Sintra & Cascais Public Transport Guide 2026 — Easy Guide for Tourists

Updated 2026 Sintra Cascais Tourist Guide

Sintra and Cascais coastal view with buses and train connection icons — Illustrative image – Sintra & Cascais public transport connections (Carris Metropolitana + CP).

Sintra and Cascais are two of the most visited areas in Portugal. The easiest, cheapest and most convenient way to move around is by public transport. This guide explains, in a very simple way, how to use buses, trains and the ONDEBUS planner to visit Cabo da Roca, Praia da Ursa, Guincho, Sintra’s Palaces and the best beaches.

Plan all routes with ONDEBUS

Open the ONDEBUS journey planner, tap “Find my location” and write the name of your destination (ex.: Cabo da Roca, Sintra, Cascais, Praia Grande).

Open ONDEBUS

Works with CP trains, Cascais Line, and Carris Metropolitana buses.

🚆 Trains: The best way to reach Sintra & Cascais

Lisbon → Sintra: CP Urban Trains from Rossio station.
Lisbon → Cascais: CP Coastal Line from Cais do Sodré.
Trains run every 12–20 minutes depending on the time of day.
Tickets can be loaded into a Viva Viagem card.

🚌 Buses in Sintra — How they work

Sintra is served by Carris Metropolitana. Buses connect the train stations to viewpoints, beaches and hiking areas.

Main tourist routes

Cabo da Roca: Lines 1253 / 1624 (seasonal frequency may vary).
Praia da Ursa: Get off at Cabo da Roca and walk 45 min via hiking trail.
Praia Grande / Praia das Maçãs: Lines 1248 / 1254.
Azenhas do Mar: Lines 1254 (downhill walk required).
Monserrate Palace: CP train to Sintra → bus from Portela de Sintra.
Quinta da Regaleira: CP train → local buses from Sintra station.

Buses only stop if you signal the driver. Press the stop button or signal at the stop.

🌊 Buses in Cascais — Beaches & Natural Park

Cascais has several scenic routes for the Natural Park and Atlantic coast.

Popular tourist routes

Guincho Beach: Line 15 (windsurf & surf area).
Cabo da Roca (from Cascais): Line 1624 (via Malveira).
Parede / Carcavelos beaches: Line 25 (coastal route).

🎟️ Tickets & Prices (simple explanation)

Single ticket: around €1.60 (Zapping fare).
Viva Viagem card: required — costs €0.50.
Zapping: recommended for tourists (pay-per-trip).
Navegante Municipal: €30/month — for long stays only.

Where to buy

Ticket machines at train stations.
Metro stations in Lisbon.
Official Carris Metropolitana agents.

ℹ️ Essential Tips for Tourists

Always validate your card when boarding a bus.
Buses can be crowded during summer and weekends.
Cabo da Roca is very windy — bring a jacket even in summer.
Praia da Ursa requires a steep 45–60 min hike.
In Sintra, buy tickets for palaces online to skip the lines.

📍 Useful Starting Points

Sintra

Sintra Station — best for Palaces (Pena via bus).
Portela de Sintra — best for beaches & Cabo da Roca.

Cascais

Cascais Station — main starting point.
Buses depart from next to the train station.

Plan your trips with ONDEBUS

No need to memorize routes. Just type your destination and travel easily.