Only one free day? · Day trip from Lisbon
Sintra or Cascais?
| Field | Sintra | Cascais |
|---|---|---|
| Travel time | 40 min + bus 434 up to Pena | 40 min |
| Transport | Suburban train | Suburban train |
| Self-guided | € 25.10–34 | € 5.10 |
| Tour | € 89.10 | € 79 |
| Time needed | 6–9 h | 3–5 h |
| Closed | 25 Dec, 1 Jan | – |
| Best time | Weekdays, Mar-Jun and Sep-Oct; earliest Pena slot | May-Sep for the beaches; weekdays are quieter |
| Verdict | Worth a full day | Worth half a day |
Our verdict
Sintra, unless you only want the sea.
Both are 40 minutes from central Lisbon by train and both returns cost € 5.10, so the choice is about the day you want. Sintra fills 6 to 9 hours and adds € 20 for Pena Palace; it is the one you would regret missing. Cascais takes 3 to 5 hours with nothing to pay beyond lunch. Pick Cascais if you have already seen Sintra, if you are tired of queues, or if it is hot and you want a beach. Do not try both by train in one day. The coach tours do, with about 1.5 hours in Cascais.
Last checked: · Train times and fares from CP and Fertagus, bus fares from Rodoviária do Oeste; opening days from each attraction's official site.