Andelaria
castillo in Sintra
castillo

Castelo dos Mouros

Sintra
The stone walls of the Castelo dos Mouros snaking along a rocky ridge covered in green vegetation in the serra.
Photo: Dguendel / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

A castle built by the Moors between the 8th and 9th centuries, conquered by Afonso Henriques in 1147 following the capture of Lisboa.

From Moorish fortress to Romantic ruin

The line of walls that crosses the serra cannot be understood without three distinct hands. The Muslims built the enclosure in the eighth and ninth centuries to watch over the agricultural land surrounding the town; after the conquest, Afonso Henriques entrusted its custody to thirty settlers and issued a charter in 1154. In 1375 Fernando I ordered the walls rebuilt on the advice of João Annes de Almada, but the castle lost its military value and fell into abandonment. The present appearance was shaped by Fernando II in the nineteenth century: the German-born king who also transformed the neighbouring monastery into the Palácio da Pena kept the ruin as a picturesque backdrop to his estate, restored the pyramidal merlons and replanted the hillside. Today it is a National Monument within the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and managed by Parques de Sintra — Monte da Lua.

What you see when you climb the battlements

The appeal is walking the wall-walk. Two rings of walling with rectangular towers and one circular tower climb the granite rock, crowned by pyramidal merlons; the tallest tower, at the south-west corner, is known as the Torre Real and offers the finest views across the Palácio da Pena, the old town of Sintra and, on clear days, the Atlântico. Within the enclosure you can also see the underground cistern — 18 metres long by 6 metres wide — and the small Romanesque chapel of São Pedro de Penaferrim, with capitals carved with griffins and basilisks. On the esplanade there is also a medieval archaeological site and an interpretive panel.

How and when to visit

The monument opens daily 9:30–18:00, with last entry at around 17:30; buying tickets online is cheaper than at the gate. Walking the walls at a leisurely pace takes between 60 and 90 minutes. From Sintra station, on the Lisboa line, tourist bus 434 (Circuito da Pena) climbs the serra in around 15 minutes and stops at both here and the Palácio da Pena. Arrive early or in the mid-afternoon to avoid groups; wear sturdy footwear — the climb from the stop and the cobbled ground involve gradients and steps.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to book tickets in advance?
It is not compulsory, but buying online is cheaper than at the gate and avoids queues during high season. Tickets do not carry a fixed entry time, so you can go up whenever you like within opening hours.
How long does the visit take?
Allow 60 to 90 minutes to walk both walls, climb the Torre Real and see the cistern and the chapel of São Pedro de Penaferrim. If you are combining it with the Palácio da Pena, set aside half a day.
Is the climb on foot very demanding?
There is a definite gradient: from the bus 434 stop there is a hill to climb, and the wall-walk is cobbled with steps, so wear comfortable shoes. Visitors with reduced mobility will find sections of the walls difficult.

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you book through them, Andelaria may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Transparency & affiliate policy

Book tickets and tours: Castelo dos Mouros

Plan your trip

Book the essentials for your trip to Sintra.

Hotels in SintraFind flights to SintraAirport transfer in Sintra

Other places in Sintra

A new city every week

Get first-hand guides: when to go, how much it costs and the essentials of each destination. No filler.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.