Sintra: Pena Palace & Quinta da Regaleira Private Tour from Lisbon

Two Palaces & a Masonic Labyrinth: Sintra's Hidden Architecture in One Day

You visit Pena Palace and its park in the morning with free exploration time; break for lunch in Sintra's old town where you can taste local pastries or visit a third palace on your own; then spend the afternoon at Quinta da Regaleira with a map and no schedule, discovering its wells and symbolic architecture at your own pace. Transport, three major entries, and a multilingual guide are all arranged.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Pena National Palace2h 30m · entry included
2. Sintra1h 30m
3. Quinta da Regaleira2h · entry included

Explore Sintra Palaces and Parks

• Walk in Pena Palace Park
• Explore Pena National Palace
• Lunch break in Sintra old town
• Optional visit to Sintra National Palace
• Explore Quinta da Regaleira Park and Palace

The experience

"The palace sits so high you can see the whole coast from the terrace," the guide says as the minivan climbs toward Pena Palace, and he's not exaggerating. You start the morning walking through Pena Park itself, where the trees are old enough that you lose track of where you are, and the palace appears through the fog like it's been waiting. The ticket's already in your pocket. You get free time to wander the rooms and the terraces, no rushing, no group shuffle. The views from up there stay with you.

After that, you drop down into Sintra's old town for lunch. This is where you taste what the place is actually known for: Travesseiro and Queijada, the local pastries that taste like they've been made the same way for three hundred years. You can eat quick or linger. Some people use the break to visit the National Palace of Sintra if they want (that one's not included, but it's right there). The guide gives you the time and the map, and you decide.

Then comes Quinta da Regaleira, and it's a different kind of strange. The guide drops you at the entrance with a map and directions, and you're left to find your own way through the park and palace: the wells, the grottos, the symbols carved into stone that mean something to someone. It's the kind of place where you can spend an hour just looking at one corner and still feel like you've missed something. The tickets are included. You get the afternoon to explore it however you want, which is the only way to really see it.

The drive back to Lisbon takes about forty minutes. You're in an air-conditioned minivan the whole day, so you're not managing your own transport or timing or any of the logistics. The guide handles it all, and they speak multiple languages if that matters to your group.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned minivan transport from Lisbon to Sintra and back.
• entry tickets to Pena Palace and its park.
• entry tickets to Quinta da Regaleira.
• driver/guide for the full day.
• free time to explore each site at your own pace.
• a map and directions at Quinta da Regaleira.
• lunch break in Sintra old town (food and drinks not included).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Portuguese

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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats available

Operated by Inside Lisbon

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see Sintra's two most famous palaces in one day without arranging your own transport, buying tickets separately, or timing yourself: the private minivan and included entries mean you only show up and explore.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

How long is the full day?

The tour runs for a full day. The drive from Lisbon is about 30 minutes each way, and you spend the morning at Pena Palace, midday in Sintra town, and the afternoon at Quinta da Regaleira.

What's included in the ticket price?

Entry to Pena Palace and its park, entry to Quinta da Regaleira, transport in an air-conditioned minivan, and a driver/guide. Lunch is not included, though you have free time to eat in Sintra town.

Can I visit the National Palace of Sintra?

Yes. During your lunch break in old Sintra, you have free time. The National Palace is in the town center, but its entry ticket is separate and not included in the tour price.

Is there time to explore both palaces properly?

You get free time at Pena Palace in the morning and free time at Quinta da Regaleira in the afternoon. The pace is yours: the guide doesn't rush you through either one.

Is the guide multilingual?

The tour may be operated by a multilingual guide, depending on your group's needs. Confirm your language preference when you book.

How does transport work?

A driver/guide picks you up and handles all driving. You travel in an air-conditioned minivan and don't need to arrange your own car or navigate between sites.