Guide to Route 2913: from Mafra to Pero Negro, among heritage, nature and local life

With one weekday departure from Mafra toward Pero Negro and two in the opposite direction, route 2913 connects Mafra Sports Park to Pero Negro Station along a route that combines Mafra’s historic center, Tapada Nacional and small rural communities in the Oeste region.

The route begins near Mafra Municipal Sports Park and passes by the Terminal, Quinta da Raposa Cultural Complex and the monumental Terreiro de D. João V area. This is the most urban and tourist-oriented part of the journey, with gardens, cultural spaces, local shops and some of the municipality’s main landmarks.

From the Ponte do Cuco area onward, the route takes on a more rural character and crosses Codeçal, Vila Franca do Rosário, Terroal, Vila Pouca, Enxara do Bispo, Gradil and other communities before reaching Pêro Negro, already in the municipality of Sobral de Monte Agraço. In this section, the experience is less focused on tourist attractions and more shaped by the saloia landscape, villages and local access roads.

Notice: the distances indicated are approximate and estimated from the provided coordinates and the proximity of the stops, and may vary depending on the pedestrian route chosen. According to the information provided, the route operates with one departure toward Mafra–Pero Negro on weekdays and two departures toward Pero Negro–Mafra; there are no departures on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays. The fare and operator were not provided.

Location	Category	Nearest stop/section	Approximate distance
Mafra Municipal Sports Park	Sports and leisure	Av. Francisco Sá Carneiro (Pq Desportivo)	0 to 0.1 km
Quinta da Raposa Cultural Complex	Culture and entertainment	Quinta Raposa Cultural Complex	0 to 0.1 km
National Palace of Mafra	Heritage and tourism	Terreiro D. João V (Palace)	0.2 to 0.3 km
Jardim do Cerco	Park and walking	Terreiro D. João V (Palace)	0.2 to 0.4 km
Mafra Municipal Market	Market and gastronomy	Av. 25 de Abril / Terreiro D. João V	0.3 to 0.5 km
Mafra Shopping Center	Shopping and services	Av. 25 de Abril / Mafra center	0.3 to 0.5 km
Tapada Nacional de Mafra	Nature and leisure	Codeçal (Tapada Nacional)	0.1 to 0.2 km

Mafra Municipal Sports Park

The route’s starting point is itself a destination for those seeking physical activity and open-air spaces. Mafra Municipal Sports Park includes an extensive green area, pedestrian paths and facilities for different sports, including sports facilities, swimming pools, a gym, tracks, courts and recreation areas.

It is a good choice for beginning the outing with a walk, bringing children or simply enjoying a spacious, tree-filled area before heading to the historic center. Its direct connection to the Sports Park stop makes this one of the easiest places to visit using route 2913.

📍 Location: Avenida Dr. Francisco Sá Carneiro, Mafra.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Av. Francisco Sá Carneiro (Pq Desportivo), practically next to the entrance.
🏷️ Category: Sports and leisure.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: A large green area with sports facilities, pedestrian paths and options for different age groups.

Quinta da Raposa Cultural Complex

Located in a former historic complex in Mafra, the Quinta da Raposa Cultural Complex is one of the town’s main cultural hubs. The space houses the Mafra Town Interpretation Center, the Lines of Torres Interpretation Center, the Ernesto Soares Documentation Center, a fine arts studio and facilities connected with music education and practice.

Quinta da Raposa also hosts activities and performances through the Francisco Alves Gato House of Music. For those arriving on route 2913, it is an especially convenient stop: the facility appears at the beginning of the itinerary, immediately after the terminal, and can be combined with a walk through Mafra’s center.

📍 Location: Largo Coronel Brito Gorjão, Mafra.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Quinta Raposa Cultural Complex, next to the facility.
🏷️ Category: Culture, history and entertainment.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: It brings together interpretation centers, documentation, artistic training and musical programming in a restored historic complex.

National Palace of Mafra

Terreiro de D. João V is the monumental heart of Mafra and the access point to the National Palace, Basilica and former Convent. Built on the initiative of D. João V, the complex impresses with its scale, Baroque architecture and the richness of its interiors, including the historic library.

The Royal Building of Mafra also includes Jardim do Cerco and Tapada, forming one of Portugal’s most important heritage complexes. The stop identified as “Terreiro D João V (PALACE)” leaves visitors at the best point to begin their visit to the monument and explore the surrounding square.

📍 Location: Terreiro de D. João V, Mafra.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Terreiro D. João V (PALACE), approximately 0.2 to 0.3 km from the monumental complex.
🏷️ Category: Historic heritage, architecture and tourism.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: A monumental complex inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with a palace, basilica, convent and library.

Jardim do Cerco

Next to the National Palace of Mafra, Jardim do Cerco offers a change of pace: the imposing stone gives way to a recreational space marked by formal gardens, geometric axes and green areas. The site serves as a transition between the monumental core and the former Royal Hunting Reserve.

With free admission and a central location, it is an option for those who want to rest after visiting the palace, take photographs or simply walk without leaving Mafra’s historic area. It can be reached from the same Terreiro de D. João V stop, with a short walk.

📍 Location: Largo General Humberto Delgado, Mafra.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Terreiro D. João V (PALACE), approximately 0.2 to 0.4 km away.
🏷️ Category: Park, garden and walking.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: A Baroque garden that connects the National Palace of Mafra to the Royal Hunting Reserve visually and historically.

Mafra Municipal Market

To experience the town’s more everyday and gastronomic side, Mafra Municipal Market is a reliable stop. The space brings together stalls selling local products and flavors, as well as a bar or café area and a terrace overlooking the Royal Building of Mafra.

The visit fits well into a route through Terreiro de D. João V: after the palace and Jardim do Cerco, the market offers a break for coffee, shopping or discovering regional products. It is also a way to observe local activity beyond the strictly tourist circuit.

📍 Location: Rua José Elias Garcia, Mafra.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Av. 25 de Abril or Terreiro D. João V, approximately 0.3 to 0.5 km away.
🏷️ Category: Market, local shopping and gastronomy.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: Local products, a café area and a terrace with views toward the National Palace of Mafra.

Mafra Shopping Center

In the center of the town, Mafra Shopping Center brings together shops, services and restaurants in a convenient local setting. It is not a large regional shopping mall, but it serves a practical purpose for anyone who needs to make quick purchases, handle everyday matters or find service options without leaving the central area.

Its location makes it easy to include in an itinerary that also visits the palace, market and historic streets of Mafra. For 2913 passengers, access is from the town-center stops, followed by a short walk along the town’s commercial streets.

📍 Location: Rua Serpa Pinto, Mafra.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Av. 25 de Abril / Terreiro D. João V, approximately 0.3 to 0.5 km away.
🏷️ Category: Shopping, services and restaurants.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: A central, convenient profile, close to the town’s main points of interest.

Tapada Nacional de Mafra

The “Codeçal (Tapada Nacional)” stop is one of the most interesting along the entire itinerary. From there, passengers can reach the Codeçal Gate of Tapada Nacional de Mafra, an extensive historic forest with conservation areas, trails and experiences connected with nature, wildlife and the legacy of the former Royal Hunting Reserve.

The site offers activities such as hiking, forest walks, electric-vehicle tours, raptor watching, environmental awareness activities and experiences involving contact with biodiversity. Since some offerings require reservations and the route operates very infrequently, it is advisable to plan the visit in advance and check the schedule beforehand.

📍 Location: Codeçal Gate, Mafra.
🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Codeçal (Tapada Nacional), approximately 0.1 to 0.2 km from the entrance.
🏷️ Category: Nature, tourism and leisure.
⭐ Distinguishing feature: A historic forest of approximately 833 hectares, with free-ranging wildlife, interpretive trails and outdoor activities.

Route 2913 is more than a connection between Mafra and Pêro Negro: in its initial section, it serves as a gateway to the town’s heritage, gardens, shops and cultural spaces; farther along, it brings passengers closer to Tapada Nacional and a succession of rural communities in the Oeste region. Since there are only three departures on weekdays across both directions and no service on weekends or public holidays, making the best tourist use of the route requires attention to the direction of travel and the chosen schedule.

Guide to Route 2913: from Mafra to Pero Negro, among heritage, nature and local life