Guided Tours

Quinta da Regaleira Guided Tour

If historical secrets keep you up at night, join the guided tour of Quinta Da Regaleira and discover how it earned its position as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Highlights

On this guided tour, stroll around the dreamy landscape of Quinta da Regaleira and witness some of history’s best-kept secrets, which are otherwise inaccessible to the common public.
Explore Quinta da Regaleira's lush gardens, lakes, grottoes, and enigmatic constructions and dare to descend the world-famous Initiation Well, as you learn about its many legends.
From tales of the Templars to Freemason secrets to the international poets who were inspired by this fairy-tale location, hear all about it from your guide.
Wander through the lush green garden compounds, adorned with lakes, grottoes, and enigmatic constructions, uncover the mysteries of each place, and leave enriched with amazing facts.
Fun fact: The Initiation Well isn't actually a well. This iconic 98-foot tower resembles a well but lacks any water source.

Inclusions

Guided tour of Quinta de Regaleira
Entry to Quinta de Regaleira
Expert English, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking guide (as per option selected)

Cancellation policy

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Reviews

4.3

419 reviews

5/5

298

4/5

3/5

2/5

1/5

Isidro

5/5

Jul, 2024

The Quinta da Regaleira is a spectacular place in itself, but it is a plus to have it explained in detail to enjoy it more. Our guide explained it very well and we enjoyed the visit very much. Our guide (Adrian) was a Cuban guy who did the guide in Spanish and English. 100% recommendable.

View original review in Spanish

Jenny

3/5

Jul, 2024

The tour was in English and Spanish whereas when I booked it, it said only English. As it was now everying was repeated in both languages. I also felt the tour information was a bit superficial.

Marija

3/5

Jul, 2024

Our tour guide was very friendly and personable, creating a pleasant atmosphere for the tour. However, I would have appreciated hearing more in-depth historical and interesting facts throughout the tour. In fact, I overheard another guide sharing some fascinating details with their group that would have been wonderful to learn about as well. Overall, it was a good experience, but I believe the tour could be even more enriching with more detailed information.

Dan

5/5

Jul, 2024

The service was wonderful from start to finish. It was super easy to buy the tickets and even though we arrived super late at Headout I managed to accommodate us for the next time slot so we didn't lose our tickets and our guide Hugo was fantastic. You are truly to be congratulated and I am grateful once again for making our tour of Quinta da Regaleira even more special and convenient. My recommendation and thanks to all the team who helped me. See you next time.

View original review in Portuguese

Betty

4/5

Jun, 2024

The gardens, the palace, a little disappointed with the well. A beautiful place to walk around. The toilets needed more cleaning, the smell spread far and wide.

View original review in Portuguese

Your experience

If you are a history enthusiast, the Quinta Da Regaleira guided tour is the perfect half-day adventure for you. Wander into the world of ancient royalty, explore the iconic palaces of Sintra, and learn about the stories, myths, and legends associated with this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Interesting tidbits about Quinta da Regaleira

Designed by Luigi Manini, Quinta Da Regaleira is also locally known as the ‘The Palace of Monteiro Millionaire.’ It earned this name on account of its famous owner António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro. Your expert local tour guides will introduce you to the location with detailed descriptions of Sintra's history, legends as well as the rulers who once ruled these lands. Learn how the Gothic architectural masterpiece was built in the 19th century with alchemy in mind.

Quinta da Regaleira in all its glory

Quinta da Regaleira — the name itself holds so much history that when you get there, you can explore everything that makes it what it is. Wander through the lush gardens which create a sense of wonder and enchantment. Don't miss out on visiting the Rose Garden which represents Rosicrucicm - the concept of garden and soul. Your guide will also take you to Leda's grotto, a small cave that consists of statues of Leda and the Swan, representing the union of the divine and the earthly. The tour is not complete without visiting the famous Initiation Well, also known as inverted towers, which represents the journey of initiation into the Masonic order. Go down the 9 stories of this 'tower' and marvel at the symbols created. Every area of Quinta Da Regaleira, from the opulent chambers to the eerie caverns, has something to say about Carvalho Monteiro and his quest for the truth, which you will learn on this guided tour.

Know before you go

What to bring

It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes and carry a windbreaker.
During the summer months, it is recommended to bring hats/caps to protect from the sun, and water for hydration due to high temperatures.

What's not allowed

Note that the following are not allowed: suitcases, trolleys, large backpacks, pets except guide dogs and service animals, tripods, drones, and flash photography.

Accessibility

This experience is not accessible by wheelchair.
This experience is pram/stroller accessible.
Your safety comes first so visitors with cardiac, respiratory or neck/back issues, mobility impairments, children under 2 years, and pregnant people are restricted from participating in this experience.

My tickets

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.
Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the attraction.
Please arrive at the meeting point 10 minutes before the scheduled time of your visit to avoid any delays.