More about: Lisbon Pena Palace Tickets and Day Trips
About half an hour's drive from Lisbon is Sintra, a place full of castles and palaces declared a World Heritage Site and a setting worthy of a fairy tale. Its main attraction is the Pena Palace, Portugal's greatest exponent of romanticism. There are several ways to visit it, either with direct tickets or with an excursion from Lisbon; read on to find out more.
Sintra Pena Palace Tickets
Visit the Pena Palace in Sintra without queues or waiting time
Discover this magnificent work of architecture, a true reflection of Portuguese romanticism. A palace full of styles both in its decoration and its collections. Explore its gardens and the mysterious villa of the Countess of Elda.
Be amazed by the originality of this palace, once a 16th-century monastery, which Ferdinand II made his own. An eccentric mix of Romantic, Renaissance, Manueline and Arab styles make it one of Sintra's main attractions.
Visit its 200 hectares of gardens where 500 species of trees from all over the world coexist.
In addition, with these tickets for the Pena Palace in Sintra you can visit the villa of the Countess of Elda, which hides anecdotes and curious stories.
Recommended if... you want to ensure access to one of the most important monuments in Portugal, which receives hundreds of visitors every day. Buying your tickets in advance, you won't have to queue or wait, just enjoy.
Sintra, Pena Palace and Quinta Regaleira Day Trip from Lisbon
Discover Sintra in a comfortable, skip-the-line tour
See the Pena Palace without the queues and discover the secrets of Sintra on this guided tour from Lisbon. Includes small group transport, expert guide and access to the mystical Quinta da Regaleira.
The great advantage of this tour to Sintra with tickets to the Pena Palace is that you won't have to worry about anything: you will be picked up in Lisbon and you will travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with an expert guide who will accompany you throughout the tour. You will get to know the historic centre of Sintra, have free time to explore at your own pace and access the palace without queuing.
In addition, this tour also includes entrance to the Quinta da Regaleira, one of the most mysterious places in Sintra. Its labyrinthine gardens, secret tunnels and hidden towers will transport you to a magical world full of symbols and legends.
Recommended if... you prefer a more enriching experience, without worrying about transport or entrance fees. It is ideal for those who want to see the best of Sintra in a single day, combining comfort, history and spectacular scenery.
How to visit the Pena Palace with an organised tour from Lisbon
One of the best ways to discover this iconic monument is with this tour of the Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira from Lisbon, which includes transport, guide and skip-the-line access.
If you want to visit the Pena Palace in comfort and without worrying about transport or queues, this organised tour from Lisbon is your best option. You will be transported in an air-conditioned vehicle with a small group and an expert guide for the whole day.
What's included in the tour
- Guided tour of the historic centre of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with free time to explore at your own pace.
- No-queue entry to the Pena Palace, with access to its interiors and panoramic views from the top of the hill.
- Visit to Quinta da Regaleira, with its mysterious gardens, grottoes, tunnels and esoteric symbology.
Details of interest
- Price: from AED 403
- Duration: 8 hours
- Recommended if... you are looking for a complete guided tour with transport from Lisbon and access to two of Sintra's most iconic monuments.
- More info: Here is a guide to all the options for excursions to Sintra from Lisbon.
How to buy online tickets to the Pena Palace
You can buy tickets to the Pena Palace for adults, children, young people and senior citizens at different prices depending on the season. With these tickets you will not have to wait in queues, but please note that they include only access to the Palace, without a guided tour.
Are there guided tours to see the Pena Palace?
Yes, in fact, if you are travelling to Sintra from Lisbon, it is best to book an organised guided tour of the Pena Palace online These tours include a return transfer from Lisbon, a visit to the Pena Palace and a tour of other must-see landmarks in the region.
How to buy tickets at the Pena Palace ticket office
The Palace opens at 9am, although opening times may change depending on the season. If it is high season I advise you to arrive early to avoid queues. The risk of going directly to the ticket office is that the queue is too long, so I do not recommend this option. As for the price, tickets cost €14 per adult at the ticket office.
If you don't feel like visiting the inside of the Palace (which I think is a mistake, since you are there), you should know that there is the option of visiting just the gardens with these tickets to the Da Pena Park In both cases there are discounts for over 65s and under 18s and also a special price that combines tickets for two adults and two children for a reduced price.
Tips for organising your visit to the Pena Palace
How to get to Sintra from Lisbon
The Pena Palace is located in the town of Sintra, very close to Lisbon. If you are staying in the capital and want to get to Sintra there are two ways to do it: you can take the train from Lisbon's Rossio station and get to Sintra in 40 minutes for a price of five euros or you can hire an organised excursion that not only shows you the Palacio da Pena but also shows you the highlights of Sintra.
You should bear in mind that the Palacio da Pena is on top of a hill. From the centre of Sintra you can get there by bus, but once there you will have to climb a steep hill (for two or three euros you can take a transfer). Private vehicles are not allowed to go up, only tourist vehicles.
Duration of the visit
The visit to the Pena Palace includes the interior, the exterior and the gardens. The gardens are immense, so if you want to see them properly, set aside about two and a half hours of your trip.
Visiting hours
The palace normally opens at 9.30am and the gardens at 9am. The park closes at 8pm and the palace at 6.30pm but the last tickets for both sites will be sold one hour before closing time. If you are going to buy tickets at the ticket office, I recommend you to go well in advance so you don't miss out or wait in long queues.
The Pena Palace with children
Children will have a great time touring the halls inside the Palace and they will also be impressed by the bright colours of the façade. Don't hesitate to take them on this visit, but be aware that they may not be able to handle the climb up the hill from the entrance, although they can always take a transfer.
What to see at the Pena Palace in Sintra
The Sintra Palace was commissioned by Ferdinand II of Portugal on the ruins of an old monastery devastated by the earthquake of 1755. During a trip with his wife Maria II of Portugal, the monarch fell in love with the town of Sintra, and created this marvel of which I recommend you not to miss the following:
The exterior architecture of the Pena Palace
This is something that will not go unnoticed by visitors to Sintra. In addition to the fact that the palace is located on top of a cliff, which in itself is a visual attraction, there are also its striking and original colours. A spectacle to behold and a privilege for photographic lenses.
The Palace Gardens
It has more than 500 types of trees and plants from all over the world. Get a map of the gardens before you start your tour, because there are several fountains and buildings worth visiting. The most outstanding of all is the Chalet of the Countess or Casa do Regalo, a two-storey wooden building commissioned by Ferdinand II for his second wife.
Inside the Palace
As attractive as the exterior of the Pena Palace is, you can't miss the interior. If you go on an organised tour the guide will tell you everything you need to know for your tour, otherwise get a map at the entrance and hire an audio guide for two euros.
Old Hieronymite Monastery building
This is the first thing you will see once you pass the central cloister. Before it was a winter palace for the use of Portuguese monarchs, there was a monastery in what is now the Palacio da Pena and this is one of the few surviving rooms of that monastery.
Arab Hall
One of the most outstanding rooms of the Queen's quarters. Take all the time you need to contemplate its ceilings, and don't miss the Triton Window, designed as an allegory of the creation of the world. It's a sort of half-man, half-fish monster, and from the Queen's Terrace you'll have a close-up view of it.
Ana's Traveller Tip
From the ticket office to the entrance of the palace there is a steep climb, you can take a shuttle for 2-3 euros. Private cars are not allowed to drive up.