On-Time Return Guarantee
We follow your ship's docking and departure times and build the day around them, so you get back to the port with a safe margin before all aboard. If the schedule shifts on the day, we adjust the plan to protect your return.
Pickup Right at the Pier
Whether you dock at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal in Santa Apolónia and Jardim do Tabaco, or at Alcântara and Rocha Conde de Óbidos, your driver-guide waits just outside the terminal exit with a sign showing your name. There is no taxi line to join and no public bus bay to find.
We visit Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle and Quinta da Regaleira from outside on purpose. Going inside means timed entry tickets and queues that can run long, which is a real risk against a fixed cruise departure. Skipping the queues gives you more time at the viewpoints and along the coast, which is what this route is built for.
Trip Highlights at a Glance
- Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle, seen from outside, plus a stop at Quinta da Regaleira
- Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe
- The coast road past Guincho Beach and Boca do Inferno into Cascais
- About 5 hours door to door, built for cruise passengers and tight schedules
Duca has been running this Sintra-Cascais route since 2003, and our driver-guides know how to make the most of a short window before your ship or flight.
How the Day Runs
- Pickup at your cruise terminal or Lisbon hotel, timed to your ship's schedule
- Sintra: Pena Palace and Moorish Castle viewpoints, and Quinta da Regaleira
- Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe
- Cascais coast road: Guincho Beach and Boca do Inferno
- Return to the port or your hotel, with a safety margin before all aboard
Exact timing depends on your ship's actual docking schedule, whichever cruise line you are sailing with.
What's included
- Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
- A dedicated driver-guide
- Bottled water
- WiFi on board
- Insurance required by the Portuguese Tourism Board
- Parking fees
Check dates and prices for your group
Exclusions
- Entrance tickets (Pena Palace, Moorish Castle, Quinta da Regaleira)
- Food and drinks
Please note
- This is an outside-highlights tour by vehicle, not a ticketed visit inside the monuments. If you'd rather go inside with tickets, ask us about our full-day Sintra tour instead.
- Arriving by cruise ship: give us your ship's name when you book. We track the schedule and time the tour around it, with a guaranteed on-time return to the port.
- Arriving from a hotel: we offer complimentary pickup anywhere in Greater Lisbon.
- An infant seat can be provided on request — just tell us the ages when you book, since infants can't travel on laps.
- The vehicle isn't wheelchair- or stroller-accessible, and some of the stops have no public transport nearby.
- Pets can't travel on this tour.
Frequently asked questions
Do we go inside Pena Palace or Quinta da Regaleira?
Not on this tour — it's built around the best outside viewpoints and photo stops, to fit everything into a half day. If you'd like to go inside with tickets, ask us about the full-day Sintra tour instead.
How long does the tour take?
About 5 hours, door to door.
Where do you pick us up?
If you're arriving by cruise ship, give us the ship's name when you book — we track the schedule and time your pickup around it, with a guaranteed on-time return to the port. If you're staying in a hotel, we offer complimentary pickup anywhere in Greater Lisbon.
Is there a guide with us, or just a driver?
An experienced, English- and Portuguese-speaking driver-guide travels with you the whole way.
What's included in the price?
Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, a dedicated driver-guide, bottled water, WiFi on board, parking fees, and the insurance required by the Portuguese Tourism Board. Entrance tickets and food aren't included.
Can you bring an infant seat?
Yes, on request — just tell us the ages when you book. Infants can't travel on laps, so we'll have a proper seat ready.
Can we bring a pet?
Not on this tour — the vehicle isn't set up for pets.
What happens if our ship arrives late or can't dock because of the weather?
Let us know as soon as you hear about a change. We already watch cruise schedules and shift the pickup time to match. If the ship is delayed, we may need to shorten the tour to protect your return to the port. If it can't dock at all, get in touch and we'll sort out the right option for your booking.
How far is Sintra from the Lisbon cruise port?
About 35 to 45 minutes by private vehicle, depending on traffic and which terminal you dock at.
Is there room for luggage if we're embarking or disembarking that day?
Yes. The vehicle has room for luggage, so this works well for guests starting or ending their cruise in Lisbon. Just let us know how many bags to expect when you book.
Which cruise terminals do you serve?
All of them: the Lisbon Cruise Terminal at Santa Apolónia and Jardim do Tabaco, and the Alcântara and Rocha Conde de Óbidos terminals.
