How to Get to Sintra from Lisbon

Despite all that Lisbon has to offer, 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 £62 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.

Without a doubt, if you want to go to Sintra from Lisbon, the best option is an excursion, as you won't have to worry about the logistics, the journey and if you opt for an option with a tour guide you will have all the details at your fingertips of the different monuments and places of interest you visit.

In addition, you will have the possibility to enjoy the landscape in a way that the car does not allow, at least for the driver. This is the best way to make the most of the experience.

The best excursions to Sintra

Here are the various options available:

• Excursion to Sintra, Cascais, Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca and Regaleira from Lisbon, from £56
• Excursion to Sintra and Cascais, from £62.
• Excursion to Sintra, Cascais and Cabo da Roca from Lisbon, from £74.
• Excursion toSintra and Cascais with bike tour, from £66.
• Excursion to Sintra, Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira, from £80.

However, if you prefer to go on your own, you also have the option of purchasing the Lisbon Card, which includes a free trip to Sintra. However, in this case, I recommend that you book your tickets to the monuments you will see as soon as possible:

• Tickets for Pena Palace in Sintra, from £17.
• Tickets for Pena Park, from £9.
• Tickets forthe Castelo dos Mouros in Sintra, from £10.

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, you can also take the green line of the Lisbon metro. The journey to Sintra only takes about 40 minutes.
• Oriente Station: Travellers in areas further 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 you can use on public transport. It costs just 50 cents and you just need to load it with the amount you want.

Getting from Sintra station to the historic centre

The train journey between Lisbon and Sintra doesn't end when you arrive at the station, as you have to travel 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 about €7, which is cheaper than the approximately €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 opt for this option, you will have to go to 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 half an hour to cover the route. 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. Up-to-date 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) 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:

• Advantage: you will find that the road is not difficult and in just 30 minutes you can get there via the A37 or IC15 roads, without having to pay any tolls.
• Disadvantage: The problem comes when you are entering Sintra. Unless it's very early in the morning, you'll start to see cars parked everywhere, which gives you a clue as to how difficult it is to find parking, although on weekdays in the low season you'll have a chance. Sintra has several car parks, although with so few spaces that they fill up very early in the day. The main ones are located at Av. Movimento das Forças Armadas 4 and Av. Dr. Álvaro de Vasconcelos 13.

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 one of the most beautiful in all of Portugal, which is helped by its fantastic location on a hill. Book an excursion to Sintra or tickets for the Pena Palace in Sintra if you prefer to go on your own.
• 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 depending on the season. You can also opt for the full experience and book a tour to Sintra, Cascais, Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca and Regaleira from Lisbon or book a tour to Sintra, Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira from Lisbon.
• Moorish Castle: also known as Sintra Castle, 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. I recommend that you book your tickets for the Castelo dos Mouros de Sintra in advance.

As is always the case with questions of this kind, it is almost impossible to give a definite 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.