Pena Palace

The Pena Palace is the finest example of 19th-century Romanticism in Portugal and the most visited monument in Sintra.

Its architecture blends Manueline and Moorish influences. It served as a residence for the Portuguese royal family until the establishment of the Republic in Portugal, and in 1911 it opened its doors to the public as a museum.

The fascinating history of Pena Palace

In King Ferdinand II was strolling with his wife, Queen Maria II of Portugal, through the hills of Sintra in 1838 when they came across the ruins of an ancient convent that had been destroyed by the Lisbon earthquake of 1755.

They were enchanted by the site and decided to commission its reconstruction, overseen by both of them and led by Baron von Eschwege, a German geologist, architect, and metallurgist.

Maria II had 11 children with Ferdinand II and died giving birth to the last one. Her death brought Ferdinand's reign to an end, as he had held the title of Prince Consort by right of his wife. He assumed the regency until the heir, Pedro V of Portugal, came of age.

Ferdinand later married the opera singer Elisa Hensler, who would go on to inherit Pena Palace among other possessions. In 1890, the Countess agreed to sell the Palace and the Pena Park to the State.

What to see at Pena Palace

Pena Palace, sometimes called by visitors the Pena Castle, is a complex made up of several buildings adorned with battlements and Moorish arches. Its interior features a blend of stucco work, azulejos, and murals.

Don't miss the king's and queen's chambers, the dining room, the cloister of the former convent, the reception room, the chapel, and the kitchen.

It is a place born of love, and every corner reflects that.

Pena Park

Surrounding the palace lies the Pena Park,a sweeping romantic garden with beautiful pathways, pavilions, and stone benches to rest on. King Ferdinand II commissioned trees from all four corners of the world to adorn the grounds.

Chalet da Condessa D'Edla

As you explore the park, you'll come across the Chalet da Condessa, commissioned by Ferdinand II for his future second wife, Elise Hensler, the Countess of Edla, as a romantic retreat away from the palace.

This full-day trip from Lisbon combines history, nature, and spirituality across three unmissable destinations:

• You will visit the Pena Palace Gardens,its Interpretation Centre, the courtyards, balconies with spectacular views, the chapel, and the walkway.
• Next, you'll discover the charming coastal town of Nazaré.
• To round off the day, you'll end your visit at the Sanctuary of Fátima, one of Europe's foremost pilgrimage sites.

Getting to Pena Palace from Lisbon

Getting to Pena Palace, Sintra by train

Take the train toward Sintra from Lisbon. From Rossio station, this ticket is included with the Lisboa Card.

You can find up-to-date train schedules and ticket prices on the official Portuguese train website cp.pt.  

Once you exit the Sintra train station, you'll find the bus stop where you can take the Scotturb, which is a public bus service that circuits all the main monuments in Sintra. One of the stops will be the Palácio da Pena. It costs €5 for a round-trip ticket and €11.50 for a ticket with unlimited stops on the Sintra tourist circuit for 24 hours.

Getting to Sintra by Car

Getting to Sintra by car is straightforward, as it is only a 30-minute drive covering just over 28 kilometers. If you rent a car in Lisbon or are coming by car from Spain, follow the directions on googlemaps using as your final destination the Palácio Nacional de Sintra, which is the most central point of the historic village, as Sintra is a large city but the tourist area (the part that interests us) is in its old town.

You can park at this car park in the center or this car park next to the train station.

Guided Tours of Sintra

And if you want to visit this beautiful area near Lisbon and its neighbor Cascais (stunning beaches) with a Spanish-speaking guide and transfers included, we recommend booking one of the guided tours dedicated to the region. If the magic of the place captivates you, we recommend staying at one of the few hotels.

Price

Tickets cost €14 (ages 18–64) and €12.50 (ages 6–17 and 65+) – You can buy them online here

Address

Estrada da Pena, 2710-609 Sintra

Opening Hours

10:00 – 18:00, last ticket at 17:00 and last entry at 17:30

How to get there?

You can take a public bus to the palace from Sintra train station.