Hike in Sintra: Pena Palace, Moorish Castle, Quinta da Regaleira
Description
Our immersive journey will take you through the heart of Sintra's enchanting natural beauty and most iconic monuments while uncovering its rich history and culture. I've been exploring these trails since I was a child, and I'm passionate about sharing their secrets with visitors. Walking through Sintra's mountains and it's monuments is a journey through time. We'll uncover the region's spiritual roots, from its ancient sacred sites to the Moorish influences that shaped its landscape. Along the way, I'll share my personal perspective on Sintra's transformation throughout history. I believe that by connecting with the land and its people, we gain a deeper understanding of a place. That's why I love leading hikes in Sintra. It's an opportunity to share my passion for this magical region and to help others create lasting memories. Join me on this tour and let me show you the true heart of this enchanting place.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will start the tour with an Introduction to Sintra's history and a walk through Sintra's historical center.
Moorish Castle Hiking Trail. We begin the trail in Sintra's historical center and hike up the mountain/forest to the Moorish Castle for our guided visit.
Guided visit to Moorish Castle. Learn about the Portuguese-Arabic heritage and the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula and Sintra Mountain.
After our guided visit to Moorish Castle, we will continue walking to Pena Palace
Guided Visit to Pena Palace. Learn the history behind the first and most magnificent piece of romantich archietcture Portugal ever had and discover the impact it had in the development of Sintra has we now know it.
We will walk down this trail until we reach the historical center again and walk to Quinta da Regaleira. Vila Sasseti trail is one of the most iconic trails in this region due to it's exotic vegetation and wilderness. Vila Sasseti it's another romantic property that stands out in the mountain.
Guided visit to Quinta da Regaleira. Learn the history and symbolism behind Sintra's most iconic maçonic property.
After Quinta da Regaleira we walk back to meeting point and the tour ends.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Not suitable for people with limited mobility.
- Not suitable for people not used to walk/hike/practice physical activity.
Reviews(19)
Alexandra was a personable and well informed guide. She was genuinely fun to spend the day with. The hike is challenging, lots of stairs and elevation gain, but luckily, much of it was in the shade. The paths through the gardens were beautiful. We avoided a lot of the crowds except st the sites themselves.
So many of us go to these places, take a bus, stand in line, take a selfie, and simply check another place off their list. But what if, however simply, you could learn a little about why a place is so special? Or go where 95% of the world doesn't go? A place can then become something extraordinary. That is what Alex offers. She takes you on a journey (of lot of kilometers) and explains why it is why it is. She takes you away from the tour bus and allows you a chance to feel the power of Sintra. It was simply one of the best tours I've ever taken. I hope that you are lucky enough to join her next tour.
Our tour guide was amazing. Her knowledge of the Portuguese culture, lifestyle and history was informative. She also was super friendly.
Alexandra was a great entertaining and informative guide on our Sintra walking tour. She took us to many interesting places and led us up and down the mountain on a spirited walk/hike.
The hiking portion of the trip was amazing. Hidden trails through the mountains and gardens were beautiful and somewhat rigorous. It would not have been easy to find and navigate the trails without a guide. Alexandra was knowledgeable and engaging. Had a few snafus with tickets and pickup but overall a great experience.
The hike through Sintra was definitely my favorite excursion while visiting Lisbon. Alexandra was warm and friendly, and very knowledgeable. I felt like i was strolling through an enchanted forest out of a fairy tale. If you are looking for a unique, one-of-a-kind activity off the beaten path, away from the crowds, I definitely would recommend this excursion.
We booked this tour with Viator months before, but was abruptly cancelled by its sub-contractor on the tour date. We expect that Viator would offer a substitute guide. But it was simply cancelled. We understand it was an emergency that caused the cancellation, but it was something that we have planned months ago for this short trip. We ended up doing the Sintra tours ourselves but with some challenges. We did enjoy it though.
Hiking the hill in Sintra to see a castle, palace, fort and gardens was an amazing day! The air was fresh and the sights were many. Alex knew so much about the history, so I learned so many interesting stories of the Free Masons. This was my favorite day in Lisbon.
Excellent way to see three sites in one day, with the added bonus of hiking less traveled areas, and learning a ton along the way. Be forewarned, there is a lot of walking/hiking/hills/steps - totally doable for us but certainly more than we anticipated. Our tour guide Alex was very knowledgeable and had lots of extra info since she grew up in Sintra.
Perfect way to see all three sites in Sintra. Once you get there, you don’t get in a car until you are done. Walking on trails and through botanical gardens was great exercise and so enjoyable. Alex is a terrific guide!
