Knights Templar, Freemasons, fairytale palaces and the Initiation Well: Sintra at its most magical and mysterious, told by a local. Book for €1.50 and decide at the end what it was worth.
Wist je dat? King Ferdinand II, a die-hard Romantic, turned a hillside of convents into the fairytale setting that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hoogtepunten
- The Sintra of Templars, Freemasons and legends
- The National Palace and its famous chimneys
- Quinta da Regaleira and the mysterious Initiation Well
- Sintra's sweet treats: queijadas and travesseiros (not included)
- Views of Pena Palace from Seteais
Volledige beschrijving
Sintra looks like it's straight out of a fantasy novel, and that's no accident. For centuries it drew kings, poets, Knights Templar and Freemasons, and in the 19th century King Ferdinand II, crazy about Romanticism, turned it into a fairytale stage set that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your local guide reveals it as you stroll through the village, with the hills and the Moorish Castle watching from above. You'll hear about Gualdim Pais, Portugal's first Templar, secret tunnels and the "Mountain of the Moon", see the famous twin chimneys of the National Palace and decode the esoteric symbols of São Martinho Church. You'll pass the hotel where Lord Byron stayed and the Biester Palace, a movie location, on your way to the enigmatic Quinta da Regaleira and its Initiation Well. And along the way, the temptation of queijadas and travesseiros, Sintra's legendary pastries. How does it work? The €1.50 you pay when booking is just a booking fee: it saves your spot in the group, but it doesn't go to the guide. The tour itself is pay-what-you-want: at the end, you give your guide whatever you feel they've earned. Most people leave €15–20 per person, but here your smile sets the price, not a rate card.
Route
Duur: 2 h 30 min
- Ontmoetingspunt
Te voet
1Sintra Town Hall
Rondleiding · 10 min
Meeting point, with the hills and the Moorish Castle as a backdrop
Te voet (5 min)
2Liberdade Park
Rondleiding · 10 min
Gualdim Pais and the Knights Templar
Te voet (5 min)
3Moorish fountains
Rondleiding · 10 min
Sintra's Roman and Arab heritage
Te voet (5 min)
4National Palace of Sintra
Rondleiding · 15 min
The twin chimneys, the Magpie Room… and queijadas (tasting not included)
Te voet (3 min)
5São Martinho Church
Rondleiding · 10 min
Esoteric and Masonic symbols
Te voet (5 min)
6Lawrence Hotel
Langs · 5 min
One of Iberia's oldest hotels, where Lord Byron stayed
Te voet (5 min)
7Biester Palace
Fotostop · 10 min
A filming location for Polanski's The Ninth Gate
Te voet (5 min)
8Pisões Waterfall
Fotostop · 5 min
Sintra's lush greenery
Te voet (5 min)
9Quinta da Regaleira
Rondleiding · 15 min
The Initiation Well and Carvalho Monteiro's symbols (seen from outside)
Te voet (10 min)
10Seteais Palace
Fotostop · 15 min
Finale with views of Pena Palace and two great love stories
Alleen ter indicatie: route en tijden kunnen op de dag veranderen.
Duur: 2 h 30 min
Gedeelde groep
Tot 6 personen
Gids / chauffeur spreekt
Engels
Inbegrepen
Local guide in English
Walking tour of about 2.5 hours through historic Sintra
Stories, curiosities and insider tips from a local
Niet inbegrepen
The pay-what-you-want contribution to the guide, at the end (average €15–20 per person)
Palace entrance fees (seen from outside) and transport to Sintra
Food and drinks (including pastries)
Ontmoetingspunt
Sintra, Portugal
Het exacte ontmoetingspunt wordt vermeld in de boekingsbevestiging.
Belangrijke informatie
Niet geschikt voor
- Utilizadores de cadeira de rodas
- Pessoas com mobilidade reduzida
Wat u moet meenemen
- Comfortable shoes (it's hilly)
- Water
- Cash for the tip
Niet toegestaan
- Groups of more than 6 people, even if booked separately
Goed om te weten
- Look for the blue umbrella with yellow "Free Tour" letters
- Arrive 10–15 minutes early
- The tour runs rain or shine
- At the end, tip what you think is fair, in cash
Annuleringsvoorwaarden
Free cancellation up to the start time of the tour: your booking fee is refunded. If your plans change, please cancel so another traveller can take your spot.
Algemene voorwaarden van het bedrijfTonenVerbergen
Pay-what-you-want free tour: the €1.50 paid when booking is a booking fee and does not include payment for the guide. At the end, each person gives the guide what they feel is fair, cash only, in euros (the average is €15–20 per person). Maximum 6 people per booking: we do not accept groups of more than 6 people, even if they book separately. More of you? For larger groups we ask for a prepayment of €12 per adult and €5 per child, or you can book a private tour. There are hills. Palaces are seen from the outside: entrance fees not included. Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle are too far for the walking tour. Drinks, food and transport not included. Stops may vary depending on the guide, the weather or events in the town. Free cancellation up to the start time.
Vragen en antwoorden
Waar vindt het ophalen plaats?
Bij het hotel, de accommodatie of het adres dat u bij het boeken opgeeft. Het bedrijf bevestigt de exacte plek en het tijdstip.
Kan ik kinderen meenemen?
Ja. Tel kinderen mee in het aantal personen. Voor kinderzitjes of andere wensen kunt u het bedrijf een bericht sturen via de berichten bij de boeking.
Kunnen we stoppen waar we willen?
Bij een privéservice is het voertuig alleen voor uw groep: spreek stops af met de chauffeur, binnen de duur van de service.
Kan ik annuleren?
Free cancellation up to the start time of the tour: your booking fee is refunded. If your plans change, please cancel so another traveller can take your spot.
Hoe betaal ik?
Online, met creditcard of betaalkaart, Apple Pay of Google Pay. De bevestiging ontvangt u direct per e-mail.
Wat als ik nog vragen heb?
Na het boeken kunt u contact opnemen met het bedrijf via de berichten bij de boeking. Daarvoor kunt u ons mailen op [email protected].
