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The best independent guide to Sintra
Sintra-Portugal.com
The best independent guide to Sintra
The Sintra tram; Sintra to Praia das Maçãs
The Eléctrico de Sintra provides a historic connection between the town of Sintra and the delightful beach resort of Praia das Maçãs, situated 11 km to the west.
Along this scenic route, classic Brill trams from the early 20th century slowly journey down from the forested hills of the Serra de Sintra to the Atlantic coast. The ride itself is a unique tourist experience, offering a 45-minute trip between the mountains and the ocean.
However, visitors must be aware that the number of services is extremely limited, particularly during the autumn/winter season. The trams are also very popular and become exceptionally crowded in the summer. This guide will provide a full overview of the Sintra tram service, including current ticket prices and the seasonal timetable.
Related articles: Praia das Maçãs
The tram to Sintra waiting at Praia das Maçãs
The beautiful beach at Praia das Maçãs, if you are on holiday in Sintra then this is the closest beach to travel to
Sintra Tram Tourist Information
The tram operates a very limited timetable, even in the height of the summer, while in the winter there are only two departures per day in each direction.
A single tram ticket costs €3.00 for an adult and €2.50 for youths (ages 7-18) and seniors (over 65). Children under 7 travel for free, provided they do not occupy a seat.
There is just one tram that travels the route and the entire journey time takes 45 minutes.
The very old tram, which infrequently runs along the line
The Sintra tram is very popular during the summer and can only carry a limited number of passengers. Be prepared for long waits, as many passengers may be turned away once the tram is full. Fortunately, the Carris Metropolitana bus route 1254 follows a similar route to the tram, full bus details can be seen here: carrismetropolitana.pt/lines
In Sintra, the tram departs from Vila Alda (Casa do Eléctrico de Sintra), located at Rua General Alves Roçadas, No. 2, near the Museum of Modern Art.
Do not expect luxury on the tram. The ride is famously bumpy, jolty, and makes sudden stops, but this is all part of the fun of the charming, historic transport.
Further Information about the Eletricos de Sintra
The idea for a line connecting Sintra to the coast first emerged in 1886. After many attempts, construction finally began in 1902, with historic trams ordered from the American J. G. Brill Company in 1903. The first section of the line was inaugurated on 31st March 1904, and it was extended to reach Praia das Maçãs on 10th July 1905.
The tram's life was difficult from the start. Demand was much lower than anticipated, and with the rise of road transport, the service was almost cancelled in the 1950s. From 1953, it ran only during the summer, and sections of the line were closed. The service was eventually replaced entirely by buses in 1975.
A revival of the route began in the 1990s, with sections being gradually recovered. On 4th June 2004, exactly 100 years after its inauguration, the tram finally returned to Sintra (Estefânia). Today, the service is operated by the Municipality of Sintra (Sintra council), which acquired the line in 2001.
The tram runs on a 1,000 mm narrow gauge, identical to the tram lines used in Lisbon. The 11km route has 8 stops and follows the N375 road down from the hills before joining the N247 to the coast, descending a total of 400m.
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Expert Insight: These guides are curated by Philip Giddings, a travel writer with over 26 years of local experience in Portugal. Since 2008, Phil has focused on providing verified, on-the-ground advice for the Sintra region, supported by deep cultural ties through his Portuguese family. Read the full story here.
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