Quinta Da Regaleira, located near the historic centre of Sintra is a must-see for anyone visiting Lisbon and looking for a unique day trip from the city.
While most head to Sintra to snap photos of the famous Pena Palace, Quinta Da Regaleira should be added to your itinerary for this area and in this guide, I’m going to show you why!
Find out how to visit Quinta Da Regaleira from Lisbon, the best transport options from Sintra, and a whole host of quirky things to see while you’re there – including the mystical inverted well – so you can make the most of your day at Quinta Da Regaleira.
How To Get To Sintra To Visit Quinta Da Regaleira
There is no direct transport between the palace and Lisbon, so to get to Quinta Da Regaleira, you first need to get to Sintra.
Being such a popular destination, there are lots of options for every budget and travel style.
Lisbon to Sintra by Car
If you’re renting a car in Portugal, you may want to consider driving to Sintra from Lisbon as it takes only 35 minutes from the city centre.
In the winter, quieter months, this is a good option with relatively easy (paid) parking and availability. When we visited, we found this car park the best option for us as it’s fairly close to most things but it won’t be suitable for large vans or campers.
However, in the summer months I strongly advise against driving.
Sintra roads are narrow and parking is limited. This means you will likely find yourself sitting in traffic on one of their many one way roads.
If you do decide to drive, make sure to map out your parking before you arrive to reduce your chances of driving around town aimlessly.
Lisbon to Sintra by Train
The train from Lisbon to Sintra takes 40 minutes, assuming there are no delays or train strikes.
The average price for the train to Sintra is €5 return, and runs every 30 minutes from Sete Rio station, meaning you’re not overly limited by time if you visit by train.
However, in the summer months I strongly advise against driving.
Sintra roads are narrow and parking is limited. This means you will likely find yourself sitting in traffic on one of their many one way roads.
If you do decide to drive, make sure to map out your parking before you arrive to reduce your chances of driving around town aimlessly.
Lisbon to Sintra by Bus
The bus to Sintra from Lisbon costs anywhere from €4-10 and runs hourly from Marquês de Pombal.
According to Google it takes around an hour, but because they haven’t been subject to the recent drivers strikes it could work out to be a more reliable option.
How To Get To Quinta Da Regaleira From Sintra
Once you arrive at Sintra, you’ll then have to make your way to the entrance of Quinta Da Regaleira.
The walk from Sintra train station is only 20 minutes, and while it’s a bit uphill we think it’s a great way to see other sights around the area.
Alternatively, you can hop on the 434 bus from the train station to Largo Ferreira Castro then walk 8 minutes to the entrance to the palace.
Tours From Lisbon To Quinta Da Regaleira
If you don’t want the hassle of finding parking, or dealing with public transport from Lisbon, another option is to join a small guided tour.
The tours vary in what they offer, but can be a good way of seeing a variety of things. We personally prefer not to do tours, but here are some of the best rated ones we’ve seen:
Lisbon: Guided Day Tour of Sintra, Pena, Regaleira & Cascais
This guided tour from Lisbon is around €80 and lasts 9 ⅕ hours. There is no hotel pickup with this tour, but there are several collection points listed.
You’ll be able to see Quinta Da Regaleira, as well as Pena Palace and a few other highlights.
All entrance tickets are included, however you will need to pack your own lunch or money to grab some while you’re visiting the gardens. With over 7,000 reviews this is currently the best rated tour on GetYourGuide that also includes Quinta Da Regaleira.
🧚♀️ Want to wander Sintra’s most mystical gardens without the ticket stress? Reserve your entry online here.
Lisbon: Sintra, Quinta da Regaleira, Cabo da Roca & Cascais
This tour, run by Amazing Discovery Tours, costs €65, lasts 6 hours and includes central Lisbon hotel pick-up as well as a guide for each iconic location.
You’ll start the day at Quinta da Regaleira before having time to explore Sintra and the old town, then visiting Cabo da Roca & Cascais to wrap things up.
This tour looks great, however it doesn’t include the entrance fee for Quinta da Regaleira so that’s something to bear in mind when costing up your tour.
⏳ Don’t get caught queuing – grab your Regaleira ticket in advance and maximize your wander time.
Lisbon: Half-Day Sintra Tour with Pena Palace and Regaleira
If you’re pressed for time in Lisbon but still want to visit Quinta da Regaleira, this half day tour from Lisbon could be a great option for €80, however it doesn’t include entrance fees to the palace or gardens and the meeting point is at The Hard Rock Cafe.
🎟️ Skip the lines and stroll straight into the magic – book your Quinta da Regaleira ticket in advance.
What To See At Quinta Da Regaleira
Quinta Da Regaleira is spread across 4 hectares of sculptured gardens and includes several buildings, so there’s plenty of things to do and see while you’re here.
You’ll be able to grab a map at the gate, or download it in advance, so you’ll be able to get a feel for the area and see what order you want to view things.
We explored the grounds haphazardly, so the following list is in no particular order, and includes the English & Portuguese names to make reading your map easier.
The Initiation Well / Poço de iniciação
This is perhaps the reason a lot of people visit Quinta Da Regaleira – including us! – so we thought we’d pop this first so you know how to get to the initiation well (also called the inverted towers) and what to expect.
First, you’re going to want to be prepared to cue and wait your turn. There’s staff at the entrance to make sure people keep moving and the stairs don’t get overcrowded. The photos always make it look really quiet and forgotten (I know, I know, ours do too), but this was easily the busiest part of the gardens.
We were there in March, and tried to get to the Well as soon as we could but I really don’t think there’s any avoiding the crowds. Especially in summer!
So what is the Initiation Well?
The Initiation Well is a structure built into the ground that connects various tunnels and another part-built Inverted Tower that is only accessible down a set of steep spiralling stairs.
There’s a lot of speculation surrounding them, but from what we read nobody seems to know exactly why they were built.
They have connections to the Knights Templar, so the story is that they were used as part of an initiation ritual where they had to walk down the steps blindfolded, then navigate their way out of the tunnels.
Either way, walking down the steps is really eerie and I was a little disappointed to find the tunnels are now well lit by floor lighting.
Tip: The staff take their job really seriously, so if you want to grab a photo you’re going to want to have your camera ready and snap quickly. We paused for a split second and ended up getting shouted at… oops.
Portal of Guardians / Portal dos Guardiões
The Portal of Guardians is an intricate stone wall with two spiral staircases connecting the walkway that runs along the top, as well as two circular turrets on either side.
The steps are steep and narrow but if you make it to the top you’re gifted with good views over the gardens.
Palace of Quinta da Regaleira / Palácio
The palace is a beautiful neo-manueline style building from the early 20th century and with over 5 floors, it is an iconic focus point from almost every corner of the gardens.
Usually, only the ground floor and first floor are open to the public. However, when we visited the upstairs was closed off so we weren’t able to view all of the rooms – one of the many risks of travelling in the off-season.
Included on the ground floor is the hunting room, smoking room and some really ornate tiling while upstairs are the bedrooms and bathrooms that I hear are just as extravagant.
Labyrinth Cave / Gruta Do Labirinito
In the bottom corner of the park are the Labyrinth Caves, which hides a cute little set of caves and tunnels. Similarly to the Waterfall Cave (Gruta Da Caascata), here you’ll find an ornate set of arches, but here you’ll be able to walk behind them to view the lake from an alternative angle.
You used to be able to rock hop along the water at the Waterfall Cave, but they’ve closed that off recently. Presumably, because people kept falling in.
Fountain Of Abundance / Fonte De Abundância
Need to sit down for a bit? The Fountain of Abundance is a great place to do that! With marble seating scattered around a courtyard in front of an incredibly detailed mosaic decorated water fountain.
Quinta da Regaleira Gardens
Of course, everything on this list can be found in the gardens, but if you get tired of looking at historic monuments and beautiful tiling – not that I think that’s possible – you have acres and acres of garden terraces to explore.
I could get lost in a garden for hours and be happy enough, especially when there’s such a wide variety of plants to look at but what makes the gardens at Quinta da Regaleira even more special are the hidden sculptures and various ponds.
You’ll find everything here from gods to dogs, so keep your eyes peeled, especially for carvings and symbols of the Knights Templar!
There’s much more to see when Visiting Quinta Da Regaleira, but I’ll leave those as a surprise!
Tips For Visiting Quinta Da Regaleira
As with all big attractions like this, there are a few things you can do to make your trip run a bit smoother.
We’ve covered some of those already, but here are some other frequently asked questions about How To Visit Quinta Da Regaleira
How Long Do You Need At Quinta Da Regaleira
While you can see the ‘highlights’ fairly quickly with a fast walk, to see and enjoy the palace and gardens you need to plan for at least 3 – 4 hours.
There’s a cafe on site that does really nice food, and plenty of spaces to picnic, so you can easily make a day of it.
How To Get From Pena Palace To Quinta Da Regaleira
While I don’t recommend seeing both on the same day because that’s a lot to fit in, especially in summer when you’re competing with crowds on the road and at the attractions, it’s quite easy to get to Quinta Da Regaleira from Pena Palace.
It takes around 45 minutes to walk between the two palaces. We found it to be a really nice walk, mostly downhill from Pena Palace.
If you don’t want to walk, you can hop on the line 434 bus which takes 15 minutes and will cost you around €5. Although, depending on traffic this could take you longer.
If you’re driving please remember that only authorised vehicles are allowed within the national park. You cannot drive to Pena Palace in your own car.
Quinta Da Regaleira Entrance Fee
The entrance fee to Quinta Da Regaleira is around €15pp and can be purchased as the national palace ticket office.
We recommend booking your tickets in advance to avoid the queues, which will be pretty big during the summer months.
How To Visit Quinta Da Regaleira From Porto
If you’re basing yourself in Porto, you might be wondering if you can visit Quinta Da Regaleira as a day trip from Porto.
It technically is possible to day trip from Porto to Lisbon to see Quinta Da Regaleira, but we don’t recommend it, especially for those relying on public transport or you want to see other parts of Lisbon while you’re there.
Where To Stay Near Quinta Da Regaleira
Whenever we visit Sintra, it’s as a day trip so we have no personal recommendations when it comes to accommodation near Quinta Da Regaleira Palace. However, the boutique where we park our car for the day looks beautiful so we highly recommend checking them out: Quinta dos Lobos Boutique Hotel
For other accommodation options, checkout the map below:
Is Quinta Da Regaleira Worth Visiting?
We think Quinta Da Regaleira is definitely worth visiting, and if you’re stuck on time and can’t decide whether to choose Pena Palace or Quinta Da Regaleira, we would encourage you to choose Quinta Da Regaleira.
I say this because even though Quinta Da Regaleira gets busy, the crowds here are nothing compared to those at Pena Palace.
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