Sintra to Cascais: 2 Palaces, 4 Sites, Small Group 10 Hour Tour

This is a very well organized day tour. It starts early but absolutely worth it to be the first in line to enter the Pena Palace in Sintra. This is my 3rd time visiting Sintra and what a game changer entering first and not feeling rushed by the crowd behind you. Plus no one is blocking your view of the rooms so you get perfect pics with no strangers in the photo! Our guide, Lukas (with a K!) quickly created a group Whatsapp chat and sent us some historical photos and paintings that he referenced during our Pena Palace tour which really tied things together and totally enriched the experience. (You'll learn about the 'giant Queen'.) Next we visited Quinta da Regaleira (which is my favourite). Lukas provides very detailed instructions and reference map/photos so you can visit the Initiation Well, Chapel, and the house (palace). Follow his instructions to do the Initiation Well first! And don't forget to look for the Illuminati Eye in the chapel! Next stop was lunch but along the way Lukas points out views and other palaces and slows down or stops for a moment so pictures can be taken. (Some view points throughout the tour day have longer stops for pictures and a short walk to see something of interest.) Lunch was excellent at a lovely little restaurant that while it caters to small tours (no huge bus tours) it is authentic and the portions are generous. The set price is 27€ and includes appetizers of meat, cheese, bread, and fruit, a large entree, wine, soft drinks, water, dessert and coffee. The entree menu has varied choices including fish, meat, and vegetarian. I'm celiac and was a little nervous but Lukas ensured my food choice was safe. Important note: If you are vegan, order a la carte because you won't be able to eat any of the appetizers so the 27€ price is not a value. Also bottles of red and white wine were provided for our group of five. After lunch it's a beautiful drive along the coast with some wonderful stops for short exploration and photo ops. Overall an excellent day with a fun, engaging, information tour guide (Lukas with a K!) The tour description is very accurate so come prepared to walk (in good sturdy shoes). While the tour is moderate to fast paced, it's not rushed. Finally there is a really special surprise for each tour guest, from Lukas, at the end, that makes this guided tour stand out from any other day tour (and I've been on many around the world.) Overall this small group tour (5 of us) was a well organized and informative day and Lukas is a fun and knowledgable guide. I highly recommend!

We had an incredible day exploring Sintra with Happy Tours Portugal! Our small group of 8 made the experience feel very personal and relaxed. Thanks to our amazing guide Lukas (with the K ????), everything ran perfectly from start to finish. We were the first ones to enter Pena Palace, skipping all the queues and enjoying the magic of the place before the crowds arrived — such a game changer! Lukas’ organization and timing were spot-on, and his sense of humor made the day even better. He kept us laughing with his jokes (especially about being a Brazilian supermodel ????) and created such a fun and positive atmosphere throughout the tour. We had a delicious lunch at a local restaurant he chose — great food, great vibes, and more laughter. The ride in his comfy minivan was full of great music and even some carpool karaoke ????, which made the journey between spots just as enjoyable as the destinations themselves. Overall, it was an absolutely fantastic day — perfectly organized, we visited all beautiful sites according to the plan and had a great food. If you’re visiting Sintra, don’t think twice — book with Happy Tours Portugal and ask for Lukas with the K. You’ll be in for a treat!

This is our second time doing this tour with the same company Nico is very knowledgeable and friendly guy who goes out of his way to make the experience joyful, the first time was another guide that was knowledgeable