Sintra Palaces Tour: Pena Palace & Castle of the Moors

See Sintra's five major landmarks and two beaches in one guided day

A full-day tour of Sintra combining palaces, a medieval castle and coastal villages, with pickup and dropoff at Portela de Sintra train station. You visit Pena National Palace (interior or gardens), see Castle of the Moors and Monserrate Palace from outside, pass Quinta da Regaleira and Seteais, then stop at the clifftop village of Azenhas do Mar and Praia das Maçãs beach. A local guide provides historical context at each stop while you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Pena National Palace2h
2. Sintra National Palace10m
3. Castle of the Moors15m
4. Quinta da Regaleira15m
5. Monserrate Palace15m

Explore Sintra's palaces and beaches

• Visit Pena National Palace park and terraces
• Optional interior visit to Pena Palace
• See Sintra National Palace exterior
• View Castle of the Moors from two perspectives
• See Quinta da Regaleira exterior
• Visit garden and take photos
• Stop at Monserrate Palace for photos
• Visit Praia das Appleãs beach and take pictures
• Enjoy view of seaside town and take photos

The experience

You start at Portela de Sintra train station, where the guide meets you and the day unfolds through the region's most recognizable sites. Pena National Palace sits first: you choose between walking the gardens and terraces around the exterior, or booking interior access on a timed slot to see the rooms themselves. The guide explains what you're looking at either way. From there, the route takes you past Castle of the Moors at two different viewpoints so you see how the medieval fortress sits on the ridge, then by Quinta da Regaleira and its grounds, Seteais Palace, and Monserrate Palace: all viewed from outside with the guide's historical notes at each one.

The second half shifts to the coast. You stop at Monserrate's gardens to walk and photograph, then head down to Praia das Maçãs, a beach known for its natural setting and quiet atmosphere. The final stop is Azenhas do Mar, a small seaside village perched on the cliffs where you can take pictures and absorb the view over the coastline. The whole route covers five to six hours in a vehicle with air conditioning, so the pace lets you absorb each place without rushing between them.

Tickets to the monuments are optional and paid separately. The tour price covers the guide, transport and the stops themselves. Children from age twelve are welcome. Meals are your own cost. The route includes both cultural landmarks and natural scenery, so it works whether you want to focus on history or balance sightseeing with coastal time.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• local guide for the full day.
• pickup and dropoff at Portela de Sintra train station.
• stops at Pena National Palace, Castle of the Moors, Quinta da Regaleira, Seteais, Monserrate Palace, Praia das Maçãs and Azenhas do Mar.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 18:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (18 to 69 years) · Senior (70 to 85 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mxperience17

Is this one for you?Five to six hours lets you see all five major landmarks and both beaches without backtracking, but leaves your morning or evening free if you're combining this with other plans in the region. Interior access to Pena Palace is optional, so you control whether the tour focuses on exteriors and gardens or includes the palace rooms.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

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.

Can I go inside Pena National Palace or do I only see it from outside?

Pena National Palace offers two options on the same tour. You can walk the gardens and terraces around the exterior and access the viewpoints, or you can book timed-slot entry to the interior rooms and follow the visiting circuit with descriptions of what each space holds. The choice is yours at checkout.

What is Castle of the Moors and why does the tour stop there twice?

Castle of the Moors is a medieval fortress that sits on a ridge above Sintra. The guide takes you to two different viewpoints so you see how the castle sits on the landscape from different angles, and explains its historical role in the region.

Do the beaches have facilities or are they just for photos?

Praia das Maçãs and Azenhas do Mar are both working beaches where you stop to walk, take pictures and experience the atmosphere. Azenhas do Mar is a small village built on the cliffs overlooking the coast, so you get a view as well as beach access.

Is lunch included, or do I need to bring food?

Meals are not included in the tour price, so you'll need to arrange and pay for lunch yourself. The stops give you time to eat at a café or bring your own food.

How does pickup work if I'm arriving by train?

The tour includes pickup and dropoff at Portela de Sintra train station, so if you arrive by train from Lisbon or elsewhere, the guide will meet you there at the start and return you to the same station at the end of the day.