How to get from Lisbon to Sintra

Sintra sits about 30 km northwest of Lisbon, at the foot of the Serra de Sintra. The suburban train is the default: it drops you at Sintra station, where buses and tuk-tuks run up to the palaces. Driving gives you freedom but the historic centre has very little parking and the roads up to Pena and Moorish Castle are narrow and often full.

Prices below are 2026 estimates. Train fares are set by CP and change rarely, but confirm at the machine or on the CP site before you travel.

CP Urbanos de Lisboa runs the Sintra line from Rossio, in the city centre, through Oriente and Entrecampos. The trip takes about 40 minutes from Rossio and slightly longer from the eastern stations. Trains run roughly every 20–30 minutes from early morning until late evening, so you can turn up and go.

There is no seat reservation and no advance booking. Buy a single ticket at the machine or load credit onto a Viva Viagem card, which also works on the Lisbon metro, trams and buses. Validate the card or ticket before boarding; inspectors do check.

Sintra station is in the town below the historic centre, about a 10-minute walk uphill to the Palácio Nacional de Sintra and the bus stops for Pena and Quinta da Regaleira. Bus 434 runs the loop from the station through the centre to Pena, and bus 435 serves the Moorish Castle and Pena area; buy tickets on board.

Go early. Trains fill up from mid-morning and the palaces queue badly by 11:00, especially at weekends and in July and August.

Driving takes 30–50 minutes from central Lisbon via the A37, depending on traffic on the IC19 and around Benfica. Parking in Sintra's historic centre is scarce and expensive; most visitors park at the station or in the peripheral car parks and walk or take the bus up. Many Portuguese motorways use electronic-only tolls, so a rental car needs a transponder or a post-pay arrangement.

A taxi or ride-hailing car costs roughly €25–40 one way and is worth it if you are four people with luggage, arriving late, or staying at a hotel on the hill. Agree the price or check the app before you set off.

Long-distance coaches run between Lisbon Sete Rios and Sintra a few times a day, taking 60–90 minutes and costing about €5–8. They are slower and less frequent than the train, so they mainly suit travellers already near Sete Rios.

You cannot reserve a seat on the Sintra suburban train. Turn up at Rossio, Oriente or Entrecampos, buy at the machine or tap your Viva Viagem card, and board. Tickets are sold on the day and are not tied to a specific departure.

For taxis and ride-hailing, book through the app a few minutes before you leave. For coaches, book on the operator's site or at the Sete Rios terminal. If you plan to combine Sintra with Cascais or the coast, a regional train ticket or a day pass bought in Lisbon can cover several legs — check the zones at the machine.

There is no airport-to-Sintra direct train. From Lisbon airport, take the metro to Oriente or Rossio and change to the Sintra line, or take a taxi straight through.

Start early: the 08:00–09:00 trains from Rossio get you to Pena before the worst queues. Weekdays are noticeably quieter than weekends, and April to October is the busiest stretch.

Wear shoes with grip. The walk between Pena, the Moorish Castle and the centre is steep and the cobbles are slippery when wet. Sintra sits in its own microclimate and is often cooler and mistier than Lisbon, so bring a light layer even in summer.

Buy palace tickets online in advance for Pena and Quinta da Regaleira; timed entry sells out on busy days. If you only have half a day, pick one palace and the town centre rather than trying to see everything.

If you are staying in Lisbon, Sintra works well as a day trip and you do not need to move hotels. If you want two days of palaces and gardens, one night in Sintra lets you see Pena at opening time before the day-trippers arrive.

The line runs from Rossio, through Entrecampos and Oriente, then northwest through Benfica, Queluz and Cacém to Sintra. Sintra station is at the bottom of the town; the historic centre is a short uphill walk, and Pena, the Moorish Castle and Quinta da Regaleira are higher still, reached by bus 434 or 435, tuk-tuk or a steep walk of 30–45 minutes.