Step into the Moorish Castle’s storied stone walls and explore Sintra’s hilltop history at your own pace.
Begin at the main entrance of the Moorish Castle, where your ticket is validated. These are dated tickets, so you can visit anytime within operating hours and stay for as long as you like, taking your time to admire the sweeping cityscapes and rich history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dating back to the 8th century, the Moorish Castle stands as a fortified landmark overlooking the Serra de Sintra and the Atlantic Ocean. Its granite walls and towers reflect centuries of Iberian history, from the Muslim occupation to medieval Christian rule.
Features
Second Circle of Walls: Start your exploration at this historic entry point, offering a first glimpse of the castle’s defensive architecture.
Islamic Houses: Walk through remnants of the original settlement, revealing the site’s early cultural layers.
Medieval Christian Necropolis: Visit this burial site to connect with the castle’s later Christian history.
Primary Wall and Old Stables: Discover how the castle’s design blended with the rugged landscape for defense and daily life.
Panoramic viewpoints: Enjoy sweeping views over Sintra, the Palace of Pena, and the Atlantic Ocean from the parapet walk.
You can upgrade and add a multilingual audio guide or guided tour to your visit and dive deeper into the history of this military fortress that once defended against Catholic invasions.
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Bring a fully charged smartphone and your trusted headphones if choosing the audio guide upgrade.
Make sure to wear sturdy walking shoes as you’ll encounter lots of uneven terrain inside the castle.
Mobile signal may be weak at the site; it's best to download your ticket, audio guide, and all digital content via WiFi before your visit.
Pet dogs are welcome at the castle. Make sure to read these guidelines before bringing your pet dog along.
The experience is not fully wheelchair accessible due to uneven terrain and historic structures.
Certain areas of the castle are wheelchair accessible. These include the inner portions of the castle, the Moorish Castle Church, the store, and the cafeteria.
There is parking for disabled persons.
The audio tour is compatible only with Android (version 5.0 and later) and iOS (version 15.0 and later) smartphones. Not compatible with Windows Phones, iPhone 6/6 Plus or older, iPod Touch 6th generation or older, iPad 4th generation or older, iPad Air 1st generation, or iPad Mini 3rd generation or older.
Private parking is otherwise not available. We’d recommend parking at the historic center of Sintra and relying on public transportation to reach the castle.
This activity is non-refundable and cannot be cancelled. Variant-specific cancellation policies may apply.
