Lisbon is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, but if you’d like to experience another beautiful aspect of Portugal, you can’t miss Sintra.

This charming town is tucked between the Serra de Sintra hills, complete with lush pine forests, luxe villas, and some seriously iconic pieces of history like the 10th-century Moorish castle ruins.

One of the most convenient ways of getting out for the day to see the town is on one of the top  tours of Sintra from Lisbon! We’ve done the hard part for you, to bring you the tours that are genuinely worth your time and money. Let’s jump right in!

Best Sintra Tours from Lisbon

	Private Tour: Sintra Day Trip from Lisbon Including Wine Tasting	Lisbon: Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, & Cascais Daytrip	Sintra and Cascais Small-Group Day Trip from Lisbon
	Best Private Tour	Best Budget Tour	Best Small-Group Tour
Departure:	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	Praça dos Restauradores 13, 1250-187 Lisboa	Av. da Liberdade 2, 1250-144 Lisboa
Start:	8:00 AM	8:20 AM	8:00 AM
Duration:	8 hours	8 hours	8 hours
Includes:	Private Transport by air-conditioned vehicle (Mercedes), Wine Tasting, Private Guide (English Speaking)	Guide, Pena Palace entry ticket (if option selected), Pena Palace guided tour, Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle	Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Local guide, Entrance ticket to Pena Palace & Park
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Day Trips From Lisbon To Sintra For 2024

1. Private Tour: Sintra Day Trip from Lisbon Including Wine Tasting
2. Lisbon: Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, & Cascais Daytrip
3. Sintra and Cascais Small-Group Day Trip from Lisbon
4. Sintra and Cascais Half Day Trip from Lisbon in Private Vehicle
5. Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais Day Trip from Lisbon

Day Trips from Lisbon to Sintra Tour Reviews

1. Private Tour: Sintra Day Trip from Lisbon Including Wine Tasting

Starting things off on the right foot, we bring you the Private Tour: Sintra Day Trip from Lisbon including Wine Tasting experience. This 8-hour tour seems to be the sweet spot in terms of time and experience, without being so long that you’re exhausted.

Escape the crowds of Lisbon, and head out into the hills with the fresh air and feeling of being transported to another century.

You’ll be picked up by a modern, comfortable Mercedes, where you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the drive while enjoying the beautiful landscapes outside the large windows of the vehicle.

Your guide will offer an educational narration about the region, as you pass by certain points of interest, then arrive to the Park and National Palace of Pena. Known for its 19th-century Romanticist architecture, beautiful villas, gardens, and interesting history, it’s always fun to see the Pena Palace.

Here, you’ll get to sit down for lunch at a family-operated locale and enjoy the beautiful sea views. The restaurant is also the chef’s house, and you can just taste the passion they have for providing guests with a top-notch, authentically Portuguese experience.

Next, see the Castelo dos Mouros – the castle ruins which loom over Sintra and once defended the entire region from the 8th to 12th centuries.

The Park and Palace of Monserrate is a palatial villa known for its phenomenal architecture (though not very large inside), and you’ll get to pass by before arriving to the Cabo da Roca Lighthouse located 541 feet above the Atlantic.

Then, enjoy a delicious wine tasting of 4 different local wines down in a historical wine cellar while reveling in your experience of the day.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

2. Lisbon: Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, & Cascais Daytrip

Next up is yet another fun 8-hour tour full of beauty, history, and exploration with the Lisbon: Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, & Cascais Daytrip Tour. If you, your partner, or someone else in your party consider themselves a history buff, this is the perfect excursion.

This full-day, guided journey will take you through some of the country’s most popular tourist hot spots, from centuries-old palaces to expansive ocean view – are you ready?

You can either choose to meet in front of the Palacio da Foz tourism office or be picked up by your guide right from your hotel or other accommodations. Your ride for the day is a climate-controlled, comfortable van where everyone has enough space to stretch out and enjoy the Portuguese scenery outside.

Your first stop of the day is the Sintra town center, where your guide will give you an educational tour and provide you with a fascinating background on the most popular locations.

After, you’ll have about 1.5 hours of free time to spend as you see fit – you can further explore some of the most popular sites, or perhaps enjoy one of the delicious local restaurants before going to Cabo da Roca. Cabo da Roca.

It is the westernmost point of Europe, with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, and if the weather is nice enough you can enjoy Guincho Beach. After that, head to the posh resort town of Cascais, located right on the Portuguese Riviera.

Cascais is a hyped holiday destination peppered with gorgeous historic buildings, a lively atmosphere, and beautiful beaches. It’s a great way to spend some time shopping, exploring, and snacking on some delicious local fare.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. Sintra and Cascais Small-Group Day Trip from Lisbon

We absolutely love Lisbon, but if you want to experience all Portugal has to offer, we highly recommend venturing through Sintra and Cascais. These two towns offer a bit more insight into different ways of life in Portugal, and you don’t need more than a day to do so.

The Sintra and Cascais Small-Group Day Trip from Lisbon Tour is another 8-hour tour ideal for those who’d like a completely personalized tour that caters to your specific interests!

Your tour starts off at 8:00 in the morning, where you’ll meet your guide in front of the Hard Rock Cafe. Your ride for the day is the air-conditioned minivan, so hop on board and head to Sintra!

Your first stop once in Sintra, will be Pena Park, which is lined with beautiful plants and trees, and is perfect for taking a leisurely stroll. However, your destination within the park is the stunning Pena National Palace at the top of the hill, overlooking the town down below.

After learning all about the history of the palace and its significance in the town, you’ll head down to the UNESCO WOrld Heritage Site of Sintra where you’ll have leisure time to enjoy a relaxing lunch or check out the Sintra National Palace!

Your next stop is Roca Cape, but you’ll get to see Quinta da Regaleira and the Palace of Monserrate on the way. The guides are great at making regular stops for photos, and speaking of which, if weather permits, we recommend visiting Guincho Beach for some picture-perfect snaps!

We can’t forget the former fishing town of Cascais, where you’ll get to walk through the charming, winding streets of this now luxe vacation hot spot as your guide leads you through all the most interesting spots.

Known for its friendly locals, beautiful beaches, and world-class food, it’s easy to explore the historic center in just a few hours.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Sintra and Cascais Half Day Trip from Lisbon in Private Vehicle

Perhaps you’d love to see Sintra and Cascais, but already have a packed schedule that may not allow for a full-day tour. If that’s the case for you, boy, do we have some good news!

The Sintra and Cascais Half Day Trip from Lisbon in Private Vehicle tour is a 4-hour excursion that, along with an expert guide, will take you through the most intriguing attractions while making the best use of your time!

Start out by being picked up at your hotel by your driver, complete with a comfortable vehicle outfitted with wi-fi and complimentary bottled water. You get to choose whether to take the morning or afternoon tour, depending on what works best with your schedule.

During the drive to Sintra, you’ll learn quite a bit of history about the town and the entire region, so you already have a good reference once you arrive.

You’ll first arrive at the National Palace of Quelez, which is known as the traditional summer home of the national royal family – great architecture, yet small enough to explore quickly. Next, head on over to the odd yet interesting Quinta da Regaleira estate full of peculiar grottoes and statues that you won’t see in many other places in the world.

Then, head up Sintra Mountain, where you’ll see the Pena National Palace iconic for its golden yellow and red towers and dedicated in the Middle Ages to Our Lady of Pena.

Cascais is up next, which is full of luxury, natural beauty, and stunning bays and beaches. This seaside destination is full of cool spots, including Boca da Inferno – a unique sea-arch and cliff formation where the water vigorously strikes its rocky walls down below.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais Day Trip from Lisbon

We couldn’t leave out the Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais Day Trip from Lisbon tour! This is one of the most complete tours of its kind, taking you through Sintra, the beautiful Cabo da Roca, and sophisticated Cascais.

This fun-filled trio will surely expand your knowledge of this fascinating country, with plenty of spectacular views, expressive artwork, and rich history to go around.

Just like with every other tour on this guide, you’ll be picked up from your hotel or other accommodations – this time at 8:30 am.

The comfortable transportation made for a nice journey looking out the windows while our guide told interesting anecdotes and gave some background information on the region.

They’re super friendly, knowledgeable, and you can feel more than confident asking them any questions you may have. You’ll first arrive to the historical centro historico of Sintra, which is perfectly romantic, complete with architecture from various eras, cultural movements, and architecture tastes.

There are tons of things to do here, but the most popular is undoubtedly a tour of Pena Palace. The grounds are absolutely pristine, surrounding the iconic yellow-and-red imposing structure which sits on the top of the hill.

Next, pass by the most Western point of continental Europe – Cabo da Roca – where you’ll have some time to take photos looking out over the coast line. Stretch your feet a bit, and hop back in your van for your next stop: Cascais.

Cascais is a little picture-perfect paradise, with a quaint fishing village history that’s now been turned into a top holiday destination full of fantastic villas and delicious cuisine.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

Why You Should Visit Sintra

Why just stay in Lisbon? Is it really worth visiting Sintra, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais? If you enjoy history, natural beauty, phenomenal architecture, and delicious food, our answer is a resounding “yes”! But, let’s explore a bit into each place and why each one is worth diving into.

Sintra

For some reason, Portuguese history is often overlooked when speaking about continental Europe. It’s surprising, because it’s absolutely fascinating! Sintra is a wonderful way to get to know more about the country’s history.

Chock full of fantastic palaces and castles, you not only have the unique Pena Palace, but Quinta da Regaleira, which was bought by eccentric millionaire, Antonio Monteiro in 1892, who was through to be a Free Mason. His special interests motivated him to spend decades renovating the mystical castle to create an otherworldly portal between “the physical and metaphysical worlds”.

Castelo Dos Mouros lies in ruins now, though the castle was once a fortification for the Muslim Moors in beginning in the 8th century! Strategically-located on top of one of the tallest hills in the region, it makes for some amazing views – both natural and manmade.

Monserrate Palace is a bit outside the town center, but that only adds to its tranquil vibe that many visitors enjoy. Melding clear Indian and Arabian influences, with impeccable geometric latticework, rose marbe columns, and intricate stone carvings, it’s a work of art in itself.

Pena Palace is the number one destination within the town, and there’s no other palace that looks quite like it. However, it’s not only the structure itself that makes it so appealing – the enormous park which surrounds it is a great time. Grab a coffee, take a stroll, and take it all in.

Cabo da Roca

Cabo da Roca is the perfect place to go if you want to see the versatility of Portugal. It’s essentially “where the land ends and sea begins”, seeing as it’s continental Europe’s most western point.

The rocky cliff edges sitting against the rich blue waters create an amazing view – not to mention the stunning beaches below! There’s a 16th-century lighthouse and church nearby, so you can warm up with a cup o’ Joe to combat the winds blowing all around you!

Cascais

When you arrive in Cascais, you’ll feel like you’ve just stepped into a movie. You wouldn’t be 100% wrong in that sentiment, either, seeing as it’s been the site of many movie film locations, such as “A Sea Cave Near Lisbon”. Ian Fleming, creator of the legendary character, James Bond, also spent many years in Cascais, and was inspired by the atmosphere to write Casino Royale. Does this mean Cascais is Bond, James Bond’s birthplace?

Today, the walkable destination is a bustling resort town, with a fine selection of restaurants, bars, and shops to discover.

Let’s get back on the subject of restaurants, though. If you’re a seafood lover, you’re in the right place. This coastal town was once a fishing village, and they sure haven’t forgotten how to conjure up a delicious seafood feast!

Seeing how Portugal was neutral durig WWII (along with its undeniable beauty), Cascais became home to countless royal families throughout Europe. Somehow, walking on the perfectly tiled streets with a gentle sea breeze blowing through your hair makes each step feel a bit effortless.

FAQs About Sintra Day Trips

Q: How do I get to Sintra from Lisbon?

A: The cheapest way to get to Sintra from Lisbon is by train. There are two train lines that connect Lisbon to Sintra: one that leaves from Rossio station in the city center the other leaves from Oriente station. Both trains take about 40 minutes to get to Sintra.

Q: What should I see in Sintra?

• Pena Palace: This colorful palace is perched on a hilltop and surrounded by a lush park. Built in the 19th century by King Ferdinand II as his summer home that was inspired by a variety of architectural styles, such as Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance and Manueline.
• Quinta da Regaleira: This is a mysterious and magical estate that features a Gothic palace, a chapel, a labyrinthine garden, and several underground tunnels and wells. It was designed by an Italian architect and owned by a wealthy businessman who was fascinated by esotericism, alchemy, Freemasonry, and Templarism. It is full of symbols and hidden meanings that invite exploration and interpretation.
• Moorish Castle: The Moors built this medieval fortress when they invaded the Iberian Peninsula. It was later conquered by the Christian kings and used as a royal residence and a military base. It has stunning views of the surrounding area and the Pena Palace.
• National Palace of Sintra: The oldest palace in Sintra and the best preserved royal residence in Portugal. It has a distinctive silhouette with two conical chimneys and features various architectural styles, such as Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance, and Mudejar. It showcases richly decorated rooms with azulejos (painted tiles), paintings, furniture, and artifacts.

Q: How long do I need to see Sintra?

A: You should spend at least a full day in Sintra. You could easily spend two to three days to see everything. There is a lot to see and do in Sintra and you can’t see it all in one day. Sintra gets crowded with tourists in the summer. If you only have one day, you should focus on the main attractions (Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Moorish Castle, National Palace) and skip the ones that are farther away or less impressive.

Q: How do I get around Sintra?

A: Sintra is not very big, but it is very hilly and spread out. You can of course walk but it may not be the most efficient way to get around.

• Bus: There are two hop-on hop-off bus circuits that cover most of the attractions in Sintra: the 434 line that connects the train station with the town center, the Moorish Castle, and the Pena Palace; and the 435 line that connects the train station with the town center, Quinta da Regaleira, Seteais Palace, Monserrate Palace, and Capuchos Convent. The buses run every 15 to 20 minutes.
• Tuk-tuk: These are three-wheeled vehicles that can take you to any attraction in Sintra. They are fast, fun, and flexible, but also more expensive than buses.
• Taxi: The quickest way to get you to any attraction in Sintra. They are comfortable, convenient, and reliable but more expensive than buses or tuk-tuks.
• Private tour: Guided tours include transportation, entrance fees, and commentary. They are the best option if you want to learn more about Sintra’s history and culture, skip the hassle of planning and driving and enjoy a personalized experience.