What to do one day in Sintra with kids
Have you ever dreamed of immersing yourself in an enchanted world, where ancient castles rise among lush forests and fairy-tale gardens? Well, get ready for an extraordinary adventure, because today we’ll take you to find out what to do in a day in Sintra with kids.
Sintra, a hidden gem of Portugal, is a place that enchants both young and old with its timeless magic. In this article, we will explore together what to do one day in Sintra with kids, offering you tips and ideas to make your visit unforgettable, without overlooking the pros and cons of this place.
From breathtaking palaces to spectacular views, Sintra is ready to welcome you for a fairytale adventure that your little explorers will adore.
Are you ready to go? Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a journey that will stay etched in your hearts forever!
What to see in Sintra with kids: main attractions for families
Let’s begin our journey to discovery of what to do one one day in Sintra with kids by exploring the main attractions that make this destination so special for families. Sintra offers a wide range of experiences suitable for both young and old, from architectural wonders to breathtaking landscapes.
Are your cameras and comfortable shoes ready? It’s time to embark on the adventure of Sintra!
Keep reading to find out what to do one day in Sintra with children and which are the must-visit attractions that will make your adventure unforgettable.
National Palace: An inevitable stop for your vacation in Sintra with kids
The National Palace of Sintra is a must-visit for families exploring Sintra. This sumptuous palace, located in the heart of the city, offers an extraordinary blend of Moorish and Gothic architecture that captures the imagination of both young and old.
It’s impossible to miss with its majestic, gleaming white facade and recognizable cone-shaped chimneys elegantly rising above the city center.
The palace’s interior rooms are all luxurious and richly colorful. My advice is to keep your eyes pointed upward, especially in the Swan Room and in the Magpie Room, where the ceilings are literally covered with depictions of these animals. Children can explore the lavish royal chambers, admiring the sumptuous furnishings and artworks dating back to the times of ancient Portuguese nobility.
One of the main attractions of the National Palace is its magnificent gardens, filled with exotic plants and fountains that provide a perfect backdrop for a relaxing stroll.
Castle of the Moors: The most beautiful view for one day in Sintra
Perched on a scenic hill overlooking the ocean, the Castle of the Moros offers breathtaking views of the coast and surrounding countryside. This ancient castle, with its majestic towers and imposing walls, transports you back in time to the medieval era.
The panoramic view from the Castle of the Moros is simply spectacular and definitely worth a pause to admire the beauty of the surrounding nature and capture some unforgettable photos. Some viewpoints offer the opportunity to watch the waves crashing against the rocks below, creating a magical atmosphere.
Throughout the castle’s path and on the towers, flags with the coats of arms of Portugal wave freely, from the past to the present day.
A visit to the Castle of the Moros also provides an opportunity to delve into history and imagination. For children, why not organize a session of knights and princesses storytelling? Sit on one of the castle’s ramparts and invent stories of brave heroes and enchanting princesses while admiring the breathtaking panorama in front of you.
We always travel with some colors and a notebook, and I must admit that in Sintra, we filled many pages with drawings, stories, and tales of the Middle Ages.
It will be an unforgettable moment for the whole family.
This city is definitely a great starting point for many studies on the medieval world, and as homeschoolers, we can only appreciate these insights to shape our “curriculum.” If you’re interested in delving deeper, I’ll leave you the link to the article Homeschooling, the learning adventure.
What to see in Sintra: Exciting excursions beyond the city center
If you’re looking for more thrilling adventures and breathtaking views, then it’s time to explore the wonders beyond Sintra center. These excursions will take you to enchanting places where nature and history blend to create unforgettable experiences for the whole family.
Keep reading to discover what to do one day in Sintra with kids for a trip beyond the city center and which attractions will make your stay even more exciting.
Monserrate Park: An exotic dive into the city of Sintra
The Monserrate Park essentially has two characteristics: it’s immense (covering 30 hectares, so I advise against exploring it all but rather limiting yourself to the parts that lead to the palace!) and it’s exotic, especially in the Mexican and Japanese sections where numerous plants from overseas are found.
Right at the center of the park stands the Monserrate Palace, entirely in Moorish style. The palace boasts beautiful rooms and elaborate Arabesque decorations, and it’s a very secluded place. If visited on weekdays, it remains quiet and uncrowded.
The Monserrate Palace is a hidden gem of Sintra, located a short distance away. Inside the Monserrate Palace, you’ll be fascinated by the intricate architecture and exotic decorations that evoke distant cultures. But the real jewel of Monserrate remains its enchanted gardens, where exotic plants from around the world create a magical and evocative setting.
For an unforgettable experience, why not organize a picnic in the gardens of the Monserrate Palace? Find a shaded spot under a centuries-old tree and enjoy an outdoor meal surrounded by the beauty of nature. After the picnic, children can have fun with outdoor games along the garden paths, creating precious memories for the whole family.
Park and Palace of Pena: The most beautiful palace in Europe
The Park and Palace of Pena is one of the most iconic landmarks in Sintra, famous for its fairytale architecture and spectacular landscapes. Situated on a panoramic hill, this park offers breathtaking views of the city and the ocean.
The Pena Palace has been hailed as the most beautiful palace in all of Europe, with its colorful towers and intricate details that seem to come straight out of a fairy tale. Inside the palace, you can admire the fairytale furnishings and artworks that transport you back in time, but it’s in its gardens that I found its true beauty. Don’t miss the spectacular landscapes surrounding the palace, with panoramic views that will take your breath away.
Explore the trails of the Pena Park and immerse yourself in the beauty of the surrounding nature. Capture the breathtaking views that stretch to the horizon and discover hidden corners that will make you feel like you’ve entered a magical world. With so many opportunities for exploration and photography, the Park and Palace of Pena promise an unforgettable experience for the whole family.
Reaching the Palácio Nacional da Pena isn’t so straightforward: the climb to reach it is quite long and challenging, although the scenery is well worth it, you may need to consider the endurance of the little ones.
Quick tip to save one day in Sintra: if your kids can’t stand long uphill walks, take advantage of the shuttle service, at least for the steepest section. We did it all on foot, but I admit that Aldo was exhausted by the end!!
Pros and Cons to consider for your visit to Sintra with kids
Let’s start with the premise that Sintra is a magnificent medieval city that deserves at least a couple of days, if not more, especially when traveling with children because there are many distances to cover and the walks are quite long.
I would never recommend renting the picturesque Tuk Tuk because, although they are very cute and fun, they are a real tourist trap at exorbitant prices; let’s remember that we are in Portugal where the cost of a coffee in non-touristy places rarely exceeds 65 cents. Apart from Tuk Tuk, another means of transportation is indispensable, otherwise you risk missing out on some of the most beautiful attractions.
Sintra is unfortunately a very touristy and chaotic city: the center is small, the streets are narrow, and to get around you always have to consider much more time than calculated by the navigator.
Another downside that needs to be highlighted in an article about what to see in Sintra with children is the fact that tourism has reached levels that, in my opinion, are not ethical. A prime example is the yellow plastic tables of a restaurant scattered on the walls of the Palacio de Pena: in my opinion, it is inconceivable to have a recreational activity inside such an important palace in the history of a country, even less so if this activity takes up external space with cheap furnishings.
This is an aspect that I want to emphasize because, although Sintra remains one of the most fascinating cities I have ever seen, I remember it as a magical place, but exploited to an incredible extent. I understand the business aspect, but there are many small gestures that could allow the business to enhance the place in which it is located, such as a water dispenser instead of the plastic bottle that then pollutes those enchanting gardens.
What to visit in Sintra with kids if you have more time available
As I’ve already said, one day is not enough to visit Sintra because, especially if you’re with children, you would miss too many places that deserve to be visited.
Regardless of the children’s age, Sintra offers interesting places for every taste: there is history, there is nature, there is sea, and there is culture.
Keep reading to discover the less touristy but equally unmissable attractions in Sintra.
Quinta da Regaleira: Visit if you want an attraction off the tourist circuit
Quinta da Regaleira is a bit less turisty compared to other attractions in Sintra and is separate from any combined ticket, but this doesn’t mean it should be excluded from your itinerary in this area.
It’s a villa in Manueline style; the gates only open at 10, but if you arrive a bit early like we did, you can secure one of the few parking spots right in front of the entrance, and meanwhile, enjoy some glimpses of the villa already visible from the iron gates surrounding the garden.
The ticket costs 8 Euros, and for a thorough visit of the villa and gardens, calculate at least 3 hours, especially with children in tow and if you want to see the place without rushing, exploring all the paths in the park.
The gardens are a true discovery, you never know what to expect walking along the narrow paths that immerse deeper and deeper into exotic vegetation: fountains, ponds with ducks, towers, caves, and extravagant buildings, not to mention an underground cave path.
All paths converge at the center of the garden, where you’ll find the Initiation Well, which goes down to a depth of 30 meters, reminiscent of our Well of Saint Patrick in Orvieto. After descending along a spiral stone staircase, you can walk through part of the underground tunnels, but be careful not to get lost… you enter from one side and you might end up coming out from a completely different one!
After exploring the beautiful park in every corner, all that’s left is to visit the small chapel with its finely decorated bell tower and perhaps enjoy some rest at the convenient refreshment area before entering the villa itself.
The interiors of the villa are fascinating, although the park remains once again the most beautiful area of this attraction.
Explore the historic center of Sintra during your trip with kids
If you have at least 2 days available, one of the first things I recommend doing in the city is to join a Free Walking Tour of Sintra , which lasts about two and a half hours with a local guide. This is one of the approaches I love the most when it comes to a new destination because it enriches the meaning of a place even more: being guided through the streets of the historic center by someone who loves those same alleys and listening to legends that have been passed down for generations is definitely fascinating.
How to get to Sintra and how to get around
As I mentioned earlier, since Sintra is very close to Lisbon, you’ll have plenty of ways to reach it. One thing to note, though, is that its favorable proximity makes it a very popular weekend getaway. If you have the opportunity, I suggest avoiding Sintra during weekends: there will be long queues at the entrances, finding parking will be quite challenging, and the huge tourist influx might not let you fully enjoy the enchanting tranquility of the town. If you absolutely cannot avoid it, my suggestion is to get there early in the morning.
If you’re interested, here’s the link to the website for Guided tour in Sintra e Cascais booking.
How to get to Sintra
Getting to Sintra from Lisbon will be a breeze: organize your transfer by choosing one of the options below, considering your travel preferences:
- By train – you can depart from Lisbon’s Oriente or Rossio station and reach Sintra in less than 50 minutes. Additionally, the location of the arrival station is very convenient, as you can reach the actual center of the town within a 10-minute walk. You can purchase tickets on the official website for €2.40 per trip (€4.80 round trip).
- By car – although it’s a rather discouraged choice, I couldn’t do anything but reach Sintra by car, so… I have some advice to give you to avoid nervous exhaustion. Arrive early, very early in the morning, especially if you plan to visit during the weekend, and leave your car in this large (unfortunately not guarded) parking lot . From there, you can reach the center on foot, by bus, or by train.
- With a day trip from Lisbon – if you have no intention of driving through the labyrinthine one-way streets of the city and don’t want to use public transportation, the solution that most likely suits your travel preferences is a convenient day trip from Lisbon. This way, you’ll have time to visit the main attractions without having to worry at all about transportation. You can reserve your spot for the day trip comfortably from here (but remember to separately purchase tickets for the various attractions).
How to get around in Sintra
If it’s true that Sintra has many beautiful aesthetic features, one advantage that certainly cannot be attributed to it is the ease of getting around on foot: the attractions can be quite distant from each other and positioned on top of tree-covered hills (consider that just to reach the main attractions from the center, you’ll have to walk about 7 km, to which you’ll have to add the actual distance to visit them).
The best way to get around, especially between the more distant attractions, is by bus. You can purchase a travel pass for bus rides at the tourist office in the city center and use the bus stops 434 and 435. On the official website , you’ll find the various routes and up-to-date fares.
If you visit Sintra on a day when it’s particularly crowded and you don’t want to risk spending half the day waiting in line for the bus, the alternative I suggest is the Sintra tourist bus , which follows two different routes: this is a great way to both explore the city in its entirety and get off and on at any stop you want for the entire day. You can buy it directly online for €13.50 on the same website as the bus tickets.
We went by car because we live nearby, but I have to be honest: parking is a real nightmare. The second time we went, we parked at a shopping center and then used the buses to get around!
Now that you know everything there is to know about this fascinating Portuguese destination, all that’s left for you to do is book your trip!
If you’re planning a trip to Portugal, I’ll leave you the links to the other articles about this destination that might be useful:
Digitally Yours
☀️ Sara ☀️
