Sintra

A variety of popular attractions within this UNESCO World Heritage Site are included in guided Sintra tours from Lisbon. Take in treasures like the Sintra National Palace (Palacio Nacional de Sintra), Monserrate Palace (Palacio de Monserrate), Pena National Palace (Palacio Nacional da Pena), Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros), and the beautiful Gothic architecture of the Quinta da Regaleira.

While it's possible to spend an entire day (or week) in this captivating town, travelers with limited time can also combine a visit to Sintra with stops at points of interest in the surrounding area, such as Praia Grande, Cascais, Guincho Beach, or the wineries of Colares.

• Travelers can dedicate an entire day to visiting the town, or incorporate stops at beaches or other sights nearby.

• Day trips to Sintra generally last about 8 hours and typically include return transportation.

• Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking on uneven surfaces.

If you're not taking a guided tour, the easiest way to get to Sintra, Portugal, is by train. Trains from Lisbon to Sintra depart every 10 to 20 minutes from Estação do Rossio to the Sintra Railway Station, and the trip takes about 45 minutes. There's also a slower bus service from both Lisbon and Cascais.

For the best experience and minimal crowds, plan to visit early in the day, midweek, and outside of the summer high season. Classical music lovers gather in late spring and early summer for the Sintra Festival, when concerts are hosted all over town.

There are a number of cost-effective ways to get around the area, including bus 434, which goes from Sintra station to most of the major attractions. If you're looking for a more romantic and historic mode of transportation, try a horse-drawn carriage ride around the town center or through the Park of Pena.

 Day tours from Lisbon that include transport are the best way to visit. These save you the hassle of taking public transport and let you soak up the scenery as you're transported between spaced-out sights. Tours typically cover all of the top tourist attractions, and include entry tickets and a tour guide.

Yes, but the trip does involve quite a lot of organization—you'll need to buy Sintra tickets for each attraction in separate time slots, as well as arrange train, bus, and taxis to get to and around the area.

The best days to visit Sintra are Tuesday or Wednesday. Visiting on either of these days helps you avoid the brunt of the crowds, as most people visit Lisbon as part of a long weekend, between Thursday and Monday. The winter months—from November through January—also see fewer people at each of Sintra’s attractions.

Yes, the UNESCO-listed center is small and compact, which makes it easy to navigate on foot—Sintra National Palace is also right in the center and Quinta da Regaleira is a 10-minute walk. However, Pena National Palace and Castle of the Moors—are around 30 minutes' walk from the center via steep routes.

The best tours in Sintra take you to the town's most popular attractions and save you the hassle of driving or taking the train. Tours typically cover the UNESCO-listed historic center, National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Pena National Palace, and the Castle of the Moors, as well as the seaside town of Cascais and Cabo da Roca, Europe's westernmost point.

Yes, but you might not get to spend much time at each attraction. If you're short on time, avoid having to wait for the trains by opting for a tour with private transport and book skip-the-line admission tickets, so you don't waste time waiting.