Landmarks

Moorish Castle Entry Tickets

Stone pathway along the walls of Moorish Castle, Sintra, with scenic valley view.

Walkway through lush greenery at Moorish Castle former stables, Sintra, Portugal.

Moss-covered stone walls of Moorish Castle's second ring in Sintra, Portugal, surrounded by trees.

Moorish Castle Keep tower entrance with stone walls and steps, Sintra, Portugal.

Open today

09:30am - 06:00pm

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Audio guide

Enhance your experience with multilingual audio guide

4.1/5

(1,173)

Sep 2025

Verified booking

4/5

Definitely worth it! If you go on foot, towards both places as I did, be prepared to have sore muscles the next day 😉 At the Moorish castle, it's a lot of clamping, a lot of stair climbing, but trust me, it's more than worth it! It is beautiful! At Quinta da Regaleira it is a lot of walking because it is big, also hilly, so definitely not just flat. The "well" where you would come out as reborn.... I expected a lot from it in the sense that you could walk down for a while quietly.... However, you "have to" keep walking, because if you stand still for too long to have a look or take good pictures, someone will call you to keep walking.... That's kind of a shame. However, it is beautiful there!

Desiree

Oct 2025

Verified booking

5/5

Stepping along the ancient walls of the Moorish Castle is like touching history itself. The sweeping views of Sintra, the Atlantic, and the surrounding forests are truly awe-inspiring. We visited in the first week of October, when the crowds had thinned and the air was cooler, the perfect setting for slow exploration and quiet reflection. It’s a climb that rewards not only with vistas but with a sense of perspective, a reminder of time’s passage and human resilience. Bring good shoes, a bit of water, and time to simply stand, breathe, and take in the beauty that stretches endlessly in every direction.

Carrie

Oct 2025

Verified booking

4/5

The ease of having the combo of the two sites was great and we LOVED our visit. The views were amazing. The Audio portion of the adventure proved to be a challenge with the head out app. We used it successfully with Moorish, but we could not access the Pena Palace. We did however use the FREE audio offered on site. Recommendations would be to arrive at Pena one hour prior to booking time. Once you get in the first gate, tour the grounds and then line up for your scheduled entry tour time 30 minutes before. We thought we were "in the tour" after the first entry point.

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.

4.1
1,173 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
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
Asif
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
I had an amazing day visiting Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle. The weather was fantastic, which made exploring even more enjoyable. I had a timed entry for Pena Palace at 11 o’clock, and the whole process was incredibly well organised. The queues were managed efficiently, making the visit smooth and stress-free. The palace itself is breathtaking, with its vibrant colours, whimsical architecture, and stunning views. Even with a bit of mist and fog, the atmosphere was magical, adding a mysterious charm that made it feel like stepping into a fairytale. Every corner offered incredible photo opportunities and the attention to detail throughout the palace is remarkable. Afterward, I explored the Moorish Castle and walked all around its walls, soaking in the panoramic views of Sintra and the surrounding landscape. It was a fantastic experience, very well worth the money, and I would highly recommend both attractions to anyone visiting the area.
Randall
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Both were amazing. The colors at the palace and the history were wonderful. The castle was tranquil with stunning views. I would highly recommend seeing both.
Robert
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Impressive and very diverse castles of immense beauty. Magnificent nature. Almost too beautiful to be real. Wonderful!
Neville
Nov 2025
Verified booking
5/5
WONDERFUL WALK AND VIEWS. VERY MANAGEABLE CROWDS. WOULD DO IT AGAIN.
Desiree
Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Stepping along the ancient walls of the Moorish Castle is like touching history itself. The sweeping views of Sintra, the Atlantic, and the surrounding forests are truly awe-inspiring. We visited in the first week of October, when the crowds had thinned and the air was cooler, the perfect setting for slow exploration and quiet reflection. It’s a climb that rewards not only with vistas but with a sense of perspective, a reminder of time’s passage and human resilience. Bring good shoes, a bit of water, and time to simply stand, breathe, and take in the beauty that stretches endlessly in every direction.

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.

Moorish Castle

Monday	09:30am - 06:00pm	last entry 05:30pm
Tuesday	09:30am - 06:00pm	last entry 05:30pm
Wednesday	09:30am - 06:00pm	last entry 05:30pm
Thursday	09:30am - 06:00pm	last entry 05:30pm
Friday	09:30am - 06:00pm	last entry 05:30pm
Saturday	09:30am - 06:00pm	last entry 05:30pm
Sunday	09:30am - 06:00pm	last entry 05:30pm

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