The Elétrico de Sintra is more than a way to reach the coast. The vintage tram rattles from Sintra toward Praia das Maçãs, slipping out of the palace town into a softer landscape of villas, piney slopes, and sea air.
It is slow, seasonal, and more charming than efficient, which is exactly the point. Use it when you have time to turn a beach run into a small excursion; if you are racing between Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle, take a bus or taxi instead.