Quinta da Regaleira
Quinta da Regaleira
5
Architectural BuildingsCastlesGardens
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
About
This fairytale-like country estate and UNESCO World Heritage Site located near Sintra’s historic center is known for its beautiful architecture, landscaped gardens, and the eerie Initiation Wells. Take a guided tour of the property to learn more about its enthralling history, and explore other mysteries like the underground tunnels, grottoes, chapel, and more. The estate gets busy so visit once it opens for a quieter experience; tickets often sell out too so book early to secure your slot. Explore Quinta da Regaleira on a tour of Sintra, which often includes stops at other iconic sights like Pena Palace and Roca Cape. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • groovybaby1
    Yate, United Kingdom971 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Enchanting amazing place
    This was probably my favourite out it Peña and Moorish Castle. It’s also easy to reach on foot from the town. Spectacular gardens and the well and castle are equally enchanting. It’s quite hilly so you’ll do a few steps that day. March is a good time to visit as it’s probably packed in the summer
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 31, 2023
  • Land2Sea
    Manhasset, New York660 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Breathtaking
    This was one of our highlights in Portugal. We were transported to a movie like garden and castle. The property is filled with many tales and exploring it will allow you to believe them! I’d recommend several hours here.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 7, 2023
  • Flavia Almeida
    Basel, Switzerland44 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    One of the most beautiful places I have been - A must go!
    This place is a jewel and a must visit in Sintra. Unfortunately it was packed with tourists. I would advice to go as early as it opens to avoid the crowds annoying tourists not particularly interested in visiting the place, rather just ticking the "touristic" box and taking Instagram photos. The nature is outstanding and the architecture breathtaking.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 10, 2023
  • Ellen L
    Chicago, Illinois35 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    VISIT HERE!
    This is an absolute must see if you’re visiting Sintra. It’s helpful to purchase your tickets online as the ticket kiosks often have a long queue. We arrived from a suburban train out of Lisbon and purchased the public tourist bus hop-on hop-off tickets. They were 12.50 euros but it takes you exactly where you want to go and works on both the 434 and 435 lines. The bus that takes you to Quinta de Regaleira is smaller and doesn’t pass through as frequent so be sure to have a flexible schedule and some patience when taking it! They also will pack the bus to max capacity so you may need to stand. The park has so many beautiful gardens and is quite lovely the highlight is visiting the initation well- the line will be long but it moves pretty fast and the views are worth it!!
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written April 14, 2023
  • Sade
    Switzerland115 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful Gardens - Take a Tour
    Come in the morning right when they open to avoid the cues. Though there is barely anything to see inside the mansion, the surrounding gardens (and the city of Sintra) are lovely. I recommend you take a tour as otherwise your visit might not be that interesting. I definitely recommend this over the Peña Palace and Gardens.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written April 25, 2023
  • DiOnneO_1208
    Edmonton, Canada15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful, unique grounds and architecture.
    So beautiful! Might have been better with a guide who could explain more about the property to us, but I still loved it, and would go back again. We went later in the afternoon, and I wished we had gone a little earlier so we could have walked the grounds even more.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 27, 2023
  • P K
    Atlanta, Georgia14 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Go early!
    Bought tickets online & got there 30/40 minutes before it opened - line soooooo long by the time the gates opened. Saw all we wanted in 2 hours but lines for the main areas were extremely long - 2 hours. Worth getting there early so much to see rather than standing in line.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 8, 2023
  • mini_d51
    Sydney, Australia495 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice grounds
    This is a very nice area and we wished we had more time there. The grounds are very crowded and the signage is poor. The audio guide you download is excellent, but not in a logical order. As far as I could see, there was only 1 toilet for women. We were told this was a 10 minute mostly flat walk from the train station, but it is more like 25 minutes and a fair bit of it is uphill. There is little if any signage directing you here.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 11, 2023
  • Wander_The_W0rld
    Bristol, Rhode Island129 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun Walk Through the Landscape and Mansion
    It was very crowded, difficult to take photos without people in them. We got there at opening time and there was already a long line of people with tickets (the line was shorter for purchasing tickets). We headed directly to the well and glad we did because later on the line was extremely long. We wandered around and got lost but enjoyed seeing everything. Most of the interesting parts are in the lower areas. The mansion was beautiful inside and you can read about the history as you walk through. You can pick up a free audio guide to hear about the various sites although at times when the crowd pushes you along it can be difficult to stop and listen.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 23, 2023
  • brouillymarie
    Cornelius, North Carolina737 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great for teens
    The day we traveled to Sintra by private car, we knew that the Pena Palace and several others were closed due to a strike. We had plenty of time to tour the Quinta Da Regaleira with our teen son and it was fantastic. It was great to not be in a hurry. We climbed down and behind all the secret passages. It was great traveling with a teen son since this was more of an exploration and less of a museum. It was one of our favorite spots.
    Visited April 2023
    Written June 6, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles13,914 reviews
Excellent
11,357
Very good
2,067
Average
339
Poor
82
Terrible
69

Shigamm
London, UK1,174 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
We purchased our tickets online but be aware that you still have to queue - this includes any tours also. When you get to the top and near to the entrance there was another separate line that on this occasion would have been the quicker option of gaining entry. If you are going to purchase tickets once there by pass the long line of people who already have tickets and go up to the entrance. Once you purchase your tickets at the entrance you can enter straight away rather than having to join the queue.

Once inside, if you want to go and see the well I would recommend going directly there as on the day we visited the queues for this were around 90 minutes. However, it was worth the wait as the well and the tunnels are impressive. You get a great view of the well as you move your way down and then once you reach the bottom the series of tunnels are impressive. When you come out of the well go in and out of all the tunnels as there are different parts to view. You can explore the rest of the park at your leisure as there are lots of different things to see. A must visit when in Sintra.
Written August 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Barbs25
Staffordshire, UK2,615 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Couples
If you only see one thing in Sintra then visit this place. It’s a stunning real life fairytale land and well priced at 10 euros per adult.
All the buildings and gardens are so beautiful, loved walking round and taking it all in. Only annoyance was the queue for the well which was about 30+ people long we didn’t wait for, and a queue for the place inside I imagine due to covid to limit numbers but that went quick enough.
There was also a comedy play with some seating in one of the areas, quite funny and unexpected.
Just loved it all and can’t recommend it enough
Written August 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrew D
Milan, Italy190 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021 • Solo
I visited mainly for the palace.
I queued for twenty minutes and was back out in under five minutes, most of which was spent waiting for my turn to peer into a room briefly.
You pass through one room, look at the lobby, look at the recital room, look into another, pass through a second room and you’re out. (The rest of the place is being renovated).
I stood at the entrance of the chapel and looked in.
After that, I simply couldn’t be bothered to wander round the rest of the grounds.
Is anything else open? Even if it is, are you restricted to peering in from the door? Who knows?
To cap it all, the lady in the bookshop did her best to prevent me buying some of the books I wanted (picture souvenir books, but in Portuguese), then insisted on putting them all into separate paper bags. I had to fight to avoid her giving me a plastic carrier bag. So much for reducing waste.
Written September 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

aeeleewee
Goshen, IN26 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Amazing place. I highly recommend you hire a tour guide that is a local to take the trip and will give you insight and experiences. There is a lot to see, the place is amazing, and the history is very deep. FlaminGo Experiences was our guide and they did an amazing job and made the experience unique and personal.
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Leo S
New York City, NY22 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019
It is a beautiful Portuguese garden with a real sense of calm (at least when we went when there weren't too many tourists. It has a number of bizarre touches that are quite imaginative. Many of them have reference to Masonic rituals that apparently used to occur here.
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tami K
Roseville, Ca5 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021
This place is a must see while in Sintra. The grounds and gardens are other-worldly. I saw the well and tunnel online, and knew I had to see it. It turned out to be even cooler than I imagined. The rest of the grounds are equally impressive and grand, in a quirky sort of way that was just fun. Only downside is the limited access to the main palace house, and the insanely authoritarian approach of security involving masking while outdoors on the grounds. One of our group put her mask on while walking up to the entry turnstile, and the tiny little excuse for a security guard insisted she go back to the door, take the mask off, and put it back on before walking back! People like this have no place in tourism. Hopefully once Covid passes, his kind will be stripped of this shred of power they try to wield. Regardless of security and their issues, this tour is worth every Euro!
Written October 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RIBIT
Venice, United States20 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Delightful fairy tale palatial estate that is a short walk from the central square. Extensive grounds feature footpaths that lead you into dimly lit labyrinths, inverted towers, balustrades and circular stairways. Fantastic imagination brought to life throughout. Interiors are lavishly ornamented with woodwork, tile mosaics, stained-glass windows, tapestry and art. Sintra is amazing and this spectacular palace is not to be missed during a visit.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wander_The_W0rld
Bristol, RI129 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
It was very crowded, difficult to take photos without people in them. We got there at opening time and there was already a long line of people with tickets (the line was shorter for purchasing tickets). We headed directly to the well and glad we did because later on the line was extremely long. We wandered around and got lost but enjoyed seeing everything. Most of the interesting parts are in the lower areas. The mansion was beautiful inside and you can read about the history as you walk through. You can pick up a free audio guide to hear about the various sites although at times when the crowd pushes you along it can be difficult to stop and listen.
Written May 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Amy Z
10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
If you are visiting Sintra, this is a must see attraction. It is stunning. The grounds are what will take most of your time. There are hidden caves, so many things to see and explore. The inside isn't as large as you think and won't take too much time (we went in February so it wasn't too packed). Tip: Buy tickets online so you can skip the queue, we did it right on the spot and it saved a lot of time.
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ChapLondon2
London, UK176 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022
We visited the Quinta da Regalaira on a horrid, rainy day, yet loved it. just imagine how wonderful it would have been if sunny!

The highlight for me was the 'descent into hell' - a magical staircase cum well dug down into the hillside This eventually leads down back into the garden. Very special - I've never seen anything like it.

The house only has a few rooms open to the public, but they were fascinating. There was a team of talented restorers working on e.g. the dining room, uncovering the original frescoes which had been painted over. It is worth going just to see the fine wooden floors. Do look for the Manueline style tracery on the outside of the house. The tiny chapel also has beautiful Italian terrazzo floors and stained glass windows.

The gardens were designed by a famous opera set designer - Luigi Manini and it shows. At every twist and turn there is a new vista.

Just lovely!
Written April 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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