Guide to Route 2740: from Ericeira to Lisbon, with stops between the sea, history and leisure

Guide to Route 2740: from Ericeira to Lisbon, with stops between the sea, history and leisure

Route 2740 connects the Ericeira Bus Terminal to Campo Grande in Lisbon, passing through Mafra, Malveira and Venda do Pinheiro and providing access to beaches, markets, museums, parks and historic monuments.

The route begins in Ericeira, a coastal town known for its relationship with the sea, its historic-center atmosphere and its cuisine linked to fishing. From the terminal, the bus follows EN 116 and passes through smaller localities in the municipality of Mafra, along a route that alternates residential areas, saloia landscapes and road connections to the A8 and A21 motorways.

In Mafra, the route takes on a cultural and tourist profile: it passes by the town terminal, the Quinta da Raposa Cultural Complex, the area around Terreiro D. João V and the Alto da Vela Intermodal Park. Farther south, it serves Malveira and Venda do Pinheiro, two local centers with cultural facilities, green spaces and everyday services, before ending next to Campo Grande, one of Lisbon’s main leisure and transport-connection areas.

Notice: the distances shown are approximate and estimated from the coordinates provided for the route and the locations of the establishments; they may vary depending on the chosen exit, the walking route and local conditions. According to the data received, the route has 30 outbound departures and 26 return departures on weekdays; on Saturdays, there are 13 outbound departures and 11 return departures; on Sundays and public holidays, 5 outbound departures and 4 return departures. The fare and operator were not provided in the route data.

Ericeira Municipal Market

For those boarding or getting off at the Ericeira Bus Terminal, the Municipal Market is a good extension of a walk through the town center. The space brings together stalls selling fish, seafood, fruit, vegetables and other local products, serving as a meeting point for residents, traders and visitors.

The market has also become a venue for gastronomic and cultural initiatives connected to Ericeira’s maritime identity, including events dedicated to sea urchins. It is an interesting stop for anyone who wants to sample the region’s flavors before walking toward the beaches and the streets of the historic center.

• 📍 Location: Ericeira, near the central area and Fishermen’s Beach.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Ericeira (Bus Terminal), about 1.0 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Market and gastronomy.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: direct contact with fresh regional products and Ericeira’s fishing tradition.

National Palace of Mafra

The Mafra section is the highlight of the itinerary for those who enjoy history and architecture. The National Palace of Mafra, also known as the Royal Building of Mafra, brings together a palace, basilica, convent and library in one of Portugal’s most impressive monumental complexes.

The monumental façade facing Terreiro D. João V is the town’s main visual landmark and marks a stop that can provide the basis for an entire itinerary. The complex is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and contains elements of Portuguese Baroque, sculptures, carillons, historic organs and spaces connected to former conventual and royal life.

• 📍 Location: Terreiro D. João V, Mafra.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Terreiro D. João V (PALACIO), about 0.4 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Historic heritage, architecture and tourism.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: a monumental complex recognized as a World Heritage Site and Mafra’s main landmark.

Cerco Garden

Next to Mafra’s monumental complex, Cerco Garden offers a peaceful green respite. The historic garden has wide paths, leafy trees, reflecting pools, waterfalls, shaded areas and a centuries-old waterwheel that is still in operation.

The space is particularly suitable for combining with a visit to the palace: visitors can leave the monumental setting and continue with an outdoor walk, observing the Baroque arrangement of the flower beds and the variety of species in the Aromatic Plants Garden. Admission is free, according to municipal information.

• 📍 Location: Largo General Humberto Delgado, next to the Royal Building of Mafra.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Terreiro D. João V (PALACIO), about 0.2 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Historic park and leisure.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: a combination of Baroque landscaping, historic heritage, shaded areas and traditional water features.

Quinta da Raposa Cultural Complex

The Quinta da Raposa Cultural Complex is practically on the route in Mafra and is one of the best options for those seeking a cultural program outside the circuit of major monuments. Housed in a former residential, religious and educational complex, the space was restored by the municipality and given various cultural functions.

The complex houses the Mafra Town Interpretation Center, the Lines of Torres Interpretation Center, the Ernesto Soares Documentation Center, visual arts spaces and the Francisco Alves Gato Music House, which hosts musical performances. It is a venue for exhibitions, local memory and events, with a more discreet and community-oriented atmosphere.

• 📍 Location: Largo Coronel Brito Gorjão, Mafra.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Quinta Raposa Cultural Complex, about 0.1 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Culture, exhibitions and music.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: brings together different cultural centers in a historic building, including interpretation spaces and a music house.

Mafra Municipal Market

For a more everyday experience of the town, Mafra Municipal Market combines fresh-produce commerce with a dining area. The stalls offer fruit, vegetables, fish from the coast, regional cheeses and Mafra bread, allowing for a quick shopping stop or a longer visit.

The upper floor adds a terrace with a view of the Royal Building of Mafra, making the market an interesting place to eat or have coffee as well. Its central location makes it easy to combine with the palace, Cerco Garden and the streets of the historic center.

• 📍 Location: Rua José Elias Garcia, no. 13, Mafra.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Terreiro D. João V (PALACIO) or Alto da Vela Intermodal Park, about 0.5 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Market, commerce and dining.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: brings together regional products, fresh fish, food retail and a terrace overlooking Mafra’s monumental complex.

Mafra Municipal Sports Park

Mafra Municipal Sports Park expands the itinerary beyond culture and gastronomy. Located on the former Quinta dos Marqueses de Ponte de Lima estate, the complex preserves historic references to the property and offers an extensive green area with pedestrian paths.

The space includes facilities such as a skatepark, tennis courts, multi-sports areas, a cycle path, a fitness circuit, a children’s playground, swimming pools, a gym and structures for various sports activities. It is an alternative for families, those traveling with children or visitors who would like to take an active break during their visit to Mafra.

• 📍 Location: Avenida Dr. Francisco Sá Carneiro, Mafra.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Alto da Vela Intermodal Park, about 0.5 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Sports, park and outdoor leisure.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: combines a large green area with sports and recreational facilities and historic elements from the former estate.

Beatriz Costa Popular Museum

In Malveira, the Beatriz Costa Popular Museum preserves the memory of one of the best-known figures in Portuguese popular culture. The actress, known as the “Saloia Diva,” donated personal objects, travel souvenirs, photographs, letters, press clippings and collections of dolls and little donkeys to the people of Malveira.

The museum operates in the Malveira Cultural Center, at Largo da Feira, an area that has also undergone redevelopment, gaining communal spaces, cultural programming and community events. The visit helps explain the connection between the actress, the town and the region’s saloia identity.

• 📍 Location: Malveira Cultural Center, Largo da Feira.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Rua 25 Abril 85 or R 25 Abril 18 (Malveira), about 0.2 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Museum and local culture.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: presents objects and documents connected to Beatriz Costa’s life and career, with a strong link to Malveira’s memory.

Venda do Pinheiro Ecological and Intermodal Park

The “Venda do Pinheiro (Eco Park)” stop is one of the route’s most convenient for those who want to get off directly in a leisure area. The Ecological and Intermodal Park combines green areas, pedestrian paths, sports facilities, a children’s playground, skatepark, fitness circuit, dog park and picnic area.

The site also houses an Interpretation Center associated with the source of the Lizandro River and a municipal library. As its name suggests, the park was designed to integrate mobility, the environment and recreation, functioning both as a place to stay and as a public-transport interchange.

• 📍 Location: Avenida 9 de Julho, Venda do Pinheiro.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Venda do Pinheiro (Eco Park) P3 or P4, about 0.1 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Ecological park, leisure and mobility.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: brings together green space, sports facilities, outdoor activities, a library, an interpretation center and public-transport connections.

Campo Grande Garden

The route’s final stop leads directly to one of Lisbon’s largest green areas. Campo Grande Garden, also called Dr. Mário Soares Garden, covers 13.38 hectares and has a history dating back to the former Campo de Alvalade, used as a place for walks and leisure since the 19th century.

The park offers walking paths, rest areas, a children’s playground, youth park, dog park, padel courts, fitness circuit, picnic area and dining facilities. It is a good choice for ending the route with a relaxing walk or taking a break before continuing by metro or other city transport lines.

• 📍 Location: Campo Grande Garden, Lisbon.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Campo Grande (North Arrival) or Campo Grande (Metro), about 0.2 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Urban park and leisure.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: a large green area with facilities for different audiences and a strategic location next to public transport.

Bordalo Pinheiro Museum

Also in the Campo Grande area, the Bordalo Pinheiro Museum is dedicated to the life and work of Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, an artist associated with caricature, illustration, ceramics and the creation of the character Zé Povinho. The site is a good option for those who prefer to end the route with a cultural visit.

The collection includes ceramics, drawings, paintings, documents and publications, making it possible to follow different stages of the artist’s work and the cultural and political context of 19th-century Lisbon. Its proximity to Campo Grande Garden makes it possible to create a combined museum-and-park itinerary.

• 📍 Location: Campo Grande, 382, Lisbon.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Campo Grande (North Arrival), about 0.5 km.
• 🏷️ Category: Museum, arts and cultural heritage.
• ⭐ Distinguishing feature: is entirely dedicated to Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro and houses one of the most important collections related to his artistic output.

With departures throughout the week, Route 2740 can be used both for travel between Ericeira, Mafra, Malveira, Venda do Pinheiro and Lisbon and for planned excursions along sections of the route. For a historical itinerary, it is worth getting off in Mafra and combining Quinta da Raposa, the palace, Cerco Garden and the market. For outdoor leisure, the Eco Park and Campo Grande Garden are the most direct stops. Those seeking local culture will find good options in Malveira and Ericeira, making the bus a practical alternative for discovering the different sides of the Lisbon region.

Sources

• Mafra Municipal Council — Beatriz Costa Popular Museum
• Mafra Municipal Council — Quinta da Raposa Cultural Complex
• Mafra Municipal Council — Cerco Garden
• Mafra Municipal Council — Mafra Municipal Market
• Mafra Municipal Council — Mafra Municipal Sports Park
• Mafra Municipal Council — Venda do Pinheiro Ecological and Intermodal Park
• Mafra Municipal Council — Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem, Ericeira
• Bordalo Pinheiro Museum — location and visitor information
• Lisbon Municipal Council — Dr. Mário Soares Garden
• Cultural Heritage — Royal Building of Mafra