Pena Palace & Quinta da Regaleira tour from Lisbon

Two of Sintra's most famous palaces in one morning, with a guide who knows their history

A half-day guided tour from Lisbon to Sintra visits Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira with a local guide and private vehicle transport. The tour runs five hours and covers the two main landmarks most travelers want to see. A local guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese tells the stories and history of each site. Minimum age is 18.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Pena National Palace1h 30m
2. Quinta da Regaleira1h 30m

Explore Sintra and its landmarks

• Travel from Lisbon to Sintra
• Visit Pena Palace and gardens
• Explore Sintra village and surroundings
• Walk to Quinta da Regaleira
• Visit Quinta da Regaleira or Cascais Village

The experience

You leave Lisbon in a private vehicle with a local guide and drive into the hills toward Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage village that became a royal retreat centuries ago. The guide talks through the history and culture of the region as you travel, so by the time you arrive at Pena Palace you already know why it matters. The palace itself sits on a hilltop above Sintra, built in the 19th century by King Ferdinand II as a Romanticist fantasy mixing Gothic, Moorish and Renaissance styles into something that looks like it stepped out of a fairy tale. You walk through the palace and its gardens, seeing the colorful architecture and the views back across the forested hills.

From Pena Palace, the guide takes you to Quinta da Regaleira, another of Sintra's most visited sites. This one is a mansion and estate built around the turn of the 20th century, filled with hidden pathways, gardens and rooms designed around mystical themes. The guide walks you through the grounds and explains what you are looking at: the symbolism, the history, the stories locals tell about the place. If tickets to Quinta da Regaleira sell out on the day you book, the tour visits Cascais Village instead, a coastal town west of Lisbon with its own historic center and beaches.

The whole tour is five hours from start to finish. You travel by private vehicle the whole way, so there is no waiting for public transport or figuring out which train goes where. The guide handles the route and the timing. You show up at the meeting point and the day unfolds around the two palaces and the villages between them.

What’s included

• Local guide in your choice of English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• private vehicle transport from Lisbon to Sintra and between the two palaces.
• entry to Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira (or Cascais Village if Regaleira tickets are unavailable).

Options for this experience

3 options

Entrance tickets are not part of the priceGuide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 08:00

Tickets for the Park and Pena GardensGuide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 08:00

Option to upgrade so Regaleira is includedGuide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 08:00

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Tuesday and FridayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Audio guideFrench, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by RoadTripLisboa

Is this one for you?You are on a short trip to Lisbon with a free morning or afternoon and want to see Sintra's most famous landmarks without renting a car or navigating trains. A shared group tour with a local guide means you travel with other visitors and the guide sets the pace and the stops, so the day is structured and you do not have to plan the route or the timing yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Pena Palace actually like when you get there?

Pena Palace is a 19th-century royal residence built on a hilltop above Sintra, famous for its bright, colorful Romanticist architecture mixing Gothic, Moorish and Renaissance styles. You walk through the palace rooms and its surrounding gardens, which are filled with lush forest and hidden pathways. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Portugal's most visited attractions.

Can I visit both Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira in one tour?

Yes. The tour includes both landmarks in a single five-hour outing. You spend time at Pena Palace first, then move on to Quinta da Regaleira, a mansion and estate with gardens and rooms built around mystical themes. If Quinta da Regaleira tickets are sold out, the tour visits Cascais Village instead.

How much walking is involved?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You walk through Pena Palace and its gardens, and through the grounds and pathways of Quinta da Regaleira, but the pace is set by the group and the guide.

What do I need to bring or wear?

Dress code is smart casual. Wear comfortable shoes for walking around the palaces and gardens. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need them, though the tour includes private vehicle transport between all stops.

Does the tour include food or drinks?

Food and drinks are not included in the tour price. You can purchase them in Sintra or Cascais during the outing if you wish.