Sintra-Rundgang

Can’t say enough good things about this tour! It had everything I wanted and more. João was a fantastic tour guide, had all sorts of historical and interesting facts and anecdotes about the area, and castles, as well as the flora and fauna on the trails all the way up the mountain and back down. We hiked up through the streets and trails, through the Moorish Castle grounds and up to Pena Palace, then back down through the gardens and Land of Lakes. It’s a moderate to challenging hike with lots of steep hills and steps on the way up and back down, at times uneven as well so make sure to wear sturdy shoes with good grip, and comfy clothes because I definitely broke a sweat, but It’s well worth the views and photos! It’s a quick train trip (45-ish minutes) on the Metro above-ground train from Roma-Areeiro to Sintra station right near where the tour starts. If I could give this tour more than 5 stars, I would!

Joao Varanda is the most professional and knowledgeable guide we have ever met. He took the time to explain all the interesting and historical details. He also has a vast knowledge of the flora and fauna in Sintra and Portugal. We'd highly recommend Joao!

It was wonderful! Very knowledgeable tour guide and very extensive tour !!enjoyed it thoroughly . Would definitely recommend.

An absolutely wonderful way to visit Sintra and get an engaging review of its history! It was a beautiful day for a walking tour. Joao was a charming and gracious guide and he takes great (but outwardly modest) pride in his home. And well he should!

Myself and my four adult kids experienced a exceptional four hour walking tour with Joao Varanda of the Sintra castle and palace. Joao is knowledgable, fun and flexible. You can tell he really enjoys giving tours and tourists. Thank you Joao for a great experience - Ann Marie, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

This was a fantastic tour of Sintra... Joao was friendly and knowledgeable, mixing history with geology (yes!) in fascinating stories and little-known gems about Portugal. All while leading us on quite a walk/hike! He took us on some of the quieter routes to avoid the crowds, which made the experience so much more special. FWIW, we are a family with two teenagers, who also loved Joao and the tour.

We appreciated our guide Joao was a local and provided a lot of information regarding history, flora and fauna for the Sintra area. It was a great way to see the monuments and natural attractions of the area (and the nice weather helped). Overall, the tour seemed a bit long - possibly 2 shorter tours or a longer break between attractions.

Fantastic walking tour of Sintra! Joao’s ability to keep you engaged and answer questions on history, fauna, flora, current events, etc., made this tour special.

João was an amazing tour guide — born and raised in Sintra, he has incredible knowledge of the area and Portuguese history. We visited the Moorish Castle, Pena Palace, and Quinta da Regaleira. The tour is a truly unique experience, walking through the forest and learning history along the way. Be prepared: it’s a bit of a hike with plenty of uphill and downhill walking, so bring snacks and water since there’s no stop for food during the tour. João speaks excellent English and is a personable, easy-to-talk-to guide. If you want a quick bite before the tour, Café Cynthia at the meeting point has great snacks. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a deeper, more local experience of Sintra.

8 miles of walking and 81 flights. But the history , flora, views were awesome . Joao was a wealth of knowledge and took me on paths with less people . The description of the castle and palace were detailed and interesting