Landmarks

Moorish Castle Entry Tickets

Open today

9:30am - 6:00pm

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

4.2/5(1,356)

Pauline N

Group

Verified booking

Jun 2026

We really enjoyed our visit to the Château des Maures, mainly because of the exceptional views it offers of Sintra, the surrounding forest, and the Pena Palace. For those views alone, the climb is well worth the effort (not to be underestimated, though I believe there’s also a bus that can take you up). Don’t expect to visit a furnished or perfectly preserved castle: it consists primarily of ruins and medieval fortifications. However, the ramparts are remarkably well-preserved and allow you to walk through much of the site while enjoying spectacular views. If you want to see it all, plan for plenty of time and be prepared for a physical hike. We also appreciated the historical aspect of the site, founded during the Muslim occupation of the Iberian Peninsula and later restored in the 19th century under the impetus of King Ferdinand II, as part of the Romantic rediscovery of Portuguese heritage. The atmosphere is very pleasant, surrounded by nature, with numerous trails and green spaces. An ideal complement to a visit to the Pena Palace, offering a deeper understanding of Sintra’s history while enjoying magnificent scenery.

Francoise S

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

The Château des Maures, without a doubt! I went there right when it opened at 9:30 a.m. There was hardly anyone there. It was a long, steep, and tiring hike from Sintra, but well worth it for the view of the impressive citadel winding its way through a jumble of boulders, the surrounding panorama, and—from the top of the Royal Tower—the sight of the Pena Palace shrouded in mist. On the other hand, the Regaleira Palace disappointed me: the crowds, the noise...? A very 19th-century curiosity.

Step into Portugal’s past at Sintra’s 9th-century Moorish Castle. Entry includes access to the full complex and scenic marked hiking trails.

Discover the storied walls, Islamic settlement, and medieval necropolis as you wander this military fortress set atop Sintra’s lush hills.

Climb the castle's ancient ramparts to savor panoramic views stretching from the Pena Palace to the Atlantic Ocean.

Add extra depth to your visit with a multilingual audio guide or join an English guided tour filled with tales of Moorish rule and Christian conquest.

Entry to Moorish Castle

Access to surrounding hiking trails

Audio guide in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French (as per option selected)

Offline content: text, audio, narration, and maps (as per option selected)

English guided tour of Moorish Castle (as per option selected)

Dog-friendly access

Food and drinks

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

1,356 reviews
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These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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What our guests say
Francoise S
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
The Château des Maures, without a doubt! I went there right when it opened at 9:30 a.m. There was hardly anyone there. It was a long, steep, and tiring hike from Sintra, but well worth it for the view of the impressive citadel winding its way through a jumble of boulders, the surrounding panorama, and—from the top of the Royal Tower—the sight of the Pena Palace shrouded in mist. On the other hand, the Regaleira Palace disappointed me: the crowds, the noise...? A very 19th-century curiosity.
Ariane P
Couple
Verified booking
Jun 2026
Both castles are absolutely stunning and quite close to each other. Quinta de Regaleira will transport you to a magical world, and its gardens are incredible. I would still recommend taking transportation to the Castle of the Moors unless you really enjoy hiking.
Jerrie A
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
If you like history & historical sites mixed with greenery scenery then its a must, me & my wife happened to visit yesterday 24.6,06, & the mist was quite strong vision was limited but it put a eerie feel to it , we loved it.
Ben C
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
The ruins provided amazing views around Lisbon and the surrounding areas. They are best enjoyed as part of a whole day out in Sintra, alongside many of the other attractions such as the palace.
Richard C
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
I enjoyed this more than the Pena Castle. Awesome views and a lot of history. Bared this with as Quinta for a perfect afternoon.

Step into the Moorish Castle’s storied stone walls and explore Sintra’s hilltop history at your own pace.

Getting started

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.

What to expect

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.

What to bring

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.

What’s not allowed

Flash photography, tripods, and filming equipment are not allowed inside the exhibition spaces.

Accessibility

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.

Additional information

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.

Your ticket will be emailed to you shortly after the purchase.

Please display the same along with a valid photo ID at the time of redemption.

Kindly ensure that you arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled time to avoid any delays.

Ticket redemption point

Show your ticket at the Castle of the Moors.

Address: 2710-405 Sintra, Portugal.

The self-guided tour starts at Second Circle of Walls of Moorish Castle.

Get directions to the redemption point