Castelo dos Mouros in Sintra, Portugal

Castelo dos Mouros or Castle of the Moors is a medieval castle located atop a hill in Sintra, Portugal. Built in the 10th century after the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors, the two rings of wall trace the granite boulders and cliffs. Then, it served as a watchtower for enemies and protested Lisbon and beyond. For modern day visitors, the castle offers a chance to see the extensive views of the rolling hills and the Atlantic Ocean. The Moorish Castle was deemed a National Monument in 1910 and was a UNESCO World Heritage site as of 1995.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Travel
Castelo dos Mouros 2710-405 Sintra, Portugal
Coordinates: 38.7926° N, 9.3893° W

Cost & Admission
Open daily 9AM - 6:30PM except Jan 1 and Dec 25
Ticket for adults (18 – 64 yrs) – 8 euros
Ticket for youths (6 – 17 yrs) – 6,5 euros
Ticket for seniors (over 65 yrs) – 6,5 euros
Family ticket (2 adults + 2 youths) – 26 euros
Most recent prices are found here.

Food
Snacks and light fare at on site cafe.

Activities
Walking, exploring.

Tips
We first explored Pena Palace and exited at the Valley of the Lakes entrance where we walked a few steps to Moorish Castle. This is recommended for those interested in also seeing Pena Palace. The Moorish Castle has uneven steps and the hike around the walls can be a bit tiring.