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How to get to the National Palace of Sintra
If you park your car around the train station or arrive by train from Lisbon, then the options are the same. You can walk to the National Palace of Sintra or take a ride. If you are visiting Sintra for the first time, I recommend a walk. It get's you into the "Sintra mood", you are able to take it all in and the scenery to the Sintra historical centre
is absolutely amazing! I don't recommend following the Google maps GPS recommendation. As a matter of fact, you shouldn't rely too much on GPS devices in or around Sintra, because they tend to be inaccurate and you end up walking around literally in circles. During my time as a travel guide in Sintra I have seen countless tourists walk the path recommended by Google maps that leads you behind the historical Sintra Town Hall (one of the first fabulous buildings you will come across when you arrive by train!).
The reason why I don't recommend that path is that you will miss out the scenic view of the Volta do Duche with art sculptures, tile-decorated fountains inspired by the Islamic time period and lush gardens. The path going behind the Sintra Town Hall is steep on the way up to the Sintra National Palace. This could be a problem if you are travelling with small children, using strollers or have someone in the group with walking difficulties!
Walking is simple and it is only a journey of about 1.2 km (0.7 miles) on a pretty much flat sidewalk that is protected by trees, which means you will walk most of the time in the shadow (you will thank me for this if you are visiting during the hot summer months!).
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If you see this building, don't walk between the tower and the adjacent yellow building, down the road! This is the path recommended by Google. It is shorter, but steep and less scenic.
Walk along the Volta do Duche. Pro Traveller's tip: stop by the Moorish Fountain (about half way to the historical Centre), to take amazing - very"Instagrammable" - pictures! For more tips about locations that are special for social media influencers or professional photographers, please see our specific Phototour Blog Post - Here
If you want to reach the National Palace of Sintra fast and don't want to walk or don't have the time, then take a Tuk Tuk-ride or a Bolt, Uber, Taxi. We just remind you that the inner City is closed off to traffic and at the time of this writing (May 2023) it is not possible to drive directly from the train station to the City centre. Most traffic is diverted around Sintra, which means this Bolt/Uber trip will cost more than usual.
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We also don't recommend taking a Tuk Tuk-ride at the train station. Many of the drivers there will start to haggle and often try to scam the incoming tourists, asking for more than the trip is worth. We have also often seen Tuk Tuk drivers fight with each other over clients. Avoid at all costs. If you want a planned trip, we recommend to book a Tuk Tuk trip through one of our established, professional companies. Book a Tuk Tuk trip in Sintra here