Pena Palace Tickets: Palace + Park or Park Only?

Pena Palace is hands-down the most-visited landmark in the Sintra area. It’s the ketchup + mustard-looking castle that everyone and their mom have visited.

Despite being super touristy, it’s a must-see. The palace is a work of pure Romanticism that everyone needs to see at least once!

I’ve been there twice, and I still can’t get over how pretty and whimsical the entire property is. The palace, the courtyards, the surrounding parks, and all!

While most first-timers will opt for the Palace and Park ticket, there is a second option that could be good for you depending on your interests. It’s the Park only ticket.

The Palace and Park ticket costs double what the Park ticket costs, but is it worth the money? And will you even be interested in what’s inside?

In this post, we’ll cover the differences between the two and look at what attractions are included with each admission type so you can pick the best ticket option for you.

This post may contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful and free content. Thanks a lot!

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OVERVIEW: PENA PALACE TICKET OPTIONS

After you’ve decided to visit Pena Palace, your next step is to decide which ticket you want. You have two options here:

• Palace and Park ticket
• Park only ticket

Let’s dive into each of them a bit more.

PALACE AND PARK TICKET PRICES

Most people choose this one.

With the Palace and Park ticket, you’ll get entry into the palace itself with all the decked-out rooms, opulent decor, and history about its previous tenants + access to the Palace terraces and gardens of the park area.

Palace and Park ticket costs:

• Ticket for adults (18 – 64 years): €20
• Ticket for youths (6 – 17 years): €18
• Ticket for seniors (over 65 years): €18
• Family ticket (2 adults + 2 youths): €65

PARK ONLY TICKET PRICES

If you don’t think going inside the palace is worth it and just want to enjoy the palace from the outside, focusing on the attractions within the Park itself, you can save a few euros by grabbing a Park Ticket.

NOTE: Park tickets no longer include access to Palace terraces. You will need to get a Palace and Park ticket to access the pretty outdoor areas of the palace where everyone loves taking pictures!

Park ticket costs:

• Ticket for adults (18 – 64 years): €10
• Ticket for youths (6 – 17 years): €9
• Ticket for seniors (over 65 years): €9
• Family ticket (2 adults + 2 youths): €35

Pena Palace Park is open from 9 AM to 7 PM daily. The timings do not change based on the season.

• Last Entry: 6 PM

Now, let’s break down what these tickets actually include when they’re referring to “Palace” and “Park”.

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THE NATIONAL PALACE OF PENA: WHAT YOU’LL SEE

The National Palace of Pena is referring to the crown jewel of Sintra. This colorful palace, of course!

It’s the red/yellow castle that’s straight out of a daydream — or a whimsical fairytale. You can’t mistake it for any other castle in the world, that’s for sure.

Back in the 19th century, King Ferdinand II ruled over Portugal. With a wild imagination and a love for all things whimsical, he decided to build this jaw-dropping palace up in the hills of Sintra. Et viola — Pena Palace was born.

Pena Palace is so fun to explore, both inside and out.

On the palace’s exterior, you’ll find bits of Moorish, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture all mashed up together. It’s got bright red and yellow towers, intricate carvings that pay homage to the sea, and even a drawbridge!

Inside, you’ll find yourself wandering through lavish rooms decked out with opulent furnishings, detailed azulejo tile work, and intricate ceilings that’ll leave you speechless (and wonder how and why such detailed ceilings would ever be needed).

The Bedroom of King Ferdinand II will have you see your jaw drop to the floor, even if the linens look a bit dated.

While all the rooms in the palace amazed me in one way or another, by far my favorite room was the Great Hall! Just from its grandeur, you’ll be able to imagine all the crazy balls and parties that took place here.

And let’s not forget about the hidden gems like the Dining Room and Pantry, where you’ll feel like a VIP attending just a regular ol’ dinner fit for kings/queens, or The Queen’s Office, with its ornate wardrobes, chairs, and all.

As you explore the colorful rooms, decor, and fantasy-like architecture of the palace interior, I hope you feel like you’re a prince/princess walking through your humble abode.

I mean, how did people live like this? SO JEALOUS.

After you’ve explored the inside of the palace, it’s time to take in the gorgeous grounds around the palace itself. Make sure to take a walk around the castle walls, and explore lesser-visited areas like the Sentry Walk.

Unlike its name suggests, the Sentry Walk did not hold any military purpose as its true function, as with the entirety of the palace, was for leisure! From here, you’ll get stellar views of the Moorish Castle, Quinta da Regaleira, and the Palace of Seteais.

There’s so much to see!

The Monumental Gate, Triton’s Terrace, and Courtyard of Arches are also some of the most picturesque areas outside of the palace. These are hands-down the prettiest areas for photos!

From the outside, you can climb upstairs and pop into the elevated towers to soak in the views of the surrounding countryside — you’ll even be able to spot the Moorish Castle in the distance.

Is Pena Palace crowded?

The Pena Palace will feel like you’re living in your very own fairytale.

Well… with the exception of all the other people trying to enjoy their tour of the inside as well. Is Pena Palace crowded? YES.

Sadly, because of how popular Pena Palace has become, you won’t really get to linger in rooms / areas for too long. There will probably be a long line of people behind and in front of you.

I’m not a fan of massive crowds, but even I had to come to terms with the fact that Pena Palace is no longer a secret and accept the masses.

During my visit in 2018, touring the inside of the palace was pretty peaceful. I never felt rushed, annoyed, or squished by other visitors. At any given time, there were just 5 to 8 people in each room — we were all lingering, learning, and taking our sweet time.

But unfortunately, those days are long gone.

My experience in 2023 was quite the opposite. It was so hectic and so packed — and there was always somebody on your heels. It was almost impossible to stop walking and take in the room’s atmosphere. I couldn’t wait to get out of there!

Because of the massive crowds during the day, I urge you to visit Pena Palace at the very start of the day (or at the very end, once the guided day trips have left). 

During the busy times of the day, the crowd levels are too high for an enjoyable experience, honestly!

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THE PARK OF PENA: WHAT YOU’LL SEE

The Park of Pena refers to a series of areas that make up the green space surrounding Pena Palace.

You won’t have access to the palace itself, but you will have access to the palace grounds.

This lush park is filled with all kinds of exotic plants and winding paths, perfect for nature lovers.

In short, you’ll have access to areas like:

• Chalet and Garden of the Countess of Edla
• Valley of Lakes and Little Birds Fountain
• Temple of Columns, The Warrior Statue and The Queen’s Table

While the entire park area is gorgeous, these are the areas that you shouldn’t miss:

Valley of Lakes and Little Birds Fountain

Valley of Lakes and Little Birds Fountain contains five small lakes. One of them has a super cute castle-tower-shaped house (for ducks and waterfowl).

The Little Birds Fountain is a small pavilion with an octagonal floor plan, a vaulted dome, and very pretty decorative tiling. The exterior of the dome is decorated with an Arabic inscription that refers to the two monarchs responsible for the works at Pena: King Manuel I in 1503, and King Ferdinand II in 1840, both of whom are referred to in the Arabic text as “sultans”.

Chalet and Garden of the Countess of Edla

This small chalet was built between 1864 and 1869 for King Ferdinand II and his second wife Elise Hensler. She was an opera singer (and later became the future Countess of Edla) who won Ferdinand II’s heart after losing his first wife, Queen Maria II.

Elise and Ferdinand built an alpine-style chalet in the western reaches of the Park of Pena to serve as a place of leisure and a romantic refuge for just the two of them.

You’ll find the chalet surrounded by a garden dotted with nooks and charming features that add to the romantic vibes of it all!

Temple of Columns, The Warrior Statue, and The Queen’s Table

The Temple of Columns, with its yellow cupola held up by twelve columns, stands out among the treetops. It almost looks like a little hideaway where people went to go trade secrets with each other!

This Neoclassical structure stands on the site of a former chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony, which shared the circular plan but which did not survive the 1755 earthquake.

You’ll also find King Ferdinand II’s statue here, perched up high on a rock! Remember, he’s the guy that built the whole place. His statue, made of stone, depicts him barring the iron spear.

It’s not going to blow your socks off with awe, but it is a nice little stop.

Cruz Alta

The highest peak of the park is marked by Cruz Alta (which translates to High Cross), marked by a cross carved from stone. From here, you’ll be overlooking the park and the palace. You’ll also be able to see all the way to the Atlantic coast on the horizon!

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WHICH TICKET OPTION IS BEST FOR YOU?

Here’s what I’ll tell you. If you think you’ll enjoy the interior part of the palace, opt for the Palace and Park combo ticket. It’s the one most people get.

IF YOU DO GO FOR THIS TICKET OPTION, HEED MY ADVICE: The inside of Pena Palace has turned into a total zoo during the palace’s busy hours (thanks to social media probably — social media ruins everything!). Get your timed entry to Pena Palace for the very start of the day (9:30 am) OR at the very end of the day once the guided day trips have left (after 5 pm).

The last ticketed entry is at 5:30 pm and the palace closes at 7 pm. 

If you are fine exploring just the outside of the palace walls and snapping photos of the palace from further away, then opt for the Park ticket.

Some people have been asking if they can opt for Park tickets and still get access to the palace’s terraces — the areas with the prettiest views. The current answer is NO. If you just want to explore the terraces to get those iconic photos of the palace, you will need the Palace and Park ticket.

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ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR YOUR PENA PALACE VISIT

Get your timed entry Pena Palace tickets ahead of time.

If you wait until the day of to buy your ticket there, you might have a LONG wait ahead of you. That’s because admission at Pena Palace is now time-based.

This means if all the time slots for your arrival time have already been sold out, you’ll be given the next available time slot, which could be 1-2 hours after you’ve already arrived.

This is quite common and it actually happened to me on my second visit to Pena Palace! My friends had decided last minute that they wanted to visit. (Last-minute is never a good idea!)

Online reservations were sold out that morning, so our only option was to show up physically at the ticket office to buy tickets. Luckily, they had availability for in-person ticket purchases.

BUT, we had to wait 2 whole hours before they would let us in! We had walked all the way up the hill to get to the Palace, so there was no way we were walking back down to kill time. So we mostly just sat around for the whole two hours before getting in line to enter. It was a total waste of time, to be honest!

To avoid long lines and stupid wait times, purchase your tickets for Pena Palace online ahead of time. This will mean no wasted time — you’ll get to enter the palace at your desired time slot. Easy in, easy out!

Try to get the earliest time slots for Pena Palace.

This palace gets quite crowded, so for the most enjoyable experience (and the least number of people in your castle photos), try to show up before everyone else!

This will also mean more time to explore the rest of Sintra’s treasures ahead of everyone else (everyone else is probably stuck at Pena Palace waiting for their time slots to enter the palace, hehehe).

The time indicated on your ticket refers to the time of entry in the Palace, not to the Park. 

The Palace is located inside the Park of Pena, on top of a hill. This is the order of what you’ll come across first: entrance to the Park –> entrance to the Palace. After validating your ticket at the entrance to the Park, you still have to walk to the Palace.

It’s about a 15-minute walk to the Palace from there. If you cannot make this journey on foot, there is a small transfer available at the main entrance of the Park, which takes you to the Palace (but you must have purchased a ticket for this transport in advance). 

If you arrive at the Palace before the time you booked, you will not be able to enter.

They’re super strict about it now! Based on the time printed on your ticket, they’ll make you stand in designated roped areas with everyone else entering the same time as you. You should only go to the Palace entrance at the scheduled time — otherwise, you’re just standing there doing nothing. 

If you get there early, use your extra time to visit the Park of Pena or grab a light bite to eat.

If you’re traveling outside of the summer season, bring warm clothes to Sintra.

Sintra can be significantly cooler than Lisbon, especially during the off-season. Be sure to bring warm clothing and dress in layers to stay comfortable. If the clouds and the fog are rolling through, it’ll feel a lot colder when the sun isn’t shining directly on you. 

During my last Pena Palace visit in March, I had to hunt for spots of sunlight at 10 am because I was so cold in the shade!

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HOW TO GET TO PENA PALACE FROM SINTRA TRAIN STATION

One of the most confusing things for people who plan on visiting Pena Palace is how to get there. Once you get off at Sintra train station, you need to get yourself to the palace.

Remember it’s on a hill! While walking is the option I typically go with, it’s not the only option.

You can take public transportation, hire a tuk-tuk driver, or call a rideshare/taxi.

WALKING TO PENA PALACE

The walk from the Sintra train station to Pena Palace takes approximately 35-45 minutes depending on your walking speed. Having done the walk up to Pena Palace on multiple trips to Sintra, I can tell you that not too many people opt to walk.

Very rarely did I pass by other people on my walks!

It’s quite uphill, but the entire walk up is pretty and super enchanting! The path is well-marked, easy to follow (when you use your maps app), and takes you through the charming historic center of Sintra.

Along the way, you’ll pass by Sintra’s city center (quaint cafes, shops selling local crafts), take quiet paths through sections of nothing but trees and greenery, and you’ll even see the Moorish Castle in the distance.

While the path does have some uphill sections that’ll make you break a sweat, it’s not a strenuous hike where you need huge amounts of water, and the majority of it is paved.

If it happens to be a really hot day, or you find yourself short on time and don’t have 45 minutes to spare on just walking, then you should try getting there on a set of wheels instead.

TAKING THE BUS TO PENA PALACE

For those who prefer not to walk, there is a bus service (434) that operates between the Sintra train station, Pena Palace, and a few other touristy destinations.

The bus departs regularly from a stop near the train station and takes visitors directly to the entrance of the palace, making it a convenient option for those with limited mobility or those short on time.

Here’s everything you need to know about taking the bus to Pena Palace:

• 434 Bus Route Circuito da Pena (circular route): Sintra Train Station → Moorish Castle → Pena Palace → Sintra National Palace / Sintra Town → Natural History Museum → Sintra Train Station (timetable here)
• Bus rides cost €4.55 for a single bus ticket. Have cash on you to pay for this. You can buy tickets directly from the bus driver. They sell a hop-on-hop-off bus ticket for €13.50, which could be good if you don’t plan on doing any walking at all (and plan to take the bus everywhere).
• Buses come a few times an hour, depending on how busy it is. You may get lucky and come up on the bus stop with the bus already there waiting for people to hop on. Or, you may need to wait 15 minutes or so for another one to show up. Buses run more frequently during the peak summer months.

There’s also Bus 435, but this bus doesn’t go to Pena Palace. Bus 435 takes visitors to places like Quinta de Regaleira, Monserrate Palace, and other palaces. Don’t get on this one.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Once you get dropped off at Pena Palace, the trek isn’t over. You still have to walk about 10-15 minutes up a fairly steep hill, or you can take a separate bus straight to the entrance for €3 (after you present your entry ticket).

TAKING A TUK-TUK TO PENA PALACE

Another fun (but more expensive) way to reach Pena Palace is by taking a tuk-tuk ride from the Sintra train station. Tuk-tuks are small, motorized vehicles that can navigate the narrow streets of Sintra with ease, and you’ll find a lot of drivers with tuk-tuks waiting for you at the train station.

The people driving the tuk-tuks will likely try to sell you on a ride up to the palace, but just know they DON’T come cheap. They know tourists are usually confused about how to get to Pena Palace and they try to take advantage of that!

Just keep in mind that the bus ride is €4.55. Anything excessively more than… say €6-8 per person would be considered NOT worth it in my eyes!

TAKING A BOLT/UBER TO PENA PALACE

Bolt is the main way I get around Portugal when I need a quick and convenient ride. And the good thing is, they’re super cheap in all of Portugal! They typically have much better pricing than regular cabs, and there’ll be no language barrier to worry about (since you do everything — like pick your destination and pay the bill — through the app).

I’ve never called a rideshare car to get me to/from places in Sintra, so I’m not entirely sure how readily available cars are in this area.

Still, it doesn’t hurt to just open the app and try calling a car from the train station if none of the other options appeal to you!

TAKING A TAXI TO PENA PALACE

You can also opt to take a taxi from the Sintra train station to Pena Palace. Because of how touristy Sintra is, you’ll find taxis available outside the train station. Taxis will cost more than Uber/Bolt.

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