A full day in Sintra with pre-booked tickets for Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, and Quinta da Regaleira, a private guide, and a vehicle that's just for your group, air-conditioned throughout.
It's a full day on foot, with real walking and stairs between the monuments and grounds — wear comfortable shoes. We also stop in Sintra's historic center and drive past the Seteais and Monserrate palaces on the way. Pickup is anywhere in the greater Lisbon area, at no extra charge.
You are not left to find your own way around Sintra. There's a walking trail connecting the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace, so you'll cover that stretch on foot; your driver-guide takes care of getting you to and from Quinta da Regaleira. The walking continues once you're inside each site too — the ramparts at the Moorish Castle, the terraces at Pena Palace, and the gardens and initiation well at Regaleira.
Trip Highlights at a Glance
- Pre-booked tickets for Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, and Quinta da Regaleira
- A full day on foot, about 9 hours door to door
- Real walking and stairs between the monuments and grounds — comfortable shoes recommended
- Pickup anywhere in the greater Lisbon area, at no extra charge
Duca has been running private tours in Portugal since 2003, and our guides know Sintra's monuments well, from the best paths between them to how to avoid the busiest hours. The three sites span very different centuries — the Moorish Castle's walls go back to the 9th century, Pena Palace was built as a Romantic summer residence in the 1840s, and Regaleira's gardens date from the early 1900s.
Itinerary
Moorish Castle
We start at the old Moorish walls above Sintra, with stairs up to the ramparts and views over the hills to Pena Palace in the distance.
Pena Palace
Next is Pena Palace itself, with your ticket covering the Essential Visit to the New Palace — the colorful towers and terraces that give Sintra its postcard view.
Quinta da Regaleira
We continue to Quinta da Regaleira, with its gardens, grottoes, and the initiation well built into the hillside.
Sintra town and the drive back
We finish with a walk through Sintra's historic center, then drive back past the Seteais and Monserrate palaces before heading to Lisbon.
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
- Guided tour inside the monuments
- Tickets included for Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, and Quinta da Regaleira
Exclusions
- Food and drinks
Please note
This is a full day with real walking and stairs between the monuments, so it isn't wheelchair accessible and it's not the best fit if you have a heart condition or find stairs difficult. Minimum age is 13. Not set up for pets. Pickup is anywhere in the greater Lisbon area, at no extra charge — just tell us your hotel name and address (or your street address, if you're not staying in a hotel) when you book.
Prefer a shorter day in Sintra? We also run a Sintra, Cascais & Roca tour that mixes the palaces with the coast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you pick us up?
Anywhere in the greater Lisbon area — hotels and private accommodation both work. Tell us your address when you book, no extra charge for pickup.
How long does the tour take?
About 9 hours, door to door.
Which sites do we visit?
Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, and Quinta da Regaleira, all with tickets included. We also walk through Sintra's historic center and drive past the Seteais and Monserrate palaces.
Is there a lot of walking?
Yes — expect real walking and stairs between the monuments and around the grounds. Comfortable shoes make a big difference.
What's included in the price?
Tickets for the three main sites, a guided tour inside them, private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, a dedicated driver-guide, bottled water, WiFi on board, and the insurance required by the Portuguese Tourism Board. Food and drinks along the way aren't included.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
No, it isn't — there are stairs and uneven ground throughout.
Can we bring a young child?
No — the minimum age is 13, because of the amount of walking and stairs involved.
Do we walk between the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace?
Yes — there's a walking trail connecting the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace, so that stretch is genuinely on foot. Your driver-guide takes care of getting you to and from Quinta da Regaleira and back to Lisbon, and the walking continues once you're inside each site: the ramparts at the Moorish Castle, the terraces at Pena Palace, and the gardens and initiation well at Regaleira.
Is nine hours enough to see all three sites without rushing?
Yes. Your tickets are pre-booked for set time slots, so you skip the ticket lines, and the day is planned around the opening hours of each site rather than a fixed script — there is room to linger where you like.
Who will be our guide?
One of our experienced driver-guides, in English or Portuguese.
