Sintra

Castelo dos Mouros - Moorish Castle – Sintra
Monuments
Nestled between two Sintra mountain ranges, the Moorish Castle dates back to the early Moorish occupation of the Peninsula in the eighth century. After numerous attempts, it was finally captured by Dom Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, in 1147. He established the first Christian Chapel in the city, dedicated to St. Peter of Penaferrim. During the romantic period in 1860, the walls were restored under the guidance of Dom Fernando II, husband of Dona Maria II, who also planted trees in the surrounding areas, enhancing the dignity of the ancient medieval ruins. Notable features include the Moorish Cistern and the Royal Tower. The castle is located approximately 3.5 km from Sintra’s historic center.

Park and National Palace of Pena - Park and National Palace of Pena
Museums and Palaces
Pena National Palace
Explore the magnificent Pena Palace, a prime example of 19th-century Romanticism in Portugal. Situated atop Monte da Pena, the palace was constructed on the site of a former monastery by D. Fernando de Saxe Coburg-Gotha, who married Queen Dona Maria II in 1836. Enchanted by Sintra, he purchased the convent and surrounding lands to create a summer palace for the royal family. A restaurant is now located in one of the palace wings, offering a terrace with stunning panoramic views of the Sintra Mountains and the coast.

Centro Historico de Sintra - Sintra village, from municipal heritage to world heritage, is rightly classified by UNESCO. Visit the historical center of the romantic village of Sintra, where many buildings and remnants from various periods and cultural movements remain.

Sintra National Palace - Sintra National Palace
Museums and Palaces
The Sintra National Palace stands out among the royal medieval palaces in Portugal and is the most distinguished building in the village of Sintra. From the country’s earliest dynasties, Sintra was a favored location for Portuguese royalty. The palace we see today was initiated by Dom João I, who rebuilt it, and Dom Manuel I, who enhanced its decorative character and added a new wing. Explore the palace’s interior to uncover more about Portugal’s history. The decoration is remarkable, blending various artistic styles reflecting the tastes of the kings who resided here, with rooms named accordingly. Highlights include the Swan Room, the Armory Room, the Magpie Room, the Reading Room, and the chapel.

Quinta da Regaleira - Palace and Quinta da Regaleira
Museums and Palaces
Close to Sintra’s historic center is Quinta da Regaleira, one of Sintra’s most enigmatic attractions. Built in the early 20th century by millionaire Antonio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro (1848-1920), with the help of scenographic architect Luigi Manini (1848-1936), it fulfilled one of Monteiro’s dreams. Surrounded by lush greenery, Palácio da Regaleira is a captivating discovery. The palace was constructed in a romantic revivalist style, imitating Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance architectural and decorative forms, infused with mythical and esoteric symbolism. The Holy Trinity Chapel is particularly noteworthy, where visitors can descend a spiral staircase to the crypt and discover the monumental initiation well that leads through a cave to a hidden lake in the gardens.

Parque e Palacio de Monserrate - Museums and Palaces
Park and Palace of Monserrate
This splendid Romantic park was created by William Beckford, who fell in love with the Sintra Mountain.

Lisbon

Mosteiro dos Jeronimos - Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
Monuments
Located on the banks of the Tagus, this is a pinnacle of Manueline architecture. Originally, a small hermitage dedicated to Santa Maria was built here by Infante D. Henrique in 1452. In the early 16th century, King Manuel I’s desire to construct a large monastery was approved by the Holy See, and it was donated to the Order of the Friars of St. Jerome. This monastery is the most outstanding Portuguese monastic ensemble of its era and one of Europe’s main churches, closely linked to the Discoveries.

Torre de Belem - Torre de Belém
Monuments
The Tower of Belém’s harmony and delicate ornamentation resemble a finely cut jewel. It serves as a formidable bastion defending the entrance to the Tagus, capable of combining firepower with the St. Sebastian tower on the opposite riverbank. Commissioned by King Manuel I (1495-1521) and constructed by Francisco de Arruda between 1514 and 1521, the tower was built on a basalt island near the right bank of the Tagus, in front of Restelo beach. However, due to the river’s gradual course change, the tower is now almost engulfed by the bank. In 1983, the Tower of Belém was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

Lisbon District - Pastéis de Belém
In the early 19th century, in Belém, next to Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (the Hieronymite Monastery), there was a sugar cane refinery attached to a small general store. Following the 1820 liberal revolution, all convents and monasteries in Portugal were closed in 1834, and the clergy and workers were expelled. In a bid for survival, someone from the monastery began selling sweet pastries in the shop, which quickly became known as ‘Pastéis de Belém’. At that time, Belém was considered distant from Lisbon and mainly accessible by steam-boats. Meanwhile, the grandeur of the monastery and the Torre de Belém attracted visitors who soon became accustomed to enjoying the delicious pastries originating from the monastery.

Padrao dos Descobrimentos - Padrão dos Descobrimentos
Monuments
The impressive Monument to the Discoveries makes its mark on the riverside at Belém. It was designed in 1940 to commemorate the “Exposition of the Portuguese World,” promoted by the Salazar government to celebrate the eighth and third centenaries of the founding and restoration of the Portuguese nation (1140 and 1640, respectively). However, it was only constructed in 1960 to mark 500 years since the death of Prince Henry the Navigator.

Parque Eduardo VII - Parque Eduardo VII
Gardens, Parks, and Forests
Eduardo VII Park is located north of Avenida da Liberdade and offers panoramic views over the city. Originally known as Parque da Liberdade, the gardens were renamed in honor of British King Edward VII during his visit to Lisbon in 1903.

Lisbon Cathedral - Sé Catedral de Lisboa
Monuments
Dedicated to the Mother of God since 1147.
Lisbon Cathedral, dedicated to the Mother of God, is one of the city’s treasures and one of the country’s most significant monuments due to its historical, religious, and artistic value. Its construction began in 1147 when the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, reconquered the city from the Moors. It was built on a Muslim mosque, which, as archaeological excavations confirmed, had been constructed on a previous Visigothic Christian temple.

Miradouro de Santa Luzia - The Mirador de Santa Luzia offers a wide view over Alfama and the Tagus River. From left to right, the characteristic points include the dome of Santa Engrácia, the Church of Santo Estêvão, and the two white towers of the Church of São Miguel.

The south wall of Santa Luzia features two modern tile panels, one depicting the Praça do Comércio before the earthquake and another showing Christians attacking the castle of St. George by António Quaresma, manufactured at the Lamego Widow Factory.

Here is the Church of Santa Luzia and São Brás, head of the old commendation of St. Brás of the Lisbon term and current national seat of the Assembly of Portuguese Knights of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Rossio Square - Rossio Square
Reborn from the ruins of the 1755 earthquake, this charming Lisbon square marks the northern boundary of the Pombaline Downtown. It extends in a quadrilateral shape dominated by the neo-classical harmony of the D. Maria II Theatre, built on the site of the former House of the Inquisition.

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte - Mirador de Senhora do Monte is situated in the parish of São Vicente (Graça), in Lisbon. The belvedere is located in front of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount. From here, you can see, to the south, the sea of ​​the Straw, the Castle of São Jorge, part of Lisbon’s Baixa, and the estuary of the Tagus River; to the west, from Bairro Alto to the Forestry Park of Monsanto; and to the north, the valley of Avenida Almirante Reis. Next to this belvedere is the small, ancient Hermitage of Our Lady of Monte (classified as Property of Public Interest), founded in 1147 and dedicated to St. Gens, a bishop who, according to tradition, was martyred here. It was on this ancient Monte de São Gens that D. Afonso Henriques set up camp to conquer the city.

• Private transportation
• On-board WiFi
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Bottled water

• Tickets
• Food and drinks
• Gratuities
• On-board restrooms

Explore two captivating regions in Portugal with our 2-day itinerary. All tours commence in Lisbon at 09:00. This experience offers a day to explore the charming village of Sintra, renowned for its numerous monuments, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. On the second day, continue the journey through Portugal by discovering the marvels of Lisbon, one of the world’s oldest capitals and the oldest in Western Europe. The experience includes visits to squares, various monuments, viewpoints, and historic neighborhoods. Travel comfortably in our vehicles equipped with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and mineral water. To enhance customer satisfaction and ensure our private tours are enjoyable and tailored, we offer flexible timing at each location, coordinated with our driver according to the day’s schedule.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.