Sintra: Private tour from Lisbon
Discover the coastal splendor and fairy tale palaces that lie outside of Lisbon on a private full-day trip to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril. Alongside your private guide, you’ll visit the UNESCO-listed Pena National Palace — one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal — and then explore the historical center of Sintra village. See, too, Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Europe and the dramatic caverns of Boca do Inferno (Hell’s Mouth). Spend free time enjoying the coastal village of Cascais and receive undivided attention from your guide on this private tour.
• Private full-day trip to Sintra, Cascais and Estoril from Lisbon
• Gaze at the crashing Atlantic Ocean from Cabo da Roca, Europe’s westernmost point
• Spend free time wandering around the coastal village of Cascais
• Receive personalized attention from a private guide
What’s included
- Local driver/guide
- Private tour
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Pickup details
Departure Point: Your accommodation in Lisbon, Cascais, or Estoril
Dates: Daily
Return point: Returns to original departure point
Book your tour here
What to Expect
At your Lisbon hotel, board an air-conditioned coach destined for the UNESCO-listed Pena National Palace — a concoction of lemon-yellow towers and colorful domes. On a tour of the palace, you’ll visit opulent chambers and courtyards while listening to history-rich commentary from your guide. Then, descend the mist-shrouded mountain to Sintra village and spend free time sampling travesseiros (sweet Portuguese pastries), or gazing down at the magical Quinta da Regaleira grotto. During the drive to Cabo da Roca — Europe’s westernmost point — enjoy the scenery of the National Park of Sintra-Cascais and capture photographs of Boca da Inferno (Hell’s Mouth) — a dramatic tangle of caverns carved by the Atlantic Ocean. Proceed to Cascais, a charming coastal village, and explore its beaches and boutiques at your leisure. Following recommendation from your private guide, choose a local restaurant in which to purchase Portuguese meals. Before returning to your Lisbon hotel, pass Casino Estoril — the largest casino in Europe — and see the structure that inspired Ian Fleming to write the James Bond novel, Casino Royal.
Park and National Palace of Pena
Visit to the “Palácio da Pena” (Pena Palace) – considered as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. It stands on the top of a huge cliff at 500m of altitude in the Sintra mountains and displays a wide variety of architectural styles. It was built in the 19th century by D. Fernando II, on the ruins of an old convent. In addition to the majestic interior, the castle park features plants and trees from various parts of the world as well as unusual paths and stone benches. It has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Sintra Village Historical Center
Itinerary Visit Sintra Village Historical Center with free time to taste the traditional “Travesseiros de Sintra” The Historical Village of Sintra is one of the most known and romantic Portuguese villages. Due to its palaces, woods and the fog typical of its mountains, Sintra has become a magical place with countless legends to tell. You will have free time to see this beautiful village and also the small and charming traditional shops, antique shops, restaurants and historic cafes but above all the landscape that has already inspired countless artists, writers and kings.
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Quinta da Regaleira
Quinta da Regaleira, with its palace and many places of charm and mystery is one of the most sought after places in Sintra. It is about four hectares of land, where buildings arise amidst diverse trees and beautiful gardens and what awakens an atmosphere of mystery and secrecy are all the symbolisms that are scattered throughout all buildings. One of the great attractions is the Initiation Well, also called “inverted tower”. It has a spiral staircase with 27 meters of depth that represents the axis mundi – axis that connects the Earth and the Sky.
1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Cabo da Roca
Drive through the National Park of Sintra-Cascais until we reach Cabo da Roca (Roca Cape). We will pass through the wonderful Sintra National Park until arriving at Cabo da Roca, the most western point of continental Europe that was mentioned by our acclaimed Luís de Camões as the place “Where the earth ends and the sea begins.” It is a place of natural beauty, with imposing cliffs of 150 meters high. A few centuries ago, there was a fort that played an important role in the defense of Lisbon and the third oldest lighthouse on the Portuguese coast is still here in operation. Here the landscape is breathtaking and an absolute bliss for photography lovers.
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Cascais Village Historical Center
Here you’ll have free time to see Cascais Village and Boca do Inferno. Cascais is an old fishing village that since the nineteenth century has developed a lot, but in the twentieth century it became the well-known village that is nowadays and many nicknamed the Portuguese Riviera.
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Casino Estoril (Pass By)
Panoramic view over Casino Estoril. Estoril has one of the most beautiful leisure areas by the sea with fine sand beaches and crystal clear water. Along the coast we find besides an extensive beach, Casino Estoril, the largest casino in Europe but also where the famous secret agent, James Bond, was conceived. Portugal was a neutral country in the 2nd World War, which attracted people from the spy networks on both sides of the coin. This made Estoril a veritable nest of war spies. It was at this time, that Ian Fleming stayed at the Hotel Palácio de Estoril and spent his time at the Casino, where he met the Morse code, lived with spies in the bars and took Martini with them. In this way, he had the main references to create James Bond, who is also always accompanied by his Martini on the scene.