Quinta da Regaleira
Sintra, Portugal
A romantic palace and garden full of grottoes, tunnels and the spiral Initiation Well. Buy timed tickets online; Sintra’s centre has little parking, so leave the vehicle outside and walk or take the bus.
The wealthy António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro had Quinta da Regaleira designed between 1904 and 1910 by the Italian architect Luigi Manini. Besides the palace, it is above all the grounds that make it special: grottoes, a far-reaching network of tunnels and the "Initiation Well". A spiral staircase leads 27 m down into it, but it is not a real well, as it was never used to draw water. The Quinta has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Cultural Landscape of Sintra" since 1995.
Entry is currently by timed-slot ticket, booked through the official ticketing system (as of October 2026). Allow at least two to three hours for the palace, gardens and tunnels. The tunnels are partly dark and narrow, so sturdy footwear is advisable. There is little parking in the centre of Sintra; if you are in a motorhome, it is better to leave the vehicle outside the centre and walk or take the bus.
- Nearest town
- Sintra, Portugal
- Category
- Roadside oddities
- GPS
- 38.7963, -9.3961
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Portugal: Electronic tolls by number plate. Some motorways only have electronic tolls; register your plate or rent a transponder. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
Sources
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
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- Area MafraMotorhome stopover16 km from Quinta da Regaleira · 7 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalFree
- Lisboa CampingCampsite18 km from Quinta da RegaleiraTentsCaravansWi-Fi
- Parque de Campismo INATEL da CaparicaCampsite21 km from Quinta da Regaleira
- Orbitur Costa da CaparicaCampsite21 km from Quinta da RegaleiraTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
All campsites in Portugal · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Quinta da Regaleira?
Quinta da Regaleira is in Sintra, Portugal, at GPS 38.7963, -9.3961. It is about 11 km from Cascais.
Can you camp near Quinta da Regaleira?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Portela de Sintra, about 2 km away; within 25 km there are 25 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Quinta da Regaleira?
Places worth a stop nearby: Castle of the Moors (1 km), Palácio da Pena (1 km), Azenhas do Mar (8 km) and Cabo da Roca (9 km).
When is the best time to visit Quinta da Regaleira?
The most pleasant months are usually April–June and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)