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You've checked out of your Lisbon hotel, your flight isn't until 9 PM, and you have a full day to kill. The obvious choice is Sintra - fairy-tale palaces, misty forests, and one of Portugal's must-see day trips. The not-so-obvious problem: what do you do with your suitcases? Sintra has no luggage lockers, the train is packed, and dragging bags up the hill to Pena Palace is impossible. Here's how to solve it.
The luggage solution: LUGGit picks up, you explore
The simplest way to do a Sintra day trip on your last day: book LUGGit to pick up your bags from your hotel at checkout and deliver them to the airport before your flight. A Keeper (Driver) meets you at your accommodation, collects everything, and you walk to Rossio station with just a daypack.
How it works for a Sintra day trip:
- Morning: Check out of hotel. LUGGit Keeper (Driver) picks up your bags
- All day: Take the train to Sintra, explore palaces hands-free
- Evening: Train back to Lisbon. LUGGit delivers your bags to the airport, or meets you at Rossio/Oriente station
- Price: From €2/bag, every bag insured up to €1,200
Use code BLOG10 for 10% off your booking
Getting to Sintra from Lisbon
Trains to Sintra depart from Rossio station (central Lisbon) every 20-30 minutes throughout the day. The journey takes 40 minutes and costs about €2.30 each way with a Viva Viagem card.
Detail
Info
Departure
Rossio station (also Oriente and Entrecampos)
Journey time
~40 minutes
Ticket price
~€2.30 each way (Viva Viagem card)
Frequency
Every 20-30 minutes
First/last train
~6:00 AM / ~1:00 AM
Tip: Take the 8:00 or 8:30 AM train to beat the crowds at Pena Palace. By 10 AM the queues are 45+ minutes. If you depart from Oriente (near Parque das Nacoes), you can also catch the Sintra train there.
What to see in Sintra
Pena Palace
The star of Sintra. This 19th-century Romanticist palace sits on top of a hill surrounded by forest, with bright yellow and red towers that look like something from a children's book. The interior is preserved as it was when the royal family lived there, and the views from the terraces stretch to the Atlantic.
- Tickets: ~€14 adults (palace + park), ~€7.50 park only. Book at parquesdesintra.pt
- Getting there: Bus 434 from Sintra station (€4 round trip), or a steep 30-minute walk
- Time needed: 1.5 - 2 hours
- Tip: Buy tickets online in advance - timed entry slots sell out by midday in summer
Quinta da Regaleira
If Pena Palace is the fairy tale, Regaleira is the mystery novel. The highlight is the Initiation Well - a 27-meter spiral staircase that descends into the earth through nine levels, connected to underground tunnels that emerge at a lake. Kids and adults alike find it unforgettable.
- Tickets: ~€10 adults. Book at regaleira.pt
- Getting there: 10-minute walk from Sintra station (downhill)
- Time needed: 1 - 1.5 hours
- Tip: Visit Regaleira first (it opens at 9:30 AM) before heading up to Pena Palace. The gardens are shaded and cool even on hot days
Moorish Castle
An 8th-century castle with walls that snake along the hilltop through the forest. The views rival Pena Palace but with far fewer crowds. It's on the same bus 434 route as Pena, so combine both in one morning.
- Tickets: ~€8 adults. Combo tickets with Pena Palace available
- Time needed: 45 minutes - 1 hour
- Tip: Walk down from Pena Palace to the Moorish Castle (15 minutes, mostly downhill) instead of taking the bus back
Suggested last-day itinerary
Here's a tested schedule for doing Sintra on your checkout day with a 9 PM flight from Lisbon:
- 8:00 AM: Check out of hotel. LUGGit Keeper (Driver) picks up your bags
- 8:30 AM: Train from Rossio to Sintra (arrive ~9:10 AM)
- 9:30 AM: Visit Quinta da Regaleira (10-min walk from station)
- 11:00 AM: Bus 434 to Pena Palace
- 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM: Explore Pena Palace and gardens
- 1:00 PM: Walk down to Moorish Castle (15 min)
- 1:45 PM: Bus 434 back to Sintra village
- 2:00 PM: Lunch in Sintra town center. Try travesseiros (almond pastries) at Piriquita
- 3:30 PM: Train back to Lisbon
- 4:15 PM: Arrive Rossio or continue to Oriente for metro to airport
- 5:00 PM: LUGGit delivers your bags to the airport. You're checked in by 7 PM
Without LUGGit, you'd need to take your bags to the airport first (30 min metro + locker hassle), then go to Sintra from the airport side, then back to the airport again. That's 2+ hours wasted on logistics that LUGGit eliminates.
Other luggage options for a Sintra day trip
If LUGGit doesn't work for your schedule, here are the alternatives:
- Ask your hotel: Most Lisbon hotels store bags for free after checkout. The catch: you need to return to the hotel to collect them before heading to the airport
- CP train station lockers: Rossio station has coin-operated lockers (€3-5/day). Limited availability in summer - arrive early to get one
- Storage apps: Bounce and Stasher have spots near Rossio from €1.49/day. You walk to a shop, leave your bags, walk back later
- Sintra station: There are no lockers at Sintra station. Don't count on storing bags when you arrive
Practical tips
- Wear walking shoes: Sintra involves a lot of uphill walking on uneven paths. Leave your sandals in the suitcase (which LUGGit has)
- Bring water and snacks: There are few shops between palaces, and prices at tourist kiosks are high
- Weather: Sintra is typically 3-5°C cooler than Lisbon and often misty in the morning. Bring a light layer
- Book palace tickets online: Timed entry slots for Pena Palace sell out by midday in summer. Book at least 2-3 days ahead
- Avoid weekends: If you can choose your Sintra day, go on a weekday. Weekend crowds double the queue times
More Lisbon guides
Luggage storage in Lisbon - All storage options with verified 2026 prices
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Frequently asked questions
Can I do a Sintra day trip on my last day in Lisbon?
Yes - and it's one of the most common ways people use LUGGit. Check out in the morning, a Keeper (Driver) picks up your bags. Take the 8:30 AM train to Sintra, explore until 3-4 PM, train back, and LUGGit delivers your bags to the airport. You save 2+ hours of airport luggage logistics.
Is there luggage storage at Sintra station?
No. Sintra train station has no lockers or luggage storage. The village itself has no storage facilities either. You need to leave your bags in Lisbon before taking the train. LUGGit picks up from your hotel from €2/bag, or you can use the coin lockers at Rossio station (€3-5/day, limited spots).
How do I get from Lisbon to Sintra?
Take the CP train from Rossio station in central Lisbon. Trains run every 20-30 minutes, the journey takes 40 minutes, and tickets cost about €2.30 each way with a Viva Viagem card. You can also catch the train from Oriente or Entrecampos stations.
How much does a Sintra day trip cost?
Budget roughly €35-50 per person: train €4.60 return, Pena Palace €14, Quinta da Regaleira €10, bus 434 €4, plus lunch. Luggage storage with LUGGit starts at €2/bag. You can save by visiting only one palace and walking instead of taking the bus.
What should I see first in Sintra?
Start with Quinta da Regaleira (opens 9:30 AM, 10-minute walk from station, fewer crowds). Then take bus 434 up to Pena Palace. Walk down to the Moorish Castle after. This order means you climb the least and avoid the worst queues. Have lunch in Sintra village before the train back.
