Mystic Sintra and Cascais - Private Shore Excursion

We had a day in Lisbon and wanted to see sights outside the city. We considered organizing a visit to Sintra on our own, but found Miguel’s tour and decided to book that based on his great reviews. It was pricey, but the opportunity to have a customized, private tour was the deciding factor. Miguel met us promptly at the designated time and place. His van is comfortable and in great condition, and he is a skillful driver. His friendly and welcoming personality set us at ease immediately. We didn’t have a fixed agenda for the day, and instead, trusted him to give us guidance on the best places to visit. We enjoyed a scenic driving tour from Lisbon to Sintra, but due to the crowds, decided to stop only at Pena Palace. That was a great experience despite the many tourists. Afterward, we enjoyed a meal at a local restaurant, and continued our scenic driving tour. We wholeheartedly recommend Miguel as an informed and highly-qualified guide. Don’t hesitate to book with him. If you have specific sights or experiences on your “must do” list, share those with Miguel. He’ll do whatever possible to make your tour a highlight of your vacation.

We had a wonderful trip with Miguel! He is amazingly flexible and took us to lunch at an amazing 3rd generation family restaurant/ winery for a traditional Portuguese lunch. He is a terrific guide and we look forward to book additional trips with him when we come back in May. Thank you Miguel!

We were met promptly by Miguel, who went over the day's itinerary. We headed out to Sintra first and visited the gardens and the interior. (We were moving pretty fast through the castle so know that you will have to decide where to spend your time. We got a glimpse of the long lines at Quinta da Regaleira and opted to continue on to the Montserrate Palace , where we wandered the gardens (the best part of that stop) and toured the Palace, which is a lovely example of the Morrish influences. We saw Pena Palace through the very dense fog and continued onto the western most point. Because of the inclement weather, we chose to move on to a lovely lunch at a local ("secret") establishment. We continued on to Cascais, to see how the other half lives. Again, weather was iffy, so we chose to not spend much time there. We returned to Lisbon without incident. I would book with Miguel again.

I wish there were more stars to give this tour and Miguel! The sights and commentary were great. I have mobility issues and Miguel totally understood my capabilities. He adjusted the tour so it fit me perfectly. Lunch was amazing. The food, the setting, the presentation, the staff at the restaurant were all great. I give this guide and tour my highest recommendation!

Miguel was a wonderful tour guide for our day visit to Sintra and the west coast, Cascais and Cabo da Roca. He is very personable, and fun to travel with. He shared details of the history and stories about the region that made the visit even more enjoyable. Also we had fun talking about Portuguese food and learned some good cooking tips. He arranged a seafood lunch at a restaurant with a beautiful view on the beach near Cascais that was delicious.

We loved our day trip with Miguel and 10/10 recommend! We traveled with our 18 month old and Miguel was flexible, accommodating and helpful. He was very knowledgeable when it came to history and tailored the experience to our likings/interests. We really enjoyed spending our day with him!