4.7.6 Sintra
The land of fairytale castles. And money making opportunities.
This is, mainly, a dry weather day out, and worthwhile all year round. But you need to be aware that the tourism presence there can be overwhelming.
CAUTION Best not visit at the height of summer: even up in the hills, the heat becomes oppressive, the traffic overwhelms the roads, and unless you’re heading for the beaches of Praia Grande and Praia das Maçãs, or maybe going to see coastal villages like Azenhas do Mar, your patience is likely to be sorely tested. Also, please DO NOT rock up there in a hired car, especially if you want to visit the Castle of the Moors or Pena Palace. Why so?
Cos the cops will turn you away. If you don’t want to use the bus services, hail a taxi, order up a TVDE, or get yourself a private driver for the day. This cannot be stressed enough. Also see next paragraph.
DON’T FORGET it is from Easter through to November that Sintra becomes popular, not just with visitors, but also those seeking to score a payday by providing services of, shall we say, variable quality to them.
Getting there is straightforward: trains run every 20 minutes off-peak (half hourly at weekends) from Oriente, calling at Roma-Areeiro, Entrecampos and Sete Rios. Ticket prices are not expensive.
Also, there are three trains an hour from Estação do Rossio in the old downtown, but only two of these run to Sintra, with the third terminating at Mira Sintra - Meleças, which is not where you want to be if the objective is to visit Sintra.
Arrival at Sintra means you must pass through the automatic barriers at either the platform ends, or those part-way along Platform 1. And it is here that the sales pitch hits you. Much of the vocal challenge comes from the local chapter of the Tuk-Tuk infestation. It used to be easy to avoid the barrage of those declaiming variants on the theme of “You want a tour?” by using the side exit, but they’ve figured that out now.
In any case, the old town is easy walking distance along the Volta do Duche, though when you get there, the streets are steep, with shiny cobbles.
But the Palácio Nacional de Sintra needs no climbing to get there, and is also within easy walking distance, again via the Volta do Duche.
Quinta da Regaleira is accessible either with a little more walking, or via the 1253 bus, which departs from the side of Sintra station (the same side as that side exit). Further along the 1253 route is the Parque e Palácio de Monserrate. As the 1253 is a circular route which serves Cabo da Roca, maybe do the palaces early on, then go on to the terminus for the views and a chill. 1253 schedule HERE.
REMINDER All of this will need credit charged to your Zapping card. If you need to add credit to that card, do it at the CP stations of Sintra and Portela de Sintra. Don’t expect the bus driver to be able to do that for you BECAUSE THEY CAN’T.
Getting to Pena Palace, and the Castle of the Moors, means a taxi, a TVDE, a private driver - OR the 434 bus. So let’s talk about the 434 bus.
Although the buses operating this service tell you they’re a “PUBLIC BUS”, they are outside the fare structure that governs Carris Metropolitana, Carris, the CP and others. The “Pena Palace Circuit” was not taken over by Carris Metropolitana because it could not be justified - it was a purely tourist service. So it remains independent, with its own premium fare structure.
The 434 departs from the side of Sintra station at frequent intervals during the day, and runs a circular route taking in the two palaces before returning to Sintra. It gets full, so, as with so many other attractions, get there early if you can. See the Sintra 434 website HERE.
REMINDER The bus ticket does not include charges to access Pena Palace, or the Castle of the Moors.
If you just want to chill down at the beach, the bus serving Colares, Praia Grande, Praia das Maçãs and Azenhas do Mar is the 1254, and departs from the north side of Portela de Sintra station. Schedule HERE.
More information will be provided with the posts for each of the attractions.
This is, mainly, a dry weather day out, and worthwhile all year round. But you need to be aware that the tourism presence there can be overwhelming.
CAUTION Best not visit at the height of summer: even up in the hills, the heat becomes oppressive, the traffic overwhelms the roads, and unless you’re heading for the beaches of Praia Grande and Praia das Maçãs, or maybe going to see coastal villages like Azenhas do Mar, your patience is likely to be sorely tested. Also, please DO NOT rock up there in a hired car, especially if you want to visit the Castle of the Moors or Pena Palace. Why so?
Quinta da Regaleira. Busy, eh? And the photo was taken in early April
DON’T FORGET it is from Easter through to November that Sintra becomes popular, not just with visitors, but also those seeking to score a payday by providing services of, shall we say, variable quality to them.
Getting there is straightforward: trains run every 20 minutes off-peak (half hourly at weekends) from Oriente, calling at Roma-Areeiro, Entrecampos and Sete Rios. Ticket prices are not expensive.
Also, there are three trains an hour from Estação do Rossio in the old downtown, but only two of these run to Sintra, with the third terminating at Mira Sintra - Meleças, which is not where you want to be if the objective is to visit Sintra.
The old town
In any case, the old town is easy walking distance along the Volta do Duche, though when you get there, the streets are steep, with shiny cobbles.
But the Palácio Nacional de Sintra needs no climbing to get there, and is also within easy walking distance, again via the Volta do Duche.
Quinta da Regaleira is accessible either with a little more walking, or via the 1253 bus, which departs from the side of Sintra station (the same side as that side exit). Further along the 1253 route is the Parque e Palácio de Monserrate. As the 1253 is a circular route which serves Cabo da Roca, maybe do the palaces early on, then go on to the terminus for the views and a chill. 1253 schedule HERE.
Azenhas do Mar
Getting to Pena Palace, and the Castle of the Moors, means a taxi, a TVDE, a private driver - OR the 434 bus. So let’s talk about the 434 bus.
Although the buses operating this service tell you they’re a “PUBLIC BUS”, they are outside the fare structure that governs Carris Metropolitana, Carris, the CP and others. The “Pena Palace Circuit” was not taken over by Carris Metropolitana because it could not be justified - it was a purely tourist service. So it remains independent, with its own premium fare structure.
The 434 departs from the side of Sintra station at frequent intervals during the day, and runs a circular route taking in the two palaces before returning to Sintra. It gets full, so, as with so many other attractions, get there early if you can. See the Sintra 434 website HERE.
REMINDER The bus ticket does not include charges to access Pena Palace, or the Castle of the Moors.
If you just want to chill down at the beach, the bus serving Colares, Praia Grande, Praia das Maçãs and Azenhas do Mar is the 1254, and departs from the north side of Portela de Sintra station. Schedule HERE.
More information will be provided with the posts for each of the attractions.
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