How to Get to Sintra from Lisbon

Although the attractions that Lisbon offers to its visitors are enough to spend several days there, it is also worth studying what you can see in its surroundings. A few kilometers away there are several places that do not detract in beauty to the Portuguese capital and that you can approach in a short excursion.

Among all these places there is one that stands out in its own right: Sintra. Among other monuments, the city is home to one of the most extraordinary palaces on the continent and just to see it you should consider taking a trip. There are several options to go from the capital to Sintra.

The most complete option

Sintra and Cascais Day Trip from Lisbon

Discover two of Portugal's iconic cities

An 8-hour excursion with a local guide that will allow you to explore the beauty of both cities.

From $77 at Hellotickets

When deciding the best way to go to Sintra from Lisbon there are several aspects to consider, such as what is the most comfortable way, if you want to take advantage to see more things or if you want to get the most out of what you are seeing. Those who want all these advantages have in the excursion to Sintra and Cascáis the best option.

With an approximate duration of 8 hours and with a local guide, you will immerse yourself in all the history, curiosities and interesting facts of both cities: Sintra, declared a World Heritage Site, and Cascáis, an ancient fishing village. In addition, you will get to know other beautiful corners of the region such as the cliffs of Boca do Inferno, Cabo da Roca or Guincho beach and, of course, you will also explore the landscape of the Natural Park of Sintra and Estoril.

Recommended if... you are going to spend several days in Lisbon.

Both the excursion to Sintra and Cascais from Lisbon, available for $77, and the excursion to Sintra, Cascais, Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca and Regaleira from Lisbon, available for $68, include:

• Excursion to Sintra and Cascais.
• Transportation service.
• The accompaniment of an expert guide.

Of course, they do not include tickets to Pena Palace in Sintra, available from $26 €, so I recommend you book them in advance because they include everything you can not miss on your trip:

• Palacio da Pena and the park.
• Countess of Edla's villa.
• Transport between the palace and the Countess's chalet.

There is no doubt that this is one of the best options to visit Sintra. Not only will you not have to worry about finding transportation, but you will also have the possibility to enjoy the scenery in a way that the car does not allow, at least for the driver. In addition, you will be accompanied by a guide who will allow you to make the most of the experience. Of course, if you prefer to go on your own, you also have the option to purchase the Lisbon Card, for $29, which includes free travel to Sintra. Which plan do you prefer?

If you prefer to travel to Sintra on your own, the best option is undoubtedly the train. Comboios, Portugal's railway network, offers a service between Lisbon and Sintra from before 6 am until approximately 1 am. The price, moreover, could not be more competitive, since the round trip costs only about 5 €.

There are two lines that connect both locations, with departures from different stations in Lisbon:

• Rossio Station: the line departing from this station is the most convenient for almost all visitors to Lisbon, as it is relatively close to neighborhoods such as Baixa or Chiado. It can also be reached on foot from one of the areas with the most things to see: Alfama. If you prefer, the station can be reached by the green line of the Lisbon subway. The journey to Sintra only takes about 40 minutes.
• Oriente Station: those travelers who are in areas further away from the center can take a train to Sintra from this station. However, the journey is longer and in some schedules a transfer is required.

To buy the ticket it is convenient to purchase before the Viva Viagem, a rechargeable card that you can use on public transport in the city. Its cost is only 50 cents and you just have to load it with the amount you want to use it.

How to get from Sintra station to the historic center

The train ride between Lisbon and Sintra does not end when you arrive at the station, as you have to travel about 3 kilometers to the old town. The most convenient way is to take bus 434, which connects the station with the old part of the city. To do this, you can buy a day pass that costs about 7 €, as it will be cheaper than paying the approximate 4 € each way. This bus usually leaves every 15 minutes, but in high season and on weekends there are long lines to catch it. Next to the station you can also rent a tuk tuk.

• Why I like this option: the train is a very comfortable means of transport and, moreover, in this case very economical.
• Recommended if you are only interested in Sintra and prefer to visit the monuments on your own.

Joaquín's Traveller Tip:

In summer and on weekends there are usually long queues at Lisbon train stations with departures to Sintra. To avoid problems, try to arrive at least 20 minutes in advance.

Despite the proximity between Lisbon and Sintra, the bus service between the two locations is quite deficient, which makes it not the best option. First of all, there is only connection between April and September. If, even so, you prefer this way of going, you will have to go to the Marques do Pombal square and look for the bus line number 35, which is called Sintra Express.

What does win out is the speed, as it only takes half an hour to travel the route. The stop in Sintra is next to the train station, which means you will have to take the 434 bus that connects that place with the historic center or walk for 3 kilometers uphill.

As for the price, the Sintra Express costs about 10 € if you buy a single trip, while the round trip ticket costs about 15 €. Updated timetables can be found on the Vimeca website, as well as any possible changes to the service.

Getting to Sintra by bus from other locations

In case you have decided to spend the day touring on your own several towns, it may be useful to know that lines 403 and 417(Scotturb company) connect Cascais and Sintra. Line 418 does the same between Estoril and Sintra.

• Why I like this option: the bus allows you to enjoy the views, although in this case you will find the problem that it only works for a few months.
• Recommended if you are in Lisbon during the months when this bus operates and you prefer this means of transport.

Given the geographical proximity, it is not at all strange that many decide to arrive in Lisbon by car and use it for excursions. Another possibility, more and more in vogue and economical, is to rent one. Going to Sintra in this way is very simple, but, despite that, it cannot be said to be the best option. On the positive side is that the road has no difficulties and in just 30 minutes you can get there on the A37 or IC15 roads, without having to pay any tolls.

The problem comes when you are entering Sintra. Unless it is very early, almost dawn, you are going to start seeing cars parked everywhere. This will give you a clue as to how difficult it is going to be to find a parking space, although during the week in low season you will have a chance. Sintra has several parking lots, although with so few spaces that they fill up very quickly every day. In case you want to try, here are a couple of addresses:

• Av. Movimento das Forças Armadas 4, 2710-420 Sintra, Portugal.
• Av. Dr. Álvaro de Vasconcelos 13, 2710-420 Sintra, Portugal

To avoid these inconveniences some prefer to hire a cab to get to Sintra. Obviously, this eliminates the parking problem, but the round-trip fare will easily exceed 75 €.

• Why I like this option: the flexibility of the car allows you to stop anywhere you want.
• Recommended if you want to go at your own pace and stop at several different places during the day.

Whether on your own or with an excursion, the visit to Sintra will focus on its historic center and some nearby places that stand out for their landscapes. Here is a brief summary of the places you can't miss.

• Pena Palace: this is the best known and most visited monument in Sintra. This palace is considered one of the most beautiful in Portugal, something in which collaborates its fantastic location on a hill.
• Sintra National Palace: although less famous than the previous one, the Sintra National Palace is also worth a leisurely visit. Both its interior and exterior present many aspects of interest and will surely delight all visitors. Before you go, I recommend that you look at the schedules, as they change according to the season. The price is around 10 euros.
• Quinta da Regaleira: if you have in mind the image of a fairytale castle, with its towers and sculptures you will be close to imagine this Quinta da Regaleira. Entrance prices range from 8 to 16 €, depending on whether you want a guide or not. The opening hours vary according to the season.
• Moorish Castle: also known as the castle of Sintra, this building is located on top of a mountain. To get there you have to find some stone stairs, but the climb is not hard. From the top you will be able to enjoy fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean, weather permitting.

As always with questions of this type it is almost impossible to give a definite answer. It all depends on the tastes of each traveler and, in the case of Lisbon and Sintra, the time you have.

Although the attractions offered by Lisbon to its visitors are enough to spend several days without stopping to visit its corners, if you are going to be 3 days in Lisbon is interesting to spend a day (or at least half a day) to visit some of the most important nearby towns.

Sintra, for its beauty, stands out among all the places you can visit near Lisbon, so, in my opinion, it is totally worth doing this excursion, especially if you combine it with Cascais. And as I mentioned, there is also the option of getting the Lisbon Card that includes the trip.