Where to Stay in Sintra: Best Areas and Hotels Guide

Most visitors come to Sintra on a day trip from Lisbon, and that works perfectly well for the main palaces. But staying overnight changes what’s possible: you can be at Pena Palace when it opens at 9:30am, before the coaches arrive, and spend the afternoon in Colares or down at the Atlantic coast. The town empties significantly after 6pm, and the forest and palaces feel different at dusk.

This guide focuses on where to sleep in Sintra — not just what to see. Most accommodation clusters around the town centre near the station; a quieter alternative sits out along the Colares wine road toward the coast.

Town Centre (Historic Centre)

The area around the National Palace and the lanes below it is where most visitors sleep. It’s compact — most of the small guesthouses and restaurants are within a few minutes’ walk of each other. The tuk-tuks and buses to Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and the Moorish Castle all depart from here.

Recommended hotels:

• Penha Longa Resort — five-star resort in a former monastery 5km from central Sintra, set in its own estate with golf, pools, and spa. The closest Sintra has to a true luxury resort property. From approximately €350–500 per night as of 2026.
• Lawrence’s Hotel — Sintra’s oldest guesthouse (dating to 1764, with former guests including Lord Byron) in a handsome building near the National Palace. Twelve rooms, excellent restaurant. From approximately €150–250 per night.
• Chalet Saudade — charming 19th-century chalet guesthouse with garden, five individually decorated rooms, quiet side street. From approximately €90–140 per night.
• Sintra Boutique Hotel — well-positioned three-star near the station with comfortable rooms and helpful staff. From approximately €65–110 per night.
• Moon Hill Hostel — the best-regarded hostel in Sintra’s centre. Dorm beds from approximately €25–45 per night; private rooms available from €65.

Pros: Everything within walking distance. Restaurants and cafés open in the evenings. Easy connection to tuk-tuk and bus services to the hilltop palaces.

Cons: The main streets can feel like a theme park during peak summer afternoons. Some accommodation in the centre charges a premium for the location. Street noise from late-evening visitors in high season.

Best for: First-time visitors, those without a car, couples who want to be close to dining and the palace entrances.

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Colares and the Wine Villages

West of Sintra, the road toward the Atlantic passes through Colares, a small wine village known for its Ramisco-grape vineyards planted on sand dunes — one of the only European vineyards to survive the 19th-century phylloxera blight. It’s quieter, greener, and more local than central Sintra.

Recommended hotels:

• Casa Miradouro — whitewashed 1890s villa near Colares with Atlantic views, six rooms, terraced gardens. One of the most peaceful places to stay in the Sintra hills. From approximately €110–165 per night.
• Villa Sao Paulo — family-run quinta guesthouse between Sintra and Colares with pool and gardens. From approximately €80–130 per night.

Pros: Rural calm, vineyard landscape, proximity to Cabo da Roca (Europe’s westernmost point) and the coast. Lower prices than central Sintra.

Cons: You need a car — there’s no reliable bus to Colares from Sintra town. Evening restaurant options are limited.

Best for: Couples with a hire car, wine enthusiasts, those who’ve already done the palaces and want a slower pace.

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Praia das Maçãs

Sintra’s nearest Atlantic beach sits 12km west of the town centre. The small village of Praia das Maçãs has a handful of guesthouses and restaurants clustered above the beach — a credible base if you want surf-adjacent accommodation with easy palace access by car.

Recommended hotels:

• Hotel Arribas — clifftop hotel above Praia Grande (adjacent beach), pool with Atlantic views, clean and well-run. From approximately €90–160 per night.
• Casa da Praia das Maçãs — small guesthouse in the village with simple rooms and direct beach access. From approximately €60–95 per night.

Pros: Direct beach access, fresh seafood restaurants, quieter than town centre.

Cons: Car essential for palace visits. Some restaurants close off-season.

Best for: Summer visitors who want beach and palace access combined, families.

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Getting to Sintra

From Lisbon: Direct trains run from Cais do Sodré and Oriente every 20–30 minutes. Journey approximately 40 minutes. Cost approximately €2.55 single as of 2026. Sintra station is 5 minutes’ walk from the town centre.

From Lisbon airport: Take Metro to Cais do Sodré or Oriente (around 30–40 minutes), then the Sintra train line. Total journey approximately 75–90 minutes.

By car: A2 motorway then IC19 motorway from Lisbon. Around 45–60 minutes without traffic. Sintra town charges for parking during peak hours — confirm rates at the car park on arrival.

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For onward transfers from Sintra to Lisbon airport or other destinations, airport transfers offer fixed pricing. Travel insurance is worth comparing before your visit, particularly if you have booked timed palace tickets in advance.

Which Area Is Right for You?

Your priority	Best area
Convenience and dining	Town centre
Quiet and pastoral	Colares
Beach and surf	Praia das Maçãs
Full resort experience	Penha Longa
Budget travel	Moon Hill Hostel or town guesthouses

For the complete planning picture, see the Sintra travel guide which covers palace booking, timing, and how to manage the crowds. The day trips from Lisbon guide has timed advice for arriving before the peak.