Sintra & Cascais Day Tour With Pena Palace Tour And Gardens Walk

We had a lovely day with a very informative and personable tour guide. The walk through the gardens of the palace is beautiful. Don't expect flowers and plantings; more just lovely trees and unspoiled nature. It is a steep climb of about an hour up to the palace. The palace is VERY crowded-even in late November. I am not sure if it is entirely worth going in, but walking around the palace walls and the view is awesome. Lunch in the town of Sintra was a delight. There are many shops to explore. On the way home, we made two more stops: Cabo De Roca. The views there are stunning. The final stop was a beautiful seaside town -Cascais. It was a lovely day. My only complaint was that we were the first couple picked up, and then we drove around for nearly an hour picking up the other couples. Maybe a central meeting spot would be better.

Loved this tour and our Nuno our tour guide was great.

Nuno (sp?) was an excellent guide. His knowledge of Portugal’ history was truly impressive. We learned so much about the progressiveness & eccentricity of the creator of the Sinatra palace. The palace is a must see & tantamount to a Disney world. After an extensive tour of the garden, as we gently made our way up to the palace, we went to lunch in lower Sintra followed by a drive to most westerly point of Portugal. Later we drove to Caiscais for a 45 min self-directed walk through the charming town.

Amazing day! Nuno is an incredible guide. The garden walk was stunning , PenaPalace is beautiful, the town of Sintra is charming and Cascais is a beautiful beach town. Nuno did a wonderful job organizing the day and guided us very well! I highly recommend this tour! Good value for a full day of fun

Thank you, Manuel Dasilva! It was truly a pleasure having you as our guide. We enjoyed your company, your kindness, and your extensive knowledge of the history of the places we visited today. It’s a shame the time flew by so quickly! We loved sharing this experience with someone so personable, professional, and knowledgeable. The pleasure was truly ours, and we are grateful for the wonderful experience you provided. You made our day even more memorable!

The trip was fantastic. Nuno was a terrific guide—knowledgeable and entertaining. I had been a little worried about the walk up through the garden, but it felt very manageable and safe. It would have been a real shame to miss it, as the garden was so beautiful. I also really appreciated being picked up from our accommodation and not having to start super-early in the morning. The trip was just the right length and although the other stops were very enjoyable, Pena Palace was the highlight.

Definitely recommend if you’re seeking a great sightseeing day outside of Lisbon proper! The castle was beautiful and well worth a visit, and it was nice to see another area. I wish we could have been in Cascais longer, but traffic permitted us from being there as long as we were supposed to. Overall though, it was a wonderful day. Special shoutout to Joanna, our amazing tour guide who was knowledgeable, kind, and very personable. She really made the whole experience worthwhile. She went above and beyond in a few ways, and we are so grateful she was with us that day.

Very professional and friendly, very knowledgeable. Well done Diego ! Punctual and on point. We will come again.

JLo our guide was most entertaining, funny, and knowledgeable. JLo provided excellent insight to the history of the sights, as well as excellent recommendations of where to eat, with what wine, etc. Makes the day more enjoyable with a guide like J Lo leading the pack. Highly recommend this tour.

Our guide, Nuno, was incredibly informed, knowledgeable, friendly, warm, & interesting, making our tour fascinating, & a completely enjoyable experience & one I would highly recommend

Joao was the most wonderful tour guide. Not only was he incredibly knowledgeable but had a delightful personality and sense of humor. He made the day truly memorable. Thank you Joao.

Surprisingly different experience, going through the gardens first before going to the Pena Palace. Joana our guide breezed us through the queue to optimise our time. Sintra was nice to visit, very walkable with plenty of shops and restaurants/cafes. Finishing the day at Cascais by visiting some art galleries and getting a bite.

Honestly if you do nothing else whilst in Lisbon take this trip with Teiago. He was the kindest most interesting self effacing and knowledgeable guide. The sites visited were really beautiful and interesting but Tiego made the day an exceptional experience

It’s a long but worthwhile day! Be prepared to walk a lot and uphill. The botanical gardens are a must. Seeing the exterior of the castle would have been enough for us as you can still get a feel for the ostentasiousness and architectural detailing from the outside and avoid the long line. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and shared so much history! She walked alongside us pointing out facts as we moved thru the day. After an alfresco lunch in Sintra that she suggested, we stopped to see the Westernmost point of continental Europe. And then on to visit the charming Cascais. A full day of touring, bit of shopping, dining with our group of 6 it was 8 hrs of enjoyment. Highly recommend this tour!

This was a well organised excursion from our cruise port. Nuno was a great guide who provided a lot of information in an entertaining way. We would definitely recommend this excursion

Easy to book the day before. Nunu, our guide, was great, explained a lot and adjusted the trip to our preferences. Drove us along the coast and stopped in various places to show us the beaches. Definitely recommended!

Great day trip from Lisbon. Guide Diego was very outgoing and knowledgeable and friendly. Overall great experience. Perfect experiences for time allotted

Very good interesting along the coast, but also so hot that a slightly shorter day (I.e., skip the last stop) would have been more comfortable. The air conditioning in the back of the van was non-existent and those in that back seat cooked all day. Our guide did a good job, though.

We had an incredible experience with the Around Lisbon Mystic Forrest tour! Our guide, Nuno, was exceptionally knowledgeable and brought Portugal’s fascinating history to life with engaging stories and insights. It never felt like a typical tour—it felt as though we were being shown the very best of Portugal by a friend we’d known for years. His warmth, passion, and local knowledge made the day truly unforgettable. We highly recommend Around Lisbon to anyone looking for an authentic and memorable experience!

We ended up getting an uber to the main gate. I was glad we only got a ticket to the main area as it was swamped with people and I couldn’t be bothered queuing in the heat I felt it was over priced for what it was and 10e to get the bus from the main castle to the town was a bit much. Constantly harassed by tuk tuk drivers was getting overbearing All in all it was a beautiful place just felt like tourists were setup to be tapped for money left right and centre.

We did the Sintra and Cascais private tour with Around Lisbon and it was the highlight of our trip to Portugal. Our guide Oriana was exceptional from start to finish. What really set her apart was her storytelling. At Pena Palace, she brought the history of Queen Maria II and King Fernando II to life in a way that made the whole place feel personal, not just another stop on a checklist. You could tell she genuinely loves sharing Portugal's history, not just reciting it. The whole day flowed perfectly - Sintra Hills, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais all felt well-paced and unhurried. Oriana was warm, professional, and clearly knew the area inside and out. This was booked through Mike McHugh at Dream Makers Vacation Services, who organized everything smoothly from start to finish. Five stars all around. If you book this tour, ask for Oriana - she's the reason this trip stood out.

This was the first time my family and I visited Portugal, and this tour was an amazing introduction to the country. I wanted my family to experience this tour as much as possible since all my friends that have been here before have recommended it, and this tour exceeded all of our expectations. Being a group of 10 people, comfortable transportation was very important to us, and this tour delivered. Everyone had plenty of room, the ride was comfortable throughout the day, and getting from one destination to another was smooth and enjoyable. Our driver was outstanding—professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely focused on making sure we had the best experience possible. He took us to every stop on the itinerary and provided excellent guidance at each location, including where to go, what to see, and the best spots for photos. Because the tour was private, we were able to explore at our own pace without feeling rushed. Communication was excellent throughout the day, with clear instructions on pickup locations to avoid delays. Our driver also timed each stop perfectly, helping us avoid the largest crowds whenever possible and making the entire experience smooth and enjoyable. If you want to see the highlights of Sintra and Cascais comfortably and efficiently, I highly recommend this tour. It was a wonderful experience for our entire family and one of the highlights of our trip. A special thank you to our driver, Simão, whose professionalism, knowledge, patience, and attention to detail made this tour truly exceptional. If you have the opportunity to tour with Simão, you will be in excellent hands.

Excellent tour and wonderful tour guide. Diego was so knowledgeable. Great day visiting the gardens, palace, and Cascais. Had time to eat and shop too.

A lovely day with a friendly and knowledgeable guide. The palace is fantastic!

Was a fantastic tour. Including the gardens which it seems most people miss was a delight. Would definitely recommend this tour.

We had a great time . Our guide was knowledgeable and engaging . I would highly recommend the tour .

This is the perfect day tour from Lisbon to Sintra and Cascais. Tiago was our driver/guide and he was fabulous. He was very knowledgeable about anything we asked about, knew the area well and how to get around quickly, and he was funny and entertaining. We zipped right up and into the Pena Palace through the shaded, forested back path- no lines, no waiting for hours in the sun. Tiago recommended a great place for lunch in town which we enjoyed very much. After Sintra we made our way to westernmost spot on the continent overlooking the Atlantic for a quick stop to admire the views, and then on to Cascais to see the beautiful coastal town and enjoy some shopping and gelato - a very enjoyable and relaxing day.

Our guide was a great guy, but the trip was just “Ok”. We hiked a long way up to a palace in Sintra which was the best part for us (we like hikes). The guide told us the history of the area. However, this hike was not mentioned, and one of the older tour members had a hard time; they should let people know that the hike is not easy for old folks. When we got to the palace, the crowds were horrible and the line to get in was hundreds deep. And this was on a Monday! We all (6 of us) opted to not go in, even though tickets were included with the tour. We didn’t want to waste the day in line. We then went to Sintra, which was also crowded. We were just dropped off for lunch. Our guide gave us a recommendation on a restaurant, which was good. We then set out to tour some more. During the afternoon, we spent most of the time driving, but we were not given much information as the guide didn’t like to talk and drive as it is hard for people to hear (he said). We passed many interesting sites, but had to yell up to the front to ask our guide about them. I think it would be better if the driver had an intercom like on other tours we’ve had. Anyway, it was just “ok”, but can’t recommend it honestly.

Nuno was our phenomenal guide for the day. He’s a local from sintra and so knowledgeable about where we visited. I do wish we had more time in the town of sintra it’s so beautiful. The additional stops were fantastic as well. I appreciated having a guide at the palace to share about the gardens. He was so helpful. Highly recommend this tour!!

This was such a great experience! I would definitely recommend this to anyone. Our tour guide Joanna was extremely friendly and funny. She told us all kinds of information and answered all of our questions. She made amazing recommendations at the places we stopped. You really do skip all the lines on this tour. Definitely choose the option with tickets, it’s so worth it! Visiting Pena Palace is like walking through a fairy tale. During this tour you also get to walk through the Pena Palace Gardens which is so beautiful and definitely recommended. There is a lot of uphill walking, so be mindful of that while booking the tour. They offer it in different languages too. Our group tour was mixed we had English and Spanish speakers but Joanna did a wonderful job of making everyone feel included.

Collection from the hotel was very easy, small group of two other couples. Only thing I would say is make sure you bring comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty as you walk up through the park to the palace. We walked around the palace walls and decided against joining the very very long queue to go in. Next stop Sintra village which was very busy but beautiful. 2hrs here for lunch… Then on to Cascais for a hour before travelling back. Was a good day out when the weather was a bit rubbish.

i like that our tour guide, Donna, picked us up and dropped off as well. We had a relaxing journey and learned a lot about portugal's history. Her food recommendations are excellent. She was also patient and listened as well as talked.

Pena palace is the key attraction Great guide Paolo. Enjoyed the day. Pickup from hotel is great way to start. No need to figure out how to get to meeting point.

Our travel agent booked this tour for us and we lucked out! We had Simon as our tour guide and he really made the tour! He shared so much about the palace and Cascais. I highly recommend this tour and ask for Simon!

The gardens at the palace were a highlight of the trip and should not be missed The Joanas were wonderful guides. They gave us great information and suggestions when we had time on our own

This trip was awesome. Beautiful locations The thing that really made our trip was Simon, our driver. He shared history, stories,and a lot of humor. Totally enjoyed. The down side - I wish Viator had told us how steep the walk was up to Peña Castle. We are in our 70’s. My husband couldn’t make it to the castle and stayed at the bottom while the rest of our toured the castle. Viator - please let your customers know so they can make a choice of taking this trip. Once you are in the van, it’s too late. Simon was the best. He made sure those of us who were struggling were ok with the pace. Thank you Simon (aka Paul)

This is definitely something you do not want to miss. Simon was our guide and he was amazing. He’s very knowledgeable about the tour and the entire area, able to answer questions on many subjects of Portugal. And, he was a very nice person to meet. Here are some tips/info about the tour 1) If you do the all day tour, expect it to go ALL DAY. We were picked up at 9 and dropped at 6:30. You are given time to eat lunch on your own after the Palace tour. 2) This is a shuttle AND walking tour. You are shuttled to the Palace, you walk on cobblestone up a small hill to get inside the gates (3 minutes) Once inside the gates you are shuttled to the top of mountain (to be at the base of the actual palace), and then you walk up a hill (all cobblestone) to enter the palace.(3-5 min walk) 3)The palace has several areas of steps. 4) The other areas you are shuttled to on the tour are very walkable, but all areas have cobblestone so wear comfortable shoes 5)We were at the palace on a beautiful day, but it can get very windy so be prepared. 5) There are bathrooms at the entrance (base of the palace when you enter gates), and there is some food available at the top of the palace. We were with a group of 8 in a van shuttle. It was a very nice group, we did have 2 older couples with a couple people that could not get around well at all. Simon did a great job of including them, giving them options as to where to sit on tour, getting them in and out, etc. BUT, if you have any issues with getting around, I would not recommend this tour because the roads are bumpy, there is some up and down and it is easy to fall if you are unsteady. I am a 58 yr old woman who is fairly active and I had absolutely no issues getting around on the tour. My husband is 59 and has had back surgery in last 5 years and got around fine with no issues (he is fairly active too). All in all it was a wonderful tour. We wish the van could have been a little larger, but it did hold all 8 of us. (2 up front with Simon, 3 in center bench seat, and 3 in back bench seat). I will say, if you have any issues getting around, please reconsider signing up for this specific tour. I feel like it makes it very difficult on the guides and others in the group trying to accommodate them. That being said, Simon handled everyone WONDERFULLY and made it a good experience for all.

We had a nice day trip with Joanna. It was handy to be picked up and dropped off at our hotel, and not have to worry about transportation. Joanna gave us a good tour of the Pena gardens and explained things along the way. Overall the whole thing took 10 hours, as there was quite some traffic. We could have had more time in Sintra to visit some of the other palaces, and Cascais was not really for us, so do some research on the locations before you book to see if it's what you want.

Great experience Nuno our guide was exeptional

Our tour guide is particularly friendly and hospital. He picked us up and dropped off at our hotel. The vehicle fits 8 passengers which is a good size for us to hear the guide’s talks and overviews about the city of Lisbon and the history of Pena Palace. We are also grateful for the trip to Cabo Da Roca, the most westerly point of mainland Europe. His recommendations for food and meals in Sintra and Lisbon were honest and excellent.

Enjoyed our day with Diego visiting Sintra. The palace and Portugal coastline were worth the visit.

A full day tour to Pena Palace, cascais and lots more! Our guide, joanna, was brilliant. Very informative throughout the whole trip.

An enlightening historical visit

Nuno picked us up at our accommodation and along with 2 other passengers we went on a day long trip to the Portuguese countryside. Our first stop was at the beautiful Pena Palace. Because of recent storm damage we had to make a long long walk up the hill to the palace. Definitely worth it. It’s so important to take guided tours as you would miss so much detail in the construction and reproductions of the palace as well as the history of the royal family who lived here. Nuno is a former teacher and his skill shows through. Loved hearing stories from his childhood of when he and his friends used to play here. We had time for a lunch break and Nuno recommended Tacho Real in Sintra Village followed by pastries at Piriquita bakery. Delicious! We continued on through the countryside stopping at Cabo Rica , the most westerly point in continental Europe then a final stop in the resort town of Cascais. It was a full day and I learned so much. Thank you Nuno!!

Great value for your money. This has been one of the best tours I ever had. It has the perfect combination to enjoy Sintra and Cascais.

Our tour was the day after a very violent wind, rain and sea surge storm (Leonardo) that hit Portugal. As such the Pena Palace were closed however we were able to tour the Sintra palace which was very interesting and iconic. Oriana was very knowledgeable and flexible. We had just the right amount of explanations, time for lunch and looking around the Sintra village. The stops at Cascais and Cabo de Roca were amazing and we passed by evidence of the damage of the storm along the way. Oriana was a skilled driver and very accommodating of special requests.

First class tour company and guide. Nuno our guide was so informative and professional. Hotel pickup is so nice, and it’s great to leave the driving to a local. Thank you for the experience. There was a little free time to explore on your own. Recommend.

My husband and I had a travel issue and the guide kept it touch and met us at arrival. He resolved our issue and we were able to enjoy the entire tour.

Nuno was a past teacher and was amazing with the facts and wove a story throughout our tour. We loved the tour of the garden the most.