Sintra Travel Forum

We are planning a day trip to Sintra and I'm wondering if anyone can give their advice of correct my daily plan for a Sunday:

AM: Arrive in Sintra park car in the city if not to crowded, if so park on the outskirts to walk into the old town. Visit of old town and Nacional Palacio da Sintra - open 10h to 17h free on Sundays before 14h (in front of palace, Periquita pastelaria for Travesseiras or Queijadas)
PM: Drive to Castelo dos Mouros - open 9h to 20h 3.5Euros, 3.5km from historical center on Pena Estrada and park car in the lower parking (is it a paying parking?). LUNCH: Picnic on Castelo dos Mouros hillside. Visit of Castelo dos Mouros and walk on the fortress walls (great views on Palacio da Pena one km. further). Continue into Parque da Pena - open 9h30 to 18h 3.5Euros, reach Cruz Alta for magnificient views. Back home passing by Sao Pedro de Panaferrim for a look at the market (2nd & 4th Sunday of the month 8h to 19h).

Is it possible to walk from castelo dos Mouros (or should we take the car to the entrance of the park) into the Parque da Pena and reach Cruz Alta point of view? ...how many hours of walking are we to expect with visiting Castelo dos Mouros and Parque da Pena?
We do not intend to visit the inside of Palacio da Pena, being there in high season we are expecting herds of tourists and were told the inside is pretty long to visit.
Anything we are missing, little nooks or hiddens places we should have a peek at?
All advice is welcome... and well thanked for!

The walk from Castelo dos Mouros to Parque da Pena is very steep - not bad for the fit, but be warned.
We took the bus that runs a circle route from Sintra down below - it was very convenient but we were there off season in March.
From the entrance to the Palacio Nacional da Pena, you really can't see much at all, the Castle sits up on top of another steep hill - they have a tram that runs up and down for visitors.
I would strongly suggest going inside so you can at least wander around the castle grounds. I can imagine that in season, the inside does get crowded.
Have a great time!

Thank you for the tip...
So it looks like we won't be walking towards the Parque da Pena from the Castelo dos Mouros, we'll take the car to go to the entrance gate, since we will be visiting with a child.
Now, the more I read upon the Castelo dos Mouros, the more I worry... is it really such a trek to go up the forteress' walls (even if we go by car and try parking in the closest parking)? ...maybe I should also forget the Cruz Alta point of view in PArque da Pena?
Thanks to all other further suggestions (especially parking tips, length of journey; the more details, the better); doing the visit with a child is the reason why I was worried about the Sunday plan to Sintra... I know the rest will be fine (Lisbon, Cascais, Estoril, Cacilhas, etc.)

We were doing a day trip out of Lisbon via train - our time was somewhat limited. We took the bus up to Pena - got off at Mouros, saw that it looked like a long and hilly walk to the end - with time being short, we walked up to Pena. We ended up being one of the last ones to leave the Castelo so it turned out good. I don't know if they run more buses in season, but they were fairly crowded when we were there in March. It also didn't look like there were a lot of parking spaces up by the entrance, but not having a car, we didn't look hard.

hello vibi68,
Here you can find some detailled info about the walk to the Moorish Castle, (even the (topographical outline)
http://www.cm-sintra.pt/Itinerarios.aspx?ID=9

the walk is not for everyone, it can take a good walking hour but the view largely compensates, a lot of ancient plants covered in velvet green all around gives it a special feeling.

Castelo da Pena is worth seeing, but i usually there are a lot of turist, but you can always pass by and check for yourselves, (the turists usually arrive there in buses, and maybe you get there in between bus arrival eheheh)

If you are driving, (one thing that i do often) is to came back via Cascais, because the views are simply great. and also the most Ocidental Point in Continental Europe (Roca Cape) is in the path.

diasman

Don't miss the Palacio da Pena. It has lots of beautiful rooms to visit.

Thee is a room with a trompe l'oeil; a very large room and many turrets.

well my sugestion is to do all you're saying but not on Sunday, can't you change the day for a week day? i would be much better.

About the moors castle i don't go there for years but my kids went with school and walked all around and enjoy it a lot.