About this experience
I invite you to visit the picturesque Sintra, nestled among pine-covered hills. You will stroll through the Old Town, see exquisite palaces, extravagant villas, magnificent decorative gardens, and understand why this place has been favored by Portugal's elite.
What to Expect
Secrets of the Mysterious Estate
From the train station, we will walk through the miniature streets of the historic center to the palace-park complex of the 19th century Quinta da Regaleira. You will see a mysterious garden with underground secret passages, a lake, ancient towers, and chapels. You will learn about the history of the castle, descend a spiral staircase to a multilevel stone well, and unravel the mysteries of this mystical place associated with secret Masonic ceremonies.
Pena Palace — Interiors and Architecture
Your visit to the whimsical royal Pena Palace, built on high picturesque hills according to the design of Fernando II, will be a true feast of color and unusual architectural forms. This is one of the early examples of romantic landscape architecture of the 19th century. You will be impressed by its fantastic pseudo-medieval style with elements of Gothic, Renaissance, and neo-Islamic architecture.
Sintra Flavors
Like in any typical Portuguese town, Sintra has its traditional sweets: layered pastries "travesseiro" with egg cream and pastries made from fresh cheese "queijadas". If you wish, we will visit a cafe where they are prepared the best! I will also show you places where meat and fish are cooked excellently. Furthermore, recently several vegan cafes have opened in Sintra. So, you definitely won't go hungry!)
Organization Details
- Meeting at Sintra's train station. There is regular and inexpensive railway communication between Lisbon and Sintra. Trains depart from the Rossio station in the center of Lisbon. The journey takes 40 minutes, round-trip ticket cost is 4.30 euros.
- Food, drinks, and entrance tickets are not included in the tour price: Regaleira Palace and Park — 6 euros for adults, 4 euros for children aged 6-17 and seniors, Pena Palace and Park — 14 euros for adults, 12.50 euros for children aged 6-17 and seniors. Children under 6 years old go free.
- The tour is on foot and is not suitable for young children and people with mobility difficulties.
