More about: Lisbon Pena Palace Tickets and Day Trips
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, the greatest example of Romanticism in Portugal. There are several ways to visit it, either with direct tickets or on an excursion from Lisbon; read on to find out more.
Sintra Pena Palace Tickets
Visit the Pena Palace in Sintra without queues or waiting
Discover this magnificent work of architecture, a true reflection of Portuguese romanticism. A palace brimming with styles, both in its decoration and its collections. Explore its gardens and the mysterious chalet of the Countess of Elda.
Be amazed by the originality of this palace, which was a 16th-century monastery that Ferdinand II made his own. An eccentric mix of Rom antic, Renaissance, Manueline and Arabic styles make it one of Sintra's main attractions.
Visit its 200 hectares of gardens, home to 500 species of trees from all over the world.
What's more, with these tickets to the Pena Palace in Sintra, you can visit the Countess of Elda's villa, which is full of interesting anecdotes and stories.
Recommended if... you want to guarantee your access to one of Portugal's most important monuments, which receives hundreds of visitors every day. By buying your tickets in advance, you won't have to queue or wait, you can simply enjoy yourself.
Sintra, Pena Palace and Quinta Regaleira Day Trip from Lisbon
Discover Sintra on a comfortable, skip-the-line tour
Explore the Pena Palace without queuing and discover the secrets of Sintra on this guided tour from Lisbon. Includes transport in a small group, expert guide and access to the mystical Quinta da Regaleira.
The great advantage of this excursion to Sintra with tickets to the Pena Palace included, as opposed to just buying tickets to the palace, is that you won't have to worry about a thing: you will be picked up in Lisbon and travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with an expert guide who will accompany you throughout the tour. You will visit the historic centre of Sintra, have free time to explore at your own pace and access the palace without queuing.
This tour also includes admission to 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 tickets. It is ideal for those who want to see the best of Sintra in a single day, combining comfort, history and spectacular landscapes.
How to visit the Pena Palace with an organised excursion from Lisbon
One of the best ways to discover this iconic monument is with this excursion to Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira from Lisbon, which includes transport, a guide and skip-the-line access.
If you want to visit Pena Palace in comfort without worrying about transport or queues, this organised excursion from Lisbon is your best option. You will travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a small group and have an expert guide throughout the 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.
- Skip-the-line 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, caves, tunnels and esoteric symbolism.
Details of interest
- Price: from €96
- 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 tickets online for the Pena Palace
You can buy tickets for the Pena Palace for adults, children, young people or senior citizens at different prices depending on the season. With these tickets you won't have to wait in line, but please note that they only include 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, we recommend that you book an organised excursion online with a guided tour of the Pena Palace. These excursions include return transport from Lisbon, a visit to the Pena Palace and a tour of other iconic sites in the region that are also a must-see.
How to buy tickets at the ticket office for the Pena Palace
The Palace opens at nine in the morning, although opening hours may vary depending on the season. If it is high season, I recommend arriving early to avoid queues. The risk of going directly to the ticket office is that you may find the queue too long, so I do not recommend this option. Regarding the price, tickets at the ticket office cost €14 per adult.
If you do not feel like visiting the interior of the palace (which I consider a mistake, since you are already there), you should know that there is the option of visiting only the gardens with these tickets to the Pena Park. In both cases, there are discounts for people over 65 and under 18, as well as a special price that combines tickets for two adults and two children at 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 so: you can take the train from Lisbon's Rossio station and arrive in Sintra in 40 minutes for a price of five euros, or you can book an organised excursion that, in addition to showing you the Pena Palace, will show you the most outstanding places in Sintra.
Bear in mind that the Pena Palace is located on top of a hill. You can get there by bus from the centre of Sintra, but once you arrive you will have to climb a fairly steep hill (for two or three euros you can take a shuttle bus). Private vehicles are not allowed to go up the hill, only tourist vehicles.
Duration of the visit
The visit to the Pena Palace includes the interior, exterior and gardens. The gardens are huge, so if you want to see them properly, allow about two and a half hours of your trip.
Visiting hours
The palace usually opens at 9:30 a.m. and the gardens at 9 a.m. The park closes at 8 p.m. and the palace at 6:30 p.m., but the last tickets for both sites are sold one hour before closing time. If you are going to buy tickets at the ticket office, I recommend going early enough so you don't miss out or have to wait in long queues.
The Pena Palace with children
Children will have a great time exploring the rooms inside the palace and will also be attracted by the bright colours of its façade. Don't hesitate to take them on this visit, but bear in mind that they may not be able to cope with the climb up the hill from the entrance, although they can always take the shuttle bus.
What to see at the Pena Palace in Sintra
The Pena Palace was built by Ferdinand II of Portugal on the ruins of an old monastery devastated by the 1755 earthquake. During a trip with his wife Maria II of Portugal, the monarch fell in love with the town of Sintra and created this marvel, which I recommend you don't miss:
The exterior architecture of the Pena Palace
This is something that will not go unnoticed by those who visit Sintra. In addition to the fact that the palace is located on top of a cliff, which is already a visual attraction in itself, it also features striking and original colours. It is a feast for the eyes and a privilege for photographers.
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, as there are different fountains and buildings that are worth visiting. The most notable of all is the Countess's Chalet 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 cannot miss visiting the interior. If you go on an organised tour, the guide will tell you everything you need to know for your tour. Otherwise, pick up a map at the entrance and hire an audio guide for two euros.
Building of the former Hieronymite Monastery
This is the first thing you will see once you pass through the central cloister. Before becoming a winter palace for the Portuguese monarchs, there was a monastery on the site of what is now the Pena Palace, and this is one of the few rooms that remains from that monastery.
Arabic Room
One of the most outstanding rooms in the queen's quarters. Take all the time you need to admire the ceilings, and don't miss the Triton Window, designed as an allegory of the creation of the world. It is a kind of monster, half man and half fish, and you can see it up close from the queen's terrace.
Ana's Traveller Tip
There is a steep slope from the ticket office to the palace entrance, which you can climb in a shuttle for £2-3. Private cars are not allowed to go up.