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Pena Palace is the most visited palace in Sintra for a reasonable reason. This castle is like none you've ever seen. The beautiful vibrant colors and magnificent views make you feel like you're in a fairytale.
In this post I cover: History, Entrance fee, opening hours, best time to arrive, duration of stay, how to get there, where to purchase tickets, shuttles, parking, food, restrooms, our tips and main attarctions.
In the 15th century, King Manuel I ordered a monastery built for the Order of Saint Jerome that could host 18 monks. However, this monastery was severely damaged by lightning in the 18th century.
In the early 19th century, King consort Ferdinand II decided to acquire the surrounding land to build a summer residence for the royal family. Unfortunately, the royal family had to flee the state during the revolution of 1910, and the state later purchased it and turned it into a museum.
Palace:
•Adults: 7.5 Euro.
•Kids (age 6 - 17): 6.5 Euro.
Palace and Park:
•Adults: 14 Euro.
•Kids (age 6-17): 12.5 Euro.
Palace:
9:30 am - 6:30 pm
•Last ticket and admission: 6:00 pm
•There are automatic ticket vending machines are available on site.
Park:
9:00 am - 7:00 pm
•Last ticket and admission: 6:00 pm
If you'd like to have the place to yourselves, we recommend arriving 15 minutes before opening hours and being the first to enter the park.
It is most crowded between 10 am to 3 pm because the tourist groups arrive around that time.
•The peak season is April-September. Try to avoid weekends to beat the crowds.
If you're just touring the gardens and terraces, you can easily spend an hour or two (We were there for 2 hours). If you're also touring the interior of the Palace, you'll need 2-3 hours.
Arrive as early as possible since the lines can get up to two hours.
Check out my blog Sintra Travel Guide for more information
It's best to buy tickets online to save time waiting in line; however, If you don't, there are a few electronic ticket booths.
Once you arrive at the entrance to Pena Palace, you've got to walk uphill. To avoid walking uphill and to save time, you can buy shuttle tickets (the shuttle tickets can be purchased with an entrance ticket online)
There are several parking lots nearby, but they get full quickly, so if you're driving, arrive early.
•Palace Restaurant
•Palace Cafeteria
•Terrace Bar
•Riding Ring Kiosk
Right next to the Palace, there are nice clean restrooms.
•Bring something small to eat because there aren’t any cheap places near the palace and it's a long walk to the city center.
•You're not allowed to take pictures inside the palace staterooms, but you can capture as many photos on the terraces.
•Monumental Gate
•Sentry Walk
•Courtyard of Arches
•Triton’s Terrace
•Coach House’s Terrace
•Interior of Palace
• Pena Palaces Park and Gardens
Our Whereabouts xxx