Sintra, near Lisbon, is a favourite day out for cruise passengers. Its palaces and castle sit at very different heights on a wooded hill, and trying to see them all in a day is tiring. The monuments are run by Parques de Sintra, and its own pages give enough detail to choose one that suits you.
1. Getting there
Parques de Sintra lists the CP train on the Sintra line from Lisbon (Oriente, Rossio or Entrecampos). From Sintra station it says the National Palace of Sintra is a 10 to 15 minute walk, and that Scotturb bus 434 runs from the station (or the Lourel car park) up to Pena and the Moorish Castle. Private cars are not allowed to drive up to Pena and the Moorish Castle, and in the historic centre traffic is limited to residents.
2. Hours (as published)
| Monument | Opening hours listed | Last ticket |
|---|---|---|
| National Palace of Sintra | 9:30 to 18:30 | 17:30 |
| Pena Palace (palace) / park | 9:30 to 18:30 / 9:00 to 19:00 | park 18:00 |
| Moorish Castle | 9:30 to 18:00 | 17:30 |
| Monserrate park | 9:00 to 19:00 | 18:00 |
The page does not say which season these hours apply to, so check it for your date. Online tickets require you to reserve a date; there is a separate skip-the-line entrance at Pena Palace.
3. Pena: beautiful, and steep
For the Park and Palace of Pena, Parques de Sintra describes a ramp of about 90 m whose incline reaches 18% in places; a barrier-free route of about 600 m from the park entrance to the palace and a shorter 380 m route that has stairs; transfer shuttle platforms that are temporarily out of service; and a palace visitor route that is not accessible to people with reduced mobility because of stairways. Folding manual wheelchairs can be reserved, and there is an accessible toilet in the shop and café area.
4. The National Palace: in town and partly accessible
The National Palace of Sintra, the one with the two great white chimneys, is in the historic centre. The park company recommends entering by the palace kitchen because the main entrance has stairs, describes an accessible area of around 1,820 m², two lifting platforms, ramps to the Manueline Room and (with prior reservation) the Archers' Room and Swan Room, a staff-operated stair climber, manual wheelchairs to reserve, and accessible toilets. The rest of the palace has flights of stairs.
5. Choosing one
| If you want | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The easiest logistics | National Palace of Sintra | 10 to 15 minutes on foot from the station, partly accessible route |
| The famous view and colours | Pena | Bus 434 up the hill; steep ramp, stairs inside |
| Gardens and space | Monserrate | Large park; check its own access page before you go |
Parques de Sintra adds that a companion accompanying a person with a disability is admitted free, that assistance dogs are allowed, and that it recommends booking access services in advance. For a port day, work backward from all-aboard with the all-aboard worksheet; for the river crossings, see the Lisbon ferries.