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5 Best Day Tours From Lisbon To Sintra

Have you been wondering about the best day tours from Lisbon to Sintra? I’ve got you covered!

The enchanting town of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site nestled in the foothills of Portugal’s Sintra Mountains, is known for its picturesque landscapes, grand palaces, and captivating gardens.

When I visited the town of Sintra I was really surprised by how many different palaces there are in such close proximity to each other.

In this post, we’ve handpicked some of the best day tours from Lisbon to Sintra to help you navigate through the myriad options and plan your perfect trip.

Top Pick
View down a well, there's a stairwell leading to the bottom; Is Sintra worth visiting? Yes, so you can see this amazing well

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Sintra or Sintra – Cascais Private Tour from Lisbon

āœ… Decide yourself what you want to see

āœ… Hotel pick-up and drop-off

āœ… Knowledgable tour guide

Why take a Sintra tour?

I’ll be honest with you, you don’t need to take a tour to visit Sintra. You can easily get to Sintra from Lisbon by public transport. The train is very affordable and runs frequently.

There are still a number of advantages of taking a day tour to Sintra.

For starters, all the logistical details are taken care of for you. You won’t need to worry about navigating public transportation or battling traffic ā€” you can simply sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

You’ll have a knowledgeable guide with you, who provides a depth of understanding you wouldn’t get by simply exploring on your own. They can share insights about Sintra’s history, culture, and architecture.

And for me, the most valuable point is that you can combine the day trip to Sintra easily with a trip to Cascais. This small coastal town is also easily accessible by public transport from Lisbon. But only in a day tour, you can combine those two day trip destinations from Lisbon comfortably.

My Top 3 Picks: Best Day Tours From Lisbon To Sintra

#1 Top Pick
View down a well, there's a stairwell leading to the bottom; Is Sintra worth visiting? Yes, so you can see this amazing well

ā­ļøā­ļøā­ļøā­ļøā­ļø

Sintra or Sintra – Cascais Private Tour from Lisbon

āœ… Decide yourself what you want to see

āœ… Hotel pick-up and drop-off

āœ… Knowledgable tour guide

#2 Pick
View past a stone wall to a small town surrounded by forests, you can see this on one of the day tours from Lisbon to SIntra

Secrets of Sintra/Cascais Natural Park ā€“ Fairytale Tour

āœ… Visit Sintra & Cascais

āœ… Expert Local Guide

āœ… Small Port Wine Tasting

āœ… Maximum 8 people

#3 Pick
A wave crashing into a cave, it's called Boca do Inferno

Palaces of Sintra & Gardens

āœ… Hotel pick-up and drop-off

āœ… Visit the top sights in Sintra

āœ… See the stunning coastline and Cascais

Best Tours to Sintra from Lisbon

1. Sintra or Sintra – Cascais Private Tour from Lisbon

View down a well, there's a stairwell leading to the bottom; Is Sintra worth visiting? Yes, so you can see this amazing well

ā­ļø RATING: 5/5 Stars | ā³ TOUR LENGTH: 6-8 hours | āœ… Book it!

This Sintra day tour from Lisbon is my favourite because of its excellent reviews and extreme customizability.

You don’t just get to choose which of the palaces in Sintra you want to see from the inside, you get to decide if you want to spend the whole day in Sintra or if you want to explore the coastal town of Cascais as well.

In Sintra, you can see all the famous castles from the outside and decide which one you want to visit. I recommend paying the entrance ticket for Quinta da Regaleira, this palace and its magical gardens were my favourite stop on my day trip to Sintra.

You can also visit the main attraction of Sintra, Pena Palace, or the lesser-visited Montserrate Palace, which gets overlooked most often.

If you decide to visit Cascais as well, you get to see the stunning coastline of Portugal and Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Europe.

This very customisable Sintra tour includes:

  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Lisbon
  • Private transport
  • Private driver and tour guide
  • Skip the long lines

Our private full day tour to Sintra and Cascais was fabulous. These cities are close to Lisbon and have such beautiful scenery and history. […] We would highly recommend this tour. Very memorable and JoĆ£o went above and beyond in accommodating everything we wanted.

Marcus_B (Read more reviews)

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2. Secrets of Sintra/Cascais Natural Park ā€“ Fairytale Tour

View past a stone wall to a small town surrounded by forests, you can see this on one of the day tours from Lisbon to Sintra

ā­ļø RATING: 5/5 Stars | ā³ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours | āœ… Book it!

This Sintra small group tour from Lisbon offers you the chance to explore the enchanting Sintra/Cascais Natural Park, a treasure trove of natural beauty and biodiversity.

Within this tour, you’ll not only get to explore the well-trodden paths but also discover hidden gems and secret spots that only the locals know about.

The guide will give you recommendations for what palace to visit but ultimately you can decide which palace you want to see from the inside.

One of the pleasant surprises of this tour is the port wine tasting in Sintra. If you love port wine you might also want to consider visiting Porto and doing a port wine tour to Douro Valley, where this wine originates.

Afterwards, you’ll visit the westernmost point of continental Europe, Cabo da Roca, and the beautiful Guincho beach, two of the best attractions in Cascais.

This Sintra and Cascais tour from Lisbon includes:

  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • Expert local guide
  • Maximum 8 passangers
  • Small port wine tasting

What a perfect day! Spent our day with Henry, our fabulous tour guide. He was informative, fun and helpful. We enjoyed every moment; from the Pens palace, to adorable Sintra, and the edges of stunning Cascais. It was a perfect and priceless day.

Jennifer_V (Read more reviews)

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3. Palaces of Sintra & Gardens

A wave crashing into a cave, it's called Boca do Inferno
Boca do Inferno on the coast of Portugal just outside Cascais

ā­ļø RATING: 5/5 Stars | ā³ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours | āœ… Book it!

The first stop of this day tour to Sintra from Lisbon is the UNESCO World Heritage Site PalƔcio Nacional da Pena.

Afterwards, you get to decide if you want to visit Quinta da Regaleira or Monserrate Palace. They’re both beautiful, but my recommendation would be Quinta da Regaleira. I just loved exploring the picturesque gardens and walking down the spiral staircase of the Initiation Well.

You’ll have some time to explore Sintra’s old town and hear interesting facts about Portuguese history from your private guide. There you can choose between just wandering the historic center and visiting the National Palace of Sintra.

After having seen the main highlights of Sintra, the next stop is Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe. Afterwards, you get to see more of the stunning Portuguese coastline at Boca do Inferno, a fascinating grotto with very powerful waves.

The last stop of the day is the coastal town of Cascais.

This private tour to Sintra from Lisbon includes:

  • Hotel pick-up and drop-out
  • Private driver and tour guide
  • Light refreshments

Miguel was amazing This private tour is private and 100% customizable. Miguel- asked us where we wanted to go and then planned the rest of the day around us. He is knowledge of the historical sites was fabulous. We travel a lot- and this was on of the best tours we have ever had.

Suzanne_S (Read more reviews)

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4. Sintra Private Tour from Lisbon

A colourful castle you can see on a Sintra day trip from Lisbon
The colorful Pena Palace

ā­ļø RATING: 5/5 Stars | ā³ TOUR LENGTH: 8-9 hours | āœ… Book it!

This Sintra tour from Lisbon is an exceptional choice for those who value flexibility and personalization in their travel experiences. As a private tour, it gives you the privilege to tailor your itinerary according to your interests.

The tour guide gives you recommendations but ultimately it’s up to you what you want to do. You choose which of the beautiful palaces you want to visit and if you want to walk the walls of the Moorish Castle.

Even though the focus of this private tour of Sintra from Lisbon is the Sintra mountains with its royal palaces, you still get to make a quick stop at Cabo da Roca.

This Lisbon to Sintra tour includes:

  • Optional hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • Transportation by private minivan
  • Professional guide and driver

Totally loved the private tour experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable of the land and places we visited, was very personable, and spoke very good English. He also was willing to taylor the tour to our maximum advantage. Would highly recommend.

Patricia_J (Read more reviews)

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5. Guided Day Tour of Sintra, Pena, Regaleira & Cascais

The outside of a gothic building, very detailed facade
The main building at Quinta da Regaleira

ā­ļø RATING: 4.7/5 Stars | ā³ TOUR LENGTH:  hours | āœ… Book it!

This Sintra guided tour from Lisbon is the most affordable option and the best part is that two entrance tickets are included in the price.

The tour sets off at PraƧa Dom Pedro IV near the Rossio station. From there onward it’s a great mix between guided tour activities and free time to explore.

The entrance to both Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira are included in your tour ticket and you even get a guided walking tour at each attraction.

Another highlight of this Sintra, Cascais tour from Lisbon is the guided tour in each town. After the walking tour, you’ll have more time to explore the places on your own.

This Lisbon Sintra tour includes:

  • Roundtrip transportation
  • Pena Palace entry and guided tour
  • Quinta da Regaleira entry and guided tour
  • Sintra walking tour
  • Cascais walking tour
  • Free time in Sintra and Cascais
  • Headsets to hear the tour guide clearly

This was the best tour in Lisbon! Pedro was so knowledgeable, funny, and engaging. […] The background history and the architecture discussion on Pena palace was phenomenal. Nounou was a safe and pleasant driver. The Quinta De Regaleia mystery was worth it (and possibly my favorite). Everything was 5 stars. […]

GetYourGuide traveler (Read more reviews)

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Tips for Lisbon Tours to Sintra

  • Wear Comfortable Shoes: Sintra is known for its steep hills and cobbled streets, so make sure you wear comfortable shoes that can withstand a lot of walking.
  • Reusable Water Bottle: With all the walking you’ll do, you’ll get thirsty. So it’s best to bring your reusable water bottle.
  • Entrance Tickets: Most Sintra tours from Lisbon don’t include entrance tickets for the attractions. That way you don’t have to pay for attractions you don’t care about. You only have to pay the additional cost for sights you really want to see.
  • Huge Crowds: I think Sintra isn’t worth visiting in the peak season, it just gets too crowded. The best time to visit is far outside the high season.

šŸ¤© I love this Lisbon to Sintra day tour for its customizability!

Final Thoughts: Lisbon to Sintra Tours

A Sintra day trip is a captivating journey into the heart of Portugal’s rich history, natural beauty, and architectural grandeur.

Be mesmerised by the colorful Pena Palace, discover the hidden treasures in the gardens of Quinta da Regaleira, take in the panoramic views from the Castelo dos Mouros or stroll through Sintra old town. The best Sintra tours let you choose what you want to do.

Another one of the advantages of a day tour is that you can combine the visit of the iconic Sintra palaces and gardens with a visit to the westernmost point of Europe and the stunning Portuguese coastline.

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One picture of a palace from the outside and one of from the inside of a well looking upwards, text over it reads "Day Tours Sintra from Lisbon"
Best Sintra Day Tours from Lisbon

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