Pena Palace from a Drone

How To Get To Sintra From Lisbon

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The Best And Quickest Guide For Those Who Are Planning To Go To Sintra From Lisbon ​👇

People often ask me, when they are booking tours with me, what’s the best way to get to Sintra?

The answer is by train 🚂

Don’t think twice about it, especially if you have a car.

There is a train that runs from Rossio Train Station, which is in the center of Lisbon, to Sintra.

Sintra is the last stop so there is no mistake 😊

It only costs 2,30€ per person and takes 40 min.

By car it can take 30 min when there is no traffic.

“So why not use a car Daniel?” 🤓

It’s because Sintra is not car friendly.

Almost all the roads are one way and if you miss the entrance you can take 20 min to come back to the same spot.

There is another thing 👇

It is forbidden for private cars to drive to Pena Palace 🙅‍♂️🚘

Some people still do it anyway, but there is a chance of encountering police along the way 👮‍♂️ or most of the time you won’t be able to find a parking spot.

Alternatively, you can park your car in the village and walk or take a tuk tuk 🛺 the rest of the way.

Either way, you have to deal with parking meters (the maximum time a car can be parked in most parking spots is 4 hours) and not finding a place to park during high season.

Save your worries, relax, and take the train 😌

At the end of the day, that’s why you’re traveling, right? 😉

PS: Just make sure you take the Rossio train back to Lisbon (There is another one that goes to Oriente)

How to Get To Pena Palace

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Best way to get to Pena Palace – An honest guide by a local tour guide.

With more than 6 years of experience being a tour guide in Sintra, here are all the ways to reach Pena Palace from the train station of Sintra or the village of Sintra:

Foremost, let me explain that the palace is at the top of the mountain.

There are many ways to reach Pena Palace FROM SINTRA and I’ll try to explain the pros and cons of each of them:

  • Uber: The cheapest

If you’re really on a tight budget and want to get there quickly, Uber is the right option.

Cost: 4-6€

  • 434 Scotturb Bus: the crowded

Yes, very very very crowded, especially in the high season.

In my opinion, there’s nothing positive about it.

The bus has long lines of people waiting to board.

There are many people inside the bus.

Expect to have a waiting time with big lines to go down as well.

If you like to go regular and follow the crowds this is for you.

The purpose of this post is not to criticize it.

If you go to Google and search for Scotturb, you’ll see they have a 1.3 rating.

Many of the reviews say “DO NOT USE”

It is cheap? Not that much. 11,5€ per person, all day ticket hop-on-hop-off.

  • Taxi: Very similar to Uber, but more expensive.

Around 10€

  • Private car: DON’T!

It’s forbidden for private cars to drive up. There aren’t always police on the road, so many tourists drive anyway with their cars up, but not every time they find a parking space.

There is a possibility that you will be fined or told by the police to go in the opposite direction of the palace, which would require you to spend 30 minutes returning to Sintra.

An green train that is a truck with the outside looking like a train, is really nice and affordable.

The unique problem is that there is only one train. Therefore, if you miss it at Pena Palace you have to wait more than 1h30 to come again, and it takes a long time to leave the train station.

  • Tuk tuk: Can be the best option or can be the biggest adventure

There are many tuk tuks in Sintra, around 150 of them. Crazy right?

One of them is mine ?

It really can be the most memorable time of your time in Portugal or the biggest survival experience in your life lol

You can pick the most experienced guide with the most comfortable tuk tuk or the craziest driver with a tuk tuk without breaks lol

It’s funny, but really true.

Doing tours and transfers with my electric tuk tuk in Sintra for more than 4 years, my opinion is that this is the most memorable and unique way of experiencing the mountain of Sintra.

Definitely not the cheapest one.

The transfer costs 10€ per person to go up and 5€ to go down.

It really can be a fun time riding the tuk tuk up the mountain. Specially with all the turns and corners.

But you really must choose the right guide/driver.

It is helpful to share that the drive from Sintra’s train station to Pena Palace takes around 25 minutes, and on the way we get to see the 5 most famous monuments of Sintra, as well as the most spectacular views of the mountains.

On the way up, you can do an hour-long tour that will take you to all of these amazing sights and tell you the story of Sintra.

It will make a huge difference, since you will ultimately understand why Sintra exists and why Pena Palace was built.

(Spoiler alert, it is a beautiful love story ?)

Did I tell you that this is going to be really fun and that you’re going to have breathtaking moments seeing all the amazing views?

Using Uber, a taxi, a bus, and a train-on-wheels, you miss all of that.

They just drive straight to Pena Palace and you miss all the views and the fun ?

In conclusion, many times I heard that the tour going up was better than visiting the palace.

So if I was going to give you an advice, it was going to be this one:

Go up in a nice tuk tuk with a trustworthy guide like me, and you won’t forget Sintra.

That’s one of the reasons why I have more than 140 reviews with all being 5-stars saying that doing the tour was the best decision.

Check them out here 

I hope that these advices were helpful to you and that they help you make the right decisions.

You can click this link if you’d like to do a tour with me or check my prices.

If you want to understand more about Sintra and what we can do in the full-day tour, then I totally recommend you watch this 10 min video where I explain this to you 

PS: really, watch this video. You’ll love it 😊

 

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What To See In Sintra

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With more than 7 visitable monuments and a stunning coastline full of wonders and secret spots, Sintra is a place for you to spend a full day if you’re visiting Portugal.

Sintra is a beautiful and enchanting place that offers a wealth of natural beauty, historical and cultural landmarks, and charming villages. The town itself is nestled in the lush hills of the Serra de Sintra and is known for its picturesque cobblestone streets, charming shops, and delicious local cuisine.

One of the highlights of Sintra is the Pena Palace. This stunning palace is a masterpiece of 19th-century romanticism and is set on a hilltop overlooking the town. The palace features a unique blend of architectural styles, including Gothic, Renaissance and Manueline, with its multicolored tile roofs, and offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

Another must-see attraction is the Moors Castle, an ancient fortress with an impressive history that stands high on a hilltop. It offers a panoramic view of the town and the coast, and it’s one of the best spots to catch a sunset.

The Quinta da Regaleira is also a must-see. This complex is a stunning example of Neo-Manueline architecture. It features well-manicured gardens, mysterious underground tunnels, and a beautiful palace.

Sintra also boasts a number of charming villages and towns, each with its own distinct character. From the whitewashed houses of Colares to Cabo da Roca which is the westernmost point of Europe, there is something for everyone to discover.

Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of mainland Europe, boasting spectacular views of the Atlantic and cliffs. This rugged and wild location is unlike any other. The lighthouse offers a panoramic view of the coast, and it’s a great spot to see some of the most spectacular sunsets. The place is surrounded by natural parks, hiking trails and is the perfect place to take in the beauty of the coast.

All in all, Sintra is a charming and romantic place with a lot to offer. From the impressive palaces and ancient castles to the charming villages and delicious local cuisine, it’s a place that will leave you feeling enchanted and captivated.

Daniel Ponce is a tour guide with more than 5 years’ experience being a tour guide in Sintra with his own electric Tuk Tuk. With more than 60 reviews where all of them are 5-stars, if you’re looking to do a tour in Sintra and have one of the most unforgettable moments in Portugal, then Daniel is the right guide for you.

You can see here his available tours.

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