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This was on my short list of "must see" items while in Sintra. Like everyone else. It's very picture-perfect and Instagram-worthy. I was impressed with the size of the garden and grounds and the massive amount of trails and ways to get through to everything. It seems like there are a dozen different unmarked paths to take to get somewhere and it's easy to wander around and get lost and enjoy. The cafe was nice with a pretty view, the main house was OK but not the star of the show, and the various many follies were beautiful and interesting. We did not purchase a timed ticket in advance but arrived right at open and were able to purchase one for 2 hours later - so we went and had lunch and came back. You definitely need to buy tickets in advance - this is probably even more popular than the palace. Very clean and well-kept with restrooms available, a small cafe with a beautiful view on the patio, and a small gift shop. It's easy to walk here from the historic center of town.
I visited Quinta da Regaleira on a very rainy and windy November day, and despite the weather, the property was absolutely stunning and one of the highlights of my trip to Portugal. I didn't have a ticket in advance, but because of the rain, I was able to walk right in after buying one from the ticket machine for €15, which felt like a great deal though I do wish they offered an audio guide. The Initiation Well and the underground tunnels were unforgettable and truly magical. The residence itself was just ok but nice break from the rain. I also ate at the café; the food was good, just a bit overpriced. Overall, I'm so glad I went, and I can't wait to return someday in better weather. Highly recommend!
It was such treat to explore the beautiful gardens of the Quinta. Loved the underground grottos, lush landscaping and the Poco Iniciatico (Initiation Well); walked 90 feet down the dramatic spiral staircase wrapped well, covered in moss and plants. And then wound through a series of natural caves and tunnels into a grotto on the back side of a waterfall. Wow! We admired the outside of the mansion, but after all our walking in Sintra, didn't feel like we needed to go inside. Maybe next time!
Welcome to Regaleira Palace, Portugal's most dramatic structure. Built in the early 1900s by Monteiro the Millionaire (yeah seriously), this gothic mashup comes with towers and all underground tunnels emulating a secret society. It's part palace and part mystery escape room, part Think gardens full of Masonic symbols and spiral staircases into the abyss's truly stunning. Is it over the top? Absolutely. Worth it? Also yes. Put your inner conspiracy theorist at work.
Out of the Pena palace, the Moors castle, and this, I would say this is the best thing we saw all day. They have a decent cafe if you're hungry and the well was amazing and led down to some tunnels that you can see some other really cool sights like a porthole above you and the backside of a waterfall. Don't skip this one!
"Do you have $3.47? I left my purse in the Underworld." (Elizabeth Hurley, Bedazzled) As Dante would say, abandon all hope, ye who enter here......but do bring with a pair of grippy shoes and your sense of adventure! Quinta da Regaleira is a ten-acre park built by the eccentric Carvalho Monteiro, a wealthy Brazilian mining owner and possible initiate of the Knight's Templar. The grounds include a palace, beautiful gardens, lakes, and the famous Initiation Well, built to represent the nine circles of Dante's Inferno. The well was linked to the Knight's Templar initiation rituals, and there are many other symbols related to Freemasonry, astrology, alchemy, and such scattered throughout the park. The main footpath winds uphill towards the entrance of the Initiation Well, but there are many trails that meander off along the way. There will likely be an intimidatingly long queue for the well no matter what time you arrive, but it moves quickly. As we passed through the well's entrance, we saw no flames and heard no anguished screams...only the deafening silence of those concentrating on their balance down the dark, wet, spooky spiral into the abyss. There are no handrails inside the well, but you can at least grab on to pillars for extra security. Take note that about halfway down, water will start dripping onto you and will puddle up on the steps. At the bottom of the well you will exit through tunnels back out to the park. As for the park's cafe, I would avoid it altogether. Once seated we found ourselves cursed to be completely surrounded by smokers. To make matters worse, our fish entrées looked inedible. We didn't send them back, but re-ordered a Nutella Crepe to split instead. It was a miserable experience. Pack snacks instead. This attraction is a must if you are visiting Sintra, unless you have mobility issues. I would allot 2-3 hours to explore the grounds, including your virtual descent into Hades. I give it 5 beasts of the nether world...but in a good way. *This review is endorsed by George Burns, Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, Nicholas Cage, and Viggo Mortenson.
What can you do while in Sintra? Visit every possible tourist site you can muster up. It's about 15 minute tuk tuk rode from the National Palace of Pena. If you are thinking of walking, forget it. Too many cars whizzing by. Quinta da Regaleira will need at least two hours to immerse yourself in this beautiful place. This Romantic Palace its consists of chapel , lakes, grottoes, wells, benches, fountains, and a vast array of exquisite constructions. Definitely loved the wells and grotto that leads to waterfall. Definitely worth $20
Excellent visit on my own in May, 2025. Did not tour inside the mansion but checked out the well, tower and castle. Beautiful grounds. Best to buy tickets in advance. The line to enter the well took about 25 minutes. About a 10 minute walk from the town center. If taking Uber back to Lisbon use Ale-Hop as your pickup point.
This place is really unbelievable. I am not sure why everyone wants to go to Pena Palace in Sintra as this place is so much cooler. Built by an eccentric rich guy with an obsession for secret societies, garden is huge with caves, secret passages, turrets, hidden pathways, etc. not much to see in the mansion itself but the grounds are amazing. If you are going to Sintra make sure you go here!
Out of all the castles and palaces we visited in Sintra, this was absolutely my favorite one! It is a MUST-SEE! DO NOT SKIP THIS! From Lisbon, we took a train to Sintra and our first palace site was Regaleira. From the research I did, I already knew that I would love this castle and its fairytale like gardens full of cave networks, wells, towers, and narrow spiral staircases. It was everything I expected it to be, and so much more. We decided to walk to Regaleira from the vila since it wasn't too far. It is a bit steep and hilly to get to the entrance at the top so comfortable shoes are a must! We had pre-purchased our tickets and showed it to them on our phones at the entrance, and it was time to explore! We spent 2 hours here, but I honestly think we could have stayed for a third hour. It was quite grand with every twist and turn we took. I suggest that when you get here, you start taking pathways that lead up towards the initiation well. This is the start of a one-way direction path that ends at the oriente grotto. This way you don't have to walk all the way back up to the top. Additionally, the line will get long, especially once all those large tourist groups get there. The initiation well was wonderful. This is one of the photo spots associated with Regaleira. It is pretty wet in there so in addition to wearing comfortable shoes, make sure those are shoes you don't mind getting a little wet and dirty. The initiation well leads to the cave networks where it feels very cool to walk around. There is a spot where people line up to take pictures with a "waterfall", but honestly, just bypass this line, walk through to see it, and turn around. It's not worth the wait and the pictures turn out poorly since it's dark. After going through these caves, we headed towards the palace. The greenery surrounding the palace is just simply amazing. I felt like I was in a Disney movie. In my opinion, I feel that for most palaces, the outside is more spectacular than the interior and Regaleira is no different. It's honestly not that big inside the palace either, or at least the area open to the public was small, but you learn about the history of the castle inside. After going inside the castle, we continued exploring the rest of the sites we missed like the lake and some more caves, and we took some last-minute photos before leaving. What I love about Regaleira is that as beautiful as the palace exterior is, the gardens are also equally as wondrous, maybe even more so. That's why I feel that people should spend more time at this park because exploring the grounds is an absolute must. I cannot say that enough. 10/10 highly recommend.
So glad we were able to come here on our recent trip to Sintra. We could only stay 1 hour here during the lunch time of our tour, but we made it work. We were able to visit the well, the guardians area, and walk over a small pond. What a fun time! Wish we could have stayed longer, but it'll have to do for this time around. read more
Quinta da Regaleira was the most interesting of the four Sintra attractions we visited. Embedded in the enchanting and whimsical points of interests was much allusion and symbolism hiding in plain sight. How do I know? I booked the 90-minute English tour in advance (by emailing them for availability and confirmation) and got a semi-private tour (with only 4 people in November). The 12€ per person charge for the tour and admission is a steal as we got a super well-spoken and captivating guide who reminded me of a history professor/lecturer for master class landscape design, regaling us in the illuminating stories behind each symbolic element. If you can't book the tour, I imagine the audioguide is the next best thing. Notes: - You cannot buy the Quinta da Regaleira tickets in advance so you must buy in person. - It's the first stop for the smaller 435 Sintra minibus (at about 22 minutes drive from the Sintra train station). The bus is 5€ all day for hop on hop off including the much busier 434 route for Pena Palace and Moorish Castle - Be prepared for a bit of a hike to the entrance after the 435 drop off/pick up point. - Don't miss the super cool Initiation Well - There's tons to see so allow at least 2 hours to not feel rushed. read more
Nice historic place to see. Large garden. Visit it all. 10 euros adults. Less for kids. Take the green line train metro, from Lisbon. Sintra is last stop maybe 40 min. Confusion when you exit. No clear signs on how to get up to castles. We rented private driver. $40 euros day. The gardens are beautiful. 1st floor of castle only avail for viewing. read more
11 years ago
"Enchanted" and "whimsical" are fitting words to describe this UNESCO heritage site located 30 minutes north of Lisbon by train. For 6 euros you can explore endless acres of castles, gardens and tunnels. I found Quinta da Regaleira on Pinterest as one of the top fairytale like villages in the world. To top it off, I was dying to see the well that you can see in many of the Yelp images. Take your time to explore the castle and understand the purpose of the home and history of the property. The structures were not as old as I imagined. The cherry on top? Winding our way back down the hill to grab dinner in picturesque Sintra. A must-see when in the Lisbon area. Wish we had reserved a couple of days for this attraction and village. read more
Beautiful palace that is on the must see list. Gets crowded pretty fast. A lot of walking on inclined roads. Be prepared. You need to pay to get in.getting here can be tricky since streets are narrow,winding 1 way only and limited parking. Spend about 1-2 hours here. read more
8 years ago
Quinta da Regaleira has to be one of the most enchanting and whimsical places on Earth. It is a bewildering estate built at the beginning of the 20th century by the wealthy Carvalho Monteiro. In addition to a romantic palace and chapel that blend Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, and Renaissance influences, an expansive and labyrinthine #garden park also sprawls across the estate. On these serene hills of Sintra, paths wind through lush gardens and magnificent trees, around lakes and green lagoons, and into myriad grottoes leading to and from fantastical architecture of wells, towers, winding staircases and shaded alcoves. Supposedly, symbolism and references to alchemy, Masons, Rosicrucians, and the Knights Templar are also embedded in this fairytale location. Unfortunately, word is getting out (and photos getting shared), so the mindless masses who make Pena a destination are starting to come here, which means at peak season it is starting to become a bit crowded. If you have a choice, I'd recommend trying to be here first thing when they open, or later on in the afternoon (if you want some personal space and better photo ops, try to avoid the midday times of around 10:30-2:00) read more
Many years ago when I was traveling in Lisbon, on the last day I saw a photo of the well but it was too late to visit. Since then, I have been wanting to come to Sintra. This palace is about a 10 minute walk from the historical center of town. But, when you arrive at the palace, the ticketing counter is around the other side of the palace and the walk is a bit steep. This is the case regardless of whether you walk or take the 435 bus. The entrance fee is only 6 euros per person. Make sure to grab a map available at the ticket counter because there are a lot of things to see. You can easily spend hours just wandering around the gardens and exploring the many paths, nooks, and towers. Clearly a lot of thought was put into building this place. There are so many paths, some underground and many cross-crossing. I admit some of the underground passage ways were creepy because they are pitch dark and you have no idea what is ahead of you. But, that is part of the charm of this place. The Regeleira Tower looks exactly like the Rapunzel tower. There's also a section that reminds me of Rivendell. The famous Initiation Well is just as amazing as it looks in photos. Make sure to go to the bottom of the well where there's a path that leads to the stepping stones and bridge. The castle itself is also dark, gloomy, and creepy with a lot of doors that do not appear to lead anywhere. I would be scared to come here at night after dark. I'm so glad that I finally made it to Sintra and particular to this palace. Regeleira is very different from the other sites in Sintra and provides a new and unique experience for visitors. The 435 bus picks up right in front of the exit and will take you directly to Montserrate for 2.50 euros round trip. You can use the same ticket to return to the city center or train station. read more
It's simply a crime not to visit Quinta da Regaleira when you're in Sintra. I came here as part of a tour so I had limited time to explore. Definitely try to follow the map to make it to the well. Don't go too far up or you'll pass it. Definitely go to the top of the well to peer down but don't trip on the stairs! It can definitely get crowded and you may get stuck trying to get all the way down. Once you get down there, take the left most path to get to the small 'waterfall'. It's dark - watch your step. So much to explore here. Don't miss out! read more
We had a couple of hours to visit here during our day trip to Sintra and I'm so glad we were able to spend some time by ourselves, just touring around and exploring the grounds. My favorite was the Initiatic Well (Masonic Initiation Wells) that represent the 9 Circles of Hell in Dante's Inferno. Our tour guide told us earlier that free masons used it for initiations. You can walk down the spiral staircase yourself, but beware that there are no railings and you'll have to share the stairs with others going up. It can also get a bit disorienting going around and around, so if you're very sensitive to that like I am, take it slow. All of the buildings, decor, and landscaping are just so intricate and beautiful, and there is SO much to see. We saw as much as we could but not everything, so we could've easily spent another hour or two here and I would suggest planning accordingly. Wear comfy shoes, layer up, take some water with you, and maybe some snacks if you're planning on spending the day here. It's also not very accessible, so keep that in mind if you have any kind of mobility issues. read more
8 years ago
MUST SEE. Lose yourself in a magical maze of gardens, hidden paths, tunnels, fountains, gothic spires, and unexpected structures intertwined with nature. 6euro entrance fee is a bargain. PROTIP: Quinta da Regaleira is. 6-8minute walk from Sintra city center, but the entrance is another 5 minutes walk. At 6 euro for a ticket, it's a 100% must see, along with Pena Palace. We strolled along well manicured main paths and explored the winding side paths, finding curiosities along the way. You could easily spend up to two hours in the gardens alone. The mansion itself is a magnificently detailed example of gothic revival, full of gorgeous tilework and wood carvings. Overall, well worth your time, energy and money to visit a unique world heritage site. read more
6 years ago
This place is a must-see while in Sintra. Eight euros lets you into a playground full of intriguing sites to explore. From the intricate palace, to the towers, to the volcanic caves, to the two giant wells that look straight out of a fairytale - this place is full of surprises. read more
8 years ago
Wow, Palacio Da Regaleira is a unique, fun not to be missed Sinatra experience. A UNESCO World Heritage preserved sight built during the whimsical Romanticism architectural design period (Similar to Pena), this estate offers a fun exploration of not only the main house but grounds including caves, grotto, waterfalls, statue lined walkways, and other surprises. read more
9 years ago
The unique architecture and the grounds are absolutely beautiful. If you take a break from Lisboa and want to travel to a place which will stimulate your senses with new and different. Then, this is your place in Sintra. There is hours worth of exploring inside and outside. I wish I could give this place 6 stars! read more
10 years ago
Wow, this place is amazing. It's hard to believe that people come to Sintra on a day trip because there is just so much to see. Quinta da Regaleira is about a 10-15 minute walk from the center for Sintra (which is easily accessible by train from Lisbon). The grounds of Quinta da Regaleira are absolutely spectacular - it felt like we were walking around in a fairytale. The palace itself is beautiful as well, but most of your time will be spent in the gardens. There are many towers to climb, secret tunnels o walk through, and views to look out upon. This is truly a spectacular place. read more
As of May 2015, 8 euros to enter (cash only). Expansive grounds to explore, including underground tunnels. Worth every euro. Act out your favorite scenes from game of thrones, just try not to spill any bodily fluids anywhere. read more
12 years ago
I spent my birthday weekend in Lisbon, and I decided to make a day-trip to Sintra, which is just a train-ride from the center. There is so much to see in Sintra so I researched the top places to visit, and this one was #1 on all of the reviews and lists. This place lived up to the hype. It is one of the most magical places I've ever seen. My friends and I were able to walk the entire estate in about 2.5 hours. I was mesmerized. My friends who came along were all boys, and they were amazed beyond their expectations. I suggest getting to Sintra as early as 9am, and going to Quinta first - it's the second closest tourist site to the train stop so you can just walk there. Once there, take a map, get your camera ready for amazing pictures, and enjoy! It is truly fantastic in every sense of the word. Loved it! read more
10 years ago
The castle of pena was weird... this one is 10 times weirder. It helps to know that it was design to look like an Franc-maçonic initiation ritual. doesn't make it less weird but explains a lot. The castle is less impressive than the gardens full of caves, bridges, weird towers. Very very very nice ! read more
10 years ago
What an amazing place! This was a personal favorite of mine and a welcomed change from other European castles. It's like stepping into another world where you will truly feel like an explorer discovering some fantastic medieval ruins. Around every turn there is a secret pathway leading to a little castle or magical waterfall. You are free to roam on your own and climb to the top of all towers where you will encounter spectacular views. It's relatively inexpensive compared to the entry price of most European castles and landmarks, which made it all the better for us study abroad students who spent all our money on pastries and Ryanair flights, and it's just a quick train ride away from Lisbon. After you're done, watch the sunset while you eat at one of the many little restaurants in the picturesque town of Sintra before you head back to Lisbon., Pro tip: Don't forget your phone or a flashlight because the caves and tunnels are pitch black. Having to feel my way around via the slimy wall was not really something I would say enhanced my experience. read more
11 years ago
Definetely a must see! I was feeling like heaven - the garden is the most beautiful place i ever saw . Everey meters there is something different to watch. Even the cafeteria is magnifique ! Just go but dont be afraid to walk a bit as the park is big . read more
8 years ago
Positively world class, an easy train trip from Lisbon & worth every effort to see in a lifetime. I reached the Well of the Initiate from a series of underground tunnels (seriously), & as I slowly climbed I said to myself, Well?, what's a vacation without a little mortal terror. xD CR read more
Quinta da Regaleira was one of my favorite places that I visited in Portugal. Being 30 minutes from Lisbon, Sintra should be an automatic destination. It's a magical residence comprised of distinct off white stones. If you look closely enough, you might see symbols that appear runic. I explored the house, the ground, the grottos, the tunnels, the lagoon with its stepping stones, the spiral staircase. You must visit. If you have time, add the other castles to your list. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
We spent a day in Sintra and this was my favorite site. Because we wanted to see the Moorish Castle and the Pena Palace, we only spent a few hours here but I can see how one could spend half a day exploring Quinta da Regaleira. While the house itself is not that impressive, the grounds are expansive, containing fountains, towers, wells, and numerous hidden tunnels. I definitely recommend visiting early in the morning. We arrived at 930 and had the entire place to ourselves. Some of the tunnels are narrow, and it would be a little less magical if you're squeezing through with hundreds of other tourists. The site is also relatively kid friendly because moving around the grounds doesn't require all the stair climbing that some of the other sites in Sintra do. read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
8 years ago
Great stop! The gardens are awesome and the mansion is nice from the outside. Quiet little gem. Highly recommended! We spent over an hour wandering through the garden and underground mazes. Great photo ops. read more
12 years ago
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Quinta da Regaleira - landmarks - Updated July 2026
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