Getting from Santiago to Sintra, Portugal

[MoniRose]

I will be walking Finisterre route in July, starting and ending in Santiago, and then I will be taking a side trip to Sintra, Portugal. Can anyone advise on the best/quickest/least expensive way to get to Sintra and back to Santiago? Where would I pick up the bus or train in Santiago? ANY advice on how to get there and back, as well as possibly where to stay, would be appreciated!!

I walked the Camino Frances last summer and I'm SO EXCITED to see Santiago again!!
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!!! :arrow: Monica

 

[D.Matthew]

Sounds like a great trip! I made it down to Sintra after my Camino last summer. I stopped at a few places along the way though. My first destination was Porto. You can catch a train at the main station there in Santiago. I'm assuming you'll be taking the bus back from Finisterre to Santiago. It cost about 12 euro. The bus station isn't too far from the train station.

For my first leg, I took a train from Santiago to Porto, with a connection in Vigo. After a few days in Porto, I took a train to Lisbon. From Lisbon, I took a day trip to Sintra by train. From Lisbon to Sintra, the train fare is 4 or 5 Euro. Sintra is such a beautiful place!

 

[MoniRose]

Thank you for your reply. My time will be very limited. Can I train to Lisbon one day, see Sintra the next, train back to Santiago the following? How long is the train/bus ride from Santiago to Lisbon?
Also, to save time, can I bus from Finisterre to Muxia to Santiago in the same day? Or should I NOT miss the walk to Muxia and plan to overnight there?
(I want to make sure I get to Sintra.)
Thank you! - Monica :?

 

[mspath]

MoniRose,

From Finisterre you would take the bus back to Santiago and then travel south to Sintra.

Use this handy English language site to see various possibilities and prices for traveling from Santiago to Sintra. http://www.rome2rio.com/

Sintra by the way is GREAT. Goggle the terms "Sintra" and "hostel" and you will find many inexpensive places to stay. Check this English language guide for places to visit in Sintra. http://www.golisbon.com/portugal/cities/sintra.html

Happy travels,

Margaret Meredith

 

[Pieces]

Nice info, I will be in lisbon this year, not walking, and am planning a trip to sintra as well

 

[D.Matthew]

Thank you for your reply. My time will be very limited. Can I train to Lisbon one day, see Sintra the next, train back to Santiago the following? How long is the train/bus ride from Santiago to Lisbon?
Also, to save time, can I bus from Finisterre to Muxia to Santiago in the same day? Or should I NOT miss the walk to Muxia and plan to overnight there?
(I want to make sure I get to Sintra.)
Thank you! - Monica :?

Monica, I think that would be possible. From what I saw, there was no direct travel from Santiago to Lisbon (excluding air travel). Because of this, I cannot give an exact time of travel. Also, there is a one hour time change which is helpful on your way down, but will add an hour upon your return to Spain.

I don't remember the exact number of trains, so don't take my word for this. I remember there being quite a few trains that went from Santiago to Vigo, every other hour or so. From Vigo to Porto(Campanha), there were less. I believe two the entire afternoon. In Porto, there were quite a few trains heading to Lisbon, about every other hour. From Lisbon, a train left for Sintra at least once an hour. The total time could range from 7-10 hours depending on connections (rough estimate). If you were willing to devote two days to travelling down and back, I think this would be a doable plan. You might even have a little time to walk around Porto and Lisbon.

You could add bus travel in as well. I think there is a bus from Santiago to Porto.

I can't answer your question about travel to Muxia, as I finished walking in Finisterre. I'm sure there are some forum member who can give you a good answer on that.

Drew

 

[Pieces]

bus from santiago to lisbon is about 9hrs and cost 51 eur

https://www.movelia.es/es/buscar_comprar/nacionales/