Private Tour to Sintra from Lisbon Palaces, Gardens & Coast

5 Hours Round trip from Portela de Sintra - Train Station Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Private half-day tour of Sintra with local guide and driver
  • 02 Choose one palace to visit inside
  • 03 See landmark sites including Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors
  • 04 Explore Sintra’s historic center and traditional pastry culture
  • 05 Enjoy scenic viewpoints across the Sintra Hills
  • 06 Travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle with pickup and drop-off included

Discover the highlights of Sintra on a private half-day tour from Lisbon, combining royal palaces, dramatic hilltop views, and the rugged beauty of the Atlantic coast. With private transport and a local guide, you can explore the region’s history, architecture, and traditions while enjoying a flexible experience tailored to your group.

Choose one Sintra palace to visit inside, then continue through the town’s historic center, scenic viewpoints, and landmark sites such as Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors. Depending on the day’s route, you may also venture toward the coast to admire striking cliffs and ocean views.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Hours
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Lisbon, Serra de Sintra
Languages English, Portuguese, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

The Town of Sintra is the heart of Sintra. Take some time to visit the old center and try the traditional pastries "Queijada" and "Travesseiro".

Lunch and snacks not included.Standing in the historical heart of Sintra, this is the best-preserved medieval royal residence in Portugal, being inhabited more or less continuously from at least the early 15th century to the late 19th century.Built by the Moors in the 8th and 9th centuries, it was an important strategic point during the Reconquista, and was taken by Christian forces after the fall of Lisbon in 1147.One of the most well-known attractions in Sintra and perhaps in Portugal. Sitting at the top of the Sintra Hills, it's privileged location represents the monarchy at it's high in Portugal. A magnificient and exuberant Palace stands in the middle of a 33 hectares (82 acres) natural park, considered by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. Visiting is optional but recommended.The second most well-known attraction in Sintra. Incredible property with a mix and mash of different architectural styles and some deep stories involving secret societies, templars and millionars. Home to the most photographed place in Sintra, the Initiation Well.The Seteais Palace is a neoclassical palace operating nowadays as a luxury hotel known as the Tivoli Palácio de Seteais Hotel. It's gardens rival those of famous french palaces and the view from behind it's iconic arch is a must-see.Check out one of the best beaches in the Sintra Region. A settlement built on the cliff's face resembling Santorini is the big selling point.This place is the western-most point of Continental Europe. The views of the rugged landscape, dominated by cliffs and low vegetation are definitely worth of your attention. Behold the place "Where the earth ends and the sea begins"

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Portela de Sintra - Train Station 2 cities · 5 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Private transportation
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Local Tour Guide and Driver
  • Pick-up and Drop-off at your Hotel or Airbnb (in Lisbon, Cascais & Sintra) or Meeting Point
  • All mandatory insurance according to Portuguese law
  • Infant Seats (Boosters)

What's Not Included

  • Pena Palace
  • Quinta da Regaleira
  • Monserrate Palace

Know before you go

  • STROLLER OR PRAM ACCESSIBLE
  • ANIMALS OR PETS ALLOWED
  • PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY
  • INFANT SEATS AVAILABLE
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Groups of more than 6 guests: For your comfort, larger groups will travel in two private vehicles with two local guides. Both vehicles follow the same itinerary and remain together throughout the tour.
  • Operates in all weather conditions; itinerary adjustments may occur due to weather, safety restrictions or temporary road closures.
  • Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended, as Sintra can have cooler temperatures, wind and uneven terrain throughout the year.
  • PLEASE NOTE:

    On this tour, depending on the option you choose (Half Day or Full Day), you are able to visit either one Palace for the 'Half Day Option' or two Palaces for the 'Full Day Option'.

    The '½ Day Tour + Pena Park Tickets' option includes in the final price the tickets to visit the Park of Pena (access to gardens and Palace Terraces, not the interior rooms).

    This way you are able to spend some time inside the Palaces and Gardens of your choice without rushing, while still having some time left to let our guide show you the rest of the Palaces from the outside, stopping at certain strategic viewpoints and other points of interest

    If you would like to extend your experience beyond the scheduled duration to include additional stops or more time at the attractions, your guide will be happy to accommodate whenever possible. Additional time is charged at a flat rate of €65 per hour.

    Sintra has a wide selection of monuments available for visiting.
    If you are unsure which one to select to visit on the inside, you can just ask our guides for recommendations!

    If you choose to select Quinta da Regaleira for visiting on the inside, then it is highly recommended to purchase the tickets online via the official websites ahead of time, because they sell out.

    The tickets are sold using hourly time slots, so if you're not sure which to choose, you can send us a message asking for assistance.
  • Due to the layout of the city of Lisbon, there might be some streets or roads that are inacessible. If your Hotel/Accommodation is located in one of these harder areas, you will be asked to meet the guide at the nearest acessible area.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Portela de Sintra - Train Station, Rua Doutor Félix Alves Pereira 5, Sintra
Tour start
Portela de Sintra - Train Station, Rua Doutor Félix Alves Pereira 5, Sintra
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 5 hours finish where they began, in Portela de Sintra - Train Station.

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