The Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros) is a 10th-century Islamic fortress whose walls snake along a granite ridge of the Sintra hills, with views over the town, Pena Palace and the Atlantic. Adults pay €12, and it opens daily 9:30–18:00, with last entry at 17:30 (as of October 2026). Unlike Pena, there’s no timed slot, and dogs are welcome. Allow about 1½ hours, and go on a clear day.
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Tickets and tours for Castle of the Moors
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Why the Moorish Castle matters
The castle was founded in the 10th century, when this part of the Iberian Peninsula was under Islamic rule. From its peak it watched over the Atlantic coast, the farmland below and the sea routes into Lisbon. A village grew up inside and around the walls. Archaeologists call it the Islamic Quarter. Its people carved silos into the rock to store grain, and you can still see some, inside and outside the walls.
The Moors stayed until 1147, when Sintra passed to Afonso Henriques, Portugal’s first king, after the fall of Lisbon and Santarém. He entrusted the area to Gualdim Pais, a Knights Templar master, who received a charter in 1154. A Christian medieval village replaced the Islamic one, including the Church of São Pedro de Canaferrim, built between the two rings of walls. By the 15th century, with the wars long over, people had moved down the hill and the castle was slowly abandoned.
In the 19th century King Ferdinand II, the builder of Pena Palace, restored the walls in the Romantic spirit of the time. The works disturbed the church’s burial ground. Since no one could tell whether the bones were Christian or Muslim, he had them placed in one tomb inscribed “What man brought together, only God may separate”. Excavations have continued since 1976. The castle is part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, and Parques de Sintra has managed it since 2000.
What you’ll see
- The walls and towers: the parapet walk follows the ridge from tower to tower, with views over the town, Pena and, in the distance, the Atlantic. There are plenty of steps, so wear good shoes.
- The Church of São Pedro de Canaferrim: now the castle’s Historical Interpretation Centre. Finds and interactive displays tell the story of everyone who lived here, from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages.
- The Islamic Quarter and silos: remains of houses and grain silos cut into the rock.
- The Christian medieval necropolis and the 19th-century ossuary tomb with its inscription.
How to visit
From Parques de Sintra, the official operator, as of October 2026:
- Hours: daily 9:30–18:00, last ticket and entry 17:30. The staffed ticket office closes from 12:00 to 13:00; ticket machines work throughout.
- Closed: 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. Hill sites can also close because of very high fire risk, strong winds or other extraordinary reasons. Parques de Sintra posts closures on its notices page; in December 2025, for example, the castle shut for high winds.
- Tickets: adults (18–64) €12, youths (6–17) and seniors (65+) €10, family (2 adults + 2 youths) €33. Tickets are for a date, not a time slot.
- Discounts: buy with Pena or other Parques de Sintra sites in one purchase for 5% off two sites, up to 10% for six. Visitors with a disability get 50% off, and a companion enters free. Residents of Portugal enter free on Sundays and public holidays at the ticket office.
- Dogs: welcome here. That’s not the case at Pena, so check before combining.
How long to allow and when to go
Plan 1–1½ hours for the walls and the interpretation centre, more if you want to linger for photos. The views depend on the weather. On misty days the ridge disappears into the clouds, so if you have a choice, go when the hills are clear. Early morning and late afternoon have the softest light over Pena. In summer, the open walls get hot and exposed by midday.
Accessibility
Parques de Sintra says the route through the inner walls can be used by visitors with reduced mobility, with care on the steep stretches. Traction units for manual wheelchairs are recommended and can be reserved. A lifting platform now takes wheelchair users up to the top of the walls for the views. Another platform gives access to the exhibition in the church. The shop, café and nearby toilets are accessible. Manual wheelchairs can be reserved, there is a disabled parking space, and most staff have basic Portuguese Sign Language training.
Getting there
Take the CP Sintra-line train from Lisbon (Rossio, Entrecampos or Oriente) to Sintra, about 40 minutes from Rossio. Then take Scotturb bus 434 from the station or the Lourel car park, which also serves Pena. Private cars are not allowed up to the castle. On foot, Parques de Sintra’s marked trails start at “Info Parques de Sintra” in São Pedro de Sintra, at the Palace of Seteais and at Largo Ferreira de Castro in the town centre.
Combine it with
The castle and Pena Palace are about half a kilometre apart as the crow flies and share the same bus, so they pair naturally. Do the castle first, then use your timed Pena palace slot. Back in town, Quinta da Regaleira and the Sintra National Palace are within walking distance of each other. More planning tips are in our Sintra guide, and for the train from the capital see our Lisbon guide.
Moorish Castle FAQ
Is the Moorish Castle worth visiting?
Yes, if you like views and history underfoot. The walls give some of the best panoramas in Sintra, including the classic view across to Pena Palace, and the site tells the story of Islamic and medieval Sintra.
How much does the Moorish Castle cost?
€12 for adults and €10 for youths (6–17) and seniors (65+), as of October 2026. A family ticket for two adults and two youths is €33.
Do I need to book the Moorish Castle in advance?
There’s no timed entry, so it’s less critical than at Pena. Buying online saves queuing at the ticket office, which closes from 12:00 to 13:00 (machines stay open).
Can I bring my dog?
Yes. Dogs are welcome at the Moorish Castle and the Park of Monserrate, but not at most other Parques de Sintra sites, including Pena.
How do I get from the Moorish Castle to Pena Palace?
They are neighbours on the hill, on the same Scotturb 434 bus route from Sintra station. Allow time to reach Pena’s palace entrance, which is about 30 minutes from its park gate.
Is the castle suitable for children?
Yes, but keep a close eye on them on the walls, where there are many steep steps.