Planning a Trip

Arriving

By Train -- Sintra is a 45-minute ride from the Estação do Rossio at the Rossio in Lisbon. A train leaves every 10 to 20 minutes. The round-trip fare is 3€ ($3.90). For information, call tel. 808/208-208.

By Bus -- The bus from Lisbon is not recommended because service is too slow. Visitors staying on the Costa do Sol can make bus connections at Cascais or Estoril. The Sintra depot is on Avenida Dr. Miguel Bombarda, across from the main train station. Departures from in front of the Estoril rail station are every 45 minutes during the day. A one-way ticket costs 3€ ($3.90), and the trip takes 40 minutes. Eleven buses a day run between Sintra and Cascais. The journey takes 1 hour, and the round-trip fare is 3€ ($3.90). Once you're in Sintra, you can take bus no. 434, which traverses the tourist loop year-round, costing 3.50€ ($4.55) one-way. Departures are every half-hour during weekdays, more frequently as demand dictates on Saturday and Sunday. From the train station in the heart of Sintra, the bus goes up to Castelo dos Mouros and on to Pena Palace. A schedule is posted at the tourist information booth in the train station.

By Car -- From Lisbon, head west along A1, which becomes Route 249 on its eastern approach to Sintra.

Visitor Information

From June to early August, the Sintra Festival (tel. 21/910-71-17) attracts many music lovers. The program consists entirely of a piano repertoire from the romantic period, with the best interpreters from today's international music scene. The concerts, about eight in all, usually take place in the region's churches, palaces (Palácio da Vila, Palácio da Pena, and Palácio de Queluz), parks, and country estates. Each concert costs 20€ to 25€ ($26-$33), depending on the event. The tourist office will furnish details.

Crime Watch -- Warning: Don't leave valuables in unguarded cars in Sintra, and beware of pickpockets and purse-snatchers. Not only does the town attract virtually every tourist in Portugal, but it also attracts those who prey on them. While violence is not generally a problem, theft is.

Special Events

From June to early August, the Sintra Festival (tel. 21/910-71-17) attracts many music lovers. The program consists entirely of a piano repertoire from the romantic period, with the best interpreters from today's international music scene. The concerts, about eight in all, usually take place in the region's churches, palaces (Palácio da Vila, Palácio da Pena, and Palácio de Queluz), parks, and country estates. Each concert costs 20€ to 25€ ($26-$33), depending on the event. The tourist office will furnish details.