I see there was already a thread asking a similar question to mine but it has already been closed so I'll ask anew.
We'll be going from Lisboa - Rossio station to Sintra and back, on the same day. From the CP.pt website, I don't see a way to purchase these tickets online. I do, however, see the timetable for this route. Is this a route that you cannot buy tickets online and therefore can't purchase ahead of time?
You can use a viva viagem card ( the same card you use for the Lisbon metro and bus) for this route.
https://www.metrolisboa.pt/en/buy/viva-viagem-card/
@Laura, thank you. Does that mean that there's no need to buy the ticket ahead online? Perhaps it's not even a ticket I can buy online (and I don't mean the viagem, I just mean the ticket to/from Sintra). Thanks!
I don’t think you can buy an online ticket. It is a commuter train so there are no reserved seats. I bought a viva viagem as soon as I arrived in Lisbon and put 10 EUR on the card. I used the ”zapping” method to pay for rides, which allowed me to use the ticket for the trip to/from Sintra, as well as in Lisbon. You can buy the ticket from a machine in the station.
The lisbon guru site has a pretty good explanation of how it works.
https://www.lisbonguru.com/viva-viagem-card-metro-bus-tram-ferry-train/
Pre purchase of tickets is only for the long distance trains, Urbano commuter lines don't allow reservations.
Buy your ticket in person at the station or use a zapping card and just board the train - no seat reservation, no specific time of day to board.
Lisboa - Sintra and Lisboa - Cascais are Urbano commuter train lines.
