We had a fantastic day. Our guide, Bruno is a local to Santa.. He is very knowledgeable, pleasant and outstanding in every way. Can’t wait to go on another private tour with him.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Private transportation
- Driver/Tour Guide
- Historical Content
- Legal licenses and insurances
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Flexible and customizable itinerary
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or accommodation
Excludes
- Palace Tickets
- Lunch
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
Itinerary
Built to be a love gift from a prince to his queen, it became the best example of Portuguese romanticism in all its splendor.
A palace dating from the late 19th to the early 20th century, filled with secrecy, mystery, and fascinating stories.
Here, where kings and queens, nobles and later the Portuguese aristocracy used to come to the beach, is now a place where you can find several restaurants, with fresh fish and seafood being their specialty (stop for lunch)
A small village with that stands on a top of a cliffside.
The westernmost continental part of Europe, a view point over the ocean.
The cosmopolitan town of Cascais that once was the center of espionage during the second world war.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
This was our first day of 2 day tours with Bruno. We went to Sintra which was a beautiful town. Bruno took us many places in the car, to a viewpoint with a beautiful lookout, a beautiful botanical garden in Sintra, we walked around Sintra and had a coffee and pastry, and then we took a very interesting tour of the Biester Palace and it didn't disappoint!! Bruno is great about sharing the history of Portugal and where he's taking you but in a very interesting way. I never knew about the history of Portugal and it was really interesting. Really recommend the Biester Palace and Bruno really helped to paint a picture of the history of Portugal. We had a really nice seafood lunch and drove down to the town of Cascais which was lovely. The whole day was interesting and educational and I'd do another tour with Bruno for sure. He's a great host and tour guide!
We had an incredible tour of Sintra thanks to Joseph. His English skills are perfect, and his knowledge of the history surrounding Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and the National Palace was super impressive. Having seamless, comfortable transport made exploring the area totally hassle-free. Joseph made our trip truly memorable—5 stars!
We spent two incredible days exploring Portugal with Portugal Unknown Tours, and I cannot recommend them highly enough! I traveled with my two children, ages 14 and 11, and we booked two private excursions: one to Sintra and Cascais, and another to Nazaré, Fátima, and Óbidos. Both days exceeded our expectations. From the beginning, communication with Ana was fabulous. She was responsive, helpful, and made the planning process incredibly easy. The tours were tailored to our interests, and the pricing was excellent for the level of personalized service we received. Bruno was our guide for both days, and he was absolutely fantastic! He was knowledgeable, personable, engaging, and incredibly flexible. What impressed me most was his ability to provide meaningful historical context without ever making the experience feel like a history lecture. He kept both of my kids interested and entertained while ensuring I got just as much out of the experience. Our Sintra day was wonderful. We explored Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira, where the Initiation Well was a particular highlight. Bruno knew exactly how to make the sites interesting for everyone. He also recommended a fantastic local restaurant for lunch and timed a stop for delicious local pastries perfectly, just when we needed a little pick-me-up. Exploring Cascais was another highlight of the day. Our second excursion took us to Nazaré, Fátima, and Óbidos. Bruno’s knowledge of Nazaré’s famous big waves was fascinating, even though we weren’t lucky enough to see the giant waves in action. We loved exploring Óbidos, visiting Fátima, and enjoying another excellent local lunch. Throughout both days, Bruno shared stories, historical details, and local insights that made each destination much more meaningful. One of my favorite things was how naturally Bruno connected with my children. He bonded with my teenage son over soccer and even challenged him to a race—which my son proudly won! It’s those little moments that turn a sightseeing tour into a truly memorable family experience. What sets Portugal Unknown Tours apart is the combination of outstanding communication, genuine personal attention, flexibility, local expertise, and excellent value. We never felt like we were following a rigid, cookie-cutter itinerary. Instead, it felt like we were exploring Portugal with a knowledgeable local friend who genuinely wanted us to have the best possible experience. If you’re considering a private tour in Portugal, book with this company. And if you’re lucky enough to have Bruno as your guide, you’re in for a treat. These were two of the highlights of our entire Portugal vacation, and I would absolutely book with Portugal Unknown Tours again!
Carla is an excellent personable and knowledgeable guide who tailored our tour to our interests and advised us about the most interesting parts to include. She was very considerate of all of our needs regarding walking, dining to taste the best of Portugal’s traditional foods and sumptuous seafood, We felt like we’d made a friend on our trip with Carla. Highly recommend her as a guide.
What an outstanding experience, our Guide was all and even more than we hoped for, extremely knowledgeable from ancient European history, to languages, economics, cultures and on and on. Bruno is a true professional from presentation to demeanor. You can tell this service is not a job it is his life’s passion. There was never a question that was left unanswered, or a subject too simple to explore. We spent 3 days with Bruno and it was a pleasure from the beginning, to the wonderful little local places for lunch to the magnificent palaces and monuments we visited. We could not thank Bruno enough for the wonderful experiences he shared with us. If you are traveling to the Lisbon /Sintra area of Portugal see it with Bruno you will not be disappointed. Thank you to Bruno’s beautiful wife and baby for allowing us the time Bruno spent with us, Well done Bruno, hope to see you again soon.
My husband and I fully enjoyed this private tour, our guide grew up in the area so was aware of excellent stops for great views and avoiding crowds, we wanted more of an off the beaten path tour vs the standard, our guide did not disappoint. We had lunch in a wonderful local restaurant, best meal of our vacation. Highly recommend this very personalized tour!
Bruno is the only way to fulfill your sight-seeing dreams in Sintra! From easy pick up and personal driving, to a perfectly tailored tour for your infdividual interests, filled with captivating history, he is truly the only guide to get. I throughly had a tremendous day with great local restaurant recommendations from him. Thanks Bruno, will definitely bring friends and family again ❤️
We went on a private tour with Carla and had an amazing time! We learned so much and had great food and conversation. We highly recommend!
I highly recommend this tour. José our tour guide was fantastic! He shared the history of Portugal with us to provide context around what we were seeing on our drive. Weather at the Pena Palace was rainy and windy so we saw what we could and pivoted to an amazing local pastry shop. We also visited Cabo da Roca the most western pint in Europe and took in stunning views of cliffs and the ocean. Enjoyed a delicious seafood lunch at Nortada. Then took a coastal drive to Cascais for a quick shopping trip. Loved that we could see multiple historic sites and towns to get a feel for the diversity and rich history of Portugal. I highly recommend this tour. It was a highlight of our trip to Lisbon. Jose our tour guide was so knowledgeable, easy going and flexible with the schedule. It was the perfect day! Hotel pick up/drop off was the icing on the cake.
If you’re visiting Sintra, do yourself a favor and book a tour with João. He was, without question, one of the highlights of our time in Portugal and turned an already magical place into an experience we’ll remember forever. From the very beginning, João went above and beyond for us. We accidentally booked the wrong tickets for Quinta da Regaleira, and before we even had time to stress about it, he had fixed the entire situation within minutes, rearranging things and creating a separate tour for us on another day so we wouldn’t miss out. That level of care and attentiveness really defined our entire experience with him. João is incredibly knowledgeable about Sintra’s history, architecture, legends, and culture, but what makes touring with him so special is that he’s actually from Sintra. You’re not just hearing facts from a guide - you’re experiencing this extraordinary place through the eyes of someone who genuinely knows it, loves it, and calls it home. His stories bring everything to life in a way no guidebook ever could. But as wonderful as his knowledge is, João himself is what makes the experience unforgettable. He’s funny, bright, intelligent, warm, and immediately makes you feel comfortable. By the end, it honestly felt less like we had spent the day with a tour guide and more like we had been shown around Sintra by family. He has such a gift for curating an experience that feels personal rather than packaged. He paid attention to the little things, made us feel incredibly special, and even had a few surprises for us along the way that made the day that much more memorable. You can tell how much thought and heart he puts into what he does. There are plenty of ways to see Sintra and some of the costal towns, but there is only one way I would recommend experiencing it: with João. If you want someone who will make you laugh, teach you more than you thought possible, take care of every detail, and make you feel like Sintra is yours for the day, book him. You’ll leave with incredible memories and probably feeling like you made a new friend in Portugal. 10/10. We would book with João again in a heartbeat!!
SHORT VERSION A wonderful day in Portugal! Highly recommend this tour, and if Carla is your guide, consider yourself very fortunate! She is a gem. Truly professional, a lot of fun, and full of information. If you want to tour outside Pena Palace (or have any ticketed experience), be sure to book your tickets. They are not included as part of the tour. LONG VERSION My husband and I took a private tour. We were picked up at our hotel promptly at 9am. Carla asked if we had anything specific we wanted to see in Sintra, and she would organize our day accordingly. Peña Palace was our top pick, and she told us what tickets we needed to buy for both the viewing and the shuttle transfer that takes you up the hill from the parking lot to the palace. So, I bought our tickets on the way there. It worked out fine, but caused a little stress finding the right website. Also along the drive she told us about the rest of the itinerary, and asked what our preferences were for lunch. We took her recommendation for a lovely place with a Portugese menu and an ocean view. With all logistics out of the way, we enjoyed the short drive. Initially I thought she would just drop us off at Pena Palace, but no! She accompanied us, showing us the best views, explaining details we would have missed on our own, and being a gentle coach as I practiced my limited Portuguese. In addition to Pena Palace, we also spent some time walking around Sintra. We left there and saw many beautiful beaches and other historic places. Along the way, we had an excellent lunch (not included), where Carla had made window seat reservations for us. Our tour finished with a brief stop in Cascais, that we kept short due the heat! We were dropped off at our hotel just as another private tour from the same company was returning. They had taken the same tour and we all agreed it was a most excellent day. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!
This is an excellent way to spend a day around Sintra for a group of six. We customized the day to suit us. It worked out perfectly. Shout out to Jose for being such a great guide and for bringing extra umbrellas ☔️, also for taking us to a great restaurant for lunch.
We had a wonderful time throughout our two-day trip for many reasons. Our guide, Carla, was incredibly friendly, kind, and knowledgeable. She shared fascinating insights about the history of the places we visited and gave us excellent recommendations on what to do, making the experience even more enjoyable. Our son sometimes gets carsick, and Carla was very understanding and thoughtful. She drove carefully and at a comfortable speed which made the journey much easier for him. It didn’t feel like we are travelling with stranger. We took two tours one to Lisbon and another to Sintra and had a fantastic experience on both. Hotel pickup was punctual with no trouble, making everything stress-free from start to finish. We highly recommend these tours, especially with Carla as your guide!
We had the most enjoyable day with Carla as our guide, touring Peña Palace and Quinta de la Regaleira in Sintra as well as a stop at the western-most point in Europe, Cabo de Roca and finally lunch and gelato in Cascais. Carla was a very enthusiastic, engaging and knowledgeable guide who filled our day with history of the places we visited, fun facts and laughter. Highly recommended Carla as a guide and the castle Tours that are filled with history of Portugal.
Carla was a fantastic guide for our family! She was warm, communicative, knowledgeable and great for a family-friendly tour
My husband and I had a phenomenal time with Carla on our day trip. She was prompt, knowledgeable, fun and funny! We learned a lot about the sites and spots we visited, had a delicious lunch at a beautiful spot with an ocean view to break up the day- and saw lots of areas we would have otherwise had more trouble accessing. Book this tour, it’s worth it!
This trip was well worth the cost. The hotel pick up was promptly on time and the vehicle was clean and roomy. Our guide Jose was very pleasant and knowledgeable and did an excellent job explaining things and keeping us on schedule. We were able to get all of the sites we wanted to see and even some extra stops at a local bakery and a short walk around Cascais. I would highly recommend for anyone looking for a private all day tour of the Sintra area.
Nice tour of Sintra and Cascais. Carla was knowledgeable of all the history and culture throughout the whole experience. Highly recommend!
We had a fantastic day. Carla was great. We got to see everything we wanted to and it was very enjoyable. We never felt rushed and Carla was flexible with our day and what we wanted to do.
Carla was fantastic and answered all of my stupid questions. My kids loved her and we had a unique experience. Obrigato!!!!
The tour was excellent from start to finish. Upon greeting my family and I, Carla was warm, friendly, and knowledgeable, balancing fun with learning about Cascais very well. The tour started at Sintra Castle, then we went to the Westernmost point of Portugal, then stopped at Apple Beach for excellent food (thank's to Carla's recommendation), then, Carla showed us some lowkey, beautiful viewing spots on the cliffsides by the sea, before we went to the Quinta de Regaleira, which was also incredibly with its life and death symbolism. Finally, Carla took us to a small town at the end of the day and recommended a nice ice cream spot. It felt like the highlights of Cascais and Sintra were checked off in one day. Highly recommend!
Our group of 9 enjoyed our custom private tour. Working with Portugal Unknown to set up the itinerary was a dream, they were so flexible and easy to work with, and they took care of everything. Our guides Bruno and Jose were so knowledgeable and friendly. We learned so much about Sintra and Monserrate Palace during our tour. Would highly recommend them to anyone seeking a professional and thorough tour of beautiful Sintra
The visit to Quinta de Regaleira and Pena Palace was amazing. Our guide Nelson brought us back in time with his knowledge and we were able to immerse ourselves in the past. He was professional, punctual, and with a lovely personality. He captive us with details, and such a rich history. He anticipated our needs and took very good care of us during the tour.
I wasn’t sure at first how I was going to manage logistics from my hotel in Cascais to Sintra and see the sites I was interested in. There are so many different tour company options and picking the right event tickets etc. I found this company and was able to find exactly what I was looking for. I grabbed entry tickets separately and my guide, João, took care of the rest! In the areas he couldn’t tour with me due to parking issues, he gave me the best local recommendations for pastry shops, maps and everything. He arranged a lunch for us at a wonderful local restaurant in Azoia, 3Gomes and the food was delicious. We visited the western most point in Europe and finished with a drive down the coast past Guincho and into Cascais. Totally recommend this as a great option for a tour!
I had an absolutely incredible day exploring with Carla on a private tour to Sintra, Cascais, and Cabo da Roca. We visited both Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira, and Carla was incredibly informative, sharing so much fascinating background and history about each location. She is super helpful and truly customizes the experience. For lunch, she asked if I preferred a quick bite or a sit-down meal. I opted for a sit-down lunch, and she made a reservation for me at a gorgeous beachfront restaurant called Nortado. The views were beautiful and the food was absolutely delicious! Afterward, we stopped at Cabo da Roca for some quick, stunning photos before finishing the day in Cascais. Carla made the entire day seamless, relaxing, and unforgettable. 10/10!
We had a lovely day with Bruno. He was super knowledgeable and friendly. It was amazing to go through Sintra with someone who was raised in the town. We loved hearing about his childhood memories going into the castles. He was great with our kids (9 & 8 yo). He took us to a fantastic lunch and gave us fantastic recommendations!! I would highly highly recommend booking a tour with him.
My sister and I had an absolutely wonderful experience touring Sintra, Cascais, and Pena Palace with Carla. From the moment we met her, she was warm, personable, and incredibly easy to talk to. Her knowledge of Portugal’s history, culture, and monarchy made the tour engaging and educational. Carla went above and beyond by arranging lunch reservations for us at a charming local restaurant, which added a special touch to the day. She was organized, attentive, and genuinely passionate about sharing the beauty and history of Portugal. Thanks to Carla, our visit was seamless, memorable, and filled with fascinating insights we would have otherwise. She truly made our experience unforgettable.
Nelson is an excellent well informed guide. He is fluent in numerous languages including English Spanish and of course Portuguese
Had an excellent day with our tour guide Carla. Really impressed with Queluz and Pena palaces. Absolutely amazing places that Carla showed us and gave us very interesting history about.
Jose was very knowledgable about the historical sites we visited, friendly and caring. He made suggestions to customize our tour according to our abilities and needs which made the trip even more enjoyable. He spoke perfect English and even accommodated my husband who is hard of hearing. He made sure we were well taken care of throughout the day even when we had some weather issues. We definitely would recommend him as an experienced and professional guide.
We DO talk about Bruno because he’s a great tour guide. With his guidance , we curated a beautiful day trip to Caiscais and Sintra. Bruno taught us so much and shared so many hidden gems , including a cool house where Madonna shot a video with Cape Verdean women. Who knew? Bruno did . Bruno is so well educated not only on Portugal but the world and our trip felt like an interactive history class. His intelligence , warmth and humor are unparalleled !
Exceptional day with guide Carla
Saw Pena Palace and La Quinta Regaleira. Much easier having the guide drive than trying to navigate crowded, narrow streets, deal with parking, etc. Jose was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic explaining the history of these places.
Our guide, Carla, was professional, knowledgeable, and committed to providing us a wonderful learning experience. Would highly recommend!
Best excursion of our two week vacation. We cruised with NCl from Barcelona to Lisbon. The excursion with Bruno was great. Can't recommend him more highly.
Clara , our guide, was excellent guide. She provided details for each place visit while she shared a lot of information about the history of Portugal.
Great experience. Bruno was awesome, very knowledgeable about local history and culture
We had great experienceWe booked a Sintra and Cascais tour with this company, and it was a great experience. The itinerary was well-paced and covered some of the most beautiful and iconic spots in the area. Our guide Nelson was knowledgeable, friendly, and very engaging. His storytelling made our visit to Regaleira and Sintra especially enjoyable, and his familiarity with the sites really added to the experience. On the way back, we stopped at some beautiful coastal viewpoints, and he also shared helpful tips for visiting Belém Tower the next day. He even gave us some great recommendations for pastries and restaurants. I’d definitely recommend this tour and Nelson—one of the best guides I’ve had.
Bruno is a great driver and tour guide. He is very knowledgeable and detail oriented. The day was planned very well and we were able to visit all the places at ease. My whole family had a wonderful time. Strongly recommended.
We had a wonderful day with Bruno! He was easy going, knowledgable, fun and accommodating. Because of his familiarity with the area and the sites he was able to plan around the crowds so we could get the most out of our day. We enjoyed Pena Palace, but we especially loved visiting the beautiful gardens around the Palace of Monserrate. Ana in the office was lovely to deal with. She was responsive and efficient in setting up our day. We can’t recommend Portugal Unknown tours highly enough!
José was an amazing guide. He was friendly, outgoing, interesting, extremely knowledgeable about Portuguese history, and specifically the history of Sintra and its many incredible historical sites. He arrived on time for pickup and dove right into the history and culture of Portugal. He was clearly passionate and very dedicated to his trade as a guide. He was very clear about our tour options and made suggested changes to our itinerary on the fly based on weather (it was an overcast day in the Sintra area and so some sites would be affected by this). He gave us a very detailed itinerary to follow at Quinta da Regaleira, when he was unable to accompany us due to how busy it was! He made great recommendations for places to stop for local treats and his lunch suggestion was amazing! Thank you so much for the memorable day and professional service!
We had a wonderful tour of Sintra with Bruno. Not only did he welcome us to his hometown, but it was like he was welcoming us into his home. We thoroughly appreciated his knowledge of the area, the history of Portugal and his passion for his trade.
Bruno was our tour guide and he was wonderful. Affable, courteous, articulate and a local who was steeped in and passionate about the history of Portugal. He took us to Palacio National da Pena for which we had pre reserved tickets. The palace was stunning. From the palace we walked through Parque da Pena, an extraordinarily beautiful and peaceful park. Bruno treated us to local delicious Sintrese pastries and we then toured the Castelo dos Mouros. We toured historic Sintra, had an amazing lunch of grilled seafood and fresh grilled fish at a local favorite of Bruno's. We hit the "Madonna house" on the coast followed by a stop at picturesque Cabo da Roca, the most western part of continental Portugal. Our last stop was a leisurely stroll through beautiful Cascais. All in all a very memorable experience. I highly recommend this tour. Zak N
Our tour was just as we expected. we wanted a tour we could tailor to our needs. Our tour guide, Jose did that for us. He was amazonian, knowledgeably with perfect English. He was fun! Would highly recommend using him!
We did a private tour of Sintra/Cascais/Cabo da Roca with Bruno. Pick up and drop off were at our hotel which made it convenient and efficient. Since we were a private tour we were able to pick what we wanted to see and Bruno helped us figure out what we had time for. We had a brilliant time! Bruno was extremely knowledgeable about both local and general Portuguese history and was fascinating to listen to. We learned so much more than we would have done trying to find things out on our own. Lunch was at a restaurant on the way to Cabo da Roca recommended by Bruno and was delicious! Thanks for a great day!
Great tour. John was so sweet and great with our 3 kids. The food was delicious
We had such a great day trip from Lisbon to Sintra with Portugal Unknown Tours and Bruno. Bruno picked us up at our hotel in Lisbon and gave our family group of 6 a personal and private tour. He was so friendly and extremely knowledgeable of the history and culture of Sintra, as he actually grew up there. He took us to an amazing spot for lunch with beautiful views of the beach and delicious and fresh seafood, which we never would have found on our own. He took us to so many places in a single day, really maximizing our time. He knew all the best spots, especially for the best gelato🥰 Bruno made our trip very memorable! This was our last day of our 10 days in Portugal, and we definitely saved the best for last.
Bruno César took my husband and I on a private tour of Sintra on the most beautiful day! It was our first time in Portugal, and the tour exceeded our expectations. Bruno was an exceptional tour guide with an extraordinary knowledge of Portugal’s rich history. His passion and pride for his country were conveyed to us not only as an interesting history lesson, but also as an entertaining learning experience. Bruno was professional, super friendly, and spoke English flawlessly. All the sights we experienced were breathtaking and unforgettable! We will most definitely recommend Bruno and this tour to all of our close friends and family traveling to Portugal.
My cousin and I had a wonderful afternoon walking through romantic Sintra with our excellent tour guide,João. We were pressed for time when we hired him to take us to beautiful Sintra. We knew we'd have a short trip but we wanted to get to see that incredible area of Portugal. João was not only an excellent driver, he is very intelligent and very easy to talk to. We thoroughly enjoyed our entire drive from Lisbon. Everything he taught us about Sintra was so interesting. There was a horrible traffic jam to reach Pena Palace. João very quickly developed plan B, which was to walk us through the beautiful central city of Sintra, teaching us so much about his beloved hometown. We highly recommend this to tour.
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