Sintra with Kids: The Best Palaces and Tips for Families

Sintra feels like it was made for children: a candy-coloured palace on a mountain, a castle with walls to climb, a spiral well that plunges underground and secret tunnels through the gardens. But it’s also hilly, busy and easy to overdo. Here’s how to visit Sintra with kids.

Quick answer: pick two sights at most. Quinta da Regaleira (tunnels and the Initiation Well) is the kids’ favourite, followed by the Moorish Castle walls and Pena Park. Go early on a weekday, use the 434 bus or a tuk-tuk for the hills, and bring a baby carrier rather than a buggy. Reward everyone with a travesseiro pastry.

Why Sintra works for families

Most palaces ask children to look and not touch. Sintra lets them explore: dark tunnels, towers, battlements, lakes and forest paths. The sights are spread over a steep, wooded hill, though, so the secret is to do less. Two sights, a long lunch and a pastry will make a better day than four rushed palaces and tired, cross children.

The best sights for kids

Quinta da Regaleira

The top pick: a mysterious garden full of grottos, towers, stepping stones across a lake and dark tunnels connecting it all, plus the famous spiral Initiation Well descending into the ground. It’s right by the old town, so no bus is needed. Book a timed ticket: entry slots are every 30 minutes.

• The well: about 27 metres deep, with a spiral staircase down nine levels. Little legs can manage it, but hold hands, as the steps can be damp.
• The tunnels: some are dark and narrow. A small torch, or a phone light, makes them more fun and less scary.
• How long: allow about 2 hours.
• Tickets (2026): €20 for adults and €15 for ages 6 to 17, and under-6s go free. A family ticket for two adults and two children costs €60. Buy on the official website, as Regaleira has warned about tickets sold through other sites. See the Quinta da Regaleira guide.

The Moorish Castle

Real castle walls zigzagging along the ridge, with towers to climb and huge views (€12 for adults, €10 for ages 6 to 17). Lots of steps, so it suits older kids. Hold little hands near the walls. The castle dates back to the Moorish period, around the 9th and 10th centuries, and was restored in the 19th century. On a clear day you can see the Atlantic and Pena Palace on the next peak. Allow about an hour and a half. Children under 6 go free, and a family ticket costs €33. See the Moorish Castle guide.

Pena Park and Palace

The colourful palace looks like a fairy tale, and the park has forest paths, lakes and the chalet of the Countess. With small children, the park ticket (€12 for adults, €10 for ages 6 to 17) and the gardens may be enough; the palace interior can be crowded. A small paid shuttle (about €4.50 return, free for under-6s) runs from the entrance up to the palace, which saves a steep walk.

• Palace tickets: Pena tickets are for a set date and time slot. The Essential Visit, which includes the palace, costs €20 for adults. Book ahead in busy months.
• The park: look out for the duck houses on the lakes and the high viewpoint at the Cruz Alta. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the palace and part of the park.
• No cars: private cars can’t drive up to Pena, so use the bus, a tuk-tuk, a taxi or a tour.

See the Pena Palace guide.

The old town

Wander the lanes and try the famous travesseiros and queijadas at Piriquita. Travesseiros are puff pastry pillows filled with almond and egg cream; queijadas are small, sweet cheese tarts. The old town is flat enough for a short wander with a buggy, and the National Palace with its two giant white chimneys sits right in the main square.

A family day plan

• 8.30am: early train from Lisbon.
• 9.30am: walk to Quinta da Regaleira (it opens at 9am from April to September and 10am the rest of the year) while the tunnels are quiet.
• 12.30pm: lunch and pastries in the old town.
• 2pm: bus up to the Moorish Castle or Pena Park, not both, if the children are under eight.
• 5pm: train back to Lisbon.

Practical tips

• Getting there: the train from Lisbon’s Rossio station takes about 40 minutes. See Lisbon to Sintra.
• Getting around: the 434 bus loops to the castle and Pena, and a 24-hour ticket for the 434 and 435 costs about €13.50 for adults. Check child fares when you buy, as prices change, or take a tuk-tuk or taxi to save little legs.
• Bus queues: the 434 stop by the station can have long queues in summer. Walking to Regaleira from the station takes about 20 minutes.
• Buggies: hard work on the hills and cobbles; a baby carrier is much easier.
• Go early and on a weekday to avoid queues and crowds.
• Bring layers: Sintra is often cooler and mistier than Lisbon.
• Snacks and water: palace cafés are pricey and busy.
• Don’t drive: parking is scarce and traffic is restricted.
• Save money: family tickets and online booking in advance are usually cheaper than paying at the gate.

When to go

Spring and early autumn are the best times for families: mild, green and less crowded than July and August. Summer weekends are the busiest of all. Winter is quiet, but fog and rain can hide the views, so have a back-up plan such as the National Palace in town (about €13 for adults on the Essential Visit, under-6s free).

Combine with the beach

Finish with sandcastles on a Cascais town beach, about 30 to 45 minutes away by road. See Sintra vs Cascais and Cascais.

Prefer a tour?

A private half-day tour with hotel pickup makes Sintra easy with kids. See the best Sintra tours.

FAQ

Is Sintra good for toddlers?

Yes, with a baby carrier and a slow pace. The old town is easiest, and Pena Park works if you use the shuttle; the Regaleira well and the castle walls are better for children who can climb steps safely.

Do children need tickets in Sintra?

Under-6s go free at Regaleira and the Parques de Sintra sights, including Pena and the Moorish Castle. Ages 6 to 17 pay a reduced price, and family tickets can save money.

Can you take a buggy in Sintra?

Only in the old town. The palaces, the castle and the park paths are steep, stepped or cobbled, so a carrier is much easier.

How many sights can you do with kids in one day?

Two is plenty, ideally Quinta da Regaleira plus either the Moorish Castle or Pena Park.

More: Lisbon with kids, Sintra in one day, Portugal with kids and a 10-day family itinerary.

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