We start at your hotel heading towards an unforgettable day. Sintra is 30 km from Lisbon. Its micro-climate guarantees permanent freshness to the town and the growth of fantastic vegetation, making this a mysterious and deeply romantic place. The Pena National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate Palace stand out as the main monuments. Arriving in the town, we drive to the top of the Serra de Sintra and the Palácio da Pena, built on a rock 500m above sea level, dominating the entire coast as far as Lisbon. It represents one of the best expressions of 19th century architectural Romanticism in the world, and is, in fact, the Europe's first romantic palace, built around 30 years before the charismatic Schloss Neuschwanstein, in Bavaria, Germany
Quinta da Regaleira, located in the heart of Sintra, is a monument full of mysteries and symbolism. Thw Owner Carvalho Monteiro, also known as Monteiro dos Mírios, was fascinated by alchemy, Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism and the Templars. The farm was transformed into a place full of mystical symbolism. Quinta da Regaleira was built to be a space for contemplation, meditation and celebration of ancient mysteries. Today, Quinta da Regaleira is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Sintra, offering visitors a journey full of mystery through secret tunnels, exotic gardens, lakes, caves and buildings, such as the famous Initiatory Well. This spiral well descends 27 meters into the earth and is surrounded by a staircase, also built in a spiral.
A retreat for writers, Monserrate attracted numerous foreign travelers, especially English ones, who extolled its beauty in travel reports and engravings. When Francis Cook, a wealthy 19th-century English industrialist and major art collector, visited the site, he was fascinated. From this passion was born a masterpiece of Romanticism: the Park and Palace of Monserrate.
The current Palace of Sintra is made up of many royal palaces. It is a group of buildings that were built, added to and adapted over centuries, with the date of the foundation of the oldest palace being an enigma that remains unsolved today. Most likely, the first building was built around the 10th or 11th century, when Sintra was Islamic territory. At the end of the Middle Ages, the Palace of Sintra was the center of a territory managed by the Queens of Portugal, but it was also one of the favorite spaces of the Portuguese monarchs. The abundance of game in the region, the coolness of the climate during the summer months or the need for refuge during periods of plague in the capital made Paço de Sintra a frequent destination. Keeper of memories and witness to exciting events in the history of Portugal, the Paço de Sintra offers those who visit it the opportunity to travel through time and encounter other lives so different from ours.
The Queluz Palace, with a beautiful decoration filled with pieces of enormous value, became the official residence of royalty, especially the Portuguese prince regent, the future D. João VI, as well as his family, until the royal family fled. to Brazil due to the French invasions. D. Pedro IV or D. Pedro I of Brazil was born in this palace. It also served as a discreet place of incarceration for Queen Maria I, “Maria Louca”, while her madness continued to worsen after the death of D. Pedro.
This tour being very connected to gastronomy, time on our Tour Sintra with lunch to stop in the center of Sintra to stroll through its alleys and alleys. Unveiling its historic center, as well as the Pastelaria da Piriquita where we will taste the Pillow of Sintra as well as the Queijada de Sintra.a in the center of the village
After this wonderful lunch, we continue our Sintra Tour with lunch, through the mountains, until we reach Cabo da Roca (westernmost point of Continental Europe), with its beautiful cliffs and views, where we can read on the tombstone that celebrates this point ”here where the land ends and the sea begins ”proudly left by Camões the celebrated epic poet.
Located next to the sea and traditionally a fishing village, Cascais experienced important development in the 19th century. XIV, when it was a busy port of call for ships heading to Lisbon. However, it was from the 2nd half of the century onwards. In the 19th century, when sea bathing began to be popular, Cascais saw a boost that transformed it into a very fashionable summer resort. The main driver of the transformation was the King of Portugal D. Luís I, who in 1870 converted the citadel fortress into the summer residence of the Portuguese monarchy. This example was followed by the nobility who built mansions and beautiful villas here where they spent the hottest time of the year, completely transforming the old fishing village. It is recommended to take a stroll through the streets, which have excellent quality shops, or take a moment to rest on one of the many terraces that exist here.
Joao really enjoys his job; he was very knowledgable but didn’t overload you with facts, but rather interesting tit bits that enhanced the whole experience. Definitely recommend having a tour guide to navigate the system and to get you close to the attractions. It was a fun and relaxing day.
A private tour is the way to go! Although there is still a lot of walking, you will be able to park closer and maneuver the queues in more expedited fashion. This also allows for flexibility to spend a bit more or less time at any given stop.
The tour of Sintra and Cascais was excellent. Joao was so friendly and very knowledgable about so many historical details, as well as, the country and culture. We had an entire day of lively discussions. He made us feel so comfortable and tried to address any of our specific needs. We would highly recommend this private tour. Thanks for a great day!
We had an amazing tour in Sintra visiting Pena Palace and Monserrate Palace. Our guide, Joao, was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and took the time to answer all of our questions throughout the day. He also knew all of the best photo spots and never rushed us, allowing us to fully enjoy each location at our own pace. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Portugal!
Our experience with Kitzel Tours was amazing from the Booking until end of day tour. João is a fantástica tour guide, he help all the moments like Booking the tickets and very important to me to help my mother to move easy since She got a mobility issues. We love to recommend this company since we did more 2 tours with then and i meet also Anastasia the wife and tour guide. Thanks you dear friends
Never got to rate the company for their actual service. I can only rate them on their customer service before as they cancelled the tour because I had not provided them the hotel I was staying at 3 months in advanced as I had not booked the hotel. They also told me that because I booked during the high season and I had booked as only one person for a private tour they could make more money elsewhere so they cancelled my viator booking.
Joao is one of the best tour guides you'll ever find! my second time booking with him and it wont be my last! hes super informative and passionate about what he does and making sure we're all having a good time! he takes pretty great photos as well! thank you Joao for giving us such a wonderful memories!
We were referred to João by a trusted friend to have as a tour guide while in Lisbon. Our friends were planning a tour throughout Portugal with João while we only needed him during our stay in Lisbon. He was very easy to communicate with, which made the logistics of the trip smooth from the start. He contacted us right away to plan the two-day tour and to guide us through the steps of ordering the tickets we needed. We were in constant communication before our trip and upon arrival and on the day of the tour he arrived promptly at our hotel for pickup. We did a one day tour of Lisbon and a one day tour of Sintra and I would highly recommend touring with him for both sites while in Lisbon. João has a broad knowledge of Portuguese history, culture, landmarks, architecture as well as the very best place to find pastel de nata and ginjinha. He is also very kind, thoughtful and took his time to explain things and was patient with our seniors and children in the constant uphill hikes to various sites around the city. We also greatly enjoyed his humor and his photography skills! We have so many wonderful family photos he took for us throughout the day. João struck a good balance between being informative and letting us explore at our own pace, which made the experience feel relaxed and enjoyable. The itineraries were well thought out and gave us a true appreciation for the country. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with João and recommend his services to anyone looking for a reliable and knowledgeable guide while in Portugal.
Time past quickly even when driving because Joao is such a great guide with a deep depth of knowledge
We had the most incredible day touring Sintra on our honeymoon, thanks to our amazing guide, João. He picked us up right from our hotel and took care of everything, expertly planning the day so we could experience the magic of Quinta da Regaleira, Pena Palace, and Monserrate Palace without ever feeling rushed. João’s deep knowledge of the history and hidden stories behind each palace brought the sites to life in a way we’ll never forget. His passion for the region is infectious, and his warm, professional approach made the entire experience seamless and unforgettable. We couldn’t recommend João more—he was a huge part of what made our trip so special, and we’ll definitely be booking with him again when we return to Portugal!
Had a wondering day touring with Joao. He was an amazing host for the day ensuring my family had a great time. Two palaces at Sintra was a perfect number to see in one day along with the nice drive to Roca and Cascais. Joao was very knowledgeable about everything we visited especially the best photo spots!
We had an amazing tour with Joao. He was extremely knowledgeable and accommodating We are senior citizens and he paced the tour to meet our needs and abilities while still showing us all the highlights of Sintra and beyond. Ii would highly recommend this tour and Joao if you are planning a trip to Llsbon.
Joao was a great guide, knowlegeable and friendly. He was on time, and was always at hand to answer any questions. It was a fantastic trip to Sintra and Cascais. And he is a great fan of James Bond!
Joao is the most exceptional tour guide we have encountered in our many years of booking private tours on Viator. He is extremely knowledgeable about Portugal, Lisbon and their history——and on this tour about Sintra. He knows exactly when and where to take you at the various locations in order to avoid crowds and maximize the viewing and learning experience. He explains what you are viewing and seeing in great and easily understandable detail. Plus, he is extremely personable and fun to be with. In all, a great day spent that you will never forget. In you are in Lisbon, do not miss out on booking a private tour with Joao———you will be greatly satisfied and pleasantly surprised at what a great time you had with Joao———-and you’ll be wanting to come back to Lisbon to spend another day with him, as we did!
Joao is the most exceptional tour guide we have encountered in our many years of booking private tours on Viator. He is extremely knowledgeable about Portugal, Lisbon and their history——and on this tour about Sintra. He knows exactly when and where to take you at the various locations in order to avoid crowds and maximize the viewing and learning experience. He explains what you are viewing and seeing in great and easily understandable detail. Plus, he is extremely personable and fun to be with. In all, a great day spent that you will never forget. In you are in Lisbon, do not miss out on booking a private tour with Joao———you will be greatly satisfied and pleasantly surprised at what a great time you had with Joao———-and you’ll be wanting to come back to Lisbon to spend another day with him, as we did!
The guide, Joao, is very knowledgeable and works very hard at pleasing and accommodating the entire group, 5 of us. His car was comfortable, and he is a safe and skilled driver. He has obviously studied a lot to be as knowledgeable as he is. I highly recommend him.
We had João brought us to Sintra & Cascais and we were able to see a lot in one day, which was good as we didn’t have much time. Pena palace was closed due to bad weather but he brought us to Regaleira and it was enchanting. Worth visiting and João told us the history and stories behind it. Sintra is a lovely town and we had some time to walk around the town and ate yummy pastries. Joao brought us to view the beaches & seasides which were beautiful. He also took us to a lovely local restaurant for a nice lunch. Thanks for a wonderful day trip Joao.
Quinta Regaliera is enchanting & beautiful! 😊 including the Sintra National Palace! The historical architecture and interior design craftsmanship is mind blowing! An absolute must see day-trip out of Lisbon that showcases the wonder, charm, beauty and warmth of Portugal! This is my 3rd travel guides with João Andre of Kitzel tours, who I can describe as efficient & effective! João knows all the tricks & shortcuts for you to best enjoy the attraction and experiences without wasting time - in short, you get to see much more in less time and not feel rushed! And if you’re a “foodie” like me, João also provides great suggestions for dining experiences! Try hiring a private travel guide if you haven’t yet, finding a good one is worth it!!!
Joao was an amazing guide who took us to the sites and provided a lot of history and background on each place. We went to Palace of Pena, Regaleira farm, Cascais, Cabo da Roca. He is very patient and kind and it was great to have someone do the driving. Oh, and he was always willing to take pictures for us! You will feel very comfortable choosing him to take you around for the day!
We had an absolutely wonderful day with Joao! He communicated with us right after booking regarding the tickets we needed to purchase and was so much fun to be with seeing the Regaleria and the Pena Palace. We enjoyed having lunch with him and then he took us to Cabo da Roca, the western most part of Europe to walk around and gave us plenty of time to wander around Cascais at the end of the day. We highly recommend booking this tour and you can feel confident that you will have an amazing experience!
Joao was a wonderful tour guide and driver. He was super knowledgeable of every place visited yet had a wonderful sense of humor. He was very receptive and flexible to meet our scheduling needs. He also took us to a great Portuguese restaurant outside of Sintra where we were able to relax and meet some locals. We highly recommend this tour!
My wife and I had an amazing experience with Joao (John), owner and operator of Kitzel tours. This was actually the second tour we had with Joao during our time in Lisbon. This particular tour allowed us to select two palaces from the Sintra area - we chose Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrat Palace. It was tough not to go to Pena Palace, but we knew it was going to be very busy there and didn't want to take time away from other sites planned on the tour. Regaleira features the famous Initiation Well as well as beautiful landscaped gardens. Regaleira now operates with slot times. We chose one of the first slots available and the crowds were not that bad. Monserrat Palace was just a short drive from Regaleira and included incredible gardens and the stunning interior of the palace. We thoroughly enjoyed both properties. After touring the two properties, we had a delicious lunch with Joao on our way to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe. Cabo da Roca features incredible views of the coastland of Portugal and was worth the stop. Our tour ended with a visit to Caiscais, a beach town not to far from downtown Lisbon bustling with shops and restaurants. Joao is a fantastic tour guide who was incredibly knowledgeable on all of the sites we visited. He has an incredible focus on making customers feel valued and appreciated, never rushing us to the next destination. His communication before and during the tour were excellent. We highly recommend Kitzel tours.
Joao was an amazing tour guide, whose deep knowledge of Portugal and Sintra was only exceeded by his energy and enthusiasm for sharing his love of the area. Highly recommend.
We had a great time with Joao in Sintra! It is a more active tour so wear comfy shoes but having the private guide is worth every penny and makes for a much more comfortable experience. Joao effortlessly guides you through this very busy site. We were on our "babymoon" and so wanted a more relaxed experience and this was exactly what we wanted - an expert to do the thinking and planning for us!
I originally did not pick this tour because of all the uphill walking that involves it but my friends wanted to do it so we did. It was a fantastic experience and John made it possible considering my mobility issues…thanks John bucket list checked!!!
Had a great day with Joao as our driver. We customized our tour which made the day really nice. Beautiful sights. He was prompt and careful. The only thing I'm going to say, is that the car was a little smaller than we given that we are from the states. It worked for four adults and it had a second row of back seats if you have kids but they are not for adults. Hard to find in and out of only if you need to use the second row.
Amazing! Joao is the only guide you need in Portugal! His pre trip communication was excellent. Our day was a dream. We traveled to Pena and Quinta da Regaleira. We didn't make it easy for him! We had three generations spanning ages from 20 to 78, with different mobility. He was so kind to my parents and made every accommodation so they could participate. If you have mobility issues or health concerns (diabetes or food allergies, we have both), tell him! He truly customizes his trips for safety and comfort. He has a vast knowledge of the history and people of his homeland. He also speaks multiple languages and does tours to many arease in Portugal. We feel like we made a wonderful, new friend in Lisbon! Thank you for making our day special and personal!
We would HIGHLY recommend Kitzel tours for your trip to Portugal. Our guide was kind, knowledgeable, personable, and very helpful. Our transportation was clean and comfortable. We never felt rushed or overwhelmed, because our guide was so accommodating and professional. Book Kitzel tours, you will not regret it!!!! Thank you so much for an awesome day!!!
We had a wonderful time with our guides. We so enjoyed the two Palaces we visited. Then we got to see the area in such a personal way. I would encourage anyone that would like to see this part of Portugal to contact Kitzel Tours.
We went to Sintra on two days so we could see more of the palaces. Our guide, Joao (John) had an extraordinarily wide knowledge of a Portugal, its history and the palaces. Also, he is multilingual and very easy to understand. We saw the Pena Palace and the Regaleira estate. The palace has great interior rooms and the estate has impressive gardens.
Our family had a wonderful day, and an excellent tour with João! João is very knowledgeable, and an excellent tour guide! He is very friendly and pleasant to be with, on time, very responsive and communicates clearly the places we would like to go and see. He makes us feel comfortable right away when we first met, provides us safe and smooth drive, and takes very good care of us all throughout the day. We wish to visit Lisbon again and will definitely go on another tour with João!
Excellent tour guide. Very personal and great knowledge. If we come back to Lisbon. We would contact John again.
The day was perfect, after great pre-trip communication we were picked up on time in a comfortable air conditioned vehicle. Joao, our guide was just fantastic. My spouse and I both felt like we were traveling with a friend who knew everything about Sintra and Cascais. More importantly you could tell he loved what he does and loves to show off his country! When we go back to Portugal we will definitely be booking additional tours with Joao. If you are considering this trip please do not hesitate, you will love the day!!
Joao was our guide for the day. We had a wonderful time and he took great care of us! Joao made our tour very memorable. He was very knowledgeable and personable. Joao was very quick to answer questions prior to the tour. We would highly recommend Joao for your guide!
Fun tour and was very informative about Portugal and it’s history. Had great knowledge on good local restaurants ! Spoke various language proficient in English. Was punctual we will rebook on our next trip! Thank you Juanitoooo James and Natalia
Had an amazing day with Jaao as our tour guide - thank you. This was our 3rd to last day in Lisbon and we have to say Jaao made our trip to Lisbon even more worthwhile and memorable. He was funny, passionate and took care of our needs and really made us feel welcome and looked after. We usually visit places by ourselves, and often don't get the full understanding and value from them - but today with Jaao explaining everything in SIntra and other places we visited - his fun personality and knowledge made the experience a lot more fun and enjoyable. It was also our first time booking a private tour and had some very small hesistations about how it may go - and Jaao made it fantastic. If you are considering it, we would highly recommend choosing to do this with Jaao as your guide!
João is a wonderful guide. He takes care of your every need and answers all questions thoughtfully and with great detail. He’s super communicative in advance. We really enjoyed our day in fascinating Sintra and lovely Cascais. Highly recommend.
Joao was our tour guide for 2 wonderful days. He was very enthusiastic, informative, prompt, and friendly. We covered a lot of ground in his very clean and comfortable car that we could not have done on our own. We highly recommend him for your guide.
A full-day tour from Lisbon on a solo trip through Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais to Lisbon. John absolutely recommended guide by close friend Start with a peaceful atmosphere. While talking about various things along the way A truly Portuguese chatter about Portuguese history, people and food. Slowly explore the Royal Palace and Pena Palace, near Cape Roca, which I finally arrived at in the evening when I was hungry What a wonderful local seafood dining room meal (this was almost the best fresh and delicious seafood I've ever eaten, fish!) Then, at dusk, we went through Cascais to Lisbon. Thank you John for the amazing day
We had a really fantastic day with João! He met our private group of 6 adults us on time and safely drove us to the beautiful sights in Sintra and Cascais! He is incredibly knowledgeable and kindly shared his deep love for the country and its history. One of the highlights was a stop at a delicious restaurant we would have never found on our own. I would highly spending a day (or more!) with João!!
The places visited are fantastic but what made the day perfect, besides the professionalism, was the affection and attention of Joao . We can only thank and recommend the company to everyone who wants to know Portugal in a safe way.
Amazing tour with an awesome tour guide. We’ve visited several magical places in Sintra and Cascáis. The best part was to have a good company of our guide that knows history very well and has an in-depth knowledge of every place that that we visited. Other nice things included lots of pics, great food and very organized way of spending the day and learning about beautiful Portugal.
Amazing full day excursion with our personal guide and driver, Joao. Visited Pena Palace with detailed history and wandered around this eclectic site. Lunch followed in Sintra. Tried coffee and sweets in Piriquita in the center of town. Then after a short drive we came to Regaleira and spent time in the beautiful gardens. We lead to Cabo da Roca, in the west of the country and finally we also visited Cascais before we head back to Lisbon - along the picturesque route along the Atlantic Ocean. Our tour guide was fantastic, met our needs and customized the tour.
Joao impressed us with his knowledge of Sintra and Cascais as well as his language skills (Fluent in Spanish, English, French, and sometimes broke out some Russian!) We really appreciated his enthusiasm with photo taking and his attention to detail, e.g. when he gave us some useful tips regarding taking pictures at the Regaleira's Initiation Well. He also took us down the scenic route on the ride back from Sintra to Cascais to Lisbon, which was stunning. All in all, a jam-packed and well planned tour that I would certainly recommend to other small groups!
Excellent tour provided by the guide John. Very attentive and patient. He model the trip according to our profile. We recommend!
We feel very lucky we found Joao and Kitzel tours for a Sintra and Cascais Tours. Private tour and private guide. Pick up and drop off at our hotel super service. Joao is suer great person and great tour guide. We Love all this the history we told us. We took so many photos to show our family. Pena palace and Regaleira with Joao is just amazing experience. Great lunch and great day. If you looking for a private Tour and great tour guide, get Joao and Kitzel Tours. Thank you for all Joao.
My boyfriend and I were hesitant to do a private tour because we were worried that the attention would be too All on us but we were SO wrong. I can’t imagine doing a larger tour ever again. The experience was second to none. John knew the Ins and outs of the city so was able to avoid traffic and lines, which were upwards of 3 hours in some Places. After visiting the classes he took us to amazing beach views, a great restaurant and Cascais for some leisure time and ice cream! This is a must do tour. Thank you again!
Remembering our amazing day with João and Kitzel Tours. Pick up at Lisbon hotel, amazing hidden gems, beachside lunch that was one of the best meals in Portugal, and the must-sees of Sintra and Cascais. A combo of fun and business (I run travel art tours) looking at future workshop options, so João had real insights on how to coordinate and give us a tour of inspiring gardens and cultural sites. I highly recommend and have friends who also loved their tours. Small, personal, out of this world service. Can’t wait to go back!
The most incredible experience with John. We arrived at the airport with our friends and immediately were greeted by John. We visited Sintra. It was the most amazing site to see. The castle was just like something out of the fairytale movie. The surroundings were breathtaking. John took us on some unbelievable sites around. He was a incredible tour guide. We have recommended him to all of our friends. Definitely will come back to Portugal and visit more of the country with him.
We had the most amazing and wonderful experience. Starting from the airport to the end of our trip John made an experience to remember. Even though we were only spending 1 day and 1/2 in Lisbon he suggested we visit Sintra. The trip to Sintra was unbelievable. The beauty of the castle and surroundings were breathtaking. We were there with our best friends and the 4 of us were so comfortable with John showing us around his country. We will definitely be back for much longer visit.
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