Pena Palace Sintra: The Ultimate Travel Guide

Pena Palace in Sintra is one of the most beautiful castles in Sintra and all of Portugal.

It is colorful, eclectic, flamboyant, artistic, and sometimes a little too much of everything. What it is most definitely is a masterpiece. You may love it or hate it, but you cannot miss seeing it when in Portugal.

Pena Palace can be easily visited on a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra, making it an easy addition to your Portugal itinerary.

So, here is my ultimate guide on how you can make your Sintra’s Palacio da Pena visit absolutely memorable. It includes the best things to do at Pena Palace, where to eat, and how to get there.

Look out for our secret tips for visiting Pena Palace so that you can make the most of your day in Sintra.

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Brief History of Pena Palace, Sintra

One of the most evocative castles in Sintra, Pena Palace has a long history. It was built in 1854 on the orders of King Consort Ferdinand II by the well-traveled but amateur German architect Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege.

The king and queen significantly enhanced the decorative and symbolic elements, such as ornate windows and vaulted arches. That’s why you will find so many different architectural styles at Pena Palace, with an overpowering flavor of Romanticism.

At the site where the palace stands today, there was a convent dedicated to the Virgin Mary known as Our Lady of Pena. Then came a monastery that housed nearly 20 monks of the Order of Saint Jerome.

The monastery was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, and King Ferdinand II decided to build a palace, the Pena Palace, at this spot. Pena Palace would serve as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family for many years to come.

But nothing lasts forever, does it? The royal family fled Portugal during the Revolution of 1910, and the Pena Palace eventually fell into disrepair. It was restored in the latter half of the 20th century and bestowed with UNESCO World Heritage status.

Today, Pena Palace, along with other beautiful palaces of Sintra, is one of the most visited and prettiest heritage sites in Portugal.

✦ Pro Tip: Want to visit Pena Palace? Check out how to plan an epic day trip to Sintra from Lisbon.

Interesting Facts about Pena Palace, Sintra

Here are some interesting facts about Pena Palace that will make your trip to Sintra even more exciting.

• Pena Palace literally translates to Feather Palace in Portuguese. The palace gets its name from a medieval chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary on the same site. It was called the Church of the Lady of Pena. The site, except for the chapel, was almost completely destroyed in the 1755 earthquake.

• On a clear day, the Pena Palace can be seen from many parts of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. I had no idea about this when I went, so I did not even try. But you could give it a shot at one of the many viewpoints in Lisbon.

• The palace is a national monument and one of Portugal’s Seven Wonders. It is also part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, a world heritage site.

• The palace was constructed by an amateur German architect, Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege, a miner and engineer. However, he had traveled widely and drew inspiration from castles back home in Germany and elsewhere in the world to build Pena Palace.

Best Things to Do at Pena Palace, Sintra

As the name suggests, the palace is divided into two sections—the palace and the park. I have added a third section—the terraces.

I suggest you begin at the palace first, as it gets really crowded as the day goes by, and then stroll through the garden.

If you come really early in the morning, explore the terraces first because that is a great time to take pictures without the crowds.

Inside the Pena Palace

Pena Palace’s architectural styles mix Romantic, Medieval, Islamic, Renaissance, Neo-Gothic, and Neo-Manueline, making it dreamy and fairytale-like. 

The red and yellow façade, a curving grand stone staircase, a Manueline cloister, some mythological creatures, domes, and turrets give the castle an out-of-the-world feel.

Inside the Pena Palace, you will pass through various staterooms that once served as the summer residence for the royal family. Some notable ones are a royal dining room, the noble room, bedrooms, and a chapel.

You will also see the bath, complete with a bathtub. The Pena Palace kitchen is also huge.

There is also a Pena Palace miniature model that you can touch, feel, and explore—a great activity for kids in Portugal.

All the rooms are decorated with gorgeous stucco art. The art technique of Trompe-l’œil is displayed in abundance. And it is quite obvious that the artists have played around and experimented with their ideas here.

Each room is unique and worth visiting. The biggest drawback, however, is that you are not allowed to click pictures while inside the palace rooms!!!

Pena Palace Terraces

Perhaps Pena Palace’s most attractive feature is its colorful terraces, which are also great photo spots.

One of the most beautiful ones is the Queen’s Terrace, which is also the highest terrace in the building. From here, you can get a good view of the rest of the palace and the valley.

✦ Pro Tip: You cannot access the Queen’s terrace without a palace and park ticket. So, you’ll have to buy a Pena Palace and Parks ticket for this and not just the Pena Park ticket.

The back terrace, with its beautiful yellow arches, is one of the most popular Instagram spots. You can enter it through a huge gate guarded by the mythical Triton and get a gorgeous panoramic view of the Sintra valley below. From here, you can also walk around the red palace walls and get a good view of the Moorish Castle below.

Last but not least is the terrace that the Pena Palace restaurant opens up to. (Yes, you can have food at Pena Palace. For details, scroll down to the Tips section.) This is a wonderful place to get a nice view of the Queen’s terrace and the clock tower. Plus, pose under some of those yellow onion domes!

Pena Palace Gardens

The gardens of Pena Palace are some of the prettiest in Europe. Filled with exotic plants from all over the world and native Portuguese flora, they are a labyrinth of wooded paths brimming with biodiversity.

Walking or hiking through these or even setting up a picnic in a comfortable corner is a great way to spend the rest of your day at Pena Palace Sintra.

How to Get Pena Palace Tickets?

There are two ticket options for Pena Palace.

• The Palace & Park ticket gives you access to the grounds, terraces, and staterooms.

• The Park ticket also gives you access to the grounds and terraces.

The latest Pena Palace ticket charges are available on the Official Website of Parques de Sintra.

The Palace and Park ticket costs double the Park ticket. So, if you are not keen on checking out the Pena Palace interiors, purchase only a park ticket, which will also give you access to the terraces.

You can purchase tickets to Pena Palace at the box office situated right at the entrance of the palace.

You can also purchase your tickets online to avoid queues. Pena Palace is one of Portugal’s most visited tourist attractions, so queues are long.

I always buy my Pena Palace tickets online on Get Your Guide because their prices are the same as the official website, and it is handy for me to have all my tickets at the place on the Get Your Guide portal.

Pena Palace Opening Hours

The park is open between 9 am – 7 pm. Pena Palace is open between 9:30 am – 6:30 pm. The last entrance for both is at 6 pm. Palace and Park remain open on all days of the year except the 1st of Jan and the 25th of December.

How to Get to Pena Palace in Sintra?

The cheapest and best way to get to Sintra from Lisbon is by train. Read my Lisbon to Sintra train guide for details.

Once you arrive at the Sintra train station from Lisbon, take Bus #434 (Pena Circuit bus), which will take you to Sintra city center, Moorish Castle, Pena Palace, and back to the station. The bus goes in a loop and is also referred to as the Feather Circuit or Pena Circuit. We suggest you go all the way up to the Pena Palace because that is at the highest point and then walk your way down.

For details on tickets, passes, and times of Bus #434, refer to my guide on how to visit Sintra castles from Lisbon.

You can also hike up, e-bike, take a cab, or take a guided tour to get to Pena Palace. I do not advise driving in Sintra because the hilly roads are narrow. Plus, parking is definitely an issue in Sintra because of the lack of space.

Here are some great guided tour options that will save you the hassle of getting to the castle on your own.

Best Hotels near Pena Palace

If you are planning to spend a night or two in Sintra within close proximity of the Pena Palace (so that you can get here first or wake up to gorgeous views), then here are the best options. For more accommodation options elsewhere in the city, refer to our Castles of Sintra post.

Luxury accommodation

• Tivoli Palacio de Seteais: Feel like royalty in this 18th-century palace-turned-hotel and experience excellent service and amazing facilities. Plus, you’ll have access to privileged views of Pena Palace and Moorish Castle.
  Reserve your stay at Tivoli Palacio de Seteis now.

Midrange Accommodation

• Sintra Boutique Hotel: Its impeccably clean, perfect location, and courteous staff make it an absolute bestseller in this heritage city.
  Click to book your stay at Sintra Boutique Hotel.
• Charming Home in Sintra Village: Located in the city center, this apartment boasts stunning mountain views. It is also known for its friendly hosts, comfortable big beds, and spacious terrace.
  Book your stay at Charming Home in Sintra Village now.

Budget accommodation

• Sintra1012 Boutique Guesthouse: Its central location, value for money, spacious accommodation, and friendly staff make it an absolute winner. Literally, everything you want to see is within walking distance.
  Click here to book your stay at Sintra1012 Boutique Guesthouse.

Other Helpful Tips for Visiting Pena Palace

• There aren’t any cheap eating places near the palace, and it’s a long walk to the city center. So, get a sandwich or a small picnic if you do not want to go hungry. Or you can try a meal at the palace cafeteria, which has many options. We chose to eat at the café. Our meals included a soup, a salad, a main course, and a dessert. Their desserts were quite unique and delicious, but I have heard that the food quality at the Pena Palace cafeteria has deteriorated over time.

• You are not allowed to take pictures inside the palace staterooms but feel free to click as many as you can on the terraces.

• The palace is the most crowded between 10 am – 3 pm. That is usually when the tourist groups start coming in. Avoid these times if possible.

• Get a pair of good walking shoes because there will be a lot of walking and climbing in Sintra.

• At the ticket counter, you can get a map in your preferred language so that you won’t get lost in Pena Palace Park.

• Note that the gardens may be closed if the temperatures soar very high in the summer for fear of forest fires. In that case, you can buy a cheaper Palace ticket and tour the staterooms and terraces.