Is Sintra safe?
Safe with normal care. Pickpockets work the long Pena and Quinta da Regaleira queues, and cars are broken into at trailheads and viewpoints.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-03-02.
- Homicide rate in Portugal: 0.7 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Portugal: 8.2 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 112 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Sintra at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing in palace queues and on the 434 bus; break-ins of parked cars on forest roads; rare violent crime. |
| At night | The town goes quiet after dinner and feels safe. Few Bolt cars late; the last train to Lisbon leaves around 1 am. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Forest trails are safest in daylight and in groups on weekdays. |
| Other risks | Steep, slippery paths in rain and fog; Summer wildfires in the Sintra hills; Heavy traffic on the narrow Pena road |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Unlicensed tuk-tuk and taxi drivers quoting high fares at the station
- Fake or inflated palace 'skip the queue' tickets from street sellers
Take care
- Parked rental cars on forest roads: leave nothing visible
- Narrow road to Pena: heavy traffic with walkers and buses
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Personal drug use is decriminalised, not legal; police can fine you, and dealing or smuggling means prison.
- Sleeping overnight in campervans or tents outside authorised sites is banned and fined.
- Albufeira fines anti-social behaviour in public €150–1,800 under its code of conduct.
How Sintra compares in Portugal
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Madeira | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Cascais | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Azores | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ericeira | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Coimbra | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Douro Valley | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Évora | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Braga | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Aveiro | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Silver Coast | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Tavira | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lisbon | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Porto | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Algarve | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sintra | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lagos | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Albufeira | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Faro | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nazaré | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Sintra safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Forest trails are safest in daylight and in groups on weekdays.
Is Sintra safe at night?
The town goes quiet after dinner and feels safe. Few Bolt cars late; the last train to Lisbon leaves around 1 am.
What is the crime rate in Sintra?
Pickpocketing in palace queues and on the 434 bus; break-ins of parked cars on forest roads; rare violent crime. Nationally, Portugal records 0.7 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Sintra?
Police 112 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112.
More about Sintra
Going to Sintra solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Parques de Sintra (palace tickets)
- CP Comboios de Portugal
- Scotturb
- Visit Sintra
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.