Pena Palace is one of the most popular spots in Sintra, with many visitors traveling from nearby Lisbon on a day trip. Sintra is home to several historic palaces and castles — like Quinta da Regaleira and Castle of the Moors — but none of them are quite as colorful as Pena Palace.
Here are my tips for visiting Pena Palace in Sintra!
About Pena Palace
Perched atop a hill in the dense forests of Sintra, colorful Pena Palace stands out amongst the lush green trees and can be seen from the surrounding towns. The palace was built in the 19th century and commissioned by King Ferdinand II who wanted a mix of architectural styles and playful colors.
Today, Pena Palace is part of Sintra’s UNESCO World Heritage Site status and both the grounds and inside the palace can be toured. The interior has been restored with 19th century furnishings to reflect the style of the Portuguese nobility of the time.
In addition to the beautiful palace, the surrounding gardens shouldn’t be missed — they are seriously stunning! With hundreds of plant species, elaborate structures, hidden pathways and beautiful ponds, it’s easy to get lost in this enchanting forest.
How to Get There
Pena Palace is located uphill from the town of Sintra and is very close to the Castle of the Moors.
Since we rented a car, we chose to drive to the palace and risk finding a parking spot. We arrived first thing in the morning (just before opening hours!) and were luckily able to find a parking spot near the Pena Palace ticketing office.
If you don’t have a car, visiting Pena Palace is still a very easy trip from Sintra! From the town of Sintra, take tourist bus #434 from the train station or the Sintra Tourism office to Pena Palace (about €5 per ticket).
Note that from the ticket office / front gate area, the palace is still about a 10 minute walk. We enjoyed walking through the gardens up to the palace but a bus transfer to the palace from the front gate is also available (about €3 per ticket).
Know Before You Go
Know Before You Go- The park area is open between 9:30am to 8:00pm and the palace between 9:45am to 7:00pm, seven days a week.
- Tickets can be purchased onsite or online and cost around €7.50 per person to enter the park, and€14 to enter both the palace and park.
- The weather is slightly unpredictable in Sintra so bring some layers and an umbrella to avoid getting rained on!
- If you are visiting Pena Palace and Castle of the Moors (which I would recommend!), I’d suggest going to Pena Palace first thing in the morning and then visiting Castle of the Moors second. Pena Palace can get very crowded with tours buses arriving throughout the day from Lisbon. I would also suggest touring the palace first and then the gardens since the gardens are so large, the crowds will be less noticeable!
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