Sintra and Cascais in One Day from Lisbon

Sintra and Cascais are Lisbon’s two most popular day trips, and you can combine them in one long day: fairytale palaces in the morning, the wild coast at Cabo da Roca, then sunset by the sea in Cascais. Here’s how to do it by tour, by car or by public transport.

Quick answer: the easiest way is a guided Sintra and Cascais tour from Lisbon, which covers transport, timed palace tickets and Cabo da Roca. Doing it yourself? Take the train to Sintra early, visit one or two palaces, then get a taxi or Uber via Cabo da Roca to Cascais, and take the train back to Lisbon along the coast. See Sintra and Cascais day trips.

Why combine them

Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais form a loop. Trains run from Lisbon to Sintra on one line and back from Cascais on another, so you never retrace your steps. In one day you see a UNESCO hill town, the cliffs at the edge of Europe and a seaside town with beaches, all within about 30 km of Lisbon. It is a long day, though, so plan for 10 to 12 hours.

Suggested route

1. Early train from Rossio to Sintra (about 40 minutes). Aim to leave Lisbon by 8:30am. See Lisbon to Sintra.
2. Pena Palace at opening time. The palace usually opens at 9:30am and the park at 9am. Tickets are sold for a set date and time, and the Essential Visit costs €20, so book the first slot online. Allow about 2 hours for the palace and the terraces. See the Pena Palace guide.
3. Quinta da Regaleira or the Moorish Castle. The castle is a short walk from Pena; Regaleira is near the old town, with its famous spiral Initiation Well. Allow 1.5 hours. See Regaleira and the Moorish Castle.
4. Lunch in Sintra’s old town, with a travesseiro (puff pastry with almond cream) or a queijada (a small cheese tart).
5. Cabo da Roca, Europe’s westernmost point, with a lighthouse and a stone cross on the cliffs 140 metres above the sea. The clifftop is free. Since 23 July 2026 you can also visit the lighthouse: about €5 for the Essential visit, or €10 for the Panoramic visit with the climb. Allow 30 to 45 minutes, or longer with the lighthouse. See Cabo da Roca.
6. Guincho beach for the wild coast, big dunes and kitesurfers. See Guincho beach.
7. Cascais for a sunset walk and dinner. Walk past the marina and the fort, or head to Boca do Inferno, a sea cave on the cliffs. See things to do in Cascais.
8. Train back from Cascais to Cais do Sodré (about 40 minutes).

Getting between the stops

• Trains: CP trains run from Rossio to Sintra and from Cascais to Cais do Sodré, usually every 15 to 30 minutes. Both lines accept the rechargeable Navegante card.
• Cascais line works: in 2026, modernisation works mean that in the evenings, replacement buses run between Cascais and Caxias, where you change to the train. Allow extra time for a late return and check the CP website.
• Bus: Carris Metropolitana line 1624 links Portela de Sintra station (one stop before Sintra on the train line), Cabo da Roca and Cascais, roughly once an hour. It is cheap but slow, so check the timetable on carrismetropolitana.pt before you rely on it.
• Taxi or ride-hailing: Sintra to Cascais via Cabo da Roca takes about 40 minutes by road. It saves the most time, and the fare is easy to share between three or four people. Since July 2026, Uber and Bolt cars in Sintra can only pick up and drop off at set zones, so check the pick-up point in the app.
• Getting around Sintra: private cars can’t drive up to Pena. The 434 bus circuit runs from the station up to the Moorish Castle and Pena, with its own day ticket, and tuk-tuks also go up the hill. The walk up takes about an hour.

Tour or DIY?

• Tour: stress-free, efficient and includes the coast, which is hard to reach by public transport. See full-day Sintra tours or private tours.
• DIY: cheaper and flexible, but it means queues, taxis and a long day.
• Car: parking in Sintra is very difficult and the hill roads are narrow and congested, so a car only helps for the coastal part.

When to go

Spring and autumn are best, with fewer crowds and mild weather. In July and August, book palace tickets days ahead and expect long queues at Cabo da Roca around sunset. In winter the days are short, so cut the route to one palace and skip Guincho if you want to reach Cascais in daylight. Most Sintra palaces open every day, but hours change by season, so check before you go.

Tips

• Book palace tickets in advance with timed slots.
• Don’t try to see everything in Sintra. Two palaces is plenty in a combined day.
• Weather: Sintra is often misty, while Cascais may be sunny. Bring a layer for the hills and the windy cape.
• Shoes: Sintra means steep paths and lots of steps.
• Two days? Stay overnight. See where to stay in Sintra and where to stay in Cascais.

FAQ

Can you do Sintra and Cascais in one day?

Yes, but it’s a long day of 10 to 12 hours. Limit Sintra to one or two palaces and use a taxi or ride-hailing car for the coastal leg.

Can you drive up to Pena Palace?

No. Private cars can’t drive up to Pena. Take the 434 bus, a taxi or a tuk-tuk from the town, or walk up through the woods.

How do you get from Sintra to Cascais?

Take Carris Metropolitana bus 1624, which stops at Cabo da Roca on the way, or a taxi or ride-hailing car, which takes about 40 minutes. There is no direct train.

Can you go inside the Cabo da Roca lighthouse?

Yes, since 23 July 2026, with a paid ticket from Parques de Sintra. The clifftop, the cross and the views are free.

More: Sintra in one day, the Cascais day trip and the best day trips from Lisbon.

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