How to get from Lisbon to Sintra

If you’re visiting Lisbon and want to get out of the city to explore the sights of Sintra, such as the Pena Palace, you’ll be pleased to know that getting from Lisbon to Sintra is easy.

Sintra is just a short 45-minute train ride away from Lisbon’s Rossio Station or Oriente Station and a world of fairy-tale castles, beautiful landscapes, and fascinating history.

My husband and I recently embarked on a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon taking the Lisbon to Sintra train on the way there and then the bus back.

We found it easy and cheap and the trains generally ran on time (excluding the cancelled one that meant we were at Rossio Station for about an hour!).

Having travelled from Lisbon to Sintra I know it’s a question that many people have with some wondering whether it would just be easier to drive to Sintra.

I’m here to help guide you through how to get to Sintra from Lisbon for a day trip, and what to know about getting the bus, train, a guided tour to Sintra, taxis or driving.

Spoiler: getting the train to Sintra is the best way to go! Check out my other top tips for visiting Sintra!

There are a few great day trips from Lisbon and a day trip to Sintra is definitely up there with the best.

Lisbon to Sintra train

For my day trip to Sintra from Lisbon I opted to get the train. We were staying in Oeiras, a little bit outside of Lisbon and since it was a holiday, the buses weren’t running as regularly. So, we caught the train from Oeiras into Cais do Sodres in Lisbon and then got the Lisbon metro to Rossio Station.

You can either get the train to ‘Sintra’ which is closest to the old town, or to ‘Portela de Sintra’ which is about a 10-15 minute walk from the old town.

There are two main train stations you can get to the train to Sintra from Lisbon from.

Lisbon Rossio Station to Sintra

First, there’s Rossio Station (Estação do Rossio) which is in Lisbon’s downtown core and is a beautiful train station with impressive architecture, especially from the outside. It’s actually one of my top things to do in Lisbon city centre because of it!

If you need to catch the metro to Rossio Station from elsewhere in Lisbon, you should note that you’ll need to exit the metro and then walk across Rossio Square in order to get to the train station.

The walk is only a few minutes long but do remember to factor it into your travel planning for your day trip to Sintra!

Lisbon Oriente Station to Sintra

Oriente Station is the other station where trains from Lisbon to Sintra depart from. This station is to the east of central Lisbon and it’s another major transport hub in the city.

The direct train service from Oriente Station to Sintra is convenient if you are already in the eastern part of Lisbon or if you prefer to avoid transferring to Rossio Station.

Trains from Oriente Station to Sintra operate on the Sintra Line (Linha de Sintra).

Trains from Lisbon to Sintra

The train fare from Lisbon to Sintra is affordable. The Lisbon to Sintra train cost is €2.30 each way (there’s no discount for a return ticket).

Top tip: I highly recommend getting a Viva Viagem card for your trip to Lisbon. These cost €0.50 and can be topped up and reloaded during your trip. You then simply use this as your ticket on buses, trains, trams and the Lisbon ferries. It’s a really good idea to get this in advance of going to Sintra. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait in long ticket lines at the station and could end up missing your train!

The Sintra train from Lisbon takes around 45 minutes by train. The Lisbon to Sintra trains are pretty comfortable but do get very busy.

Trains typically leave Rossio Station to Sintra every 15-20 minutes during peak hours and less often during off-peak hours.

You can check the Lisbon to Sintra train schedule here:

• Lisbon Rossio train station to Sintra train station timetable
• Lisbon Oriente to Sintra train schedule

To ensure the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding train schedules, fares, and any changes, it’s recommended to check the official website of the Portuguese railway company, Comboios de Portugal (CP), or inquire at the train stations in Lisbon.

Sintra station is very close to the historic Sintra town and from there you can either walk between the best things to see in Sintra, take a bus, the tourist bus or hire a tuk-tuk.

I ended up hiring e-bikes for our trip to Sintra which I personally think is the best way to get around Sintra since you didn’t have to wait for buses or taxis to show, and could take things at your own pace.

While we found that trains in Portugal usually run on time and are pretty reliable it was a different story when we wanted to travel to Sintra from Lisbon.

We arrived on time at Rossio Station and a few minutes before the train was scheduled to leave the train was cancelled for no apparent reason.

It wasn’t immediately clear when the next train was as ‘Sintra’ wasn’t showing up on a board (unless you looked very closely!).

So, if the same happens to you, I advise looking at the bottom of the train board where it’ll announce the next train to depart the platform. The text was pretty small and difficult to read, but it was there and that’s where you’ll find when the next train is going to.

The next train for us from Lisbon to Sintra was actually on a different platform, which made it a little harder to track down quickly.

But, if you get stuck, look at where all the other tourists are going and follow them as chances are they’re all going to Sintra!

Guided Lisbon to Sintra tours

Another option where all the planning for your entire day trip to Sintra is done for you, is to take a guided tour from Lisbon to Sintra.

These are great if you don’t want to worry about timetables, queues and figuring out what to do in Sintra or where you need to be and when.

They’re also great for solo travellers who want to meet new people while travelling in Lisbon and Sintra.

Alternatively, you can book a private tour where it’s just your group, or you can combine a day trip to Sintra with a day trip to Cascais from Lisbon too. That last option is a great way to fit in as much as you can while visiting Lisbon if you’re only in Lisbon for 2 days.

Below are a few of the tours I recommend depending on exactly what you’re looking for when you visit Sintra.

• Sintra, Cascais and Cabo da Roca day tour: Embark on a full-day trip from Lisbon to discover the beauty of Sintra, including the romantic Pena Palace and the picturesque coastlines of Cabo da Roca and Cascais. Immerse yourself in the captivating history and breathtaking scenery of this remarkable region. Rated 4.8/5
• From Lisbon: Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais Full-Day Tour: Discover medieval Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a guide. Visit Pena Palace, and admire the views at Cabo da Rocha, and the pools at Azenhas do Mar via minivan pickup and drop-off. Rated 4.8/5
• From Lisbon Sintra, Regaleira, Pena Garden, and Cascais Tour: Immerse yourself in the captivating beauty of Sintra, exploring its narrow streets and iconic landmarks like Quinta da Regaleira and Pena Park, before venturing to Cabo da Roca and the charming coastal town of Cascais, on a highly recommended and popular full-day tour from Lisbon. Rated 4.7/5
• From Lisbon: Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, & Pena Palace Trip: Depart from Lisbon on a mesmerising guided day tour to Quinta da Regaleira and the historic Pena Palace in Sintra. End your trip by relaxing in the picturesque fishing village of Cascais. Rated 4.4/5

Lisbon to Sintra by bus

The Lisbon to Sintra bus is another option and you can take the Scotturb buses.

The buses usually depart from the Sete Rios bus station (Terminal Rodoviário de Sete Rios) in the northwest of Lisbon.

You can get to the bus station by taking the metro to Jarmin Zoológico station or by getting a taxi there if you’re not already close to it.

The bus from Lisbon to Sintra typically takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic conditions and is usually only a couple of euros.

You can use your VivaViagem card to pay for the bus or pay in cash for the correct amount.

The buses run throughout the day pretty regularly but I personally think it’s much easier to get the train to Sintra from Lisbon.

Driving from Lisbon to Sintra

Alternatively, you can also drive to Sintra from Lisbon but this isn’t really the best option in my opinion unless you have limited mobility which makes other methods much harder.

Driving from Lisbon to Sintra can be done in about 30 minutes via Highway A37. And the Lisbon to Sintra distance is around 30 km depending on where exactly you’re departing and going to.

I use comparison sites like DiscoverCars and RentalCars to book my car rentals as it’s easy to check prices and compare the best deals!

The road into Sintra can get pretty busy and congested so try to arrive early in order to avoid the worst of it.

However, the old town of Sintra, and the roads and parking spaces to get to and between the attractions in Sintra, are really not great for driving for most people.

The roads around Sintra get very busy with all the buses, Tuk-Tuks and other cars going around its one-way system with narrow roads and not much room for overtakes.

Plus, there’s limited parking and so driving between the places to see in Sintra is just going to end up being more hassle than it’s worth.

If you really do want to drive to Sintra I recommend parking at the following places and then using another method to get around the Sintra attractions.

• Sintra Parking: This car park is closer to Portela de Sintra train station (and is a 15-minute walk or so from the historic centre of Sintra), but it is mostly free. Be careful though as not all places are free and people have reported theft and vandalism so make sure not to leave anything valuable in your car.
• Parque de Estacionamento P1 Norte: This station is in a similar place to the parking lot above but does cost a few euros to park for the day. It should still be under €5 though. As above, do remove anything of value from your car before leaving it.
• Parque de Estacionamento Estação de Sintra: This car park in Sintra is the closest to the old town and the main Sintra station. However, it’s also the priciest because of that. The flat day. rate is 14 and make sure you have cash as their card machines often don’t work.

Lisbon to Sintra by taxi

If you’re wondering “Can you uber from Lisbon to Sintra?” the answer is yes.

A taxi from Lisbon to Sintra is another way to plan your Sintra day trip however it will be one of the most expensive ways to get to Sintra from Lisbon.

Taxis are readily available throughout Lisbon, with stands at major transportation hubs and you can flag one down on the street. Alternatively, you can use Uber too.

The cost of a taxi from Lisbon to Sintra will depend on factors like the exact distance, the time of day, and additional charges such as luggage or tolls.

The journey duration from Lisbon to Sintra by taxi typically takes around 30 to 45 minutes, although it may take longer if there is traffic.

Final thoughts on how to get from Sintra to Lisbon

Planning a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra to explore its amazing sights is a great way to spend a day during your city break in Lisbon.

From the moment I boarded the train at Rossio Station and journeyed through picturesque landscapes, to exploring the Castle of the Moors and seeing Pena Palace, I had a great day exploring the Sintra National Park.

Using the Lisbon to Sintra train was easy and cheap and was definitely the best way to travel between these two places in Portugal. I can highly recommend using public transport to get to Sintra.

FAQs about visiting Sintra from Lisbon

Last Updated on June 2, 2023 by Hannah

Hannah

Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.

Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.

Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.