Lisbon to Sintra: Pena Palace Tour & Local Sweets with Pickup

Summary

Sintra’s palaces pastry stops and wild gardens on a Lisbon day trip

You’ll wander Sintra’s fairy-tale Pena Palace with skip-the-line entry, sample pastries fresh from Piriquita bakery, sip ginjinha in cobbled streets, and hear local legends from your guide as you explore gardens and castle walls above Lisbon’s bustle. It’s not just sightseeing — it’s tasting history and catching those small moments you’ll remember later.

What’s the experience like?

First thing I noticed was the air — cooler than Lisbon, sort of mossy, like stone after rain. We’d just rolled into Sintra and our guide, João, was already pointing out the odd shapes of the hills. He said something about “the mountains hiding stories,” which sounded poetic but also… true? The van dropped us near Pena Palace. Bright colors everywhere — yellow that almost hurt my eyes in the sun. João handed us our entry tickets (no line, thank god) and led us up winding paths where you could smell wet earth and eucalyptus. I kept lagging behind just to look at those towers through the trees.

Inside Pena Palace it felt like walking through someone’s fever dream — tiles, arches, sudden bursts of color. João told us about a king who loved opera; I tried to imagine him here in these echoing halls. Sometimes the group would go quiet and you’d just hear distant birds or wind rattling leaves against old stone. Afterward we wandered through the gardens — ferns taller than me, little ponds with lilies floating crookedly. I touched a wall and it was cold even though the sun was out.

We only stopped outside Quinta da Regaleira for photos (shared tour rules), but João spun this story about secret societies and underground tunnels that made me wish we could sneak in. There was a quick stop at Seteais Palace too — not inside, just enough time to see its white arches against all that green. Then back into town for what he called “mandatory pastry research.” Piriquita smelled like sugar and butter before we even got inside. I tried a travesseiro (soft, almondy) and washed it down with ginjinha — cherry liqueur that burned in a good way. Li laughed when I tried to say “obrigado” properly (I probably butchered it). We finished by peeking at Sintra National Palace’s pointy chimneys from the street; João joked they looked like giant ice cream cones.

I still think about how quiet it got sometimes up there above Lisbon — just wind and those weirdly shaped clouds over the hills. If you’re into stories layered over old stones (and don’t mind your shoes getting dusty), this half-day trip from Lisbon is worth it for more than just the views.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Sintra's highlights and landmarks

• Arrive at Sintra Mountains
• Visit Sabuga Fountain
• Stop at Moorish Castle viewpoint
• Tour Pena Palace and gardens
• Walk through Sintra historic centre
• Taste pastries at Piriquita
• Try ginjinha and browse crafts
• See exterior of National Palace of Sintra
• Stop outside Quinta da Regaleira
• Visit Seteais Palace gardens
• View Monserrate Palace exterior

Top questions

How long does the Sintra half-day tour from Lisbon take?

The tour lasts approximately half a day, including travel time between Lisbon and Sintra.

Is hotel pickup included on this Sintra day trip?

Pickup is included for private tours from Lisbon, Cascais or Sintra; shared tours do not include hotel pickup.

Are entrance tickets to Pena Palace included?

Yes, entry tickets to Pena Palace and Park are included in all options.

Does this tour visit Quinta da Regaleira inside?

The private tour includes interior access; shared tours stop only for exterior photos.

Are food or drinks provided during the tour?

No full meals are provided but there is a stop at Piriquita bakery for traditional pastries and an optional ginjinha tasting.

Is transportation air-conditioned?

Yes, transportation is by air-conditioned vehicle with up to 8 people per van.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

How many people are on each shared tour group?

The shared version has a maximum of 8 travelers per group.

What’s included

Your day includes skip-the-line entry to Pena Palace with guided visit through its palace rooms and parkland gardens, comfortable air-conditioned transport from Lisbon (with pickup for private options), bottled water on board, short photo stops at iconic sites like Quinta da Regaleira and Seteais Palace, plus time to try regional pastries at Piriquita bakery before heading back down toward city life again.