Quinta da Regaleira

About the museum

The estate had several owners from the 17th century and took the name Quinta da Regaleira in the 19th century, after passing to the Baroness of Regaleira. In 1892 António Augusto de Carvalho Monteiro (1848–1920) bought the estate at public auction and, between 1898 and 1911, commissioned the Italian architect and set designer Luigi Manini to design and build the palace, the chapel and the gardens, in an eclectic style that combines Manueline, Gothic and Renaissance references.

After Carvalho Monteiro's death in 1920, the estate passed to his son and later to the D'Orey family. In 1987 it was bought by a Japanese company and remained closed to the public for about a decade. Sintra Municipal Council bought it in 1997 and opened it to the public in June 1998, under the management of the Fundação CulturSintra. The estate is part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, which UNESCO classified as a World Heritage Site in 1995.

The route combines the main floor of the palace, the Chapel of the Holy Trinity and the gardens with lakes, grottoes and towers. The best-known feature is the Poço Iniciático (Initiation Well), a spiral staircase with nine landings that descends into the ground and, through underground galleries, links other points in the gardens, such as the Portal dos Guardiães and the Lago da Cascata.

Highlights

• Neo-Manueline palace, with a visit to the main floor
• Poço Iniciático (Initiation Well), a spiral staircase with nine landings
• Underground galleries and grottoes, such as the Gruta de Leda
• Capela da Santíssima Trindade (Chapel of the Holy Trinity)
• Gardens with lakes and the Lago da Cascata
• Audio guide in seven languages, with a children's version

Permanent exhibitions

• Palácio da Regaleira (piso nobre) – The palace route covers only the main floor, which is part of the estate circuit.
• Poço Iniciático e galerias subterrâneas – Spiral staircase with nine landings and a network of tunnels linking the well to other points in the gardens.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Fundação CulturSintra

Admission & discounts

Rates in force since January 2026. Free entry, with proof, for residents of the municipality of Sintra, registered tourism professionals, and war veterans and their widows or widowers. Tickets can only be bought from the official online ticket office; they are personal and non-transferable and can be rescheduled with 48 hours' notice. The Quinta is not part of the national museum network, so free admission on Sundays and public holidays for residents of Portugal does not apply.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The terrain is uneven and includes stairs and tunnels; visitors with reduced mobility and children under 15 must be accompanied. There are audio guides with audio description and in Portuguese Sign Language. Only certified assistance dogs are admitted.

Kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

There is a children's version of the audio guide in Portuguese. Children under 15 must be accompanied; entry is free up to age 5.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Café and restaurant with terrace; shop in the palace. New toilets next to the greenhouse. Travel bags, shopping trolleys and large backpacks are not allowed.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit