Small group sintra royal palaces day trip from lisbon pena palace queluz palace and sintra palace

Discover a world of fairy-tale palaces on this full-day tour to the UNESCO-listed town of Sintra from Lisbon. Once a decadent summer retreat for Portuguese royals and aristocrats, Sintra now boasts lavish palaces and mansions dotted about its pretty town and neighboring hillsides. On your tour, visit three of the best -- Pena National Palace, Sintra National Palace and Queluz National Palace – and admire a medley of architectural elements, ranging from medieval to Rococo, with your expert guide.This small-group tour with a maximum of 19 people ensures you'll receive personalized attention from your guide.

Leave your Lisbon hotel and head northwest by luxury minibus to the town of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site popular for its 19th-century European Romantic architecture. After a journey of roughly half an hour, arrive in the town to discover its charms.

First stop of your day is Pena Palace, easily Sintra’s most famous architectural icon with its
over-the-top, fairy-tale architecture – the kind of castle that was
designed from a child’s dream. Created in the 1800s for King Ferdinand,
the palace is similar in appearance to Bavaria’s famous Neuschwanstein
Castle.

After a 1.5-hour lunch break (own expense) in Sintra, meet your guide and visit the medieval Sintra Palace, with its smooth white façade. Originally built in the 10th century, the palace now boasts a mixture of Gothic, Moorish and Manueline architecture, and while its exterior is less ornate, the inside will dazzle you with extravagant rooms like the Blazons Hall, decorated in vivid blue tiles. Stroll around with your guide and learn about King Manuel I who commissioned the interior’s elaborate décor.

As you explore, your guide will point out drawbridges, ramparts, domes and fascinating gargoyles – all painted in pretty pastel colors. Learn about the many architectural styles that comprise this astounding building, like Neo-Gothic, Islamic and Neo-Renaissance, and admire the palace’s richly decadent Victorian and Edwardian rooms. Marvel at the Arab Room with its elaborate frescoes, and enjoy panoramic views of town from the windows.

Continue for the last visit of your day – Queluz Palace. Known as the Portuguese Versailles, this 18th-century palace with its ornate gardens, statues and fountains was the last of the Europe’s Rococo (Late Baroque) buildings. While exploring with your guide, admire its decorative art that adorns rooms like the elegant Throne Room and the Royal Bedroom with its distinctive domed ceiling.

When you’ve finished exploring Sintra’s must-see palaces, return to central Lisbon by minibus.

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