Lisbon: Pena Palace, Cabo Da Roca, Cascais Private Tour

We found Van Tour online and decided to book an experience with them. Laura was great in suggesting a tour - Along the coast to Pena Palace for the day. We made arrangements and off we went to Lisbon. A few days before the tour, Laura messaged us with any additional details, just like she told us she would, and made final arrangement for our pick up. Christiano was right on time and off we went. We could tell immediately that this was the right trip. The whole day was filled with wonderful sights mixed with the right amount of Portugal background. Mid day, we went for lunch at a seafood restaurant right on the coast. The table was as perfect as the staff, as the food. This was arguably the best fish we've ever had! And off we went to Pena Palace. The drive was awesome us the narrow and sweet roads and doing this in the VW van was perfect! After the palace, we drove back and Christiano dropped us off at our hotel. We could not have asked for a better day. If we could have, we would have booked another tour during our stay, but we definitely will the next time we are in Portugal. My only hesitation in writing this great review is that the next time we come, he will be so booked he may not have a spot for us. Seriously, do not hesitate to book with Van Tour Way of Life, it was the best part of a wonderful Portugal adventure.

This is a must book tour! Christiano was an amazing tour guide and showed us so many cool stops on our private tour. He was very friendly, knowledgeable and told us great stories along the way. We never felt rushed and he let us take our time to truly enjoy the experience. The VW van is also so cool and such a fun way to explore! Would highly recommend!

After finding this tour online, I made arrangement directly with Laura and Christiano. I told them this was our first time in Lisbon, asked for a tour recommendation and Laura recommended the Pena Palace trip for us. All communication was great online, then on WhatsApp once we arrived in Portugal. Christano picked us up in this amazing 1970’s VW van, and the trip began. He was everything you could ask for in a host - kind, knowledgable and never rushing us in all of our stop. Our trip with up the coast, stopping at some amazing sites - cliffs, beaches, and a stunning restaurant for lunch which was our best meal in Lisbon (and that is s tall order!) then a great drive up to Pena Palace with even more stunning views. Our trip was a full day - and the sites and company were everything we could ask for. My only hesitation in this outstanding recommendation is that it will undoubtably make it even harder for us to book with Laura and Christiano again! But that is what you get when you create an outstanding tour and experience. Muito Obrigado Laura and Christiano, and we will see you the next time we are in Lisbon!

Absolutely fantastic private tour with Cristiano from Van Tour Way of Life, with the help of his wife, Laura! Cristiano picked us up early in the morning in downtown Lisbon near our hotel and immediately gave us great advice on how to make the most of our day. We drove up the coast of Portugal, visiting beautiful cities and discovering places we never would have found on our own. We had lunch at one of the most delicious and stunning hidden-gem restaurants along the coast, then headed to Sintra to explore the incredible Pena Palace. Throughout the entire day, Cristiano shared interesting facts and stories about the areas we visited. He even played music that perfectly matched the vintage style of his beautifully restored VW van. We loved hearing the story behind the van and the love that went into restoring it. And when we thought the day couldn’t get any better, Cristiano took us to Belém for the famous Pastéis de Belém. They were absolutely delicious! This was so much more than a tour. It felt like spending the day with a friend who knows Portugal inside and out and genuinely loves sharing it with others. We cannot recommend Van Tour Way of Life enough. If you’re visiting Lisbon, book this tour! And book early because they sell out fast. This was one of the highlights of our time in Portugal. ❤️

My husband and I spent a wonderful day exploring in the VW van with Christiano! He knew all of the best spots to stop and allowed us to spend as much or as little time at each as we wanted- we didn’t feel rushed once all day. He brought us to a lunch spot with the most amazing views and food. We would definitely book another tour with Christiano if we ever find ourselves in Lisbon again!

This was one of the best experiences we had in Lisbon! Christiano was so kind and informative, and our daughter felt like a princess. I know many people book the tour because of the van, but even if the tour was in a car, it would have been worth every penny. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience!

No doubt, the best tour you can do in your life

While a vehicle breakdown is an unfortunate event, the subsequent handling of our refund was a major disappointment. Our tour lasted only 30 minutes before the van broke down. The driver then requested that we physically push the vehicle backward into oncoming traffic on a busy road, creating a severe safety hazard that ultimately left us stranded.   Despite an immediate promise of a full refund, it has been a month of frustrating communications to get a resolution. While management claimed in writing that "customers are king," their actual response was filled with continuous delays, excuses, and multiple missed deadlines to refund us. The issue here is not the mechanical failure itself, but the lack of proactive communication, lack of transparency, failure to commit to agreed deadlines, broken trust, and deeply unprofessional customer service that followed.

Where do I start? This was easily one of the best yours I've ever experienced in my life so far. Christiano went above and beyond to make sure our first time in Lisbon would not be our last. From the moment he picked us up to the many amazing stories we've had. If I never got to see Sintra im at least glad I got to experience a tour with Christiano and eat at his amazing suggestion for a restaurant. Thanks again! Merci beaucoup!

Cristiano was terrific! He took us everywhere we asked. Pena Palace was unbelievable. Well worth the money. It was the best day of our trip.

Christiano was friendly, informative & honest about everything. He arrived on time, was happy & positive, he shared lots of information about Lisboa that we would not have known, he gave us as much time as we needed in different spots along the way, our lunch stop was AMAZING, the food was fabulous and the views were spectacular. We finished at Pena Palace which worked off our lunch 😂 with a good 15 min walk uphill. To finish we were given names of authentic Portuguese restaurants to try for our last dinner here, this was sent through to us promptly from his wife Laura with links to his recommendations. Thank you from Sharon, Bob, Elaine & Paul from Australia 🩷🩷🩷

What a fantastic day! Couldn’t think of a better full-day excursion from Lisbon: Cascais and Sintra are must do’s on everyone’s Portugal trip. Christiano is excellent company, very knowledgeable and a good chauffeur of the 1970 Volkswagen. Not cheap, but excellent value for money!

Of all our extraordinary experiences in Lisbon, spending the day with Christiano had to be our favorite. It was like traveling with a family member in a most unique VW minibus.

The best tour on our 3 week trip! My parents love Volkswagens and this was a treat for them along with the sights and food! Christiano was an excellent guide. Highly recommend the tour!

One of the highlights of our trip was a tour of Caiscais, Convento do Capuchins, Regaleiria, Pena Palace and lunch at Azenhas Sdomar which would not be possible without Christiano’s presence. He is knowledgeable, patient, friendly, professional and hardworking. The VW van was such a novel way of travel and all the information that was provided was priceless; in fact, the price of this tour is such a bargain. The ease of getting around with someone who knows the roads is worth every penny. If you are on the fence about booking this tour, it is a no- brainer- book it. Watch Ian and Anna’s video which features parts of this trip.

Bravo to Christiano for an unforgettable experience taking us to Cascais, Pena Palace and Sintra. We stopped in the quaint town of Colares and indulged in a delectable lunch at Azenhaus Do Mar. The culinary delights were exquisite and the views were simply awe-inspiring. Christiano generously shared his vast knowledge of the area and traveling in his VW van (which actually belongs to his lovely wife, Laura) was a true delight! This is an absolute MUST DO when visiting Lisbon!!

We had a wonderful tour, spending the day with Christiano in their renovated 1974 VW microbus. He was very flexible and accommodating and shared with us this beautiful part of Portugal. Our tour took us to Cascais, an unplanned stop at Cabo de Roca, the western most point of Europe, a wonderful seaside restaurant with excellent fresh fish for lunch, and a tour of the Peña palace in Sintra. Thank you Christiano and Laura! It was great to meet you and we had a great time!

A fantastic trip all around. Christiano was one of the best guides we have ever had. He started off by asking what we most wanted to do and was flexible in accommodating our wishes. The cliff side restaurant was perhaps the best meal we had on our trip and reasonably priced. A true 10 out of 10 rating.

Special day! Navigating to areas we would’ve never ventured on our own. The history,culture,food,company priceless

What a special day! From the minute we were picked up at our hotel in the cool retro van, Christiano was the best host and guide. He gave so much insight and history during the trip and we learned and experienced so much. It was a wonderful day and we have so many amazing memories. Highly recommend this tour!

Amazing must do in Lisbon! We had the best day with Christiano. He’s so knowledgeable, warm, accommodating, and made it a truly unforgettable part of our time in Portugal.

We had an excellent tour with Laura And Christiano. They were very knowledgeable, passionate and they had amazing stories to tell us about the incredible sites we visited. The Volkswagen bus was a perfect vehicle for the tour and the story behind their Volkswagen bus touched our hearts immensely. What a fantastic day we had. We highly recommend Van Tour Way of Life and will definitely tell all our friends visiting Lisbon! Thank you again, Laura and Christiano for making our day so amazing! Joe & Rose Schmidt

Two of us spent a fabulous day on a private tour with Christiano. He picked us up on time in the amazing, restored VW Bus. (Make sure to ask him to tell the love story about the bus restoration.)  First, he took us to the charming town of Cascais. We strolled the area and then walked through the fortress and to the Banco de Inferno which is stunning.  He took us to a few beautiful viewpoints and we saw all the surfers and the beaches. He told us some great stories and lots of history.  He took us to lunch right on the beach at Azenhas do Mar. The view was to die for, the service was impeccable and the food was delicious. We had fresh fish and octopus salad. And of course some vino verde.  After lunch we went through Sintra to Quinta da Regaleira with the incredible well and gardens.  Then on to Pena Palace for spectacular views and grounds. On the way home he let us stop to grab some groceries.  If you are on the fence about a private tour, I highly recommend it. He was able to let us set some of the itinerary, get us the perfect seat at the restaurant and by-pass a long line to get us into the Regaleira. Riding in the VW bus with Christiano at the wheel, we felt safe and well cared for and his knowledge of the area, his connections, and his  gregarious personality made for a magical day.

What a great way to spend a day exploring Lisbon, Sintra and the amazing surrounding coastline. Christiano and his boss aka wife Laura are superb hosts/driver and go out of their way to make sure you have the best day possible tailored to your specific needs. This is a genuine family business not some faceless tour business that gives you 10 minutes at each stop. We started the day discussing the best route and spots given it was a public holiday and then headed off. During the day Christiano was a great guide and had so many great stories about the van and how the business came to life over nearly a decade. So many great memories made but the best has to be the cliff top restaurant overlooking probably the coolest beach and natural pool I’ve ever seen - I’m not adding the name because this is yet to be spoiled by the Instagram hoards. If you do one thing while in Lisbon book this if you can but be warned they are booked months in advance and having just appeared on MAFS I imagine they will be even more popular.

Don't think, just book it. What a fantastic day! Christiano and Laura were professional from the start. We got to see the most amazing views/beaches, lunch in Azenhos do Mar was breathtaking as well as delicious, and we never felt rushed. We had plenty of time to walk around the Cascaism Moorish Castle and Pena Palace. There's absolutely no way we would have seen as much without doing this tour. Lastly, the van was so fun! If you book, be sure to ask about the story behind this beauty — it was a total labor of love!

Great day to see both Cascais AND Sintra (as well as Azenhas do Mar…which was my favorite of all!). The VW van is beautifully restored, and it is a bit of a celebrity…lots of people waving and taking photos along the day. :-) I highly recommend the route we took, which is different than the description (Cascais first, Sintra last), as the crowds at Pena Palace were much shorter in the afternoon. Also, we opted not to get tickets for the interior (many people said it’s a bit of a disappointment); the exterior is the real showstopper! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring water. It’s quite a steep climb to the top! A few notes: there is no air conditioning inside the Van. With the windows down and near the coast/Sintra, this is no problem. But I think it might be different in the height of summer. There are portable personal fans, though. :-) Also, the seating is bench seating, with some having to sit sideways. Not too big of a deal, just not the traditional tour van feel. The fun of the VW more than makes up for this!! Also, the lunch spot was AMAZING! Great food and spectacular views. Pretty high end, so expect to spend a bit. Chrisatiano and Laura were really great to work with. Very accommodating and super nice. They do not go with you to the locations, rather drop you off and let you explore on your own.

It’s always tough to write a review about an experience that feels both amazing and highly personal — and that is exactly what Laura and Christiano from Van Life offer. I have been very fortunate to travel the world and have some exceptional experiences — and I can honestly say that this day ranks up there in the top 10. If you get beautiful weather (which we did) the views of the ocean and surround area are truly breathtaking. But more than that, this tour is HIGHLY personalized — it will just be your group and Laura/Christiano. The van is awesome, extremely comfortable and safe, and everybody from young to old smiles when they see it — and everyone wants to take photos as well. Driving down the Atlantic Ocean, with some great tunes on the stereo doesn’t get much better than this. Chances are they will be sold out, so book early, and get your deposit down and prepare for one of the best days of your life. Highly, highly recommended.

This was the best tour we have ever taken and we have taken many all over the world. The reason is Christiano is the friendliest, knowledgeable, humorous expert guide we have ever met. He personalized our day so that it all came together with a relaxed, enjoyable time with stunning sights. A very special highlight was the lunch at a restaurant overlooking a cliff on the Atlantic ocean with the most delicious fresh fish. We enjoyed learning about Portugal as we drove the coastline to Sintra in his very comfortable classic VW van which got many compliments from people passing by.

One word. Excellent. I couldn’t have been happier. Complete confidence in all aspects. The local knowledge the exceptional driving on roads I couldn’t drive down the honestly and integrity. We didn’t have to worry about parking the local issues that always occur like the police stopping traffic and having passes to get to the front of the lines. I can’t recommend this enough it was 8 hours 5 stops and absolutely zero anxiety and stress. As a massive traveler this was the best money I’ve spent to be happy. Rob xx

Let me start by saying I was really excited when I booked this tour. So when I woke up late I started to panic 😱 omg I missed this! I had arrived the day before from NY and the jet lag got the best of me. Cristiano was waiting for me and waited for 45 min until my son and I got ready. Cristiano and Laura were great the tour was more than I hoped for and then some. The restaurant we had lunch at was 100/100 food and view was amazing. Don’t think about book this tour!

On our first full day in Lisbon, we were so lucky to have the best tour in Portugal with Van Tour Way of Life! This tour was absolutely fantastic!!! We did a private tour with Christiano, a super engaging and fantastic guide and driver. He took us to Cascais, Cabo Da Roca, and Sintra - all in a refurbished VW Van! We came a few days after big storms passed through the area and all the palaces in Sintra were closed, but they were able to pivot and still show us some stunning places, get us wonderful seafood, and provide the best individualized tour we’ve ever been on. If you go to Lisbon, you've got to book with Christiano and Laura!!! #vantourwayoflife

We loved every single moment of this tour! There wasn’t a single stop we made that was not worth it. The tour operators are so friendly and engaging and their recommendations were spot on! If you go on this tour listen to what they say and you can’t go wrong. EVERYONE coming to Lisbon should book this tour!

Christiano and Laura were amazing and kind. They toured us around cascais and sintra. They were so considerate even if we have a toddler with us . Would definitely recommend them. 10 /10⭐️

Wonderful day with Christiano and his amazing van. Thanks for everything including the tip for dinner…best meal so far.

What a wonderful experience! This is so much more than a day trip- you’ll get to really know Lara and Christiano and all about Portugal. They both have a huge love for great food and music. We saw several days worth of sightseeing in one day. They even dropped us off at their favorite Pizza place in Lisbon! They are very accommodating and really want you to see all the sights you can. If we’re back in Lisbon, we’ll go on a tour with them again!

The day was filled with joy and happiness. The warmth of our tour guides made us feel as if we were with long time friends that we were reuniting with. The depth, and breathe of the typical sites along with surprise tidbits of unexpected insights made us feel we were learning, exploring, experiencing the areas in a special way. They are fun! Funny! They Genuinely cared about us and insured we had a great day.

From pick up to drop off Laura and Christiano did everything to make our day special for us. Firstly, Laura and Christiano are full of information and stories to tell which made the tour captivating. The fun of the VW T2 is a unique way to see sights and enjoy the landscape around this area. From the water onboard, organising of the entry to specific sights and the delightful lunchtime reservation at a cliff side fish restaurant leaves you fully immersed in the beauty of Lisbon and it’s special places of the Palace, Sintra and Cascais. I would say to anyone…try it because Laura and Christiano will find the best way for you to enjoy your day, sit back and relax or engage and be delighted by this unique experience.

Laura & Crisitano were fantastic tour guides. We had the VERY best day with them. Please add this adventure to your “ to do list” when visiting Portugal, you will not be disappointed!

Laura & Christiano are the most amazing & kind-hearted tour guides I've ever met. You'll learn a lot from this French Parisian expats to Lisbon! They own the only refurbished volkswagen private van so the whole experiencr felt very personal and unique in so many levels. It's private and customized. I didn't feel rushed and I got to pick which sites to see. This is perfect especially if you have very limited time to do a daytrip from Lisbon.

My family and I had a great time booking a tour to Sintra and Cascais with Laura and Christiano. They are both wonderful people, very friendly, professional, and punctual. Their VW van is beautiful and very clean! It was truly a unique experience. Christiano is also a great and safe driver, he was able to get us to Sintra Pena Castle through densly foggy roads. This tour truly made our entire experience in Portugal, will be recommending it to all our friends and family! Thank you so much Laura and Christiano! You are awesome!

Very professional and friendly people. Will recommend them to all my friends. The trip and the ride very smooth . The recommendation for Lucy was spectacular.

Fantastic, fun, on time , professional, definitely worth the money, would do again next time we come to Lisbon! Enjoy!!!

I very seldom write reviews on products or services however I do believe that Laura and Christiano do deserve to be recognized as a small business for exceeding our expectation. We our tour included: • Being picked up at the front door of our hotel by Christiano in the van which was clean and on time. Christiano was very comfortable to be around, it actually felt like we were being shown around town by a friend who was able to speak to us in English and French. • Our first stop was the Monserrate palace in Sintra in place of the Pena palace as suggested by Laura which we really enjoyed. Monserrate has one of the most beautiful gardens that we have visited. Additionally, due to the small number of other visitors, we did not have to wait in any lines or worry about crowds of strangers in our photos. One of the nicest things about having a private tour operator was that we could visit the locations at our own pace. If we wanted to stay longer in a location or move alone, it was simply a matter of returning to the van when we wanted. • We then had lunch at a very good restaurant which Christiano escorted us to ensure we received good service and the table reserved for us. The food was not cheap but it was worth its price. • After lunch we were taken to Cabo de Roca which has a lovely view off a cliff looking out over the Atlantic. • On the return to our hotel, we were dropped off in Cascais to walk around and grab an ice cream or Super Bock if we wanted. • The return to Lisbon followed the coast road past the Belem tower and the 25th of April Bridge. During this time, we had an easy conversation with Christiano who took note of places and activities we were interested in. Laura then provided us a nice list of suggestions and additional information through WhatsApp. (Locations to hear Fado, restaurants, antique markets to name a few.) I do have a family member who also traveled to Lisbon shortly after our visit, to whom I did recommend Van Tour Way of Life. Our time in Lisbon was short and I don’t think we would have been able to visit all of these locations without help from a local. Having ‘door to door’ service also made the experience stress free and very enjoyable. Thank you very much Laura and Christiano for the experience and sharing your van with us.

We had a wonderful trip with Cristiano and Laura. Picked up from our apartment and then taken on a private tour in their beautifully restored VW Camper Van. A very cool way to travel and we crammed in so much. We considered doing this trip ourselves and I’m so glad we went with this tour instead. Thoroughly recommended.

Christiano and Laura were superb hosts. We could not make our original day due to our illness and they quickly went to Plan B and made our tour happen the next day. They were very knowledgeable and accommodating. Great stops and the van was a hit! 100% recommend. A must do when visiting Portugal.

Laura and Christiano were awesome hosts and made the tour unforgettable. Even with constant rain they made very memorable. I would recommend this tour and would do it again. Thank you!

Laura & Christiano were the most accommodating and kind guides we have ever had! The van was beautifully restored and we had such a lovely time. We were able to fit in so much without feeling rushed. I can’t recommend this tour enough!

Highlight of our lisbon trip, no contest about that. Sintra is so mystical and charming, our driver Christiano and guide Laura so wonderful. See you next time for sure.

We made two excursions with Cristiano and Laura during our stay in Lisbon. Vintage van tour concept and private with them is quite unique. They are kind, know Lisbon very well and the surroundings, speak several languages, these are excursions that will never be forgotten. To do and to redo without any hesitation....