We will be traveling by train from Porto to Sintra (assuming no strike!) When we booked our AP ticket, it only booked us through to the Oriente station in Lisbon.
When we get to Lisbon do we need to exit and then purchase separate tickets to board a train to Sintra, or are the tickets to Sintra “free” with our Porto to Lisbon/Oriente AP fare (and we will just need to find the correct platform)? Hope this is clear. I can’t envision how the train station is configured.
I was going to take the train from Porto to Sintra this past spring, and had even bought a ticket. Due to a strike that day, I went by Flix bus instead. The bus is direct, and was easy and comfortable. I would choose the bus again.
BTW, it was very easy to get a refund for the train ticket online.
A train strike has been called from July 21 to August 6.
If you're traveling on those dates secure alternate transportation.
The buses Redeexpressos and Flixbus are running, the bus terminal in Porto is by the Porto Campanha train station, I would by bus tickets right away before they are full.
Another poster mentioned the (continued) strikes on the train. Just to clarify - always look at the cp.pt website under the section ‘greve”. It will take you to a link that details which trains will be striking. I just looked at the dates mentioned and most of the AP trains seem to be running.
If your tickets says booked through Oriente, you will need another ticket. But, if you will be using public transport while in the Lisbon area, buy a Via Viagem card and start using it. It will be good throughout the metro area, including to Sintra.
The machines now give out the yellow navegante cards which seem to be the same as the older? Via viagem card - rechargeable, works on most transport in Lisbon. The older cards still work if you have one.
For us we took the metro to rossio station and then took stairs to get on the Sintra train. There are several train stations but the Sintra train only boarded at a few. Not Santa Apalonia which would have been easiest for us.
There was a train ticket machine and a booth with a person at rossio.
Thank you all so much for this helpful information! We are traveling during that latter half of August, so are keeping an eye out for strike information. I appreciate the recommendation for the Flix bus as a Plan B!
