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Sintra or Cascais?

Both are about 40 minutes by train from Lisbon, but they make very different days. Sintra means hills, palaces and gardens, with climbs and queues; Cascais is a seaside town with beaches and a flat promenade. The table uses official CP timetables and data from our itineraries.

Recommendation by traveller type

Palaces and history

Sintra

Palaces, a castle and listed gardens are concentrated in the hills.

Beach and sea

Cascais

Beaches next to the town and a promenade to Estoril.

Young children or reduced mobility

Cascais

Flat ground and a central station; Sintra has climbs, cobbles and stairs.

Only half a day

Cascais or Essential Sintra

Both have a half-day itinerary; Cascais needs less moving around once there.

Rainy day

Sintra

Palace interiors give shelter; the beach loses its appeal in the rain. Wear sturdy shoes: the hills get slippery.

Want both

Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais

In a single day, or better still on two separate days.

Side by side

Sintra or Cascais?
Criterion	Sintra: palaces and hills	Cascais and Estoril by train
Travel from Lisbon (official timetable)	about 40 min (CP - Linha de Sintra)	about 41 min (CP - Linha de Cascais)
Lisbon station	Lisboa Rossio	Cais do Sodré
Ease of getting there	Direct train; the hilltop palaces need a local bus or a climb on foot.	Direct train; the station is in the town centre.
Typical length	Day trips: 7-10 hours	Half-day trips: 4-6 hours
Walking	Demanding: Pena and the Moorish Castle sit high in the hills, with climbs and stairs.	Easy: a flat seaside promenade between Cascais and Estoril.
Nature, beaches and culture	Heritage, Nature	Beach, Heritage
What to see	Palácio Nacional de Sintra Quinta da Regaleira Castelo dos Mouros Palácio Nacional da Pena Palácio de Monserrate	Casa das Histórias Paula Rego Praia da Conceição Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães Boca do Inferno Praia do Tamariz Casino Estoril
Children	Family-friendly	Family-friendly
In the rain	Not rated: check	Not rated: check
Budget	Medium budget	Low budget · verified costs
Best season	Spring, Autumn, Winter	Spring, Autumn
Accessibility	Difficult access	Partial accessibility

How we compared

Travel time: Median of scheduled trains in CP's official timetable, imported nightly.
Length, themes, children, budget, season, accessibility: Editorial data from our itineraries, with sources and check dates on each page.
Rain: We only show a rating when the editors have made one; otherwise we say it is not rated.

Frequently asked questions

Can you do Sintra and Cascais on the same day?

Yes, but it is a long day and you only see part of each: our Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais itinerary combines both. To see the palaces calmly, Sintra needs a day of its own.

Where do the trains leave from?

For Sintra, from Rossio (Sintra line); for Cascais, from Cais do Sodré (Cascais line). Both are CP lines, with official timetables on each trip page.

Sources and checks

CP - CP - Linha de Sintra · checked 3 November 2026
CP - CP - Linha de Cascais · checked 3 November 2026
Parques de Sintra · checked 3 November 2026

Comparison reviewed on 3 November 2026. No affiliate links or paid placements. Editorial policy