Incomum by Luís Santos
What to order: a starter with Sintra mushrooms and the octopus or the confit salt cod; the mains are around €20.
geocalia
Day itinerary · 38.80° N · 9.39° W
Sintra in a day, 40 minutes by train from Lisbon.
Train from Rossio to Sintra, the Pena first thing with a booked ticket, lunch in the centre and Quinta da Regaleira in the afternoon, with Piriquita's travesseiros.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Lisboa fromSevilla 1 hMadrid 1 h 15Málaga 1 h 15Asturias 1 h 30Alicante 1 h 45Bilbao 1 h 45Valencia 1 h 45Barcelona 2 hGran Canaria 2 h 30Tenerife Sur 2 h 30
Part of Sintra
Add to my trip
Total time9 h
By car30 min each way
TrainRossio – Sintra, about 40 min
TicketsPena from €20 · Regaleira €20
WalkingAbout 3 h, with hills
DifficultyMedium
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Lisbon 45 min by train
train from Rossio; 24-hour CP ticket for Sintra and Cascais
- 15 min by bus · bus from the station to the Pena, or tuk-tuk
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1
Pena Palace and park
ticket with day and time · essential visit €20
- 10 min on foot
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2
The Moorish Castle along its walls
if you have the energy, opposite the Pena · €12
- 30 min on foot
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3
Incomum by Luís Santos
down to the centre · closed on Wednesdays and on holiday from 11 November to 3 December 2026
Rua Dr. Alfredo da Costa, 22, Sintra · +351 219 243 719
Restaurant €€Book - 15 min on foot
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4
Quinta da Regaleira and its initiation well
initiation well and gardens · €20 · last entry 17:30
- 9 min on foot
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5
Casa Piriquita
travesseiros and queijadas for the train
Rua das Padarias, 2710-603 Sintra · +351 219 230 626
Bakery €Book -
Back home 45 min by train
train to Rossio; you reach around 18:45
Approximate cost
About €30–55 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Pena Palace and park
The classic day trip from Lisbon, and without a car: the train from Rossio reaches Sintra in about 40 minutes. The plan starts at the Pena Palace, at the top of the hills, with a ticket booked for first thing, comes down to have lunch in the centre and spends the afternoon at Quinta da Regaleira and its initiation well. You take Piriquita's travesseiros home on the train.
The day, hour by hour
8:15 · Train at Rossio. You reach Sintra in about 40 minutes. CP sells a 24-hour ticket for the Sintra and Cascais lines.
9:30 · Pena Palace. The park opens at 9:00 and the palace at 9:30. Palace tickets are sold for a specific day and time: book with Parques de Sintra. The essential visit costs €20 (€18 for ages 6 to 17; free under 6). From the centre you go up by bus or tuk-tuk; on foot it is a long climb.
12:00 · Moorish Castle. Opposite the Pena, 10th-century walls on the crags. If you are short of time, skip it.
13:30 · Lunch in the centre. Incomum, by Luís Santos, is open at midday and in the evening; it is closed on Wednesdays and in 2026 is on holiday from 11 November to 3 December.
15:00 · Quinta da Regaleira. Gardens, grottoes and the initiation well, on foot from the centre. Ticket, €20; last entry at 17:30.
17:30 · Piriquita. The pastry shop of the travesseiros and queijadas, on Rua das Padarias, is open until 19:30 at weekends.
18:00 · Heading back. Train to Rossio.
If it rains or there is fog
The Pena in fog cannot be seen from outside: change the order and start with the Regaleira and the National Palace in the centre, under cover.
Time3 h 30
Change the route
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Takeaway and markets
Casa Piriquita, Sintra
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Sintra
From March to June and in September and October. In July and August the queues are long; in winter fog often hides the Pena, but there are very few people.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Book the Pena for 9:30
The first slot is the quietest.
- 2Buy the travesseiros at the end
That way they reach the train warm.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does the train from Lisbon to Sintra take?
About 40 minutes from Rossio.
Do you have to book the Pena?
Yes, the palace ticket comes with a day and time.
Can you see the Pena and the Regaleira in one day?
Yes, with the Pena in the morning and the Regaleira in the afternoon.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/portugal/lisbon-region/sintra/itineraries/pena-regaleira-and-travesseiros
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.