Taxi/Uber to Sintra

I totally understand your concern about the crowds in Sintra. However the big problem I can see in your Uber/taxi idea is traffic. The Lisbon traffic has become horrendous in the last three years. Rush hour traffic on the highways can get really backed up for an extended period of time.
You would likely get there quicker, not to mention, cheaper on the train. If you get to Sintra before the palaces open, the crowds should be more manageable.
Once you get to your address in Graça, you can look at the Uber app to see the cost. Or, alternately, use Taxi Fare Finder for a taxi cost estimate.

Thanks for that. Being stuck in traffic wouldn't be fun, especially if the meter in the taxi is running! We'll probably catch the 1st train out and hope for the best. :)

When are you going? I visited Sintra last May, and I didn't find it a nightmare to get out of the train station. I hopped on the bus 434 that was about to leave and head up to Pena Palace, pretty full but there was room for me so my timing was great.

I would recommend buying tickets for Pena Palace online though - the ticket lines at the park entrance are long.

Thanks Andrew. We're going in the middle of June, so I am expecting large crowds.

Going early is a good strategy.

Take a tour, they aren't expensive.

I just checked Uber. It's 8.43 a.m. on Tuesday and I'm in the Baixa near the Praca de Comercia. The quote is 53.00 euros with a dropoff time at Pena Palace of 9.34.

If you take the train to Sintra, the fastest way to get to Pena Palace might be to walk to the main square (about 10 minutes slightly downhill, pleasant walk) and then take a tuktuk (5 euro per person, minimum 2 people) which will whip you up the hill on an "exciting" ride and zip past the cars, vans, taxis and buses idling on the road waiting to get into the parking lot or to drop off passengers.

Thanks so much, Chani! That really helps. There are 4 of us so the tuk tuk would be 20 but even that, plus the train, would be less expensive than Uber, it seems. And when you add in the rush hour traffic, I think the train would be better. I really appreciate you looking up the info for me :)

Not at all. So many folks here have helped me. It occurs to me that you may even be able to get a tuktuk at the train station.

I don't know what your plans are for Sintra. Before I decided to take a tuktuk from the old city center, I watched about half a dozen tour buses disgorge groups for the National Palace. After the Pena Palace and a couple hours in the gardens which I enjoyed even more, I went back to town and had a late lunch. I skipped the Moor Castle - it was too hot for me to do the climb, BTW the gardens were mostly pleasantly cool and shady. I went to the National Palace about 4.00-4.30 and there were very few other visitors and one small tour group. That was my favorite sight in Sintra.

Chani, we are going to skip Pena. It looks amazing but you can't see everything! We will instead go to Regaleria first then head to Monserrate palace.
Maybe we'll look for a tuk tuk at the train station. Our strategy for Sintra is ever changing, it seems!