Upon arrival by train, head for the Scotturb #434 bus stop close to the station entrance. There is also a bus stop in the centre of the old town. The Scotturb #434 bus runs on a circular route that heads uphill from the train station to the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace. Allow at least two hours to visit Pena Palace. You can skip the lines at the ticket office by pre-booking a skip-the-line ticket online beforehand. [ Book Now ► ] you might choose to explore the extensive Pena Park, the gardens surrounding the Palace. There are great places in the park to enjoy a picnic. It is also here where you'll also find the Chalet da Condessa d'Edla and its associated grounds. Entrances for Palace, Park and Chalet are all included in the ticket.

Alternatively, you might choose to head to the Moorish Castle. For additional discounts, there is a Pena/Castle combination ticket is available online. [ Book Now ► ] The Castle is entrance is ten minutes walk from the front gate. Allow an hour to an hour and a half for your visit. Two cafeterias inside the main castle walls offer a simple light lunch.

The #434 bus will return you to old town Sintra where you may choose to visit the National Palace of Sintra or enjoy lunch in one of the many restaurants in the centre of Sintra. alternatively you may choose to take a short walk to Quinta da Regaleira. Visiting three attractions during a day trip from Lisbon is possible if you arrive early enough. Why not use The Lisbon-Sintra Pass for discounts on travel and attractions.

The bus #434 circular (Circuito da Pena) Return: €7.60 | One Way: €4.10 | Timetable

Ten minutes from the Sintra old town train station is the Portela de Sintra train station in the new part of town. Outside the main entrance is the Paragem Rede Expressos - Sintra, where coaches and long-distance buses operate from. Departing from here the number 1633 bus to Ericeira, operated by Carris Metropolitana, runs once or twice and takes 50 minutes to get to the delightful seaside town of Ericeira. The town preserves its medieval centre with narrow cobbled pedestrianised streets lined with white lime-washed houses adorned with traditional coloured door and window trims. Ericeira is famed for its excellent seafood. Restaurants serve the catch-of-the-day of the Ericeira's working fishing port, Porto de Pesca. Yet alongside the traditional side and to Ericeira, there is the hyper-cool surf community. Swanky bars and clubs. Ericeira was awarded the title of Europe's first and only World Surf Reserve in February 2011, a preservation programme whose sole aim is to protect vital environmental, cultural, economic and community attributes of surfing areas.

The Bus #1633 – Ericeira (Centro Rodoviário) – Portela de Sintra Est. Carris Metropolitana Website

In between Sintra and Lisbon is the impressive 18th-century National Palace of Queluz. The Palace and Gardens are masterpieces of Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassicism architectural styles. Its design evolved with the social changes that occurred during its construction. The train which travels between Lisbon and Sintra stops close by. The National Palace of Queluz is a 15-20 minute walk from Queluz-Belas and Monte Abraão stations. You can easily spend three or four hours exploring the Palace and enjoying the magnificent gardens. The Portuguese School of Equestrian Art is part of the estate at Queluz and offers regular performances to the public. It's possible to buy an entrance ticket online before your visit. [ Book Online ► ]

• Azambuja/Lisboa/Sintra line Timetable

A ten-minute walk from the Sintra old town train station is the Portela de Sintra train station in the new part of town. Outside the main entrance is the Paragem Rede Expressos - Sintra, where coaches and long-distance buses operate from. Departing from here the number 220 bus, operated by the Mafrense bus company, takes 40 minutes to travel to Mafra.

The town of Mafra has become famous as the home of Portugal's largest building and possibly the most extravagant; the mighty Palácio Nacional de Mafra. The palace's massive façade dominates much of the town and its total extravagance almost bankrupted Portugal. This vast 18th Century Baroque construction encompasses a Royal Palace, a Basilica and a Convent. It is home to important collections of Italian sculpture, Italian and Portuguese paintings, a unique library, two 68-metre-tall bell towers, six organs and an 18th-century hospital. Mafra is one of Europe's finest palaces and makes a wonderful excursion from Sintra. Save time and money by booking ahead of time online.
[ Book Online ► ] | Bus #2626 – Mafra - Portela de Sintra Carris Metropolitana Website

A visit to the Capuchos Convent is a step back in time and an experience of an impoverished lifestyle at one with nature. Often referred to as the Cork Convent, Capuchos was founded in 1560 and was occupied by Franciscan monks, who searched for spiritual harmony by detaching themselves from the world and renouncing the pleasures associated with everyday life. The austere design was deliberately made as plain as possible, utilising the lay of the land and natural objects with extensive use of cork for protection and decoration. The resident monks meticulously maintained the landscape surrounding the building. The result is the preservation of Sintra's original flora. Elsewhere in the Sintra forest, foreign exotic plants were introduced to beautify gardens. Out of all of Sintra's attractions, this one is the hardest to get to. There are several narrow roads leading to the convent, ideal if you have your own car or if you're a confident walker. You can rent an e-car or an e-bike for the day and add the Capuchos Convent to your list of places to visit. Alternatively, several travel companies offer guided tours to the site.

LAS Tours e-Car | 9hrs (approx.) [ Book Online ► ]
Park e-Bike | 8hrs (approx.) [ Book Online ► ]