Sintra’s event calendar is modest compared to Lisbon’s, but the town punches above its weight for classical music and traditional religious festivals. The palace courtyards, gardens, and churches double as venues, giving even small events a dramatic setting. Most festivals are concentrated between June and October, with the summer classical music festival being the main draw. Here are the events worth planning a trip around. For a complete overview of the area, see our Sintra travel guide.
Sintra Events and Festivals: Summer (June to August)
Festival de Sintra (Classical Music)
The Festival de Sintra is the town’s flagship cultural event, running from mid-June through mid-July. Founded in 1957, it brings international classical musicians, orchestras, and chamber ensembles to perform in Sintra’s historic venues , the Pena Palace chapel, the Sintra National Palace’s Swan Room, the Quinta da Regaleira chapel, and outdoor stages in the palace gardens. The program typically features 15-20 performances mixing established repertoire with Portuguese composers. Tickets range from €15-40 per concert, with some free open-air events. The full program is announced in April on the festival website (festivaldesintra.pt). Buy tickets as soon as they go on sale , the smaller venue concerts (especially at Quinta da Regaleira) sell out within days. Dress is smart-casual; the palace venues are not heated, so bring a jacket for evening performances even in July. The festival office at Centro Cultural Olga Cadaval (Rua General Firmino Miguel) can help with last-minute tickets and program information. Read our Sintra weather by month for more information.
Festas de São Pedro (Saint Peter’s Festival)
The Festas de São Pedro take place on June 28 and 29 in the São Pedro de Penaferrim district, about 2 km uphill from Sintra’s historic center. This is a traditional Portuguese arraial: streets decorated with coloured paper garlands, grilled sardines on charcoal braziers (€2-3 per serving), caldo verde soup, beer and wine at pop-up bars, and live music ranging from pimba (Portuguese pop-folk) to fado. The religious procession on June 29 carries the statue of Saint Peter through the neighbourhood streets, accompanied by a brass band. The festival is local and un-touristy , you will hear more Portuguese than English. It starts in the early evening and runs until about 2:00 AM. Free entry. Take the Scotturb bus 434 or a taxi uphill (€5-8 from the town center). Read our best time to visit Sintra for more information.
Noites de Teatro de Sintra (Summer Theatre Nights)
Throughout July and August, the municipality hosts open-air theatre and cinema screenings in the gardens and squares of Sintra. The program includes Portuguese-language theatre, classic films (often with English subtitles), and occasional international touring productions. Events are held at Quinta da Regaleira gardens, the Olga Cadaval Cultural Centre courtyard, and occasionally on Praça da República. Most are free. The schedule is published in June on the Câmara Municipal de Sintra website (cm-sintra.pt). Bring a blanket or cushion for seating on grass or stone steps. Evenings cool down quickly once the sun sets behind the mountain , a jacket is essential. Read our things to do in Sintra for more information.
Sintra Events and Festivals: Autumn (September to November)
Feira de São Martinho (St. Martin’s Fair)
Held around November 11 (St. Martin’s Day) on Praça da República, the Feira de São Martinho is Sintra’s version of the traditional Portuguese autumn fair. Roasted chestnuts (€2-3 per cone) are the main attraction, paired with jeropiga (a sweet fortified wine, €1.50 per glass) or água-pé (a weak wine made from grape pomace). Local producers sell honey, cheeses, dried figs, and handicrafts from stalls around the square. There is usually a small stage with folk music and dance performances. The fair runs for 3-4 days around the holiday. It is compact , you can cover it in an hour , and makes a good addition to a November day trip rather than a standalone reason to visit. The chestnut smoke drifting through the square on a crisp autumn evening, with the illuminated National Palace as a backdrop, is pure Sintra atmosphere. Read our best neighborhoods in Sintra for more information.
Sintra International Film Festival (LEFFEST Lisboa Sintra)
The LEFFEST (Lisbon & Sintra Film Festival) runs for 10 days in mid-November, with screenings split between Lisbon venues and the Olga Cadaval Cultural Centre in Sintra. The festival programs around 80-100 films , a mix of international independent cinema, retrospectives, and Portuguese premieres. Past guests have included Willem Dafoe, Isabelle Huppert, and David Cronenberg. Tickets cost €5-8 per screening. The Sintra portion is smaller (typically 15-20 screenings over the festival’s run) but the venue is intimate and tickets are easier to get than the Lisbon screenings. Check leffest.com for the full program, usually announced in October. Read our where to stay in Sintra for more information.
Sintra Events and Festivals: Winter (December)
Sintra Christmas Market
From early December through January 6, Praça da República hosts Sintra’s Christmas market. It is small by European standards , about 15-20 wooden stalls selling mulled wine (vinho quente, €2-3), roasted chestnuts, local crafts, and Christmas decorations. An ice-skating rink (€5 for 30 minutes) is set up in the square. The market is atmospheric rather than extensive; the real draw is the National Palace’s twin chimneys lit up behind the stalls on a misty December evening. Combine it with a day of palace interiors (warm and dry) and a long lunch at a tasca. The market is free to enter and open daily from roughly 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, later on weekends. Read our Sintra travel tips for more information.
Sintra Events and Festivals: Spring (March to May)
Easter Week (Semana Santa)
Easter in Sintra is quieter than in Braga or Óbidos, but the town’s churches hold services and small processions through the historic center on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The Sintra National Palace often hosts special Easter-themed tours of the chapel and kitchens. Accommodation books up 2-4 weeks in advance for the Easter weekend , book early if your visit coincides. Many restaurants offer Easter Sunday lunch menus featuring cabrito (roast kid goat) or borrego (lamb), the traditional Portuguese Easter dishes. Expect to pay €20-30 for a fixed-price Easter menu at mid-range restaurants.
International Day of Monuments and Sites (Dia Internacional dos Monumentos e Sítios)
On April 18, all Parques de Sintra monuments (Pena Palace and Park, Moorish Castle, Sintra National Palace, Monserrate, and the Capuchos Convent) offer free entry. This is a global UNESCO initiative, not a Sintra-specific event, but it draws large crowds , expect Pena Palace queues even on a weekday. If free entry matters to you, arrive at opening time (9:30 AM) and prioritize one or two monuments. The free entry applies to the standard ticket only; guided tours and special exhibitions still cost extra.
Sintra Events and Festivals: Ongoing and Recurring
Sintra Municipal Market (Weekly)
The Mercado Municipal de Sintra (Rua Dr. Alfredo Costa 18) operates Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. It is not an event in the festival sense, but the Saturday market is a lively local scene with farmers selling produce, cheese, cured meats, bread, and flowers from the surrounding Saloia region. The fish section is small but the quality is high , the Atlantic catch comes in daily from the Cascais auction. Even if you are not cooking, walking through the market on a Saturday morning before heading to the palaces gives you a feel for Sintra beyond the tourist trail. The café in the market (Café do Mercado) does a good espresso (€0.80) and pastel de nata (€1.20).
