How to Get to Sintra from Lisbon

Although the attractions Lisbon has to offer its visitors are enough to last several days, it is also worth exploring what you can see in the surrounding area. Just a few kilometres away there are several places that do not detract from the beauty of the Portuguese capital and which you can visit on a short trip.

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 you should consider taking a trip just to see it. There are several options for getting 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 will allow you to explore the beauty of both cities.

From £63 at Hellotickets

When deciding the best way to get to Sintra from Lisbon there are several aspects to consider, such as which is the most comfortable way, whether you want to take advantage of the trip to see more things or whether you want to get the most out of it by having information about what you are seeing. For those who want all these advantages, the excursion to Sintra and Cascáis is the best option.

With an approximate duration of 8 hours and 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 old fishing village. You will also discover other beautiful spots in 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 Sintra and Cascais tour from Lisbon, available for £63, and the Sintra, Cascais, Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca and Regaleira tour from Lisbon, for £55, include:

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

However, they do not include tickets to the Pena Palace in Sintra, available from £21, so I recommend you book them in advance because they include everything you can't miss on your trip:

• Pena Palace 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 transport, but you will also have the chance 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 of purchasing the Lisbon Card, for £24, 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 rail network, offers a service between Lisbon and Sintra from before 6am until about 1am. The price couldn't be more competitive, with a return journey costing just €5.

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

• Rossio Station: the line that departs from this station is the most convenient for almost all visitors to Lisbon, as it is relatively close to neighbourhoods such as Baixa and 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 on the green line of the Lisbon metro. The journey to Sintra only takes about 40 minutes.
• Oriente Station: Travellers in areas further away from the centre can catch a train to Sintra from this station. However, the journey is longer and at some times it is necessary to change trains.

To buy a ticket, it is advisable to buy the Viva Viagem, a rechargeable card that can be used on public transport in the city. It costs just 50 cents and you just need to load it with the amount you want to use it.

Getting from Sintra station to the historic centre

The train journey between Lisbon and Sintra does not end when you arrive at the station, as you have to walk about 3 kilometres to the old town. The most convenient way is to take bus 434, which connects the station with the old part of town. You can buy a day pass for around €7, which is cheaper than paying around €4 each way. The bus usually leaves every 15 minutes, but in high season and at weekends there are long queues to catch it. You can also hire a tuk tuk next to the station.

• Why I like this option: the train is a very comfortable means of transport and, in this case, very cheap.
• 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 often long queues at Lisbon train stations with departures to Sintra. To avoid problems, try to arrive at least 20 minutes early.

Despite the proximity between Lisbon and Sintra, the bus service between the two cities is rather poor, which makes it not the best option. Firstly, there is only a connection between April and September. If you still prefer this way of getting there, you will have to go to the Marquês do Pombal square and look for bus number 35, which is called Sintra Express.

What it does gain in speed is that it only takes about half an hour to get there. The stop in Sintra is next to the train station, which means you'll have to take the 434 bus from there to the historic centre or walk for 3 kilometres uphill.

As for the price, the Sintra Express costs around €10 if you buy a one-way ticket, while a return ticket costs around €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

If you have decided to spend the day travelling on your own, you may be interested to know that bus routes 403 and 417(Scotturb company) connect Cascais and Sintra. Line 418 runs between Estoril and Sintra.

• Why I like this option: the bus allows you to enjoy the views, although in this case you will encounter the problem that it only runs 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 surprising that many people choose to arrive in Lisbon by car and use it for excursions. Another possibility, which is becoming more and more popular and economical, is to rent a car. Going to Sintra in this way is very easy, but, despite this, it cannot be said to be the best option. On the positive side, the road is easy and you can get there in just 30 minutes on the A37 or IC15, without having to pay any tolls.

The problem comes when you are entering Sintra. Unless it is very early in the morning, you will start to see 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 the low season you will have a chance. Sintra has several car parks, but with so few spaces that they fill up very quickly each 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 people prefer to hire a taxi 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, a visit to Sintra will focus on its historic centre and some nearby scenic spots. Here is a brief summary of the places not to be missed.

• Pena Palace: this is the best known and most visited monument in Sintra. This palace is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Portugal, which is helped by 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 have many aspects of interest and it is sure to delight all visitors. Before you go, I recommend that you check the opening hours, 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 imagining this Quinta da Regaleira. Entrance prices range from €8 to €16, depending on whether you want a guide or not. 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 can enjoy fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean, weather permitting.

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

Although the attractions that Lisbon offers its visitors are enough to spend several days without stopping to visit its corners, if you are going to spend 3 days in Lisbon it is interesting to dedicate 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 said, you can also get the Lisbon Card which includes the trip.