Parking in Sintra is not as simple as pulling up to a palace and hopping out. With its UNESCO-protected old town, steep medieval streets, and high visitor numbers, navigating Sintra by car can quickly turn into a time-consuming puzzle. If you’re planning to drive in, this guide breaks down exactly what to expect and how to plan around it—because in Sintra, where you leave your car is just as important as where you’re going.
Parking lot
Cost
Spots
Distance to main attractions
Getting there / notes
Portela de Sintra Car Park
€1.50/day
~150
1.5 km to town center
Open 24/7, free shuttle buses (434/435) run every 7–10 minutes. Flat access—great if you have mobility needs.
P1 Sul (Estrada da Pena)
€1–2/hr
~50–60
~10–15 min uphill to Pena Palace
Closest to Pena; fills early (by 9 AM) . Strongly consider a tuk-tuk ride (€10) unless you're eager for the hike.
Monserrate Palace Lot
Free
~30
Right across the road
Ideal for visiting Monserrate; shaded, flat, lightly used .
Volta do Duche Street Parking
Free
~5–10
5–10 min walk to old town
Cobblestone route—bring good shoes. Get there early .
Praça Dom Afonso Henriques
Free
~20–30
~10 min Uber to Pena
Quiet and budget-friendly with less foot traffic .
Rua Guilherme Gomes F. Lot
Unknown
~50–60
Near town center
Pay-with-card before exit .
Departamento Urbanismo Lot
Unknown
~200+
Close to historic core
Dashboard ticket required .
Street parking in Sintra is limited, regulated, and often in high demand especially near the historic center. Most spots are metered, and spaces can be tight or already taken early in the day. It’s ideal for quick visits or if you arrive early, but don’t expect to rely on it for all-day parking near top attractions. Rates and limits vary slightly by zone.
Pay using coins (0.05–2 €) between 8am to 8pm daily in these metered zones:
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
I had not written details of my trip and called cs for help. They were professional and resolved my issue. Guides were informed and fun!
Nelson was awesome guide. He managed to get us through all the places, gave us free time and recommendations of local specialities. Thanks a lot!
I liked the organization and especially the guides Maira and Marta! They are excellent people who helped me a lot to find a group where I could understand the language better! One point for improvement is to make it more visible on the ticket that the tour is run by Buendia, because I got lost at the meeting waiting for people from Headout! Maira was sensational in explaining the history of the place and was also concerned about our safety during the tour! Buying the tour from Headout was easy and practical!
The tour in itself was good. Howeer the guide was a bit rude
Very well organized, started on time. The tour guide was so informative! Highly recommended!
Wonderful! So much historic information! Good pace we got to see a lot in a short period of time!
Robinson el mejor guía!!! Estuvo padrísimo y muy interesante. Gracias
All inclusive, super organized, the guide did an excellent job and showed knowledge. A great experience.
Sintra, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais: The best of Portugal packed into one hassle-free day-trip.
Inclusions
Day trip to Sintra, Cascais, and Cabo da Roca
Round-trip AC transfers
Pick-up from Lisbon
Guided walking tour of: Pena Palace, Pena Park, and Quinta da Regaleira (as per option selected)
Tickets to: Pena Palace, Pena Park, and Quinta da Regaleira (as per option selected)
Expert Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and English-speaking guide (as per option selected)
Headsets for clear guide audio
Exclusions
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
The tour came as advertised. It was well organized, people assembled at the location and were divided into groups by language. The tour guide gave out information at both sites ( could have added more while we were driving to the site). We had 90 minutes on our own at lunch time, which was good.
It was all good, the guide was friendly and solved all our doubts. He was with us the whole time. We really liked his explanations. The trip was good too.
Andrea was a great guide! She gave great information with a good mix of free time. We enjoyed our day with her and were super happy that of the two groups our bus was divided into, we were in Andrea's group! Just a heads up for future travellers, the Pena Palace is an extra 10 euros that is not included in your tour price.
The guides were good....enthusiastic... and knowledgeable. They knew their stuff.
The guide was very attentive and friendly. He let us enjoy the tour without overwhelming us.
The tour in the palace was too crowded and needed the tour guide present to discuss the rooms
We had a misunderstanding about the tickets but in the end they solved it.... the visits were very good and the guide was a 10.
We liked everything, and especially the guide. Damián was a charm !!!!
Good tour. Well organized. Wonderful guide Mario. But he walked too fast.
Experience the best of Sintra with a guided walking tour and AC transfers from Lisbon.
Inclusions
Full-day trip to Sintra
Round-trip AC transfers
Pick-up from Lisbon
Guided walking tour of Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira with tickets (as per option selected)
Expert Portuguese, Spanish, French, and English-speaking guide (as per option selected)
Headsets for clear guide audio
Exclusions
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Enjoy views of Sintra's hills from the Moorish Castle & explore two of its unique UNESCO Sites.
Inclusions
Exclusions
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Hugo was an incredible tour guide with tons of knowledge to share! Really learnt a lot about Sintra and the surround areas.
Great experience, awesome guide, Catarina is so much fun, told us a lot of about the places we visited, made us feel really welcome and was super helpful.
We had an excellent day trip! Everything was very well organized, and the experience exceeded our expectations. Our tour guide was truly outstanding—knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate. Unfortunately, I don’t remember his name, but he had blue eyes and short, darkish hair. He made the day not only informative but also really enjoyable. The places we visited were absolutely incredible, and thanks to his recommendations, we were able to discover some hidden gems we wouldn’t have found on our own. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a memorable and enriching experience.
The guide was great... enjoyed his humour. The palace is just so average... I can't believe people pay all that money for that.
Our guided tour with Headout to Sintra, Cascais, and other stunning spots was fantastic. Mario, our guide, was incredibly informative, had a great sense of humor, and drove expertly. His knowledge and personality made the experience memorable. Highly recommend this tour for a fun and insightful day trip from Lisbon!
Our guide Hugo was the best! He was charismatic and very knowledgeable, giving us plenty of history to understand more about the places we were going. I would highly recommend this tour. It was a small group and the van was very comfortable. The locations we went to were stunning.
I thought the booked tour was more guided and the two speech tour was also a little bit boring. Sorry I would not recommend this tour
Everything was great, guide Ivo was awesome !
There was no indication of the final march to the Pena castle. Way too far & steep to walk for seniors. It would have been good to know how far & steep that final climb was going to be round trip. Guide was very good but focused on the front of the bus. We ended up sitting near the back & 2 women continually talked the whole time. It was difficult to hear the guide.
We didn't once feel rushed. When I told the guide I couldn't hear as we were at the back he put the microphone on.
A full-day tour of Sintra, along with breathtaking views from Europe's westernmost point.
Inclusions
Full-day trip to Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais
Experienced local guide in a language of your choice
Guided tour of Sintra and Guincho Beach
Free time in Sintra and Cascais
Round-trip transfers from Lisbon in an AC coach
Entry to Pena Palace & Park (based on option selected)
Exclusions
Food & drinks
Tips
It was beautiful to see Sintra and surrounding areas. Especially around Lisbon Belem etc If I were to go back I would visit some more sights which I didnt get too but at least I could see with the guide. It was a lovely small group too which made it even nicer. I loved the custard tarts everyone of them delicious. The guide was chatty, funny and nice taste in music for the tour.
The tour guide was awesome!!! Very informative and friendly.
The only tour covering both Sintra and Lisbon and the Belém Tower & Pena Palace.
Inclusions
Exclusions
Small group, we were 5. Friendly guide, Sofia, accommodating up to 4 languages.
Tour guide was awesome. Very professional and a great driver.
A blend of history, spirituality, and charm—all combined in a single, convenient day tour.
Inclusions
Exclusions
No. Since 2018, private vehicles (including rentals) are not allowed to drive or park near hilltop attractions like Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle. You’ll need to park elsewhere and take a shuttle, tuk-tuk, or walk.
The Portela de Sintra Car Park is your best bet. It’s inexpensive (€1.50/day), open 24/7, and includes free shuttle access to main attractions via buses 434 and 435.
Yes. Monserrate Palace, Praça Dom Afonso Henriques, and Volta do Duche offer free parking, but spots are limited and may require extra walking or transport.
Yes, but it’s regulated. You’ll need to pay via meters from 8am to 8pm daily. Rates range from €0.50 to €0.80 per hour depending on the zone.
Some parking lots accept credit cards, but many require coins or cash, especially for street meters. It’s a good idea to carry small change.
Generally, yes — but thefts have been reported, especially in isolated lots like P1 Sul. Don’t leave valuables in your vehicle and always lock up.
Volta do Duche and the Train Station parking lots are good for short visits. They’re closer to the historic center and ideal if you're on foot.
Yes! Take the train from Lisbon and use local transport, or join a guided tour that includes transport — it's the easiest way to avoid parking stress.
