Portugal · TICKETS
Good tickets & entry passes fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Explore Pena Palace and its exotic park in Sintra with skip-the-ticket-office access, an audio guide, and time to enjoy the hilltop views.
“Great. Really beautiful parkland with many exotic plants and trees. It was lovely to have access to the exterior of the Pena Palace too. Stunning views from the top. Handy circuit bus to bring you from and back to the centre of Sintra.”
Review of Lisbon’s Jerónimos Monastery ticket, with Manueline architecture, queue advice, opening hours, access details, and value tips.
“The Monastery is beautiful, we really enjoyed our time there.”
Review of Lisbon Oceanário: giant central tank, sharks, otters, penguins, practical transport tips, timing advice, and honest value for $29.
“What a fabulous place for all ages to explore! The Oceanarium section central display is fantastic and each level provides different view point to observe all of the varied marine life on display. Break out sections provide background info on each exhibit. The forests underwater exhibition is breathtaking and tranquil, make sure you take the time to read about the architect and background to the exhibit. On a baking hot Lisbon summers day, there is no better place to be.”
Climb Porto’s 225-step Clérigos Tower for sweeping city views, baroque church art, and museum collections in a compact, good-value visit.
“Nice experience to visit the church and the then the tower. Once above you enjoy a great view of Porto. Be aware when going with kids that you have to climb many stairs to reach the summit and space is quite stretch.”
Porto’s Spiritus show turns Clérigos Church into a 30-minute light, music, and poetry experience for about $11, with easy evening access.
“Perhaps a small leaflet explaining the story behind it (just a paragraph per language) would be good!”
Explore Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra with timed entry and a smartphone audio guide, from mystical wells and tunnels to gardens and palace rooms.
“The ticket allowed us full entrance which we fully enjoyed. We read the audio guide notes instead of listening to it which was very informative and less disruptive for our visit.”
Tour Lisbon’s Estádio da Luz, visit Benfica’s trophy-filled museum, walk the pitch tunnel, and take home a club scarf for $24.
“It was absolutely terrific and most enjoyable. I was able to learn alot about the club, its history and the stadium. We were made incredibly welcome too. Our guide was terrific.”
Review of Porto’s World of Discoveries, an interactive museum and boat ride about Portugal’s explorers, with practical tips on timing, value, and families.
“A nice ride with a wooden boat at the end made all the difference! Really informative and pleasant. Lasts about 20-25 minutes and gives you a detailed description of all descoveries Portuguese Inventors made and how history and civilization were built upon it. Definitely worth of its price! Thank you! Exhibition held before that was pleasant and nice as well.”
Explore Sintra’s Castle of the Moors with a skip-the-line ticket, ancient ramparts, forest paths, and sweeping views toward Pena Palace and the Atlantic.
“I highly recommend visiting the Castle of the Moors in Sintra. Climbing the ancient walls and walking through the park is an unforgettable experience. With over a thousand years of history and breathtaking views of the surrounding nature, it's truly worth the visit. Just be aware — it can be extremely windy up there. There are currently no shops or cafés on site, but some construction is underway.”
Review of Zoomarine Algarve, with dolphin shows, aquarium ecosystems, water rides, sandy beach, practical tips, value, and family planning advice.
“Great from start to finish, we found the 11 til 5 slot was enough time to see most attractions in the park, Dolphin show is amazing Sea lions superb The park rides, minimal choice for teens they did however find 2 rides they enjoyed the water log and the raptor ride, the other rides were more for the younger crowd Loved the marine beach however they do charge you to sit down on sunbeds we got 1 umbrella and 2 loungers for 15 euros You can have your personal belongings put in a locker which costs around 6 euros for the day which is handy The water is very cold…”
Visit Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca, Boca do Inferno, and Cascais on an 8-hour small-group tour from Lisbon with transport and tickets.
“Gustavo was our tour guide and he was phenomenal! You can tell that he loves what he does. He is enthusiastic, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and personable. He made it the most memorable day! It will make it the most special experience if you have him as your guide!”
Visit Lisbon’s São Jorge Castle with a mobile ticket and optional audio guide, enjoying panoramic views, medieval walls, and flexible timing.
“It was a really great tour, we got the full English tour of Pena Palace, and Quinta de Regaleira. Our group was split into two as well but we had both Gonzalo and Bruno - Bruno was our specific tour guide and he was knowledgeable on everything and was able to answer questions. The free mason estate was very interesting to learn about and you do get to walk down the initiation well, it’s not super deep or challenging. You go through the caves and it’s nice for some photos but even in Novemeber there were SO MANY tour groups it was a bit annoying. Someone yelling at the top…”
See Lisbon by double-decker bus, vintage tram, and Tagus River boat with a flexible 72 or 96-hour ticket covering Belém and Oriente.
“we bought the 96hr pass and were able to do almost everything. Two different bus routes (with excellent English commentary), a trolley bus ride, a boat trip, and 3 funicular. Probably could have done it in 72 hours but a good buy nevertheless.”
Review of Quinta da Regaleira tickets with an English-speaking host, map, skip-the-ticket-line access, practical tips, and honest value advice.
“Loved the visit but even with tickets we still had to wait in line to get in. Many people in line were for the wrong time which added to the length of time it took to enter. We have used skip the line in many other places but never had to line up before.”
Explore Sintra’s Quinta da Regaleira with a timed e-ticket and smartphone audio guide covering grottoes, wells, gardens, and the palace.
“This is way more worth the money than Peña… the grounds are fantastic and the palace is beautiful!! Definitely worth the visit.”
Pick a coastline, a cellar or a cave.
