Nestled amongst the pine covered hills of the Serra de Sintra, this picturesque town is home to an impressive variety of architecturally significant castles and beautiful gardens. Just a short drive from Lisbon, you will uncover the magic and mystery of this UNESCO World Heritage site through 3 of its most famous monuments: the Quinta da Regaleira, the National Palace, and the Pena Palace. This full day tour in a private car from Lisbon enables you to skip the tourist lines and discover the historical summer retreat of the Portuguese elite in the company of a knowledgeable local historian.

NOTE: This tour includes a car service that will pick you up at your accommodation. Please tell us your hotel or apartment address in the 'Additional Details' box while adding the tour to your shopping cart. If you are arriving by cruise, please provide the name of your cruise line along with the arrival date and time.

You will start your day trip by collecting you from Lisbon and traveling along a scenic route to Sintra where our guide will give you an introduction to our destination. Our first stop will be Pena Palace, the famously colorful hilltop castle, surrounded by over 200 hectares of richly planted forest with amazing views of the surrounding area. The Romanticist castle features a variety of architectural techniques and is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. Our skip-the-line tickets will give us ample time to tour the interior and admire the eclectic artwork and decoration which features painted tiles, and stucco sand trompe-l'oeil painted walls. You will hear about its fascinating history, which dates back to the Middle Ages when a chapel was constructed on this site after an apparition occurred of the Virgin Mary.

 
Interested in visiting some of the other Seven Wonders of Portugal? Try our Lisbon Belem Tour. 

After Pena, You will continue to the mysterious manor house and estate of Quinta Da Regaleira. Despite its recent construction at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, this residence and its gardens hide an incredible array of stories and secrets. The manor house is characterized by its Gothic architecture, including gargoyles and an imposing octagonal tower. The sprawling gardens play host to a chapel, several lakes, grottos, and a network of secret tunnels. You will also find one of the most photographed landmarks in Portugal, the initiation well that was used for ceremonial rituals, and its remarkable spiral staircase. Your expert guide will help you decode the symbols which point to the influence of the Freemasons and the Knights Templar. 

 

Following a stop for lunch in the historic center of Sintra, you will travel to your final venue: the Vila Palace, or National Palace. This sumptuous Royal residence is remarkably well preserved and showcases a mix of architectural styles that are a testament to the tastes of the different inhabitants over the centuries. Weaving through the intricately decorated rooms, your guide will help you gain an understanding of what life was like for the Kings and Queens who called the palace home.

 

Your car and driver will be on hand throughout the entire day trip, dropping you off at your hotel in Lisbon.

For a more comprehensive exploration outside Lisbon, we recommend considering our Sintra Cascais and Cabo da Roca excursion. 

Our private tours are limited exclusively to travelers in your party. They are designed to provide a learning experience that is completely tailored to you and your traveling companions. Private tours give you more flexibility with scheduling (you decide when the walk best fits your trip), the ability to tailor your itinerary (we'll work to match the itinerary to the interests and dynamics of your group), and more personalized time with your guide.

The guide and driver will pick you up and drop you off at your accommodations in Lisbon. 

Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your expert will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to be prepared; we encourage keeping an eye on the weather and bringing along an umbrella, sunscreen, appropriate clothes, water, and a hat as needed. To be noted, Sintra has its own microclimate and as such tends to be significantly colder than Lisbon even in Summer. You should bear this in mind and dress accordingly for your excursion.

 

We will book your tickets as part of this tour, but lunch and additional refreshments will be at your expense. 

While we don't cover a large distance on the tour, nor do we take a fast pace, Lisbon is the City of Seven Hills and Sintra is no exception. We will be walking up stairs and on inclines, as well as on cobblestoned streets. We can adapt the route of our private tours based on the ages, needs, and interests of travelers in your party. If you have mobility concerns, please feel free to contact us before booking; we can help you decide on the best tour for your needs.