Sintra or Lisbon First
 

We will be going to Portugal for 17 days in March. I was too slow in securing the apartment I wanted and it is occupied the first two days of our trip. I could select another apartment but if I want to stick with my first choice, perhaps we should go directly to Sintra from the airport and then go to Lisbon two days later. Is there any disadvantage to this? We have not been to Portugal before although we are experienced travelers. I know that one disadvantage would be that we are without a car in Sintra since we will pick up the car as we leave Lisbon. Is this a problem? Could we see Estoril and Cascais by public transportation?

We just got back from Portugal and spent 2 nights in Sintra and then traveled to Lisbon. You dont need a car in Sintra - pubic transit is easy. You can take a bus from Sintra to Cascais easily - we did it in 2009. You can also take the train to Estoril - they are very close together Cascais/Estoril - from Lisbon.

If you are spending two nights in Sintra the day you should go to Pena Palace.

I'll post our trip report...

Check out our trip report here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...l-20102011.cfm

I concur - you don't need a car in Sintra and you won't want a car in Lisbon, so get yourself to Sintra and then train back to Lisbon. Rent the car on the way out of the city. Will save you $$ and aggravation. Sounds like you are on the right track so far. Sintra Estorial Cascais are all connected easily to/from Lisbon.

I agree with Jamikins and Spcfa. You do not need a car in Sintra or in Lisbon.
Use public transportation, or if you want, a taxi (it is not expensive).
From Sintra go to Lisbon by train (there are 2-3 per hour and very cheap).

I suggest to visit, from Sintra, Queluz Palace. It is beautiful and has splendid gardens, full with statues and fountains with tiles.

Thanks one and all for your suggestions. We are going to stay in Sintra first, going directly from the airport and then several days later will go to Lisbon. We will rent the car in Lisbon on the last day.

spcfa, what do you mean "renta a car on the way out of the city". Is there a specific location in the city or out that is better?

I just meant after you've seen Lisbon and you are ready to see other parts of Portugal with a car (i.e., your last day in Lisbon). We rented from Hertz in the Marquis de Pombal location. We were on the highway in 3 minutes with one left hand turn. Painless!