This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2018. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
If castles matched personalities, then Pena Palace would be my dream home.
Perched high on a hill overlooking Sintra, this colourful palace is unlike any castle I’ve ever visited. Its bright yellow and red walls, ornate towers and intricate blue azulejos almost make it look like something straight out of a fairytale. Standing on the Queen’s Terrace, I couldn’t help imagining what it would be like to wake up each morning to sweeping views over the surrounding forests and countryside.
Even though my husband and I visited on a busy Sunday, and the palace was packed with tourists, it still managed to leave a lasting impression. Between the vibrant architecture, panoramic viewpoints and fascinating history, it’s easy to see why Pena Palace is one of Portugal’s most visited attractions.
If you’re planning a Pena Palace day trip from Lisbon, there are a few things worth knowing before you go. From choosing the right tickets and getting there by train to avoiding the biggest crowds and deciding whether it’s worth visiting the palace interior, this guide covers everything I learnt from my visit to help you make the most of your day in Sintra.
Quick summary:
Planning a Pena Palace day trip from Lisbon? This guide covers everything you need to know before visiting Sintra’s most iconic palace, including how to get there, which ticket to buy, the best time to visit, where to find the best photo spots, and practical tips to help you avoid the crowds and make the most of your day.
Recommended tours & tickets:
🚌 Sintra Day Tour from Lisbon – The easiest way to experience Sintra’s highlights in one day, with transport included.
🎟️ Pena Palace Entry Tickets – Book ahead to secure your preferred entry time and avoid ticket queues.
🚆 Lisboa Card – Includes train travel to Sintra and Pena Palace admission plus other Lisbon attraction tickets.
🛺 Sintra Tuk Tuk Tour – A fun, convenient way to reach Pena Palace and explore Sintra without the uphill walk.
Best time to visit Pena Palace
If you have flexibility with your travel dates, I’d definitely recommend visiting Pena Palace on a weekday. My husband and I visited on a weekend, and while the palace was absolutely worth seeing, it was incredibly busy. It’s one of Portugal’s most popular attractions, so crowds are almost inevitable—especially during weekends and the peak summer months.
To give yourself the best chance of exploring before the tour groups arrive, aim for the first entry of the day. The palace usually opens at 9:30 AM, and arriving early makes a huge difference when it comes to enjoying the terraces, taking photos and wandering through the palace without constantly weaving through crowds. We made the mistake of arriving around 11:30 AM, by which point it was already packed.
If an early start isn’t possible, visiting later in the afternoon can also be a good option. Many organised tours begin making their way back to Lisbon towards the end of the day, so the crowds often ease slightly during the final entry times.
How to get to Pena Palace from Lisbon
The easiest way to visit Pena Palace is by taking a day trip from Lisbon to the nearby town of Sintra. From there, you’ll need to catch local transport up the hill to the palace.
There are two main ways to visit: independently by train or on an organised day tour. I chose to travel independently, but both options have their advantages depending on your travel style.
Visiting Pena Palace on a guided tour
🚌 If you’d rather not worry about organising trains, buses and attraction tickets, a Sintra Day Tour from Lisbon will be the easiest option.
This full-day tour will collect you from the city and includes visits to Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, Cabo da Roca and the coastal town of Cascais, giving you the chance to experience several of the region’s highlights without having to plan the logistics yourself.
Catching the train to Sintra
This is the option I chose during my visit, and I’d happily do it again. As we were staying at Tivoli Oriente Hotel, we caught the train from the nearby Oriente Station. Although the hotel wasn’t in the most central location for sightseeing around the city, it was incredibly convenient for airport transfers, travelling to Porto and taking day trips from Lisbon.
If you’re staying in Lisbon’s city centre, trains to Sintra also depart regularly from Rossio Station, with the journey taking around 40 minutes.
Train tickets are inexpensive and can be purchased from the suburban ticket counters at the station. Just don’t make the same mistake we did and queue at the long-distance ticket counter first!
Using the Lisboa Card to visit Sintra: I had the Lisboa Card during my stay in Lisbon, which gave me free travel on the local trains plus access to Pena Palace. This is a great way to combine your transport and attractions in an all-in-one sightseeing pass.
How to get from Sintra to Pena Palace
Once you arrive in Sintra, you’ll still need to travel around 3.5 kilometres uphill to reach Pena Palace. While it’s technically possible to walk, I wouldn’t recommend it. The route is steep, can take around an hour, and isn’t particularly enjoyable—especially during the warmer months. Instead, you have a few different transport options depending on your budget and travel style.
| Option | Cost | Travel time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 434 tourist bus | $ | 15–20 mins | Most visitors |
| Tuk tuk | $$$ | 10–15 mins | Convenience & small groups |
| Rideshare | $$ | 10–15 mins | Flexible transport |
| Walking | Free | Around 1 hour | Keen hikers only |
Taking the 434 tourist bus
After doing some research before our trip, I decided that the 434 tourist bus was the best option, and I’d recommend it for most visitors.
To find the bus stop, exit Sintra Railway Station and follow the road along the northern side of the station for about 200 metres until you reach the dedicated 434 bus stop. Don’t be fooled by the empty 434 buses parked nearby—these are simply waiting for their turn to begin the route.
When we visited, we waited around 10–15 minutes before boarding. A staff member was selling tickets while everyone queued. The cost was €6.90 for a return ticket when I was in Sintra in 2018, but it has most likely gone up in price since then.
Tuk tuk or rideshare
If you’d rather skip the queues or want a quicker journey, taking a tuk tuk or using Uber or Bolt can be a convenient alternative. Tuk tuks are easy to find around Sintra station and offer a fun way to reach the palace, while rideshare services are often a good option for couples or small groups sharing the fare.
🛺 If you don’t feel like organising transport at all, booking a Sintra tuk tuk tour can also be a fun way to visit Pena Palace while learning a little about Sintra from a local driver.
Pena Palace tickets: Which one should you buy?
If you’re planning to visit Pena Palace, I’d highly recommend booking your tickets online before you arrive. Not only can the ticket queues be long during peak season, but entry to the palace is timed, meaning popular time slots often sell out in advance.
🎟️ Book your Pena Palace tickets in advance to secure your preferred entry time and avoid waiting in line on the day.
When booking, you’ll need to choose between two different ticket types.
| Ticket | Includes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Park Ticket | Access to the gardens, parkland and exterior terraces | Visitors mainly interested in the views and photography |
| Park & Palace Ticket | Everything included in the Park Ticket, plus entry inside the palace | First-time visitors who want the full experience |
We initially found the difference between the two ticket options a little confusing. After visiting, I realised the Park Ticket still gives you access to most of the impressive viewpoints, colourful exterior walls and gardens. If your main goal is to photograph Pena Palace, this ticket may be all you need.
However, if it’s your first visit to Sintra, I’d personally recommend purchasing the Park & Palace Ticket. It gives you access to the beautifully restored royal rooms, historic displays and the famous Queen’s Terrace, where some of the palace’s most iconic photographs are taken. This is the ticket type that I chose when visiting Pena Palace.
If you’re using a Lisboa Card, it’s also worth checking whether your pass includes discounted or bundled entry to Pena Palace, as this can help reduce the overall cost of your day trip. When I checked mine, the Lisboa Card gave me a 5% discount for the ticket price.
Best photo spots at Pena Palace
There are several fantastic viewpoints around the palace, but where you can access depends on which ticket you’ve purchased.
The most famous viewpoint is the Queen’s Terrace, which is only accessible with a Park & Palace Ticket. This elevated terrace offers the classic postcard view of Pena Palace’s colourful exterior and is where I took my favourite photos during our visit.
If you’ve purchased the Park Ticket instead, don’t worry—you can still capture some fantastic shots of the palace. When you reach the entrance to the palace itself, walk to the left of the ticket gates and continue through the archway. This area has several terraces overlooking the colourful façades, with beautiful views across the surrounding countryside.
Is Pena Palace worth visiting?
Absolutely. Even with the crowds, Pena Palace ended up being one of my favourite places to visit in Portugal. Its colourful Romanticist architecture is unlike anything else I saw during my trip, and the panoramic views over Sintra’s forests and surrounding countryside are spectacular.
That said, I’d go in with realistic expectations. Pena Palace is one of the country’s busiest attractions, particularly during summer and on weekends, so don’t expect to have the place to yourself. Booking an early entry time and arriving as soon as the palace opens will make for a much more enjoyable experience.
If you’re making the day trip from Lisbon, I’d also recommend setting aside time to explore more than just Pena Palace. After our visit, my husband and I headed back into Sintra and spent the afternoon wandering through the enchanting gardens, caves and underground tunnels of Quinta da Regaleira. Visiting both attractions made for a fantastic day trip, and I’d recommend doing the same if you have the time.
Other attractions to visit in Sintra
If you’ve got time after visiting Pena Palace, I’d highly recommend exploring at least one more of Sintra’s incredible attractions. The town is filled with historic palaces, gardens and estates, and it’s easy to spend an entire day here.
Quinta da Regaleira
After leaving Pena Palace, my husband and I headed to Quinta da Regaleira, which was only about a 10-minute walk from Sintra’s town centre. I had heard the gardens were worth visiting, and they completely lived up to the hype. It was much less crowded here than at Pena Palace.
While the palace itself wasn’t all that much to rave about, the gardens were incredible. Hidden throughout the grounds are caves, underground tunnels and winding pathways, and every time you wandered down a path, you never quite knew where you’d end up next. It honestly felt like a real-life choose your own adventure.
The famous Initiation Well is what most people come to see, and I have to admit, it was pretty cool. A spiral staircase winds deep underground before connecting to a network of tunnels beneath the estate, making it unlike anywhere else we visited in Portugal.
🎟️ I’d highly recommend visiting Quinta da Regaleira if you’ve got time after Pena Palace. Booking your tickets in advance is a good idea, especially during the busy summer months, so you can head straight inside and spend more time exploring the gardens.
National Palace of Sintra
If you’re looking for something that’s easy to visit without additional transport, the National Palace of Sintra is located right in the heart of the historic town centre. Its distinctive twin chimneys make it one of Sintra’s most recognisable landmarks, and it’s a convenient stop if you’re already wandering through the village. 🎟️ Get your National Palace of Sintra tickets.
Monserrate Palace
If you’ve still got plenty of time—or you’re spending longer in Sintra—Monserrate Palace is another beautiful option. Set amongst lush botanical gardens, it’s quieter than Pena Palace and offers a completely different style of architecture. You’ll need to catch the 435 tourist bus or take a taxi or rideshare to reach it. 🎟️ Get your Monserrate Palace tickets.
Where to eat in Sintra
When I visited in 2018, there were two cafés at Pena Palace—one inside the palace itself and another near the entrance to the park. They’re handy if you need a quick bite to eat, but you can expect to pay typical tourist prices and the food options are fairly limited.
Instead, my husband and I decided to wait until we returned to Sintra’s town centre for lunch. If you’re catching the 434 bus back towards the train station, hop off at the second stop in the historic centre.
Sintra’s town centre has plenty of cafés, bakeries and restaurants, so if you’re happy to wander a little, you’ll have no trouble finding somewhere for lunch. We wandered through the narrow laneways until we stumbled across a local bakery, where we picked up some vegetarian quiches and a couple of pastéis de nata—Portugal’s famous custard tarts. They were so good!
If you’re travelling on a budget, another option is to pack your own lunch and enjoy a picnic in Pena Park. There are plenty of quiet spots throughout the gardens where you can sit down and take a break before continuing your day.
My top tips for visiting Pena Palace
Don’t walk from Sintra station to Pena Palace.
Although it might look manageable on a map, the walk takes around an hour and it’s almost entirely uphill. After doing some research before our trip, we decided to catch the 434 tourist bus instead, and I’m very glad we did. Save your energy for exploring the palace and gardens once you arrive. A Sintra tuk tuk tour is another fun and convenient way to reach the palace while seeing more of the town.
Avoid driving if you can.
Parking around Pena Palace is limited, and the narrow roads leading up the hill become heavily congested during busy periods. We travelled by train from Lisbon and found it to be a much less stressful way to visit. If you don’t want to worry about trains, buses or parking at all, I’d recommend booking a guided day tour from Lisbon instead, which includes transport and visits to several of Sintra’s highlights.
Wear comfortable walking shoes.
There’s quite a bit of walking involved around Pena Palace, with uneven paths, cobblestones and some steep sections throughout the gardens. Comfortable shoes will make exploring much more enjoyable.
Download anything you need before you arrive.
Phone reception was surprisingly patchy during our visit. We had planned to look up information about the palace while we were there, but struggled to get a reliable data connection. If you’re relying on maps, tickets or an audio guide, it’s worth downloading them beforehand.
Book your tickets before the day of your visit.
Pena Palace is one of Portugal’s most popular attractions, and timed entry means the best time slots can sell out well in advance. Booking your tickets in advance also saves you from joining the ticket queues when you arrive.
*I was a guest of Visit Lisboa and Tivoli Oriente for this part of my stay in Lisbon. I’m proud to be an honest and transparent blogger, so every opinion expressed on AGWT is a true review of my experience.
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