Tour Details
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
-
- Pena Palace
- Sintra
- National Palace of Sintra
- Pena Palace Shuttle
- Biester Palace
Photos & Highlights
- Spend a day in Sintra accompanied by an historian
- Includes skip the line tickets and private car service to/from Lisbon
Select a date
Tour Description
Nestled amongst the pine-covered hills of the Serra de Sintra, this picturesque town is home to an impressive variety of architecturally significant castles and beautiful gardens. Just a short drive from Lisbon, you will uncover the magic and mystery of this UNESCO World Heritage site through 3 of its most famous monuments: the National Palace, the Biester Palace, and the Pena Palace. This Sintra day trip with a private car from Lisbon enables you to skip the tourist lines and discover the historical summer retreat of the Portuguese elite in the company of a knowledgeable local historian.
You will start your day trip in your hotel in Lisbon, where you will meet your guide and your private driver, and you will begin your journey on a scenic route to Sintra. The first stop will be Pena Palace, the famously colorful hilltop castle, surrounded by over 200 hectares of richly planted forest with amazing views of the surrounding area. The Romanticist castle features a variety of architectural techniques and is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. Our skip-the-line tickets will give us ample time to tour the interior and admire the eclectic artwork and decoration, which features painted tiles and stucco sand trompe-l'oeil painted walls. You will hear about its fascinating history, which dates back to the Middle Ages when a chapel was constructed on this site after an apparition of the Virgin Mary occurred.
After Pena, you will continue to the secluded and enigmatic Biester Palace, a Romantic and mysterious masterpiece. Built in the late 19th century and opened to the public in 2022, the palace offers a quiet and less crowded experience. Your guide will take you through its richly decorated interiors, shaped by Leandro Braga and Luigi Manini, and show you the hidden layers of symbolism tied to the Knights Templar, Christianity, and esoteric traditions. You will also visit the lush park with its exotic plants and the mystical Pena Cave.
Following a stop for lunch in the historic center of Sintra, you will travel to your final venue: the Vila Palace, or National Palace. This sumptuous Royal residence is remarkably well preserved and showcases a mix of architectural styles that are a testament to the tastes of the different inhabitants over the centuries. Weaving through the intricately decorated rooms, your guide will help you gain an understanding of what life was like for the Kings and Queens who called the palace home.
Your car and driver will be on hand throughout the entire day trip, dropping you off at your hotel in Lisbon.
- Pena Palace
- Biester Palace
- Sintra town
- National Palace
This tour includes tickets to Pena Palace, Biester Palace, and the National Palace.
This Sintra private tour includes a car service that will pick you up at your accommodation in Lisbon. Please tell us your hotel or apartment address in the 'Additional Details' box while adding the tour to your shopping cart. If you are arriving by cruise, please provide the name of your cruise line along with the arrival date and time.
Where do we meet? Where does it end?
The guide and driver will pick you up and drop you off at your accommodations in Lisbon.
What if it’s raining?
Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your expert will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to be prepared; we encourage keeping an eye on the weather and bringing along an umbrella, sunscreen, appropriate clothes, water, and a hat as needed. To be noted, Sintra has its own microclimate and as such tends to be significantly colder than Lisbon even in Summer. You should bear this in mind and dress accordingly for your excursion.
Are there additional costs?
We will book your tickets as part of this tour, but lunch and additional refreshments will be at your expense.
Accessibility
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Is this suitable for children and/or travelers with mobility challenges?
While we don't cover a large distance on the tour, nor do we take a fast pace, Lisbon is the City of Seven Hills and Sintra is no exception. We will be walking up stairs and on inclines, as well as on cobblestoned streets. We can adapt the route of our private tours based on the ages, needs, and interests of travelers in your party. If you have mobility concerns, please feel free to contact us before booking; we can help you decide on the best tour for your needs.
Cancellation Policy
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
–
47 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Raquel was extremely well informed on Portuguese history generally, and of the three palaces in particular that we visited. She was also very sensitive to the physical limitations of the adults and the attention limitations of the young teens, and always did her best to strike the right balance. A wonderful day.
Laurence w
Aug 1, 2024
OMG! Estela was fantastic! My wife and I are so glad we choose this Full-Day in Sintra with Context Travel. Visiting the Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and the National Palace of Sintra are a must visit for those visiting Lisbon. We do not like crowds and I am so glad we went this private tour, worth every penny! Watching people struggle up the hills from the train station or from where the Tuk Tuk's drop you off. Much easier getting dropped off in front of each of the entrances. Back to the tour, Estela had so much information and helped guide easily through the rooms of the Places and the gardens as well. We absolutely appreciated the wealth of information she provided. Knowing the history helped so much in understanding what we were visiting. Besides, making it extremely easy to navigate the crowds and to make sure we did not miss the important rooms of the castles, we got a much needed lunch break. Estela found the perfect spot in front of the National Palace, where we can have a lovely conversation and some good food. The town of Sintra was adorable with so much history. This tour is so worth it, its worry-free and so well organized, so thank you Context and of course, Estela!
Glen
Jul 31, 2024
Excellent knowledge from our guide, lots of interesting things to see and experience .
Rosemary
Jul 1, 2024
