Sintra, a popular day trip destination from Lisbon, is home to several beautiful palaces and castles. One of the the more popular stopovers here is Castle of the Moors (also known as Castelo dos Mouros or Moorish Castle) a 10th century castle (that is straight out of a fairytale book!) with stunning panoramic views.
Here are my tips for visiting Castle of the Moors in Sintra!
About Castle of the Moors
The Castle of the Moors was originally built by North African Muslim Moors during the 10th century as a military outpost. Strategically positioned on a hilltop overlooking the surrounding towns, the castle was used to defend Sintra and nearby Lisbon.
The castle was eventually abandoned but was restored in the 18th century when King Ferdinand II took interest in it. The king lived in nearby Pena Palace and wanted to preserve the Castle of the Moors as an ancient ruin.
Today, the castle is part of Sintra’s UNESCO World Heritage Site status and its fortified stone walls and towers nestled in the hilltop forest can be explored freely (no tour required, just a day ticket!) and has become a popular tourist destination.
Spend the afternoon wandering the castle walls, climbing the towers (hello, Rapunzel!), and taking in the views (try to spot Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and the National Palace of Sintra!).
If you are looking for a day trip from Lisbon, Sintra is a great option. Although, there is so much to see here that I’d recommend staying a night so that you can explore all the sites during the early morning and late afternoons (before and after the tourists buses arrive from Lisbon).
How to Get There
Since we rented a car, it was super easy getting to Pena Palace and Castle of the Moors from Sintra. We arrived first thing in the morning (just before opening hours!) and had no trouble finding a parking spot near the Pena Palace ticketing office. After exploring Pena Palace, we took the short walk over to Castle of the Moors.
If you don’t have a car, you can still reach the castle easily! From Sintra, take tourist bus #434 from the train station or the Sintra Tourism office to Castle of the Moors (about €5 per ticket).
Tuk tuks are another mode of transportation in Sintra and are an easy way to get around to all the main sights. Just flag one down and make sure to have some cash on hand!
Know Before You Go
- The Castle of the Moors is open between 9:30am to 8:00pm during the summer (high) season or 10:00am to 6:00 during the winter (low) season, seven days a week.
- Tickets can be purchased onsite or online and cost around €8 per person.
- Make sure to wear good walking shoes as there are quite a few stone steps to climb!
- Sintra has a unique climate and the weather can change quickly so pack some layers and an umbrella to avoid getting caught in the rain.
- If you are visiting Castle of the Moors and Pena Palace, I’d suggest getting to Pena Palace first thing in the morning and then visiting Castle of the Moors after that. We found Pena Palace to be more crowded so it was nice to beat the crowds!
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