TRAVEL TIPS
Getting Here and Around
Trains from Lisbon's Rossio station, between Praça dos Restauradores and Rossio square, run every 15 minutes to Queluz and on to Sintra (40 minutes total). The service operates from 6 am to 2:40 am, and one-way tickets cost €1.95 to Queluz-Belas, €2.15 to Sintra. Both fares can be loaded onto the same €0.50 Viva Viagem card. Sintra's small train station gets packed during the peak summer season (July–early September), and queues at the ticket information desk are huge. Look for friendly young volunteers wearing yellow "Can I help?" T-shirts—these helpful folk will do their best to assist with everything from directions to finding a place to store extra bags.
Once in town, the nearest attractions are within walking distance. Several marked trails (ideal for escaping the summer crowds) also let you enjoy the countryside. If you’d rather not tackle steep hills, you can opt for a horse-drawn carriage ride, a guided tour (arranged through the tourist office), or a tour by taxi. Another option is taking SCOTTurb's Bus 434, which loops around the key attractions; all-day tickets allow you to hop on and off as long as you don't backtrack. Note that the bus gets extremely busy on summer afternoons, so arrive early for a more comfortable trip.
Contacts
CP (Comboios de Portugal). 707/210220; www.cp.pt.
