Convento dos Capuchos entry
All visitors aged 6+
€18
- Official dated entry to the Convento dos Capuchos
- Access to the cells, chapels, cloister and woodland walks
- Free 5-minute audio history before your visit
The convent the forest swallowed whole
Step inside the Convento dos Capuchos — the cork-lined hermitage where Franciscan friars lived in nine tiny cells carved into the Sintra hillside, half-buried in boulders and four centuries of moss.
See ticket options- 1560 Founded under Álvaro de Castro
- Cork Cells lined against the cold
- UNESCO Sintra cultural landscape
- Serra Hidden deep in the woodland
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London
“The most surprising thing we did in Sintra. After the crowds at Pena, the Capuchos felt like a secret — tiny cork doorways, moss everywhere, total silence. Booking ahead meant the ticket was waiting in my inbox.”
Milan
“Booking was effortless and the e-ticket arrived within a couple of hours. The convent itself is unforgettable — you really feel how the friars lived. Wear good shoes, the paths are rough.”
Lyon
“Loved that everything was handled and our date was confirmed straight away. A magical, atmospheric place — go early when it's quiet.”
5-minute audio guide
Your Convento dos Capuchos 5-minute guide
Hand-written and narrated by a heritage host, sent to every customer before their visit. Five minutes that turn a quiet ruin into a story — who the friars were, why the cells are lined with cork, and what to look for as you stoop through the low doorways.
Included with your booking — your full guide arrives with your ticket.Get your guide
- Why a wealthy family built a convent dedicated to having almost nothing
- Cork everywhere — how the friars insulated their cells against the Serra cold
- The Corridor of the Cells — why the doorways are so low you must bow to pass
- The hermitages in the woods, including the cave of Friar Honório
Included free with every ticket. No app, no download — plays in any browser.
About Convento dos Capuchos
Hidden in the dense woodland of the Serra de Sintra, the Convento dos Capuchos is one of the most extraordinary — and least expected — places in all of Sintra. Where Pena dazzles and Monserrate enchants, the Capuchos disarms: a tiny Franciscan convent built so close to the ground, and so deep into the granite boulders, that it seems less constructed than grown out of the hillside.
First backed in 1560 by Álvaro de Castro — fulfilling a vow made by his father, the viceroy João de Castro — the convent became home to Franciscan friars who renounced earthly comfort entirely. They slept on the floor of nine cramped cells, their doorways so low you must stoop to pass, lined and insulated with cork stripped from the surrounding forest. That cork gave the place its enduring nickname: the Convent of Cork.
For over two centuries, from the 16th until the end of the 18th, friars lived here in silence and self-denial — a vegetable garden for food, a corridor of cells for meditation, a grotto-like vestibule, and a herb store, the Herbolarium, where aromatic plants were prepared. When Portugal dissolved its religious orders, the convent was abandoned to the forest, which has been quietly reclaiming it ever since.
Today the Convento dos Capuchos forms part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995. It is a place to slow down: to duck through cork doorways, trace the friars' daily round from cloister to refectory to cell, and feel — more than at any palace in Sintra — what it meant to live with almost nothing at all.
“The most surprising thing we did in Sintra. After the crowds at Pena, the Capuchos felt like a secret — tiny cork doorways, moss everywhere, total silence. The ticket was in my inbox the same afternoon.”
Practical information
- Address
- Convento dos Capuchos, Serra de Sintra, 2710 Sintra, Portugal
- Getting there
- Deep in the western Serra de Sintra. From Lisbon, take the train to Sintra (~40 min from Rossio); from Sintra station, bus 1253 serves the Capuchos, or take a taxi/rideshare — quicker and the easiest way back. By car, follow signs via Colares and the EN 247-3. The convent is remote, so plan your return transport before you set off.
- Time needed
- 45–60 minutes to explore the cells, chapels, cloister and woodland at an unhurried pace
- What to wear
- Sturdy, comfortable footwear for rocky, uneven woodland paths and very low doorways; a light layer, as the forest stays cool and shaded even in summer
- Accessibility
- Built into uneven, rocky terrain with steps, narrow passages and very low doorways; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility. Contact us ahead and we'll share the latest access information.
About our service
Convento dos Capuchos Tickets is an independent ticket-concierge service that helps international visitors book entry to the Convento dos Capuchos. We are not affiliated with the site or its operator. Our service fee is included in the displayed price, and we refund you in full if a booking cannot be secured.
Plan your visit
Practical guides written by our concierge team
Best Time to Visit the Convento dos Capuchos
The quietest hours, the kindest season, and how to time a woodland convent that sits deep in the Serra de Sintra.
How to Get to the Convento dos Capuchos
Train, bus, car and taxi routes to a convent that sits deep in the Serra de Sintra, roughly 7 kilometres from town.
What to See Inside the Convento dos Capuchos
The cork-lined cells, tiny chapels, cloister and hermit's grotto that make this the most extraordinary small convent in the Serra de Sintra.
Frequently asked
What is the Convento dos Capuchos?
The Convento dos Capuchos is a small sixteenth-century Franciscan friary hidden deep in the wooded hills of the Serra de Sintra in Portugal. Founded in 1560 by Álvaro de Castro, fulfilling a vow made by his father, it was built as a place of radical poverty and contemplation, set into the granite boulders and forest rather than imposed upon them. Friars lived in a handful of tiny cells lined with cork stripped from the surrounding woodland, which insulated the damp interiors against the mountain cold and earned the hermitage its enduring nickname, the 'Cork Convent'. The community renounced earthly comfort entirely, sleeping on the bare ground in cramped chambers with doorways so low that visitors must stoop to pass. Abandoned in 1834 when Portugal dissolved its religious orders, the austere ruin now forms part of the UNESCO-listed Cultural Landscape of Sintra.
Why is it called the Convent of Cork?
Cork, stripped from the surrounding forest, was used profusely throughout the convent — lining the friars' cell doorways and ceilings for insulation, and even serving as their bedding. That distinctive use of cork gave the convent its enduring nickname, the 'Convent of Cork' (Convento da Cortiça).
What are the opening hours?
The Convento dos Capuchos is open daily from 09:00 to 17:30, with last admission at 17:00. The on-site ticket office closes between 12:00 and 13:00, though an automatic ticket machine is available during that window. Your dated ticket lets you enter at your own pace on the day.
What is there to see inside?
The experience is a sequence of small, austere spaces rather than grand rooms: the Courtyard of the Crosses, a grotto-like vestibule and church, the Corridor of the Cells with its tiny low doorways, the cloister set in native woodland, the Herbolarium where herbs were prepared, the refectory, and quiet hermitages including the cave of Friar Honório. Plan to stoop, slow down and explore.
How do I get to the Convento dos Capuchos?
The Convento dos Capuchos lies in the remote western reaches of the Serra de Sintra, well away from the town centre, so reaching it takes a little planning. From Lisbon, the simplest start is a train to Sintra, roughly forty minutes from the central stations, where the journey continues. There is no direct public bus to the door; the most reliable options are a local bus that runs out towards the convent or, quicker and easier, a taxi or rideshare from Sintra station, which takes about fifteen to twenty minutes. Many visitors reach it on an organised tour of the Sintra hills. Drivers can follow signs via Colares and the EN 247-3, where parking sits near the entrance, though the approach roads are narrow and winding. Because buses to this corner of the Serra are infrequent, it is wise to fix your return transport before you set off.
How long should I allow for a visit?
Most visitors spend around 45 to 60 minutes exploring the cells, chapels, cloister and surrounding woodland. It is a contemplative, walk-at-your-own-pace site rather than a quick tick-box stop — give yourself time to absorb the atmosphere.
Is the Convento dos Capuchos suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility?
Unfortunately not. The convent is built into uneven, rocky terrain with very low and narrow doorways, steps and woodland paths. It is not accessible to wheelchairs and is challenging for anyone with limited mobility. Sturdy, comfortable footwear is strongly recommended for everyone.
Is the ticket dated, or can I visit any day?
Your ticket is for a chosen date. When you book, you select the day you plan to visit and we secure your dated entry; you can then arrive at any point during opening hours on that date. There is no fixed entry-time slot to worry about.
Can I combine the Capuchos with Pena Palace or Monserrate?
Yes — many visitors pair the Capuchos with another Sintra monument to make a full day. It sits in the western Serra near Monserrate, so the two combine naturally; Pena and the Moorish Castle are a short drive away to the east. Because the Capuchos is remote, it works best as a dedicated stop rather than a quick add-on.
What's the best time of day to visit?
Early morning, soon after opening, is the most atmospheric — the woodland light filters through the trees and the site is at its quietest. Midday and early afternoon are busiest in peak season. The convent's forest setting keeps it cool and shaded even in summer, so a light layer is useful.
Is the Convento dos Capuchos a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes. The convent forms part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995 — a recognition of Sintra's unique blend of romantic architecture, historic estates and dramatic natural landscape.
Do I need to print my ticket?
No. Your ticket is a digital e-ticket — simply show the QR code on your phone screen at the entrance. We email it to you after you book, usually within a few hours, so it's ready well before your visit.
What happens if I can't make my booked date?
Get in touch as early as you can and we'll help you find the best option. Date changes depend on what the site has open on your new date. Because tickets are secured on your behalf once you confirm, please double-check your date before booking — our full terms set out the refund and change conditions.
Is there anywhere to eat or buy water at the convent?
Facilities at the Capuchos are very limited, in keeping with its remote woodland setting. Bring water and any snacks you may need, especially in warmer months, and use the cafés in Sintra town before or after your visit.
How is your price made up?
The price you see is an all-in concierge price covering your official admission ticket, our work securing and dating it on your behalf, a free audio guide, support in your own language and instant delivery to your inbox. There is nothing extra to pay at the gate.