Private Custom Sintra Tour with Local Guide
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Lisbon, Portugal
- 6 to 8 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Nestled in forested terrain beneath imposing hills, Sintra’s Moorish cityscape can captivate travelers for days on end. Don’t feel rushed, and don’t risk slowing down for others, with this highly customizable private tour of Sintra led by a local guide. Start the tour with a short talk about the city’s main highlights, then decide what you want to see—choose one or two of the locations listed below. The rhythm of the day is yours to set.
- See what you want, and skip what you don’t care for
- See more: your guides have permission to skip lines at major attractions
- Travel in comfort with an air-conditioned vehicle
- Avoid the hassle of organising your own Sintra experience
What's Included
- Private tour with hotel pick-up/drop-off (if option selected)
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan or private vehicle
- Professional, local driver/guide
- Food and drinks
- Tickets to the monuments
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Itinerary
1
Lisbon
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Historic Center
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
National Palace of Sintra
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
4
Castelo dos Mouros
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
5
Park and National Palace of Pena
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
6
Quinta da Regaleira
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
Parque e Palacio de Monserrate (Pass By)
7
Cabo da Roca
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 394 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Andrew_K, Jun 2026
We had an extraordinary day trip to Sintra with our guide João. He is a consummate professional and that was clear from start to finish in every detail. He was very well versed on the history of Sintra, and provided fascinating details and context without ever going into the weeds. We had requested a Spanish speaking guide (we are intermediate speakers) and he seamlessly moved back and forth between Spanish and English as the situation required. This made the trip even more enjoyable.
He knows every corner of Sintra and made sure we optimized every minute of the tour. On the way back to Lisbon he took us along the coastal route, including the western most point in continental Europe, and quick spin through Cascais. Beautiful scenery, relaxing drive, perfect way to cap off the day.
João was exactly the right person for this trip and we very much appreciated his knowledge, expertise and warmth.
valeria_m, May 2026
This tour was absolutely perfect for us because we wanted to experience Sintra at our own pace and truly enjoy every moment. Carolina made that possible in the most wonderful way.
Not only did we explore the highlights of Sintra, but we also visited the beautiful Cascais and the breathtaking Cabo da Roca, making the day even more special and complete.
Carolina is one of the kindest and most gracious people we have ever met, and her knowledge of Sintra’s history and culture is truly impressive. Thanks to her thoughtful planning, we made the most of our time.
She is intelligent, funny, warm, and genuinely caring, while also being highly professional. The vehicle was extremely comfortable, allowing us to relax and fully enjoy every destination without worrying about transportation, parking, or logistics.
I would strongly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the region. It is by far the most practical, comfortable, and enjoyable way to see all the major attractions of Sintra, Cascais, and Cabo da Roca in a single day while still having the flexibility to enjoy each place at your own pace.
Thank you so, so much, dear Carolina, for making our day absolutely perfect. You represent the very best of Portugal: warmth, hospitality, and a deep love and respect for your history and heritage.
We sincerely hope to repeat this tour in the future with the rest of our family. It was an unforgettable experience, and we could not recommend Carolina more highly.
Barbara_K, May 2026
We wanted to tour Sintra and part of Lisbon we hadn’t seen yet but didn’t want to spend the day frustrated with navigation and parking and lines on a hot day. Having a great private guide to share the day with made all the difference in our enjoyment and the bonus was a cultural exchange through our conversations throughout the day. Margarita was informative, fun and made us very comfortable. She asked us up front what experience we were looking for and helped us achieve it. She helped us find a great and delicious lunch spot out of the touristy areas and she kept us out of long lines all day. Highly recommend her and her company next time you are in the Lisbon area.
KEVIN_R, May 2026
Great 8 hrs trip to Sintra. Our driver/guide Margirida was awesome. Perfect mix of local knowledge and a little pivot to maxi6our personal needs
Howard_X, Apr 2026
What a fantastic guide Francisco is! He was the private guide just for us two, my wife and me, on Sunday 4/19. What an amazing trip with an amazing guide, pleasant, passionate, responsive, and very knowledgeable of the history and of the area. We got exactly what we wanted to see and with his expertise, the plan based on our own preference worked out seamlessly well with a perfect pace, and at no time did we feel rushed. He took us to a seaside village for a delicious seafood lunch and his food recommendation was spot on! What an unforgettable trip! Thank you, Francisco, for the follow-up message with great recommendations for restaurants and palaces to see in Lisbon! We wish you all the best!
PS—We went to Pena Palace, Moorish Castle, Cabo da Roca, Quinta da Regaleira, and National Palace of Sintra in town (just the outside). We loved them all!
David_O, Apr 2026
My family and I booked a private tour last minute after I had stuffed up the dates on a similar tour booking. The company accepted our booking at 8pm the night before our trip and contacted us almost immediately to confirm pick up times and locations for the next morning.
Next morning we met Maya, our guide, very close to our accomodation in Lisbon. She was super friendly to us and our kids and very helpful with an older person who was travelling with us. From there it just kept getting better.
Maya was an exceptional guide and guided us around the Pena palace grounds, Cabo De Roca (last minute request which she accommodated without any issue), and back to Sintra to see Quinta de Regeleira. As well as providing excellent knowledge on everything we saw, she helped us with tickets, answered all of our questions and made the tour really engaging and enjoyable for us and our kids (11, 9 and 5yo girls who really loved the trip).
Throughout the day Maya was also happy to discuss lots of related topics with us and clearly has a passion for history and culture and an ability to communicate her knowledge in a very understandable manner.
When we finished at Sintra we made our way back to Lisbon and Maya even made a detour to allow me to pickup a rental car before the rental office closed - which was a huge help as we were travelling early the next day.
Overall, we all felt that this was the best tour we had ever done as a family and we would highly recommend the company and Maya to anyone visiting Lisbon.
Morris_H, Apr 2026
Full day tour of the Sintra sites with guide Joao. What a perfect day. Joao picked us up in a nice mini van then suggested what to see. He noticed immediately my wife had problems walking and customized the tour for that, helping her up steps and watching out for her. The Pena Palace is a mid level site but Joao's pointing out details and the history made it really shine. He picked a nice local place for lunch and a historic cafe for pastries and port at the end, both great places but very reasonable cost. It was like seeing the sites with an old friend who really knows about where you are visiting. Cannot recommend them highly enough. Also, very reasonable price.
Cheryl_J, Apr 2026
We had a fantastic day with our guide Francisco. He picked us up at our hotel in a nice clean van which was great. His knowledge and expertise of Portugal helped us to learn so much about the people and culture. He is an awesome teacher and made the day a lot of fun. You will be in the right hands if you get Francisco.
Randy_V, Mar 2026
Joao was our guide and we couldn't be happier! We actually thought about going to Sintra and the castles on our own and that would have been a huge mistake. This tour is definitely worth the money. He then took us to the seaside for lunch - great location and terrific food. Never would have found it without him. 100% you need this trip
Edythe_R, Mar 2026
We had a fantastic trip with Joao! You won’t find a warmer, more pleasant and knowledgeable guide. Joao is a fantastic storyteller, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with him.
Skip the lines to go inside Peña Palace - the outdoor area and gardens are definitely worth visiting, as is Quinta da Regaleira. The town of Sintra is charming - make time to walk around and enjoy a pasty at the oldest patisserie in Sintra. Enjoy a delicious, traditional Portuguese lunch recommended by your guide. Don’t miss Cabo de Roca!
Highly recommend!
RScott_S, Mar 2026
From the outset, Carolina seemed more like a beloved member of our family than a tour guide. We most appreciated the way she balanced the dissemination of historical fact with current insight while at the same time allowing us the flexibility of modifying the itinerary to suit our pace and schedule. At days end, we felt that we had experienced a full day and one that we will always look back fondly upon thanks to Carolina.
Leslie_S, Feb 2026
What a wonderful way to spend our last day in Portugal! We are so glad we decided to do this tour, we would have missed so much if we had gone on our own. Our time with Joao was like spending the day with a good friend who just happened to know all kinds of stuff about Sintra's history, design, and cultural influences. Despite the rainy, foggy conditions and recent storm damage, Joao made our Sintra experience fun and memorable. Highly recommended.
Kristen_R, Feb 2026
Freaking amazing! We somehow lucked out and got Miguel as our guide. What a human! So smart, understanding, and flexible. He knows his history and facts and won’t BS you if he doesn’t. He drove us in a comfortable van to Sintra and despite the rain and fog as thick as pea soup he still was able to really help us make the most of the day and learn about Sintra and Cascais but also about Portugal in general, and symbolism through the country. We talked modern day issues that plague all countries and learns about the amazing myriad roles he has had and still has in addition to this work. Highly suggest reaching out to book from this company. His boss, the company owner, is one of his friends now and he thinks very highly of him, which I think speaks mountains.
Joel_R, Jan 2026
We had a nice day tour in Sintra with Margarida. She was incredibly kind, accommodating, and genuinely went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience. She offered excellent suggestions throughout the day and was very flexible with our interests and pace.
Transportation from our hotel was comfortable, and she was a great driver. One thing we really appreciated was that she would drop us off at each site and then go find parking herself, which saved us a lot of walking and made the whole day much more relaxed. Highly recommended!
Shane_S, Jan 2026
Fantastic tour of Sintra given by a true local. Fred made it lots of fun, even treating us to a piano concert at lunch!
Adrienne_G, Dec 2025
Best day with the best guide, Goncalo! We found him a pleasure to be with throughout the day. He was engaging, informative, and you could tell that he had broad knowledge involving everything that we were shown. It was our best day during our week in Portugal. Highly recommend him to anybody looking for a Great tour guide.
Patricia_D, Dec 2025
Very personable and friendly guide. She customized the trip to seeing the Pena Palace. Hitting some fun shops in Sintra then amazing lunch by the water.
Oleg_E, Nov 2025
Miguel was our tour guide. Very professional, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He can drive and be a tour guy at the same time and do that very well. He did full day tour with lunch and walked with us every minute. I would use him again and again.
Ellen_D, Nov 2025
My sister and I had an amazing day in Sintra with Margarida! We were initially planning to take a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra on our own and decided at the last minute to book a private tour. Best decision ever. Margarida is a wonderful tour guide and we learned so much and had so much fun. From our first stop for pastries to sunset at Pena palace, the whole day was perfect. Thank you!!
Michelle_W, Nov 2025
It’s the best decision made to have a private tour option as we are traveling with elderly. Miguel is so informative and entertaining at the same time. He maintained a high level of energy throughout the trip for more than 8 hours with us because we are going slow due to our physical capabilities. I love such arrangement where you not only do sightseeing and learn about the places we saw, but also chatted with the multi-talented guide (a plus when your guide is an avid photographer :p ) to know about the livelihood of locals.
Jennifer_B, Oct 2025
We are so happy that we decided to take the private tour to Sintra. Our guide Joao tailored our trip to exactly what we wanted to see, facilitated our entries, took us to an amazing bakery in center of Sintra and a wonderful lunch nearby. He took care of all the reservations, travel, and parking. He found all the best spots for pictures and provided us with the history and background of everything we saw. We went to The Moorish castle, Pena Palace and Quinta Regaliera along with Sintra city center. I can’t believe that we even thought we should attempt this on our own.
Josefina_J, Oct 2025
Miguel was a pleasant , accommodating and knowledgeable guide. We had a comfortable and enjoyable day at Sintra. The place where we had lunch had fantastic food! Highly recommended!
Leigh_K, Oct 2025
Carolina was an amazing tour guide who went above and beyond to make it a memorable experience for our group!
Ellen_E, Oct 2025
Miguel was amazing! Full of knowledge and so kind! The pick up and drop offs so smooth!! The experience over all highly recommend a day trip to beautiful Sintra!
chris_h, Oct 2025
The best possible way to see Sintra. Carolina is an excellent guide, very personable and speaks excellent English. She gave us a great deal of information about the castles and allowed us real understanding of the fascinating history. It would be difficult to see everything on your own and the very large guided groups seemed chaotic. Carolina is a safe driver who managed the incredibly narrow roads professionally. All around a 5/5 day.
Steve_M, Oct 2025
We had a great day out with Miguel as our guide. We learned a ton about Portuguese history and saw some great sights. Weather was not the best, unfortunately but we still had a great time. You will probably not be able to see everything listed on the itinerary. We had to make some choices. Lunch was delicious. Please tell Miguel that we are seeing armillary spheres everywhere now and we are planning to buy one for our garden! Thank you!
Ann_D, Oct 2025
Four friends from Louisiana were treated to a day long private tour with Carolina! She provided a lovely and engaging day of touring with professional, knowledgeable, friendly, and respectful enthusiasm. Our personal wishes and needs were accommodated and we highly encourage others to experience the same tour when possible.
Lisa_D, Oct 2025
Our guide “G” was so friendly, knowledgeable and a joy to spend time with while he drove us to Sintra and showed us the sights. A life-long resident, G couldn’t have known more about the area, the history, the attractions and fun facts to keep us entertained. Our tour included a lovely lunch with a sea view. We would definitely tour with him again!
Paul_W, Oct 2025
Miguel was wonderful…very informative and flexible. We had a fantastic time from 10:00am to 6:00pm on our trip from Lisboa to Sintra and back. If we could rate him with 6 stars, we would!
Lori_S, Sep 2025
This was a great tour! Our guide, Joao was awesome! Took us to all the highlights and then some! Great day in Sintra!
From $151.40
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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