Private Half Day Tour to Sintra and Pena Palace from Lisbon
Recommended by 93% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Sintra, Portugal
+4
- 4 to 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Swap Lisbon for an action-packed half-day tour of the picturesque town of Sintra. Save time figuring out local public transport schedule, and instead, enjoy the luxury of having a round-trip private transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle. Stop off at many top Sintra highlights along the way, including Pena Palace, the historical center of Sintra, and Moorish Castle.
- Travel with ease in a private air-conditioned minivan
- Tick off the best of Sintra in half a day, including Pena Palace
- A private tour ensures a more personalized experience
- Hassle-free trip with hotel pickup and drop-off included
What's Included
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Private tour
- Transport by private vehicle
- WiFi on board
- Bottled water
- All insurance included
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Food and drinks
- Tickets
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We seek our customers throughout the Lisbon region (Sintra and Cascais). We also pick up our guests at their accommodation, train station, and any other destinations on agreement.
Itinerary
1
Castelo dos Mouros
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
2
Park and National Palace of Pena
2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
3
Centro Historico de Sintra
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
- Stroller accessible
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- Dress code is smart casual
- Near public transportation
- 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
4.7
based on 283 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Brooke_B, Aug 2026
Miguel was the most FANTASTIC tour guide. I would definitely recommend him and this tour to anybody visiting Portugal.
Laura_S, Jul 2026
The tour was excellent! Miguel was prompt, polite, knowledgeable, and made every effort to make certain we had a great experience! He just didn’t know the area, he was genuinely interested in meeting our every tour need.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Bonjour Laura,
Nous sommes ravis de lire votre commentaire !
Cela nous remplit de fierté en tant qu'équipe et Miguel, en tant que professionnel dévoué, était très heureux.
Merci infiniment pour votre soutien !
Brenda_B, Jul 2026
This was a great was to see Sintra and area without having the stress of driving or schedules and lineups! Francisco was very helpful and gave us time to explore on our own as well a guidelines as to how to navigate the area and crowds!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Brenda,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Francisco, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Michael_S, Jun 2026
You can hit all the main attractions in a half day tour of sintra. The tour guide was great and gave us lots of tips and expert background on each location. Make sure to buy tickets to the castles ahead of time to save time and get the best time slots as they sell out fast. Even if you don’t get tickets to enter the castles, they are enjoyable enough from the outside and you still get to see amazing views. Also gave us the inside scoop on the best places to eat while in Portugal. It was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Michael,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Francisco, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Philip_B, Jun 2026
listen to the guides advice, he is not wrong. we went to the national palace on his recommendation, looks dull on the outside but is full of interesting rooms and artefacts.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Philip,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Francisco, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Julie_H, Jun 2026
Francisco our guide was very rude. He was stubborn and childish. He was knowledgeable but has a lot to learn if he wants to do this job. The description said two hours at the palace and we got 30 minutes. Everything in the description, was not what we got. He did what he wanted to do and did not try at all
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hello Julie,
We investigated the case and forwarded the response to our driver, Francisco.
Francisco responded as follows:
I'm sorry that I had behaved or talked in a way you found rude. It wasn't my intention, and I think it influenced the way you interpreted some of the things I said. Especially when I told you it was best to keep walking, so that I could explain and show everything in Sintra village first, and then give you about 1h of free time so you could visit/see/do anything in that time. I wanted to maximize your free time after I finished because you need at least 1h in case you decide to visit any monument. And you thought I was preventing you from seeing or stopping at some places.
About the time available at pena palace, it was precisely 1h 10 min inside the park. But most importantly, Just like in the village, I explained everything first and then gave you free time. I never mentioned anything about what time to be back in the car, I told you to enjoy and explore and meet me back when you're ready. I was even surprised to see you back so quick. If you wanted to stay there longer you had total freedom to do so. So if the main reason for the 1 star review was the available time in pena I don't think it's fair.
But thank you for the feedback, it's important to understand where I need to improve.
Thank you
Nicole_A, Jun 2026
Great experience. A half day was the perfect amount of time in Sintra. George was a phenomenal guide!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Nicole,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Jorge, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Barbara_P, Jun 2026
He knew the history and was very informative about the Portuguese countryside. He made it very easy to navigate a new environment in Sintra and my family appreciated his sincerity and expertise when taking us on our trip. I’d recommend him to everyone I know!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Barbara,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Jorge, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Daniel_G, Jun 2026
Pena Palace and Sintra are always crowded. And both have lots of uneven pavement and hills. Our guide, George, gave us good advice at each stop. It was a nice experience
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Daniel,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Jorge, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Kirk_S, Jun 2026
Incredible personalized experience. Guide was awesome and extremely knowledgeable. He was able to share a lot of history on Portugal.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Kirk,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team!!!
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Lisa_M, Jun 2026
Margarida was a fantastic driver. There was a lot of traffic that day and she called to tell us she was going to be a little late ( maybe 20 mins) more time to enjoy our morning coffee. We did a half day at Sintra. she showed us all of the highlights, including the outside areas of the palace, the Moorish castle, and a little bit of the downtown. She was knowledgeable and efficient. She did a good job of whetting our appetite for a longer stay in Sintra! Thank you Margarida for such a a great day!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Lisa,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Margarida, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Jodi_B, Jun 2026
Miguel was so accommodating and patient with us as we had a problem with our daughter. It was no nice having our own tour guide all to ourselves. The pick up and drop off was wonderful. I can’t say enough good things about Miguel and our day together!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Jodi,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Miguel, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
William_G, Jun 2026
Margarida was by far the best tour guide we have ever had! She is extremely knowledgeable, fun to explore with, and overall gave my wife and I the best experience we have had on a tour in Europe! 10/10!!!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi William,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Margarida, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Mandyg, May 2026
Our guide Miguel was very entertaining and informative. He catered to our needs and we weren’t rushed at all.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Mandyg,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Miguel, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Phil_w, May 2026
Francisco listened to what we wanted to do and recommended best things to see, how to avoid queues and what order to do stuff. Spent a while talking is through history then let us do our own thing so was great balance. Really enjoyed the day
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Phil,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Francisco, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Eddie_D, May 2026
From the great reviews, it sounds like we didn't get one of the full-time guides,. but rather a substitute who told us he was the tour operator's son and that he was an IT guy, but helping out the family business. All of this is fine, but the tour should be retitled " Shuttle Service to Pena Palace/ Sintra", because frankly, that all we got was a friendly driver. In fact, I had to make conversation with our driver- even then we just learned more about him and the typical life of a Portuguese. Literally, we paid for a private driver, nothing more or less. There was never any narrative about history or general info. about these ancient places unless we asked for an explanation. That said, he was friendly and I hate to leave negative reviews, so I'll give a neutral 3 stars. Just expect more of a shuttle service than a tour guide.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hello Eddie,
We were unable to identify the tour.
We also couldn't identify it by name, (Eddie).
I also want to inform you that I am the owner of the company and I have no children, so it is impossible that our company could have organized this tour.
If you provide more details about the tour, such as the date, time, and booking number, perhaps we can identify the tour.
Thank you.
Brent_H, May 2026
After a snafu with the front office we had a great time. There was some miscommunication about start times initially. Once our guide showed up it was smooth sailing. It is. Wry pretty in Sintra. The palace is a must see. Be aware there is lots of traffic and there are a lot of people. Also, bring a sweatshirt!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Brent,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Miguel, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Jarrod_L, May 2026
Miguel was fantastic. Everything was first class. The palace was beautiful. Miguel took us to a nice place for lunch and showed us around the city center.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hi Jarrod,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Miguel, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Shelagh_M, May 2026
It was over $200 just for the driver from Lisbon (not far). When we got there, we had to buy tickets to get in because it was not included in the price. I could have taken an Uber there and back and it would have been cheaper.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Hello Shelagh,
Yes, it's true that tickets to Pena Palace are not included in the price of this tour.
We also verified that the driver followed the route specified in the tour program.
...We are very sorry that the experience did not meet your expectations.
Thank you for your feedback, as it is extremely important for improving our service.
Thank you.
Corinna_F, May 2026
Sintra is must see for sure. Highly recommend the day trip from Lisbon. Be sure to wear your walking shoes.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Corinna,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Francisco, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
John_V, May 2026
Margarida is the best! She crafted a delightful experience for my wife and me. She is knowledgeable, patient , and fun! She is an expert photographer. She attended to every one of our needs or requests. We will call her the next time we are in Lisbon.
AMAZING!!!
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi John,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Margarida, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Kristin_S, May 2026
Margarida was absolutely fantastic! She was personable, friendly and made my trip to Sintra fantastic! She made sure we stopped at a local cafe for a little snack and coffee in Sintra, explained the sights and made sure to take lots of pictures along the way! As a solo traveler, this was a dream! We then went to the palace and she gave an awesome explanation of the history, architecture and meaning behind the palace. She also answered my millions of questions with a smile and pleasure! Please have Margarida be your tour when you visit Lisbon! She is a local, and also gave great recommendations for other sights to see and restaurants! You will not be disappointed!!
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi kristin,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Margarida, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Cathy_L, May 2026
We really enjoyed our tour of Sintra with Margarida. She is knowledgeable, personable and professional. She helped us navigate around long lines to quickly get us to points of interest, maximizing our time there. As a bonus, she’s a wonderful photographer and we now have beautiful pictures of us in Sintra as a keepsake.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Cathy,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Margarida, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Laura_L, May 2026
While Margarida is a knowledgeable, energetic, funny, and professional tour guide, what I didn’t expect was receiving dozens of professional photos later that afternoon! She knows all the right places to pose in Sintra and she made us look great! Time flew and I wish we had spent twice as much time with her!
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Laura,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Margarida, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Brett_M, May 2026
Jorge is an excellent tour guide! He was prompt and on time, very caring about our experience, and a font of knowledge about the sights of Lisbon.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Brett,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Jorge, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Travis_H, May 2026
The trip was great. The driver was very informative and friendly. Sintra was very beautiful. Lines were not to crazy according to our tour guide. I would recommend visiting in April.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Travis,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Jorge, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Mary_C, Apr 2026
Miguel was a great guide. Picked us up at our hotel, accompanied us to Pena Palace, took photos for us, then took us into Sintra where we had a nice lunch and explored the town before returning to Lisbon. Guides can park very close to the entrance, so we avoided the crowded buses. Be sure to get your Palace tickets in advance (not included in tour). We chose not to tour the Palace interior and were happy with that decision (extremely long lines to get into the palace on a Wed morning despite the "timed entry", and apparently many rooms were closed).
Response from Host, May 2026
Hello Mary,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Miguel, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Janet_H, Apr 2026
This was a great trip! Excellent communication with Viator in advance of the tour. We were able to buy our entrance and shuttle tickets ahead of time. As they are for timed entry, quick responses from Viator were important. George dropped us off at the entrance. He explained everything beautifully. I highly recommend this trip!
Response from Host, May 2026
Hello Janet,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Jorge, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Ted_L, Apr 2026
Francisco was fabulous and knowledgeable on all the hacks to enjoy a half day in Sintra without all the crowds!
Response from Host, May 2026
Hello Ted,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Francisco, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Myra_W, Apr 2026
A stunning landscape and fabulous knowledgeable guide.
The flora and floral are beautiful and the town of Sintra is charming and historic with many interesting shops, architecture and restaurants
Response from Host, May 2026
Hello Myra,
We are so glad to read your review!
That makes us so proud as a team and Margarida, as a dedicated professional, felt very happy.
Thank you so much for your support!!!
From $111.75
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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