RunCity

Sintra on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 9 of Sintra's best-known sights, including Monserrate Palace, Seteais Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and more. It is about 7 km on foot, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Sintra leaderboard.

  • 9Stops
  • about 7 kmDistance
  • 2.5 hoursWalking
  • about 60 minRunning
Play Sintra in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Sintra
Photo: Singa Hitam · CC BY 2.0

Sintra is a hill town of palaces and gardens in the forest west of Lisbon, and this route of about 7 km links them, with plenty of climbing. It starts at Monserrate, a pink Indian-style palace in a botanical garden, and comes back towards town past the Seteais Palace and Quinta da Regaleira, with its Gothic palace and initiation well. In the centre stand the National Palace with its two huge white chimneys, the town hall and the station where trains from Lisbon arrive.

The hard part follows: the climb to the Castle of the Moors on its ridge and on to the yellow and red Pena Palace on the hilltop. The bonus stop, Cruz Alta, is the highest point in the park. Most palaces need tickets, and Pena's are timed. Bus 434 runs the loop from the station up to the castle and Pena if you want to save the climb; go early, the roads get busy by late morning.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Monserrate Palace

    Monserrate Palace

    The pink Indian-style palace seen across its lawn.

    Photo: Jorge Lobo · CC BY-SA 4.0

  2. Seteais Palace

    Seteais Palace

    The neoclassical triumphal arch between the two wings of the palace.

    Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0

  3. Quinta da Regaleira

    Quinta da Regaleira Photo

    The Gothic palace façade at the entrance of the garden estate.

    Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

  4. National Palace of Sintra

    National Palace of Sintra Photo

    The two huge white conical chimneys over the old royal palace.

    Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

  5. Sintra Town Hall

    Sintra Town Hall

    The neo-Manueline town hall with its pointed tower.

    Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

  6. Sintra Railway Station

    Sintra Railway Station

    The small terminus where trains from Lisbon arrive.

    Photo: Teves Costa from Sintra, Portugal · CC BY-SA 2.0

  7. Castle of the Moors

    Castle of the Moors

    The crenellated walls climbing the rocky ridge.

    Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

  8. Pena Palace

    Pena Palace Photo

    The yellow and red towers of the palace on the hilltop.

    Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0

  9. Cruz Alta

    Cruz Alta Bonus Photo

    The wooded Sintra hills seen from the highest point of the park.

    Photo: MiguelBolacha · CC BY-SA 4.0

Play Sintra in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Sintra on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 9 stops on this route add up to about 7 km, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Some stops are far apart, so you may want public transport for a leg.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Sintra is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Sintra?

    Open Sintra in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Sintra leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Monserrate Palace and finishing at Cruz Alta. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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