Estoril Transportation

The Estoril Train station is nothing more than a train stop at the Lisbon Cais Do Sodré to Cascais line. There are platform at the out side of the tracks connected via stairways.
A tunnel underneath connect the beach with the village (after you take the crossover of the Route National). At the station are ticket machines.

Portela Airport is the nearest airport to Estoril, it is located about 5 miles from Lisbon City. To reach Lisbon you can hire a car, get a taxi, or catch one of the buses which depart from outside Arrivals/Departures.

We caught the Aerobus.(CARRIS Nº91)

Tickets cost 3.50 euros, (and are valid for 24 hours on the buses and trams)
The service runs 07:45 to 20:15pm, every 20 minutes. It makes quite frequent stops along the journey, at most of the squares on the way.

The terminus is Cais do Sodres, which is the train station for Estoril
You purchase your ticket from the driver, who also validates it for you -well our driver did anyway.

The buses are clean and modern. Video screens show sights of Portugal and a map of Lisbon, with the next stop displayed (see pic 3) There was also an announcement in English giving the name of the next stop. We'd picked up a free map from the Tourist Info desk at the airport, so could follow the route, as most of the bus stops were identified.
Luggage racks for your cases etc onboard.

Allow plenty of time for your journey, if travelling during the rush hour.
I was delayed quite a while near the end of my journey. In hindsight, I'd have been quicker, jumping off the bus and walking the few metres to the train station, but as I hadn't been to Lisbon before, I didn't have my bearings.

Lisbon is the nearest airport to Estoril or Cascais. Although Liverpool isn't the nearest airport to my home, it had the best price and times for departures.

I booked my flight early (January for my May 27th departure) as Easyjet had a '25% off all flights' offer so I paid around £70 for my return flight.

We departed at 13.05 and our expected arrival time was 15.50.
My return flight departed 16.20 arriving in Liverpool at 19.00hrs.

After clearing passport control and retrieving our bags, we headed to Tourist Information, to get a map, and to check on the bus details. Outside the arrivals hall are buses and taxis to take you to Lisbon.

The airport has lots of shops, cafes, exchange bureaus etc. It's quite a pleasant place to spend time, before catching your flight home.
The duty free stocks quite a good selection of food stuffs such as tinned sardines, packaged meats, cheeses etc as well as the usual wines, spirits, perfumes, cigarettes etc.

Buses and taxis wait outside the Arrivals hall, to take you into Lisbon or further afield. Hire Car desks also.

I was heading for Cascais, but this route also applies for Estoril.

Airport bus to Cascais do Sodres Station, then train for Cascais. Estoril is a couple of stops before Cascais (which is the terminus)
Bus and train tips to follow.

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Estoril is not far from Cascais and is certainly walkable, as Hans and I did it a few times. But for Saturday night's dinner in Estoril, we all took the train. It cost 1.20 Euro and we were only on it for less than ten minutes. Estoril has its own station.
Now if you're coming from Lisbon, trains depart from Lisbon's Cais do Sodre station every twenty minutes to Cascais, stopping right at Tamariz at the Estoril station. This takes about thirty minutes and it costs 1.70 Euro.

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Estoril is easily reached by train from Lisbons Cais do Sodré station. It is a pleasant 30 minute or so journey along the coastline, with views of the Monument to the Discoverers and the 25 de Abril bridge as you leave Lisbon behind.
Sit on the left side of the train for the best views. There are frequent trains from early morning until around 0100hrs.

Tickets are purchased from either the ticket office, or the green machines (which accept coins, notes and credit cards) Estoril is pronounced something like -Shturil Click here to hear a pronunciation
You can purchase a single (1,45 euro), 10 trips (15,30 euro) or multi-trips ticket (5 days, 13,60 euro). You can top your ticket up later if necessary.

Tickets must be validated at the yellow machines or turnstyles before boarding the train - inspectors are on most trains, and fines are imposed for those with un validated tickets. There are station personnel available to help - or the local people are very helpful too if you're having difficulties.
Departure boards are easy to follow, with time of departure and platform clearly displayed.

On the train - the next destination is announced verbally and electronically above each carriage door. There are also railmaps on display.

At busy times and at night, be especially careful of your valuables. There are notorious pickpockets operating in Lisbon. I was also warned that there have been robberies on this line at night, by gangs who operate en masse - However, VTers who travelled back to Cascais at night from Lisbon had no problems.

There is no left luggage at Cais do Sodré, but there are lockers at the nearby boat terminal, for a few euros.

From Cascais, it is just 2 stops on the train to Estoril, for those not wanting to walk there.

The most convenient way to come to Estoril from Lisbon is by train.
Estoril train station is between the beach and the casino boulevard. The railway leads in one way to Cascais, just 2 stops away. On the other way, it leads to Lisbon's Cais do Sodré train station.

This line, like almost all suburban train lines of Lisbon is operated by the national railway, CP. It is more like a suburban metro line like the German S-bahn.

It is well worth taking this train because of the scenery. In part of its way, it goes pretty close to the sea and to the river Tagus.

Regular trains for Estoril leave from Cais de Sodre in Lisbon. The journey to Estoril takes under 30 minutes and it costs only a couple of Euros for the trip. There is lovely scenery on this trip as the line runs alongside the sea and you get great views of Belem, the Ponte de 25 Abril bridge, and many of the towns and villages on the coast.

(Oct'05) The scenic route to Estoril, is to take the Carris Aero-Bus Hotel Shuttle No.91, from Lisbon Airport to the Cais do Sodre railway station. Currently costs 3 Euros. The bus goes down the Avenida da Republica, Avda Fontes Pereira de Melo, Avda de la Liberdade, through the Baixa area & the Praca do Comercio, to the station. Stops are made near the main hotel locations, with clear announcements before each stop. This route passes many of the main sights in Lisbon.

The train from Cais do Sodre to Estoril costs 1.40 Euros - note: the route is to Cascais, but not all the trains stop at every station, so check it stops at Estoril! The train passes the Ponte 25 de Abril (a miniature version of the Golden Gate bridge), the Padrao dos Descobrimentos, & the floodlit old castle Torre de Belem.