eating places and cafes galore, together with little boutiques and memento outlets: inevitably loads are vacationer traps, but it surely’s simple to amble down the aspect streets if it feels an excessive amount of.
Preserve an eye fixed out for Casa Piriquita, the place you should buy travesseiros pastries – made with puff pastry and almonds, they’re the standard delicacy of Sintra (and also you’ll want some power for all that strolling!)
You can too purchase a self-guided metropolis treasure hunt of Sintra with 9 riddles to unlock tales about Sintra – beginning on the prepare station, it additionally takes you previous the Nationwide Palace and Quinta da Regaleira alongside the best way, so a great way to make the stroll extra entertaining.
Monserrate Palace
The flowery Monserrate Palace was truly constructed by an English millionaire within the nineteenth century – its grounds maintain considered one of Portugal’s finest botanic gardens, with unique timber among the many waterfalls and lakes.
The palace itself is an ornate mixture of Indian and Gothic influences – anybody who’s been to Brighton can’t assist however be reminded of the Royal Pavilion there – and the inside has been restored in 2016.
The 435 bus route connects the palace with Quinta da Regaleira.
Sintra Myths and Legends
This interactive walk-through expertise is ready in Sintra’s city centre, not removed from the Nationwide Palace, telling the historical past of Sintra.
It’s solely a brief go to, however Sintra Myths and Legends is among the most cost-effective issues to do in Sintra with children (under-sixes are free) and one method to give some background, in addition to an choice for a wet day in Sintra.
For extra concepts of issues to do in Portugal with children, take a look at my high picks for Lisbon, Belem, Porto, concepts for day journeys in Northern Portugal, plus the Algarve
Disclosure: We have been given free entry to the Pena Palace, Castelo dos Mouros and Quinta da Regaleira for the aim of evaluate however paid for our personal transport – all opinions on the place to go to in Sintra with children are my very own. This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Foremost picture, Nationwide Palace interiors, view of Sintra within the solar/buildings on the hillside and Monserrate Palace courtesy of Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels
