Sintra with Kids: The Ultimate Family Guide to Portugal’s Fairytale Town
The town of Sintra is located just thirty minutes from Lisbon, but feels like you’re transported to a time of castles, kings, ornate stone buildings, and exquisite gardens. Due to its proximity to Lisbon, most travelers take a day trip to Sintra by train and try to see as many castles as possible.
Since we planned to visit Sintra with two kids under five years of age on our two-week trip to Portugal, I knew my kids would not be able to see multiple castles, walk for multiple hours, and then quietly take a train ride back to Lisbon. Nope.
Instead, we decided to spend two nights and two days in the historic district. Here were our favorite kid-friendly things to do in the area:
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Why Visit Sintra with Kids
Sintra is a wonderful family-friendly destination to:
Quick Tips
When To Visit
Sintra is a beautiful destination to visit at anytime of the year. We visited in the winter and enjoyed sunny days with chilly mornings and a little bit of rain.
Avoid Mondays (Lisbon museums are closed and tourists flood Sintra)
Shoulder seasons (April–May, September–October) offer the best weather and fewer crowds
Before You go
- Buy tickets online - ticket lines can be long
- Plan for multiple days if you can. Many people visit Sintra in one day and try to see as many castles as possible. If you have the opportunity, I would recommend spending more than one day in Sintra so you can fully enjoy the most popular castles and downtown Sintra with your little kids.
- Parking is limited along the one-way road through the park and in the few tiny parking lots nearby
- Buy an e-sim to save on cellphone roaming costs
What To Pack
- Passports
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Comfortable shoes, clothes, sunscreen, and hats
- Camera
- Ergobaby or soft baby carrier, most of Sintra is cobble stone streets and using a stroller would be difficult
- Princess dresses
Costs
| Item | base cost |
|---|---|
| Pena Palace | Ages 6 and under - Free | Ages 6-18 + Seniors €12,5 | Adults €14 |
| Moorish Castle | Ages 6 and under - Free | Ages 6-18 + Seniors €6,5 | Adults €7,6 |
| Quinta da Regaleira | Ages 6 and under - Free | Ages 6-18 + Seniors €6 | Adults €11 |
| Add-Ons | |
| Meals | |
| Shopping and souvenirs | |
| Audio guides | |
| Tuk tuk or taxi rides | |
Getting There
The trip to Sintra from Lisbon is about 30 minutes by car or one hour by train. Click here for train times and to purchase tickets.
The 434 bus transports visitors from the Sintra train station to the city’s historic center and to the castles beyond for €7.60 round trip. Altogether, budget about 90 minutes to get from Lisbon to Sintra by public transport.
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History Corner
The Moorish Castle that crowns Sintra’s ridge is perhaps the most vivid reminder that North African and Arab Berber peoples — collectively called the Moors — shaped this landscape profoundly. In 711 AD, North African Muslims crossed into the Iberian Peninsula, and the ancient Castelo dos Mouros stands tall in Sintra as a beacon of a time when the Moors brought their architectural prowess to the region. Their influence extended far beyond stone walls: they brought knowledge of agriculture, new irrigation methods, and planted olive trees and spices that remain part of the Portuguese diet today.
The first enslaved Africans were brought to Portugal as early as 1444, and by the mid-16th century there were approximately 10,000 Africans in Lisbon — around 10% of the city’s population. Many gained their freedom over time, and Afro-Portuguese communities became woven into the fabric of Portuguese culture, contributing to everything from fado music to cuisine.
Visiting the Castelo dos Mouros with children is a wonderful opportunity to talk about the multi-layered, multicultural roots of this region.
Our Experience
The community around Sintra is very international, with tourists visiting from all over the world. I did not see many Black travelers or locals, but did see other people of color. I was surprised not to see many children while we traveled in Sintra. We were treated with kindness and respect by everyone we met, felt safe, and genuinely that people were interested in our family and adored our kids.
Antiracist Travel Considerations
Top Family-Friendly Activities in Sintra
Limit yourself to 1–2 major palaces per day if traveling with young children
Visit Pena Palace
Historic castle, large gardens
- 14€ ages 18+ | 12€ ages 6-17 | free for ages 6 and under
- 3+ Hours
The world famous Pena Palace appeared in our coffee table book as one of the must-see places in the world and for good reason. This palace, built in the 1800s, is incredible and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The colorful walls, with textured entryways and ornate light fixtures, are so distinct, it feels like it’s right out of a fairytale movie.
The palace grounds are huge with lots of walking involved.
Tickets are cheaper if you want to skip the palace and just visit the park grounds. Purchase your tickets here.
If you decide to visit, read our blog for all of the tips on visiting with kids.
Explore Qunita da Regaleira
Fewer crowds, lush gardens, fairytale magic
- $20+/ages 18+ | $10/ages 6-11 | free for ages 5 and under
- 3+ Hours
Quinta da Regaleira was my favorite palace in Sintra because it was less crowded than Pena Palace, and full of unique and accessible buildings, gardens, fountains, and grottos.
My kiddos wore princess dresses and danced through the palace grounds, getting “oohs” and “awws” by everyone who passed by.
We enjoyed snacks at the café, looking for cats, and wandering down the famous Initiation Well.
Check out our blog post for tips on visiting Quinta da Regaleira with kids.
Climb the Moorish Castle
Great views
- 7.6€ ages 18+ | 6.5€ ages 4-17 | free for ages 6 and under
- 2+ Hours
In stark contrast to the ornate Pena Palace and Quinta de Regaleira, the Moorish Castle is a more simple 10th century classic you can’t miss while visiting Sintra. Its rugged stone walls have stood on this hillside for centuries.
The Moorish Castle is a 10-minute walk from Pena Palace and can be visited on the same day if you plan it correctly. The walk from the entrance to the inside of the castle is long, uphill, and not stroller friendly.
Buy your tickets online or at the kiosk at the entrance to the castle. Tickets are free for kids under 6, 6,5€ for youth ages 6-18 and seniors, and 7,6€ for adults.
Check out our blog post for more tips on visiting the Moorish Castle with kids.
Find the Parque de Liberdade
Great for getting out the wiggles before dinner
- 1+ Hours
Parque de Liberdade is a huge park in the middle of the historic Sintra center with beautiful trails, old stone buildings, a few tiny fairy doors, and a small playground.
The playground is called “Jardim do Bico – Parque Infantile” and is located closer to the historic center side of the park.
We stopped to play for a bit while walking down the scenic Volta do Duche on our way to dinner.
Wander through historic downtown Sintra
Great for getting a feel of the city, walking, and community activities
- 1+ Hours
The historic center of Sintra is made up of tiny winding streets, pedestrian-only walkways, and beautiful old buildings all built near the Sintra National Palace. We wandered the quiet alleyways, popping into store fronts, some touristy, some artsy, and tasted the delicious foods shops along the way.
I recommend you walk down Volta do Duche, stop, and listen to the troubadours, then buy a souvenir from a street vendor.
We loved finding little fountains and ornate villas throughout the area.
Where to Eat in
Sintra with Kids
Raíz Sintra
Raíz Sintra offered fancy cocktails, delicious food, and an amazing location close to the historic Sintra center.
We walked along the Volta do Duche until we found the restaurant’s street sign, beckoning us to walk down a flight of stairs to a garden restaurant below. The views were stunning and the food was incredible. My favorite by far was the steak and sangria.
Romaria de Baco
Located on the corner of a tiny street, Romaria de Baco was completely empty when we arrived for lunch.
We loved the octopus, cheese pastry, and soup, and my girls loved that they could walk to Piriquita II for dessert after!
Piriquita II
Piriquita II bakery was founded in 1862 thanks to King Carlos I’s love of their famous Queijadas during his summer visits to Sintra. The bakery has been family run for six generations.
Try a Queijada (sweet cheese baked pudding dessert) and a Travesseiros da Casa Piriquita (flakey dough wrapped around sweet cheese and almond filling).
Final Thoughts
Walking through the streets of Sintra felt like we were part of a Shakespeare play, or the show Bridgerton. Wherever your castle fantasies take you, Sintra’s got it.
My girls loved dancing through the green gardens in their princess dresses, asking questions about the ornate houses and buildings, and spying feral cats around town.
There were moments along this trip, as with any trip, where we had to decide if we were going to do something that would be difficult with our kids, or if we should skip it. Sometimes, the activity was of interest and accessible to all of us (Quinta de Regaleira, for example), and sometimes the activity was a little more difficult for a two-year-old (Pena Palace, for example).
Although walking through the historic homes was a little bit of a challenge with a toddler, experiencing this special place with my two kiddos still felt magical.
Have you been to Sintra? Did you bring your kids? Why or why not? Share in the comments below.
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