Sintra is one of the most magical destinations of Portugal. This charming town combines the stunning scenery of the Serra de Sintra with a fascinating selection of opulent palaces and grand 19th-century villas, including the wonderous Palacio de Pena.

Sintra was once merely considered an enjoyable day trip from Lisbon. However, with the boost in tourism, the opening of new hotels, and massive improvements in all tourist services, Sintra has been transformed into a popular destination for a holiday.

This means there is an increased number of visitors making the journey from Lisbon Airport to Sintra, but fortunately public transport has also improved correspondingly.

The journey from the airport to Sintra by public transport is hassle-free and inexpensive, however it takes around 80 minutes. For quicker transfers, there are taxis or ride-hailing apps (Uber or Bolt).

 

 

This article will detail all of the options for travelling from Lisbon Airport to Sintra, explaining the journey by public transport in depth.

Insight: The article has been written for travel from the airport to Sintra. The journey from Sintra to the airport is the same, but in reverse.

Lisbon Airport and the bright red entrance to the metro.

Sintra lies 25km to the west of Lisbon Airport, and there are four options for onward travel. These are:
• Taxi
• Ride hailing appr (Uber or Bolt)
• Pre-booked private transfer
• Public transport (metro and train)

The best option depends on the time of day, your budget, whether you are travelling with children, and how tired you are. For the journey, we would recommend taking public transport or an Uber.

Public transport works very well if you land early in the day and have plenty of time. The journey only costs €4.60 (€1.80 metro, €2.40 train), however it will take you approximately 80 minutes. Full details are provided later in this article.

The journey by Uber is much faster and more convenient, especially if you are travelling with heavy luggage, in a group of 4, or with children. The Uber fare from Lisbon Airport to Sintra can be really cheap (from €25), but it will cost more at times of high demand. At extreme peak times, there may be no drivers available for airport pick-ups, and you’ll be stuck watching the app trying to connect to a driver. Uber requires the app to be installed on your phone, and it is advisable to have it set up before you arrive in Portugal.

The following sections will detail all of the transport options for travel from the airport to Sintra.

The beautiful Pena Palace

A taxi from the airport to Sintra is the default backup when all the other options aren’t convenient or are not available (such as when it is too late for the train).

A taxi hired directly from the arrivals lounge will be the most expensive means of travel to Sintra.

Fares to Sintra are difficult to predict as they vary depending on the time, the day (fares are higher at weekends), the amount of traffic and the size of taxi taken. A typical taxi cost for the journey will be around €70, which will be 20 per cent higher at night. There will be an additional charge of €1.65 for luggage.

 

 

Taxis are good value for short journeys within the city limits but are costly for longer hires. Once a Lisbon taxi exits the city limits, the fare rate increases - as it is not allowed to do pick-ups outside of its registered zone.

Avoid taking a large taxi (7-seater) unless you need it, as these charge 20 per cent more than regular four-seater taxis. If you are forced to take a taxi to Sintra, always ensure the meter is switched on or agree a price before leaving.

Unfortunately, Lisbon’s taxi drivers have a reputation for trying to exploit exhausted tourists who have just landed. Also, expect to give at least a 10 per cent tip, and payment is preferred in cash (but do not use a €50 note).

Insight: Always have cash available, just in case your bank card does not work with the mobile payment machine the taxi driver will have.

The taxi rank in front of the terminal building.

The ride-hailing apps of Uber and Bolt are a much better alternative than a taxi. The fare will always be much lower than a taxi, and the exact price will be known at the time of booking.

Fares vary greatly and depend on demand, but start from €25 (for up to 4 people) for a mid-morning pick-up in the low season.

The downside of both Uber and Bolt is trying to connect to a driver at peak times (rush hour, early evenings and most of July and August). Many drivers will reject the hassle of an airport pick-up and opt for easier fares. This appears as the app continually searching for drivers, or drivers accepting fares and then driving in the wrong direction (hoping you’ll cancel).

Insight: Uber is slightly more expensive than Bolt, but the standard of their cars and drivers is better. We prefer Uber.

For the journey from the airport to Sintra, we would suggest booking a ‘comfort’ level car (for both Uber and Bolt), which will cost approximately 15 per cent more. This will ensure you get a bigger and better car, while the higher fare will attract more drivers. A comfort classified driver can choose to accept both comfort and regular fares but will always favour a comfort hire first as it pays more.

Insight: If you are based in a country that does not use Euros, ensure that the Uber/Bolt app is attached to a bank account that does not charge fees for foreign currencies. The Uber or Bolt fare will charge your account in Euros, and these additional bank fees can quickly build up.

In the airport, follow the ‘Pré-Reservas Online’ signs for the Uber and Bolt pick-up area.

The Uber and Bolt pick-up area is within the short-stay car park.

A pre-booked private transfer from the airport to Sintra requires planning before arriving in Lisbon but is extremely convenient and will generally cost less than a regular taxi.

As well as being cheaper than a regular taxi, you will have the convenience of a driver meeting you at the entrance to the arrivals hall and helping you navigate the busy airport.

We have worked with GetYourGuide for the last seven years, and some of the best airport transfers they offer include:

The journey from the airport to Sintra by public transport is relatively easy and inexpensive. There are three stages of the journey:

1) Lisbon Airport to Oriente train station – metro (7 minutes), taxi or Uber
2) Oriente station to Sintra – train (47 minutes)
3) Sintra station to your accommodation – walk or taxi

Both the metro and train to Sintra have multiple hourly departures and continue late into the night. The final stage could be the trickiest, as Sintra is spread across many steep hills and the train station is 1.5km from the historic centre. Depending on the exact location of your accommodation, it could be a short walk or a strenuous uphill hike. There are always taxis waiting at the station, or you could take an Uber or Bolt.

The airport has two terminal buildings, but all arrivals are handled by terminal 1.

The arrivals hall is small and always busy. Upon exiting customs, the Uber/Bolt pick-up is on the left (to the north, within the short-stay car park), the metro is just outside the main entrance (to the right), and the taxi rank is directly in front.

Lisbon Airport is only 6km from the historic centre and is connected to the red metro line. This metro line also connects to Oriente train station, where the train for Sintra departs. The metro journey is only three stops, takes 7 minutes, and is often quicker than booking an Uber or Bolt.

A single metro ticket costs €1.80 and is charged to the reusable ‘Navegante’ card. This card costs €0.50 for the initial purchase and is used by all public transport in Lisbon. The Navegante ticket holds the fare for one person, meaning each traveller in a group will need their own card.

The entrance to the metro is outside of the arrivals lounge and to the right of the taxi ranks; it’s difficult to miss as it is painted bright red. There is a ticket office in the metro station, but it is often much quicker just to use the ticket machines. These ticket machines are very easy to use and have instructions in English, Spanish and French. The machines accept bank cards and notes up to €20 in value.

Insight: It is possible to enter the metro using a bank card by paying/swiping directly on the barrier. This works well, but each passenger will need their own bank card (you can’t use the same bank card if you’re travelling as a couple).

The red line to the airport was opened in 2012 and is modern, with full disability access and multiple lifts. Oriente station is also fully serviced by lifts.

If you choose to take a taxi, the fare will be between €5 and €7, plus €1.80 for luggage.

The metro is the best option for onward travel from the airport.

Lisbon is connected to Sintra by a regular urban train service that departs from Oriente train station.

This station is located in the Parque das Nações district and is to the northeast of Lisbon, GPS: 38.7675, -9.099 (link to Google maps).

The train to Sintra is operated by Comboios de Portugal (CP), the national train company of Portugal. A single ticket to Sintra costs €2.40/€1.20 (adult/child) and is charged to the Navegante card (the same ticket used for the metro).

The full pricing policy for Lisbon’s urban railway can be seen on the CP website:
https://www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/Passageiros/1_horarios/precos/lx/lisbon-urban-trains-price-zones.pdf

(The link opens a new tab, which is a PDF, so it may download on certain phones).

The Lisbon to Sintra railway is an urban railway, and tickets cannot be pre-booked or reserved. The trains can get busy in the evening rush hour as commuters leave central Lisbon for the day. Oriente is the first stop of the line, so there are always seats available, but it may get busy as the train crosses Lisbon.

The train journey takes 47 minutes and Sintra is the final stop of the line. There are multiple hourly departures, and services continue late into the night. For the exact timetable, please see the website:

https://www.cp.pt /StaticFiles/Passageiros/1_horarios/horarios/PDF/lx/azambuja_sintra_completo.pdf

(The link opens a new tab, which is a PDF - so it may download on certain phones).

Oriente is a major transport hub with large bus, train and metro stations. The train platforms are on the top level, with the ticket offices on the level below. There are two types of ticket office, one selling local train tickets and one selling long-distance tickets; there will be a sign on the front of the office indicating the type of tickets that it sells.

Oriente station is always busy but is well organised and spacious with clear signage. The TV screens will show the departure platform 15 minutes before the service leaves.

The train station is safe, but always use the same common sense as you would back home. Never leave luggage unattended, always hide valuables and decline help/begging from dodgy-looking people.

Across from the station is the Vasco da Gama shopping centre, which has an excellent food court on its top floor. Along the waterfront of Parque das Nações are more stylish restaurants, and the entire area makes for a pleasant detour if you have the time. For a guide to the Parque das Nações, please click here.

The train journey to Sintra passes through the non-descript residential housing estates that surround Lisbon, and there is not much to see.

The main concourse of Oriente station, with the metro on the lowest level and the ticket offices and platforms on the upper level.

There is a secondary train service from Lisbon to Sintra, which departs from Rossio train station (GPS: 38.714, -9.140). This station is further away from the airport but is closer to the tourist areas of Lisbon, so it is frequently mentioned in tourist literature.

To travel to Rossio station from the airport, you will need to take the red metro line and then change to the green line at Alameda station. A taxi fare from the airport to Rossio will cost €10 to €12, and an Uber/Bolt is €7 to €9.

The ticket offices and ticket machines at Rossio train station can get very busy with tourists heading to Sintra for a day trip.

Insight: If you are travelling from the airport to Sintra, Oriente is the better station to depart from.

The train from Lisbon to Sintra departs from Rossio railway station

Sintra train station is the final stop of the railway and is located 1.5km from the historic centre at , GPS: 38.798, -9.386. From here, you may have to take a taxi or walk to your accommodation, and there are always taxis waiting outside the station.

Insight: On exiting the station, you may be bombarded by ticket sellers and people promoting tours. It is always better to head to your accommodation and make a decision about what to see and do than be pressured into buying something when you are tired after a long journey.

Sintra train station

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