Private Sintra Palaces Tour from Lisbon
Discover Sintra’s palaces, UNESCO heritage and romantic architecture with a private driver-guide
- Private vehicle and local driver-guide exclusively for your group (up to 8 people).
Duration
8 Hours
Tour Type
Private
Group Size
Máx. 8px/Van
Pickup & Drop-off
Lisbon city centre (outside centre on request)
Main highlights
Sintra palaces and monuments (you choose which to enter)
Price
From €275 per private vehicle (see pricing below)
Rated 5/5 on TripAdvisor.
based on +3.000 reviews
Tour Overview
This private Sintra palaces tour from Lisbon is ideal for travellers who want to focus on Sintra’s iconic monuments, romantic architecture and UNESCO cultural landscape—without rushing or following a fixed group itinerary. Sintra offers many highlights, but visiting everything in one day is rarely realistic. This tour is therefore built around your priorities. Choose the palaces you want to visit (for example Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira), and your driver-guide will help optimise timing, routing and stops for a smooth and enjoyable day.
Why travellers choose this private Lisbon, Sintra & Cascais tour
- Private vehicle and driver-guide (only your group)
- Flexible plan based on your preferred palaces
- Local advice on timing, routes and ticket logistics
- Ideal for couples, families and small groups (up to 8 people/van)
Sample Itinerary (Flexible)
This is a suggested plan. Exact timing may vary depending on traffic, weather and your preferences.
- 08:30–09:00 — Pickup at your accommodation (Lisbon city centre)
- Sintra historic centre (optional walk / coffee)
- First palace or monument visit (e.g. Pena Palace or Moorish Castle)
- Lunch break (not included; recommendations provided)
- Second main visit (e.g. Quinta da Regaleira or Monserrate Palace)
- Viewpoints / photo stops / historic centre
- 17:00–17:30 — Return to Lisbon
Important: Some attractions require timed-entry tickets. Tell us your priorities so we can advise the best visiting order.
Palaces & Highlights
If your goal is embrace the history and architecture of Sintra this is a private tour that might be exactly what you were looking for!
Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape known for its extraordinary palaces and gardens. On this private Sintra palaces tour, you can choose which monuments to prioritise (entrance tickets not included), such as:
Pena Palace (Palácio da Pena)
The crown jewel of the artist king! Up on the mountain of Sintra, mingled with the ruins of an old monastery, a king built a palace as a token of love for is queen and his country. Based in romantic style but mingling other symbols and cultures, Pena Palace is, undoubtly the ex libris of Sintra, sternly regarding the village in its bright yellow and red colors.
Moorish Castle
A beautiful medieval fortress built by the Moors in the 9th century and that still looks upon the village. With its complete wall and watchtower, you can have the experience of a medieval soldier looking at the distance of the wonderful landscape.
National Palace of Sintra
The eldest of the Sintra palaces. The first part was built by the Moors in the 11th century, and later it was expanded in the 14th and 16th century, when it gained its one-of-a-kind chimneys. With a mixture of styles that crosses 10 centuries, this former royal residence is a stunning landmark of the daily life in medieval times.
Monserrate Palace (Palácio de Monserrate)
Built in the 19th century by Sir Francis Cook, and english aristocrat that fell in love with Sintra, this palave is the epithomy of the romantic style that was embraced in that century, with a prsitine desing without any other influence, surronded by luxurious gardens.
Quinta da Regaleira (Palace & Gardens)
Built in 1910 by a rich merchant, Regaleira is the door to all the mysteries of Sintra. The neo-gothic and neo-manueline palacre rises in the almost wild gardens, surronded by caves which are connected by tunnels… until you find the Initiation Well, the root of the legend that connects Regaleira to the Free Masons.
Queluz Palace (Optional, near Lisbon)
A king that admired Louis XIV and a palace to be built, and the result is Queluz Palace, a 18th century palace that was also an offical residence of the royal family before and after the Napoleon Invasions. In neoclassical rococo, its the only palace of Portugal in that specific style. Queluz Palace is sometimes referred to as the “Portuguese Versailles”.
Included
- 8 Hours Tour
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- Local driver-guide
- Pick-up / Drop-off at the place you are staying in Lisbon city centre (outside of Lisbon city centre requires analysis)
- Mandatory Insurances
- Insurance, fuel, tolls and parking
Not included:
- Meals and drinks
- Entrance tickets to palaces and monuments
- Tips (optional)
Note: Timed-entry tickets are required for popular sites (especially Pena Palace). Advance booking is strongly recommended.
Tour Prices (Per Private Vehicle)
Prices are per vehicle, not per person.
Pickup outside Lisbon city centre available on request (additional fee may apply).
Cancellation of the service less than 24 hours prior to the reservation is non-refundable.
contact us and book your tour
FAQ
Is this a private Sintra palaces tour from Lisbon?
Yes. This is a private full-day Sintra palaces tour from Lisbon with a driver-guide and a private vehicle exclusively for your group (up to 8 people/van).
How long is the tour?
The tour lasts 8 hours, including driving time, visits and stops.
What time does the tour start?
Standard pickup is 08:30–09:00 in central Lisbon. Other start times can be arranged on request.
Where is pickup included?
Pickup and drop-off are included for Lisbon city centre accommodations. Pickup outside central Lisbon is available on request.
Which palaces will we visit?
You choose the priorities. Popular options include Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Moorish Castle, Monserrate Palace and the Sintra National Palace.
Are entrance tickets included?
No. Tickets and meals are not included. Some sites require timed-entry tickets, so booking in advance is recommended.
Can we visit Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira in one day?
Often yes, depending on ticket time slots, queues and how much time you want at each site. We’ll advise the best order.
Is Queluz Palace included?
Queluz Palace is optional and can be included if timing allows. Please request it when booking.
Is the price per person or per group?
Prices are per private vehicle (per group), based on the number of people.
What happens if it rains?
The tour runs year-round. We can adjust the schedule to make the day comfortable and safe.
Do you provide child seats?
Child seats are available on request. Please tell us the child’s age and weight when booking.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellation of the service less than 24 hours prior to the reservation is non-refundable.
Reviews
Guests often mention our smooth planning, helpful palace advice and the comfort of exploring Sintra in a private vehicle with a local driver-guide.
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