Pena Palace
Pena Palace
Last updated 2026-10-29
By Global Travel Guide Editorial Team
Introduction
King Ferdinand II turned the ruins of a 16th-century Hieronymite monastery into a royal summer residence between 1842 and 1854, working with the German architect Baron von Eschwege on a design mixing Neo-Gothic, Neo-Manueline, Neo-Islamic and Neo-Renaissance elements. The exterior is painted in red and yellow ochre, and the interior keeps 19th-century furnishings in the Royal Chapel, the Queen's Room, the King's Room and the Great Hall. The park covers more than 200 hectares with gardens, lakes and follies, and on clear days the palace can be seen from Lisbon. It forms part of the UNESCO-listed Cultural Landscape of Sintra (1995). A park and palace ticket costs 20 euros with timed entry, so book ahead; the park is open 9:00 to 19:00 and the interior 9:30 to 18:30, last entry 18:00. Trains from Lisbon Rossio to Sintra take about 40 minutes, then bus 434 continues to the palace.
Ticket Price
Park + Palace adult EUR 20 (≈ USD 22), timed entry; reduced rates for children and seniors. Book online ahead.
Opening Hours
Park 9:00-19:00; palace interior 9:30-18:30 (last entry 18:00); closed 24-25 and 31 December and 1 January.
Transportation
Train from Lisbon Rossio to Sintra (about 40 minutes), then bus 434 to the palace.
Best Season
In Portugal, Apr-Jun and Sep-Oct are warm and pleasant; Jul-Aug is busy and hot. Open-air ruins and sites are best in the cool, dry season; avoid midday heat.
Pro Tip: Book the first entry slot
Local Tips You'd Only Learn After Visiting
The details official guides skip — save time, avoid crowds, and get better photos.
1
Book the first entry slot Pena is one of Sintra's busiest sights. Take the early train from Lisbon, book a timed ticket, and arrive before the tour groups climb the hill.
Member-Only Tips
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Frequently Asked Questions3 questions
The palace interiors are colourful but crowded and timed; the park has the best views and quieter paths. If you want both, book the palace first and walk the park afterward.
First entry or late afternoon; midday brings tour groups and fog can roll in. Clear mornings give the best view over Sintra.
Allow 2-3 hours for the palace and terraces, plus 1-2 hours for the park if you walk to the High Cross or the Valley of the Lakes.