Sintra & Cascais Day Tour with Pena Palace tour and Gardens Walk
Description
Explore the romantic palaces, lush forests and gardens of Sintra on this must-do scenic day trip from Lisbon. Drive along the Atlantic Coast to Cabo da Roca, marvel at the breathtaking beaches of Cascais, and follow in the footsteps of poets, exiled kings and more. Notes: 1. Our visit to Pena Palace visit starts with a walk through the Gardens, which allows to avoid crowds at the main gate. People with walking difficulty may find this not suitable as activity. 2. You should choose your ticket option for Pena Palace: - Full ticket: allows you to visit the interior rooms of the Palace; - Pena Park Only: allows you to visit the gardens, terraces around the building and the Chapel. You can't upgrade later; 3. The tour can either start by Sintra and Pena Palace in the morning, as it can start in Cascais and Roca Cape, depending of timings and expected crowds and queues. 4. During weather alerts and fire alerts in SIntra Mountain, Pena Palace will be replaced by Sintra National Palace;
Tour Options
Itinerary
We start the tour in Lisbon: We'll pick you up at your Hotel or Apartment, or even the Port or the Airport, always between 9h00 and 9h30 (depending on option selected, pickup itinerary, etc.). Please note that you may need to join us at a nearby meeting point, in some areas of the city where we can't reach your address. Contact our services in advance to ensure a smooth communication.
Following your pick-up, drive to Sintra Hills, home to fairytale palaces and castles, chosen by the Portuguese Royal Family since the foundation of our country.
Escape the crowds and reach Pena Palace enjoying a scenic short walk through the carefully curated gardens by its creator: King Ferdinand. On your way learn all about the love story in the origin of the palace construction, before visiting inside Pena Palace, considered one of the most beautiful castles in Europe. Enjoy and admire amazing views of Lisbon on the horizon, from its balconies and yards, with proper context provided by your guide. Pena Palace is the most iconic Palace in Sintra. It is considered the most beautiful Castle in Europe, and it’s a true pleasure to walk in its Park, or just admire the views from its balconies, with Lisbon in the horizon. You should choose your type of ticket: - Full Palace visit - allowing you to visit the interior rooms of the palace; - Park Only visit - you can save some money and opt for not visiting the interior rooms. However, all participants will visit the Gardens and Park, the Terraces surrounding the palace and the Palace Chapel.
Drive down narrow roads to explore the picture-postcard village of Sintra, stop for lunch time, taste local pastries and shop for souvenirs. Don’t give a rest to your camera, as you’ll certainly fall in love with the charming architecture and colorful streets and alleys. You'll have free time to explore on your own, and your guide will surely suggest some restaurant options. The Sintra National Palace, right in the Town Center, is the most ancient in the area, dating back to the Islamic period, and used by the Royal Family for centuries after. It's an architectural jewel, with several styles used over the years.
Continue to Cabo da Roca to stand at the westernmost point of mainland Europe, a landmark with breathtaking views, beaten by the Atlantic winds. Free time to admire the views and take some photos! Surely this impressive landmark will give you lasting memories.
Stop at the once fishing village of Cascais, turned into a holiday resort, refuge for exiled kings and a center of espionage during World War II. Listen to your guide explaining how this small seaside town helped shaping History of the XX century. You'll have free time to explore the Town Center, its bay and the surrounding streets. Try the "best Ice-cream in the world" at Santini's, or just enjoy some time at the beach. Otherwise, let yourself immerse in the colorful streets, where handcraft shops will attract your attention for sure.
Travel along the coast road, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Tagus River, on your way back to Lisbon. At the Marginal Road, always along the coast, watch surfers in the pristine blue water, or people just enjoying the clear sands of the famous beaches on the "Blue Coast". Enjoying amazing views over the ocean, first, and the Tagus River, after, you'll arrive back in Lisbon and get dropped-off at your original location.
We arrive at Lisbon, where the tour ends. Ask your guide to be dropped-off somewhere else than your original departure location, if you prefer.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We'll pick you up at your Hotel or Apartment, or even the Port or the Airport. Please note that you may need to join us at a nearby meeting point, in some areas of the city where we can't reach your address. Please contact our team previously to assure all necessary arrangements.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
Reviews(993)
Great day trip from Lisbon. Guide Diego was very outgoing and knowledgeable and friendly. Overall great experience. Perfect experiences for time allotted
Very good interesting along the coast, but also so hot that a slightly shorter day (I.e., skip the last stop) would have been more comfortable. The air conditioning in the back of the van was non-existent and those in that back seat cooked all day. Our guide did a good job, though.
We had an incredible experience with the Around Lisbon Mystic Forrest tour! Our guide, Nuno, was exceptionally knowledgeable and brought Portugal’s fascinating history to life with engaging stories and insights. It never felt like a typical tour—it felt as though we were being shown the very best of Portugal by a friend we’d known for years. His warmth, passion, and local knowledge made the day truly unforgettable. We highly recommend Around Lisbon to anyone looking for an authentic and memorable experience!
We ended up getting an uber to the main gate. I was glad we only got a ticket to the main area as it was swamped with people and I couldn’t be bothered queuing in the heat I felt it was over priced for what it was and 10e to get the bus from the main castle to the town was a bit much. Constantly harassed by tuk tuk drivers was getting overbearing All in all it was a beautiful place just felt like tourists were setup to be tapped for money left right and centre.
We did the Sintra and Cascais private tour with Around Lisbon and it was the highlight of our trip to Portugal. Our guide Oriana was exceptional from start to finish. What really set her apart was her storytelling. At Pena Palace, she brought the history of Queen Maria II and King Fernando II to life in a way that made the whole place feel personal, not just another stop on a checklist. You could tell she genuinely loves sharing Portugal's history, not just reciting it. The whole day flowed perfectly - Sintra Hills, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais all felt well-paced and unhurried. Oriana was warm, professional, and clearly knew the area inside and out. This was booked through Mike McHugh at Dream Makers Vacation Services, who organized everything smoothly from start to finish. Five stars all around. If you book this tour, ask for Oriana - she's the reason this trip stood out.
This was the first time my family and I visited Portugal, and this tour was an amazing introduction to the country. I wanted my family to experience this tour as much as possible since all my friends that have been here before have recommended it, and this tour exceeded all of our expectations. Being a group of 10 people, comfortable transportation was very important to us, and this tour delivered. Everyone had plenty of room, the ride was comfortable throughout the day, and getting from one destination to another was smooth and enjoyable. Our driver was outstanding—professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely focused on making sure we had the best experience possible. He took us to every stop on the itinerary and provided excellent guidance at each location, including where to go, what to see, and the best spots for photos. Because the tour was private, we were able to explore at our own pace without feeling rushed. Communication was excellent throughout the day, with clear instructions on pickup locations to avoid delays. Our driver also timed each stop perfectly, helping us avoid the largest crowds whenever possible and making the entire experience smooth and enjoyable. If you want to see the highlights of Sintra and Cascais comfortably and efficiently, I highly recommend this tour. It was a wonderful experience for our entire family and one of the highlights of our trip. A special thank you to our driver, Simão, whose professionalism, knowledge, patience, and attention to detail made this tour truly exceptional. If you have the opportunity to tour with Simão, you will be in excellent hands.
Excellent tour and wonderful tour guide. Diego was so knowledgeable. Great day visiting the gardens, palace, and Cascais. Had time to eat and shop too.
A lovely day with a friendly and knowledgeable guide. The palace is fantastic!
Was a fantastic tour. Including the gardens which it seems most people miss was a delight. Would definitely recommend this tour.
We had a great time . Our guide was knowledgeable and engaging . I would highly recommend the tour .
