Yes, if you head straight there. Ships dock at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal by Santa Apolónia. Take the metro Blue Line to Restauradores and walk to Rossio station, then the CP train to Sintra, about 40 minutes: roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 15 from ship to Sintra station. Our scavenger hunt starts right at the station and takes about 2 hours, so a normal Lisbon port day leaves a safe margin.
Scavenger huntSintra Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided TourRiddles at every stopAbout 2 hours · start any time
5 € - 11 €
Outdoor escape gameSintra Escape GameA puzzle at every stopAbout 2 hours · start any time
5 € - 11 €
Self-guided audio walking tourSintra Self-Guided Walking Audio TourJust listen and walkAbout 3 hours · listen as you walk
4 € - 9 €
City guidesSintra City Guides by World City TrailPlaces to eat, see and drink
Price range: 4.99 € through 19.99 €From the Lisbon Cruise Terminal to Sintra station
- Leave the ship at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal and walk to Santa Apolónia metro station. Some ships are given other quays along the Tagus, so check your berth before you set off.
- Take the metro Blue Line to Restauradores, the metro stop for Rossio station; including the walk to the metro, count about 15-20 minutes. A taxi from the terminal to Rossio takes about 10-15 minutes.
- At Rossio, load a ticket onto a Navegante card, validate it and board a CP train on the Sintra Line. No reservation is needed, and the ride to Sintra, the end of the line, takes about 40 minutes.
- The hunt starts at Sintra station itself. Open the app as you step off the train and follow it towards the city hall and the National Palace, 10-15 minutes away on foot.
A Sintra day from a Lisbon cruise, hour by hour
- 0:00Off the ship at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal and on foot to Santa Apolónia metro.
- 0:20Metro to Restauradores, short walk to Rossio and the CP train to Sintra.
- 1:15Arrive at Sintra station and start the hunt right there.
- 3:15Finish up the hill near Fonte dos Pisões and walk back down to the station, allowing extra time.
- 3:45Train back to Rossio, then metro or taxi to the cruise terminal.
- 5:00Back on board, ideally with 2 hours or more to spare before all-aboard time.
Tips for Sintra when time is short
- Private cars are restricted in Sintra's historic centre, so the train is the simplest way in.
- Bus 434 to Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle leaves from in front of Sintra station; those palaces are separate trips, not part of the hunt, and you will rarely fit both into one port day.
- Validate your Navegante card for every train journey, including the return to Lisbon.
- Check the CP timetable on the day, because engineering works can change departures.
- Sintra's lanes climb uphill from the National Palace, so allow extra time for the walk back down to the station.
- On the way you pass the Sintra City Hall, Parque da Liberdade and Palácio Valenças before reaching the National Palace and St. Martin's Church.
Why a self-guided game works on a port day
- You start when you step off the ship, not at a fixed tour time, and nobody waits for a group.
- Everyone in your party can follow on their own phone with one booking reference.
- You can stop for lunch or a swim and carry on later, and end the game whenever you need to head back.
- Google Maps guides you from stop to stop, and the game needs no entry tickets.
Sintra from a Lisbon cruise: questions
Is Sintra doable on a cruise stop in Lisbon?
Yes, if you go straight there. Ship to Sintra station takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 by metro and train, and the 2-hour hunt starts at the station, so a normal port day leaves a safe margin.
How long is the train from Lisbon to Sintra?
About 40 minutes on the CP Sintra Line from Lisboa Rossio to Sintra, the end of the line.
Do I need to book the Sintra train?
No. Load a ticket onto a Navegante card and validate it before boarding; seats are not reserved.
How far is the National Palace from Sintra station?
About 10-15 minutes on foot into the historic centre, and the hunt takes you there.
Can I drive into Sintra's old town?
Private vehicles in the historic centre are limited to residents; visitors are asked to use car parks on the edge of town or public transport.
Do I need to book a time slot?
No. You book online, receive your booking reference by email straight away and start whenever you are ashore. The ticket has no time limit, so it still works if your ship arrives late or your plans change.
What do we need on the day?
A charged smartphone with mobile data, the World City Trail app from the App Store or Google Play, and your booking reference. A power bank helps on a long port day.
Port and transport details checked in November 2026. Docking positions and timetables change, so always check your ship’s all-aboard time and your cruise line’s port information before you set off.