Castles · Tour
Pena Approached on Foot Through the Gardens, Away from the Gate Queue
The tactic that defines this day is a walk. Instead of arriving at the main gate of the Pena Palace with everyone else, the group goes up on foot through the park, comes at the palace from the garden side, and misses the crush at the entrance. That is worth the detour and it comes with a condition the operator states plainly: the walk makes the tour unsuitable for anyone who has difficulty on foot. Two other things are set out honestly and are worth reading before booking. The Pena ticket is chosen at the time of booking, either the full palace with the interior rooms or the park only, which covers the gardens, the terraces around the building and the chapel. There is no upgrading later. And the running order can reverse: Sintra first or the coast first, depending on the expected queues that day. One more, and it is rare to see it written down: during weather alerts or fire alerts on the Sintra hills, the Pena Palace is replaced by the Sintra National Palace. The rest of the day covers the village of Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais, with the return along the Marginal where the Atlantic meets the Tagus. Pickup is from your hotel, apartment, the port or the airport, between 9h00 and 9h30.
What's included
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan with WiFi and bottled water
- Pena Palace Gardens Walk
- Lisbon Hotel or Port pickup and drop-off with driver/guide
- Live commentary on board
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- Pena Palace Admission Tickets as for option chosen
Itinerary
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Lisbon
The day starts in Lisbon with a pickup at your hotel or apartment, or at the port or the airport, always between 9h00 and 9h30, depending on the option chosen and the pickup route. In parts of the city that cannot be reached by vehicle you may be asked to join at a nearby meeting point. Contact the operator in advance to sort this out.
Sintra Mountains
After the pickup, the drive to the Sintra hills, which the Portuguese royal family has been building on since the country was founded.
Park and National Palace of Pena
The approach to the Pena Palace is on foot, up through the park that Ferdinand II planted, which avoids the crowd at the main gate. On the way the guide covers the love story behind the palace being built at all, before going inside. The balconies and courtyards look out to Lisbon on the horizon, with the guide explaining what you are looking at. The ticket type is chosen at booking: - Full palace visit, including the interior rooms; - Park only, which costs less and skips the interior. Everyone visits the gardens and park, the terraces around the palace and the palace chapel.
Sintra Municipality
Down the narrow roads into the village of Sintra, for lunch, local pastries and shopping. The streets and the architecture are the reason people photograph this town more than any other in Portugal. There is free time to walk on your own, and the guide will suggest restaurants. The Sintra National Palace, in the middle of the town, is the oldest building here. It dates from the Islamic period and was used by the royal family for centuries afterwards, gathering a different style with each rebuilding.
Cabo Da Roca
On to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, a headland in the full force of the Atlantic wind. Free time for the views and the photographs.
Cascais
A stop in Cascais, a fishing village that became a holiday resort, a refuge for exiled kings and a centre of espionage during the Second World War. The guide explains how a small seaside town ended up in the middle of 20th-century history. Free time for the town centre, the bay and the streets around it. The ice cream at Santini has a reputation, and the beach and the craft shops are the alternatives.
Estoril
The coast road back to Lisbon, where the Atlantic meets the Tagus. The Marginal runs along the shore the whole way, past the surfers and the pale sand of the beaches on this stretch of coast. Ocean views first, then the river, and then Lisbon and the drop-off at your original address.
Lisbon
Arrival in Lisbon, where the tour ends. Ask the guide if you would rather be dropped somewhere other than where you were collected.
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
Good to know
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
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- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Up to 15 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Guiding available in: en.
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