Description

Queluz, Sintra and Estoril Coast FD Private Tour  will take you on a journey exploring the best Portuguese royal residences along with the relaxing views of the Portuguese seaside. At the beginning of the day our guide will pick you up at the hotel and soon you will be on your way to the Queluz National Palace. This palace represents the extravagant life of the Portuguese royalty in the 18th century in an incredible rococo structure surrounded by beautiful gardens. After a detailed visit of the Palace with our guide it will be time for you to continue to the World Heritage Site of Sintra, where hundreds of years of history and culture await you. Doing a short walk in the old city center you'll find yourself surrounded by the old houses now converted into small quaint handicraft shops and traditional pastry shops. It will be time to continue to one of the highlights of the day: the Pena Palace. Driving around the mountain passing by amazing chalets and aristocratic residences you will reach the 19th century Pena Palace in the most incredible combination of architectural styles, colors and shapes that you will find in Portugal.

After a nice lunch break in one of the many traditional restaurants and browsing through hundreds of years of history it will be time to relax by driving to the town of Cascais, along the nature park of Sintra-Cascais, stopping at the westernmost point of continental Europe (Cabo da Roca). Once just a small fishing village, the town of Cascais managed to maintain its seafaring traditions combined with the aristocratic and royal presences of the late 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Walking by its animated town center you'll find the cosmopolitan life side by side with the Atlantic.

The return to Lisbon will follow a very special road named "Marginal" by the Portuguese running always parallel to the white sandy beaches and amazing 17th century fortresses starting at the town of Estoril with its famous casino. Upon arriving in Lisbon you will still drive past the historical neighborhood of Belem, getting close to your hotel for a deserved rest.

Options

In case you prefer to visit other monuments or places of interest, in alternative to the Pena and the Queluz Palaces, here are our suggestions:

• Sintra National Palace (Located in the center of Sintra. Its date of construction is not very clear, because it suffered several interventions over the centuries. The initial building was a Moorish palace, but the appearance it has nowadays, is due to profound architectural modifications done during the 13th, 15th and 16th centuries).
• Pena Park (Natural Park, surrounding Pena National Palace. Here you could spend many hours, if you enjoy nature).
• Sintra Moorish Castle (Fortress from the 9th century, constructed by the Moors, during their occupation period. Due to its privileged location, it allows magnificent views over Sintra and the sea).
• Convent of Capuchos (This convent was built among the trees and the great blocks of granite, which are part of the building itself. Founded in 1560, the small cells, the cork-coating on doors, are proof of the Faith and humbleness of those who lived there).
• Quinta da Regaleira (Built in the end of the 19th century, Regaleira is formed by a Palace, a Chapel and gardens with grottos, wells and subterranean areas. In the palace, as well as in the remaining areas, some symbolic and mythological themes are found, some of them of an esoteric nature).
• Monserrate Park (Conceived in a romantic environment, where exotic plants grow among the local flora, it is today an important botanic museum).