Perched high above Sintra in the lush Sintra Mountains, the Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros) is a timeless ruin that offers more than just sweeping views. Built in the 8th–9th centuries by the Moors, this fortress whispers centuries of history—from Bronze Age relics underfoot to medieval battles overhead. Walk its crumbling walls, explore forgotten towers, and soak in vistas stretching from the Pena Palace to the distant Atlantic coast.

What You Will Experience

Step into the past
Unearth remains ranging from Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Age artifacts to Islamic settlement layers inside the castle grounds.
Stroll ancient ramparts
Wander along both inner and outer defensive walls, cross crenellated towers, gatehouses, arrow-slits, and feel the weight of granite stones beneath your fingers.
Walk to the Royal Tower (Torre Real)
Climb steep stone steps to reach this lookout—you’re rewarded with one of the best perspectives of Sintra, the Pena Palace, and on clear days, the Atlantic Ocean.
Visit the Chapel and Islamic Quarter
Inside the grounds lies the Church of São Pedro de Canaferrim, once converted from a mosque, and an Interpretation Centre displaying relics and ceramics unearthed from the castle’s long history.
Explore the underground cistern and silos
Marvel at Moorish engineering: a vaulted cistern that stored rainwater for survival, plus grain silos carved into rock to sustain life during long sieges.
Enjoy sweeping views
From its strategic hilltop position, the castle commands views over Sintra, the surrounding hillsides, the town’s palaces, and on clear days, even as far as Mafra, Ericeira, or the coast.
Sense of romance & wild beauty
King Ferdinand II in the 19th century restored much of the ruin as part of the Romantic revival, leaving ruins beautifully overgrown with vegetation, and creating that fairytale-ruin feeling Sintra is famous for.

Lisbon

1 Experience

Castelo dos Mouros Sintra: Entry