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Day trips out of Lisbon -- is a car rental necessary?

If we are planning to just spend four days in and around Lisbon, only doing a day trip to Sintra and a day trip to Obidos, is a car rental necessary?
If not, what is recommended for these two visits out of Lisbon?
Thank you!

Posted by
11156 posts

You don't want a car in Lisbon. The city has excellent transit options while moving around town.
For Sintra, take the train from Rossio station. For Obidos, there is bus service or perhaps there are also organized day tours.

Posted by
362 posts

Sintra is an easy 40 min train ride from Rossio station, under 5euro return. In Sintra you can buy a bus pass or cab it. We took a cab to Pena Palace then walked to the ruins then continued into town & onward to the train station.

I believe travelling to Obidos is easier & quicker by bus maybe 1 hr, haven't been. There are companies that offer day tours for Obidos+Fatima.

If you plan on going to Belem I strongly suggest you cab it. The day we went the trolley was packed right from the terminus & very few people got on at the next 2 Lisbon stops & beyond. Luckily we scored a seat or we would have abandoned the ride. Crowded, hot & a long 40 min. A cab back was only 7euro, 15 min!

We got a 24 hr Lisboa card for Belem which covered most of the attractions there, transit & train to Sintra the following day. My husband's card didn't activate on the trolley due to crowds & we noticed Belem attractions only look at the card they don't scan it so his was "unused".