One of Portugals must see day trips! You can't complete a Portugal trip without visiting the fairy tale castle: National Palace of Pena. Beautiful and easy to get to. I took a tour option of the palace to avoid lines. But you can easily get here by train or bus. When I came here the inside was still under construction, so my tour guide recommended that we just tour the outside since inside would only be about 15 minutes. I love how you can see the three ways this building was made, definitely worth taking a tour to understand this place importance. However, you can still appreciate the tile work, views, intention, and colors of this historic palace. read more

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Pena Palace, the more tourist-friendly name for Parque e Palácio Nacional da Pena, is a UNESCO World Heritage site a 45-minute train ride from Lisbon. It's one of Portugal's most popular attractions even if getting there is a bit of a slog. The palace sits high atop a steep hill and getting to it takes much more than just a train ride. The train takes you to the town of Sintra but busses take you to the ticketing windows and more busses take you to and from the castle entrance. Other palaces and castles are present in the expansive park but they require separate entrance fees and other busses to access, which pretty well explains why I visited only Pena Palace during my time in Sintra. Lots of folks advance-book tours of the palace (including transportation) and other park attractions which, though more expensive than the DIY mode is certainly easier. Still, if you're handling things on your own, the number of guides trying to sell you on a tour when you get off the train in Sintra will give you a chance to reassess. I did it on my own, bypassing all of those who were offering tours. Pena Palace itself, once inside, was easy to navigate. It's a quirky and colorful place, somewhat Disney-esque, and you'll walk though it in a long line of other tourists doing the same. The one place where you can escape the lines is out on the terraces, worth experiencing for the breathtaking views. And, if you've planned nothing more than getting back to Lisbon, do make time to enjoy the views from the castle's outdoor cafe (with rather lousy food). I was encouraged to bus back down to a certain spot then walked from there back to the town of SIntra and its train station. This is a worthy plan as the park itself is filled with beautiful sites, statues, and nature. Even if you've planned to see only Pena Palace this is a good way to see a bit more of what the park holds. read more

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Visiting Parque e Palácio Nacional da Pena felt almost mystical in the winter. Even on a rainy, foggy day, the palace emerging through the fog creates a surreal atmosphere that honestly adds to the experience rather than taking away from it. Love it! (Don't fuss, they have rain coats at the shop) Ironically, this dreamy hilltop retreat was originally built as a summer residence for Portuguese royalty. The colorful architecture and surrounding forested park make the entire area feel like a living storybook. Fog drifting through the terraces and towers gives the palace a dreamlike quality. There is also a restaurant on-site with hot food and wine, which was especially comforting on a cold, rainy day. A warm meal on the rainy day felt perfectly aligned with the setting. A practical tip: take the tour shuttle/car on the way up from the entrance (no visitors' cars allowed). The uphill walk can easily take over an hour and is quite steep; it might be unsafe in wet weather. Save your energy for exploring the palace and gardens instead. On the way back, you can skip the shuttle and enjoy a scenic downhill walk through Castelo dos Mouros and the surrounding forest trails all the way down to Sintra (40+ min). It's a peaceful descent through the forest and a great way to extend the visit. A must-see destination that feels magical in any weather, but especially enchanting in the fog. (Tickets are under 25 euros.) read more

Parque e Palácio Nacional da Pena - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Sintra, 11

The palace stands on the top of a hill in Sintra. The park opens at 9:00, but the palace opens at 9:30. We arrived before they opened and there was already a line. We didn't explore the gardens much. We headed straight to the palace past the Monumental Gate, which was a bit of a steep walk. The Courtyard of Arches right outside the palace is a must. Even though parts of it need a paint job, the colors are still vibrant. The interior isn't as big as it looks from the outside, but there are nice decorative touches. From the Queen's Terrace we could see the surrounding area. I also enjoyed the Sentry Walk- path around the parapet. Overall, the palace is a must if you're in Sintra. UNESCO World Heritage Site read more

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This park is massive. We spent several hours exploring the grounds, which was very well-maintained. We bought our tickets at the entrance, you need separate tickets to enter the park and to get into the castle. read more

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This park is around the original architectural influencer, The Pena Palace! Thick woods for all the privacy! The ancient laurel trees are giving you that hit of extra oxygen! From the palace, all you see is forest for miles! Beautiful! read more

Parque e Palácio Nacional da Pena - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Sintra, 11

What an amazing experience! The line was long to go see interior but the balconies were available. It's a beautiful castle and gives great insight to a different type of lifestyle centuries ago! Also take the bus to the top.. if I had walked it would have been a long walk on the whining roads. Just take the bus!!!! read more

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We purchased the ticket for the gardens and the grounds - not to tour the palace. We were told by some locals that you could skip the palace and still get up close, plus, shorter line to get in. All were true. The garden and grounds are beautiful and you can get seriously up close to the palace anyway and walk all around the outside and see the chapel and take pics. We even went into the cafe and gift shop - you just can't tour the inside of the palace which is another line to stand in and queue up. No thanks. It's super crowded as mentioned by others - I don't think they really have any rhyme or reason and it was difficult in some spaces to even walk. We were here in off-season in October so, I can't imagine how bad it is during prime time. The outside is faded and looks like it's in need of some TLC. My husband thinks it looks like Excalibur from the outside in Vegas. We enjoyed it - and of course we had to see it - but it wasn't my favorite thing we toured in Sintra. read more

The palace grounds was definitely a great experience in addition to the palace itself. There were plenty of spaces to enjoy and various historical structures that dotted the area. The gardens were just a nice relaxing contrast from the hustle and bustle of the little crowded towns including Sintra itself and I really enjoyed the peace and quiet here and the relaxing walk under the beautiful Portuguese summer sun. If you're looking for a nice contrast from Sintra town itself just come here and enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings after you enjoy the adjacent palace. read more

We came here from Lisbon via the commuter train. You can ride here easily from Oriente station, it's just a rather long trip. We then took a taxi to the palace. It's definitely weird and worth seeing but since it's one of the more popular attractions in Sintra, it's therefore quite crowded. We arrived around 10am which was early enough to skip traffic going up to the palace and ensure we could get tickets. We skipped the tickets to the interior as even the lady at the ticket counter said it wasn't worth it and just toured the gardens and grounds. As someone else commented the place looks like a royal was high on shrooms when designing this place- it's got a lot of strange mix mash features and I also agree with the reviewer who said it reminded her of Vegas. It's not as historical as other places like Queluz and the Moorish castle: definitely a lot of things that are meant to look older than they actually are. Dont sleep on the café which was super delicious and very reasonably priced! Also nice views from the café patio. read more

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AMAZING PARK SURROUNDING PENA PALACE IN SINTRA, PORTUGAL ========================================================== I love a beautiful park like the next person and I feel fortunate to have been able to explore this one a second time on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. The first time I visited this park was about six years ago before a family member's wedding in Sintra. This park is spectacular and not to be missed. It is shaded by all sorts of trees and there are ponds and all sorts of cool medieval type buildings. First we visited the Pena Palace and I felt nauseous the whole time because of driving on that windy road up to the palace. I should have known better and taken a Dramamine ahead of time. After our self guided tour of the palace we walked down the hill through the park. Breathing some fresh air while strolling through the gardens did the trick and I felt so much better. We met our driver for the day at the bottom. I would definitely recommend booking a driver for the day while you are in Sintra so you don't have to deal with parking. read more

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Went here on a recent trip to Sentra. Which is the town where National Palace of Pena is located. Getting to this palace is quite a trek up a mountain. I drove it but beware if you are not comfortable driving in extreme steep mountains you might want to take a bus or taxi up from the town below. Once there you have to park which is also a little bit of a bear. Overall once you get to the Palace it is beautiful and has stunning views. The Palace was very busy while we were there and a bit windy so do take a jacket. On the top of the Palace there is a small deli style restaurant which we ate a sandwich at. I did find a larger sit down restaurant inside which would allow you to not be blown around by the wind but the view from the roof top dining area was beautiful. Definitely worth the hike as long as you don't have mobility issues. read more

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Well I wish I could be writing a favorable review, but we had a disappointing and frustrating experience with our visit. We dedicated our day to visiting Sintra, pre-purchased reservations to see the Pena Palace & Moorish Castle, travelled from Lisbon-Rossio train station for a 45 minute ride, then caught an Uber outside the train station upon arrival in Sintra. The main entry road that goes up into the palace entrance was closed to car traffic due to the recent rain and our driver had to drop us off in the city center. We found a Tourism Center and they advised us to walk up the 1 hour trail to the main entrance. We proceed to the trail, which started off with moderate switchback trails and rock stairs. These conditions became progressively more and more difficult. It was so challenging that at some point people had to use both hands to support themselves on rocks, or stairs to advance to the next step. For an active person, this a mild/moderate hike, but for the average person this a very challenging hike. After about an hour of hiking thru the forest, we finally reached a dirt road that required another 10-15 hike to the main entrance. At that point, we scanned our pre-purchased tickets and allowed to proceed for another 40 minute walk up a steep switchback trail. We were sweating, huffing and puffing by the time we finally arrived to the castle. We thought our situation was bad, but then noticed an 87 year old man with family members at his side, hyperventilating and about to pass out. To make matters worse, we entered the castle grounds and attempted to get in line to tour the inside part of the castle, but told that we could not enter with our current tickets since we arrived late. Our pre-purchased tickets were for 9:30am, but we arrived at 11:30am due to the road closure. They gave us the option to go back down the hill (40 minute walk) to buy new tickets with an updated entry time. We also pre-purchased our tickets for the Moorish Castle, but had enough and decided to wrap up our regrettable experience. We proceeded to walk back down the hill, but determined not to go back down thru the forest trail and encountered a different entrance/exit point. Luckily, we came across a Tuk Tuk driver who offered to drive us back the train station for €10 per person. Don't get me wrong, the views from the top are spectacular, the castle looks incredible and I'm sure it was beautiful inside, but so many things can be done better. Not sure who is in charge, or if they even care, but there are some fairly easy things that can be done to improve this experience. Afterall, this seems to be the biggest attraction in this small town. Do better! Recommendations: -More signage should be available to give people options on how to walk up the hill (forest trail vs paved trail). -Allow people to pay for bus on the spot, not only with pre-purchase option. -Ticket office available at the actual castle entrance to allow people to exchange, or update tickets, especially with late arrivals due to your road closures and not requiring them to walk back down the hill to purchase new tickets. -Have your staff that are scanning tickets at the entrance warn people about their entry time and the need to update prior to proceeding up the 40 minute hill. read more

The grounds surrounding the palace were beautiful. The views were breathtaking! It is a steep hike to get to the palace so be prepared. The palace has areas that are in dire need of maintenance and rooms look like they are being ignored with dust. Other areas showed ongoing construction, so it was a little disappointing not to be able to view the entire castle. But looking at the architecture and some of the period pieces, along with the views, made the visit worthwhile. read more

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Great visit to the palace. Really well kept with good signs. Don't take the very expensive tuk tuks Get an Uber for 6-7€ read more

I visited this Palace because of so many good reviews and oh boy such a disappointment. 1st thing we bought xtra shuttle to take us up and they only have 2 shuttles so we had to wait for a long time. Then of course we had to wait again to go to the palace and that was another disappointment. They are so greedy by over selling tickets so the palace was so packed. You literally packed like sardines in a can. It was beyond ridiculous. The palace was not well maintain so it smelled awful and the things in there are collecting dust. I never been to a Palace that I just wanted it to end as soon as possible. For sure not recommended Don't let those pictures from instagram fool you. Even on the outside the walls were not well maintain and they looked awful. Save yourself time and energy and go to Quinta da regalerai instead. At least that place is huge and you don't get packed like sardines. read more

Gorgeous palace that certainly looks like it inspired many Disney movies. The colors are vibrant and architecture magnificent. The combination of architectural styles and details are awe-inspiring. I am so disappointed that both time and weather prohibited us from viewing the inside and balconies of the palace. We instead purchased tickets for the grounds, as we saw reviews stating that you can still enter the balconies and courtyard and that the palace tour is slow and crowded. The ability to view the balconies and courtyard was unfortunately not the case for us in Nov. 2022. Once we arrived at the top of the hill/palace entrance, there was a line where you had to scan your additional palace ticket to enter other spots. Perhaps there were other areas accessible? We were unable to see much of the ground due to the insane rain the day we went on our Sintra adventures. I know that many say to go first thing in the morning, but when we went to pre-purchase tickets there were far less people going right after lunch and right before close. This is likely because the bus loop and tour groups tend to start here. Worth a stop, but I would definitely make sure the weather is on your side for exploring Sintra. read more

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Pena Palace is a magnificent, stunning castle that overlooks the entirety of Sintra. It is a must-visit when in town and really makes you feel like you've entered into a fairy tale. Access is available via the tourist bus or by hiking up the very steep hill to get to the sites. When you are at the foot of the palace, there are kiosks to purchase a ticket (along with other nearby attractions). Note: if you just want to visit the palace and the grounds, you ONLY need to pay for the Pena Palace park ticket which is cheaper than the interior tour. Those snappy shots in front of the beautiful palace itself? Yep, you only need the park ticket, not the inside tour. After going inside, I can honestly say that it's passable if you've already visited other famous castle sites. Hopefully when you visit the weather will also be nice. When matched with a gorgeous sunny sky, it is simply captivating. read more

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Very cool palace, quite the hike to get up. We didn't have to pre buy a timed ticket there were plenty at our time. You're kind of herded through the inside like cattle to see the interior rooms, it gets packed!Definitely worth a stop! read more

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Definitely a good idea to pre-purchase tickets online. We visited in December, so it wasn't too crowded but if you're visiting during peak season, you want to make sure you've secured your tickets and for an early time slot to try to beat the crowds. We booked a 10 AM time slot and also paid a few euros extra to take the shuttle up. I believe you have a half an hour grace period but if you go past that, they'll turn you away. The layout of the palace has foot traffic going in one direction. So it's not really like a museum where you can go back and look at things. You kind of have to just follow the flow. It took us a little over an hour to walk through everything, which includes photo ops. Getting here was a little bit annoying. The train is convenient. It takes about an hour to get here from Rossio Square. However, it's a hassle when you arrive. The castle isn't close to the train station so you'll need to take a bus. But the only bus available is a hop on/hop off bus that stops at other castles, and it's €13.50 per person (you can use this to get back to the station as well). We didn't realize until after we had already paid for bus tickets for 5 people that it would have been WAY cheaper and quicker to just take an Uber. So we paid €60 something to sit on a hop on/hop off for half an hour, when it could have cost us probably less than €10 for a 15-20 minute Uber. So don't make the same mistake we made. In fact, when chatting with an Uber driver later on, he mentioned that it probably would have been cheaper for us to Uber straight from the city centre rather than take the train. Something to look into if you plan on visiting the palace. Aside from the transportation mishap, it was still a nice visit. The castle is beautiful and so colorful - even on a rainy/cloudy day. Definitely a must see when visiting Lisbon! read more

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The palace has an amazingly eclectic collection of decorative arches, tile, ornate windows, detailed ceilings. (Don't forget to look up when you visit!) It was commissioned in 1854 by King Ferdinand II, and served as a summer residence for the royals until they fled Portugal during the revolution in 1910. Today, it has UNESCO World Heritage status and is of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. A must see on your next visit to Sintra! read more

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Definitely have to come here once if you're in the area. Pro tip to get early tickets to beat the crowds. Fun to walk around the grounds in the exterior and learn about a bit of history of Portugal. read more

Parque e Palácio Nacional da Pena - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Sintra, 11

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This is an absolute must see when in Sintra Portugal and Lisbon Portugal. Just 45 minutes away by train from Lisbon it's like visiting the Disney castle! Get tickets in advance and group them with the Moorish Castle which is basically next door. The building/castle is the best part. Colors look awesome and the views are great! Just don't wander around in the park too long... you might get lost like we did and we were not prepared to hike that long in dresses and sandals. Wear hiking shoes! So many hills. Stay on the WIDE paths. That's my advice. And just skip the park and go straight to the castle, because when you exit the castle you could go through the gardens anyway on the way to Moorish castle... read more

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The Palácio Pena is the top tourist spot in Sintra for sure (and there are a wealth of gorgeous & interesting sites). That means it's crowded no matter the season. I offer some tips to perhaps make it easier: *Go early! Grab the train that will get you there as the palace opens. It gets exponentially more crowded as the day goes on. *Consider taking Uber or Bolt up instead of the bus especially if you're more than 2 people. It will be the same price or maybe cheaper and then you're not fighting with a whole bus of people. *Buy tickets ahead of time including the shuttle. Once you arrive get in that shuttle line ASAP as it's small and it gets packed up. You could always walk up too but IMO it's a steep 20min walk (with more uphill walking when you get there). Save your legs - you'll need them later. *Consider touring the interior immediately especially if there's no line. The inside is small and passages are tight - the earlier you do this the better. The interior is worth seeing IMO - it's unique and very beautiful and surprisingly intimate. *If you aren't afraid of heights there's a wall walk that gives you incredible views. If you are afraid, there are still fabulous views from the many terraces. Be prepared for the Insta-folks that are oblivious to everyone around the attempt to get the perfect shot. *The grounds are absolutely massive - you could easily spend all day exploring them. This was a really cool spot for sure! IMO there's more history at the Palácio National in the center but Pena is more visually striking. read more

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The exterior colors of this castle and its architecture make it worth the trip! The three bits of information you must know: 1) I recommend only going to into the park and checking out the exterior (and not going inside) 2) Go as early as possible and avoiding waiting in like 5 queues (train, bus, another bus, entrance, etc.--it's ridiculous) 3) If you're in a group of 3-4 people and coming from Lisbon, consider just taking a taxi back/forth which may be cheaper/faster and more comfortable than the train/bus We took the advice of many people are decided to not go into the castle that is apparently lackluster. It seems that in many European castles, it's really just the outside you need to see. Lisbon is one of the best cities in Europe and close-access to this park/palace makes it even greater! read more

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Portugal is still trying to figure out tourism. Spending 2+ hours to get here, having purchased "time slot" tickets and finding 3 places to purchase tickets that day made this a horrendous experience. Timed tickets mean limiting the number of people who enter. Portugal let's in anyone who pays, so lines are massively long everywhere and you move through the palace at a snail pace or less. Took most of the day to do just this place. Until Portugal understands timed tickets so you are not waiting hours to get in, hours to get there and hours to be moved through a site, this is no fun, nothing useful and no staff to help or clean anything. Plus it is massively expensive to get up and down there from the train station. Just go hiking and enjoy nature. read more

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This is a must do day trip from Lisbon. The architecture of the castle is amazing and the views from the castle were breathtaking. It's best to pre-purchase a ticket online. The ticket will get you in anytime however you can only enter the castle during your reserved time. Reserved times are every 30 minutes. We drove there however you can get from Lisbon to Sinatra by train and take a tuk-tuk or I believe a taxi to the castle. You should be in decent shape as the ascent up is about 0.5 miles. Once in the castle, there is a gift shop, cafeteria and restrooms. There is an outside part you can roam freely. There is a queue for going to the inside part of the castle. read more

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As far as palaces go around the world, the interior of Pena Palace definitely lacks that wow factor. Our guide even warned us of that. But it's the most famous thing to see in the area for good reason. The exterior has a stunning variety of architecture from different eras, and the view of the valley and the Atlantic Ocean from the patio is astounding. As a pro tip, be among the 5% of visitors who access the palace via a steep but rewarding walk through the woods, rather than riding to the top and waiting in a long line at the main gate. You'll have to buy your tickets online to be afforded this secret route since there is a guard but no ticket taker at this entrance. But you'll probably be all alone on the walk up if you take this stroll in the morning. Let the rest of the crowd line up at the main gate while you leisurely walk through a forest with water features and delightful songbirds. read more

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This is in my view the most important monument in the Lisbon area, as you feel like you're in an otherworldly place. Since we went there in the low season, we didn't encounter any of the horrors that others experienced with large crowds and slow movement of the line for entry and visit. We spent more than 2 hours inside the palace. After you finish with the palace, don't forget to visit the park, which is beautiful and also magical. Since we have four people, we just took a car for hire (Bolt) there quite inexpensively. read more

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This magnificent Palace sits in a picturesque park overlooking Sintra. Built in the late 14th century is the only surviving royal palace from the Middle Ages. It combines Moorish, Gothic, and Manueline architecture. It is an incredible look into how the Royal family lived. The furnishings and art work are amazing in addition to the rooms and their décor. One of the highlights of our visit to Portugal. read more

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A Portugal Cinderella castle. I look at this castle and it give me a big thought about this castle like LEGO color castle. This castle has a lot of acute corners and pop up structure. That make the unique of this castle. It is one of the symbol for Portugal and classify as seven wonders of Portugal. It was monastery in late 14th century and become ruin from fire and earthquake. It was rebuilt and completed in middle of 18th century. The old chapel is still intact from 14th century. It is UNESCO heritage site. The visit to inside of the castle was not allowed to take pictures. The castle is build for defend and advantage for the soldier inside. Not sure this castle has face the war. But it is a summer palace for the king of Portugal's that time. read more

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I know that I tend to love just about everything, so you might be thinking, "Wow, something else Niki says she likes. How surprising." This place, however, gains a SIXTH STAR in my book. It's probably my favorite discovery of all time while travelling. I've never felt so much like I'm in a fairytale and am still in shock that this place is real. The area of Sintra (where this palace is located) is about an hour outside of Lisbon, Portugal. You can take a bus for a day trip and explore the many magnificent castles scattered throughout the hills. These castles are no ordinary castles though - they are absolutely magical. This one in particular seemed the coolest, so it's the one we chose to visit (we only had time for one - so sad). This place is like if Disney World had a baby with King Ferdinand II in the 16th century had a love child. This palace seems to be way before the King's time, complete with it's hugely bright colors, extremely funky designs and interesting layout. It's like the 16th century was prepping for an Instagram age. I've never seen anything like it. Once you pay your entry fee and climb the steep hill to the castle, you are open to exploring the castle at your own pace. There are also tours, but since we had limited time, we explored on our own. I could've spent hours here, but we probably did the whole thing in an hour and a half (it was about to close). The views of the sprawling land from the balconies and windows are spectacular and looked out over the other castles scattered throughout the land. You will literally have to pinch yourself to remind yourself that it's real. I'm always surprised that I don't hear about more people visiting this place, as it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you have more than a few hours, be sure to tour the other castles in the area. They're all fairly close together and are each EXTREMELY different in terms of styles, colors, time periods, etc and it's fascinating that they all coexist in such near proximity yet look so starkly different. While in quarantine, start researching a future trip to Sintra! read more

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Palace Review Upon hearing a very convincing recommendation from our driver, we decided to check out the Palace de Penha. Arriving by car, the winding roads through scenic, hilly terrain was the last remaining enjoyment of our day. Once we reached the drop off point, we were appalled to see thousands of scrappy tourists fighting over a spot in line. The erratic and senseless vision of people didn't deter us, but would prove to be an ominous omen of confusion and wasted time. Finally, we determined that there were two ticket lines- one via kiosk and one via human agent. There were also QR codes scattered around the Palace entry, encouraging people to book tickets online. The sheer mass of crowded visitors resulted in a lack of internet connection. We finally secured a spot at the kiosk where confusion continued. I decided to click a few features as prompted, and eventually my tickets printed on a variety of random papers. Next, the line to present tickets at entry awaited us. We tried to shimmy our way near the beginning of the line only to be barked at by a glorified Portuguese bouncer. "Respect the line" he shouted at me as I humbly tried to show him our receipts. Defeated, I shifted back a little ways, trying to decipher the beginning of the absolute cluster fuck in which he dubbed a line. No real queue or organization left less aggressive folks in a purgatory of time. Eventually my confident presentation of our tickets snagged us a spot in the next line. Following the entry to the next palace portal we tried to figure out where to begin. The lack of signage or maps around this property made the lost people all around us act in what I can only describe as bleak submission. We hypothesized that a lone sign read "525 meters" to the palace. We began our walk but the steep incline deterred our "less than spry" leg situation. We discovered there was some type of waiting area for bus transit to the top of the hilly terrain. Waiting with the nearest crowd of tourists, we presented our tickets to the bus driver. Unfortunately, the foreign kiosk proved too clever for me and I had to purchase additional transit tickets for our group. The crowded bus required face coverings, but was one of few spots to do so. After a brief but bumpy drive to the drop off spot, we exited the bus and looked ahead towards our destination. Thousands of people walked and stood mindlessly snapping photos and climbing their way to the next hill. As we finally made our way to the palace entrance we found ourselves in an even more intimate cluster fuck of sweaty peasants. The sheer scale of the palace was impressive and foreboding, however the dirty walls and faded paint were more disturbing up close. There was still no indication of where to go, despite a line longer than the Appalachian trail. With desperation and confusion my friend was able to find a helpful, English speaking tour guide. Briefly interrupted by an ambulance that parted the crowded seas of people, she asked him for some information. The guide advised us that the line was for viewing the interior of the castle- pointless and not worth the wait. "I've been doing this every day for seven years" he noted, and told us the better option was to walk the outdoor perimeter, walls and gardens. We took his advice with relief, and headed through a gift shop to the rooftop access point. We saw an option for a restaurant and stopped for some wine. I waited in yet another, infuriatingly slow line to get a bottle of asinine white wine to share with my friend. We drank the sour concoction and headed to the top of the walls. The view itself was grand and idyllic, despite being filled shoulder to shoulder with tacky tourists posing with selfie sticks. We walked around, finished our wine and made our way back to the bus transfer line. In summary, the palace was a morbidly disappointing experience. The crowds. The lines. The confusion. It Left us all in disbelief that this popular destination couldn't be organized to a slightly more efficient degree. This dirty tourist trap is a vile and unimpressive way to waste your day in Portugal. read more

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Parque e Palácio Nacional da Pena is a beautiful palace in Sintra. Although there are tons of landmarks and tourist spots in Sintra, I would definitely recommend coming to Pena Palace. I took the bus up since it's really high up on a hill but after getting tickets, there is still a short uphill to get to the actual palace. The palace is made up of walls with different colors on each side. From the different angles of the outsides of the castle, you get to see views that are really nice. I also went into the palace which had a guided direction of rooms to go through. It was unique learning about the different rooms where the royalty stayed in but they restrict you from taking photos of the inside. If you're coming here, I would recommend buying a ticket for just the outdoors. Although it was cool checking out in the inside of the palace, the space around the palace was definitely better. The views are great and the colors are perfect for cute photos. There's also lots to see, including gardens that you have to walk to, so it is pretty time consuming but it's worth it. read more

Parque e Palácio Nacional da Pena - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Sintra, 11

Pena Palace is a 'MUST SEE' tour if you are in the Lisbon area! It is approximately 25-30 minutes from downtown Lisbon! Tip: Arrive when the palace opens because there will be tourists arriving 'ALL DAY' and if you are not there early enough..wait times in line can be up to 60 minutes! Warning: Be prepared to walk! There are many steep hills to get to the palace if you don't pay the $3 Euros for the shuttle bus..but there are even more hills and steps within this large palace..dress comfortably and wear sensible shoes! Now...the place ..it was taken over by A young King who was only 19 years old! He was a visionary and it is a true honor to see in person all that he conceived and planned for the grounds; the palace itself and how it has been kept up all these year later! I really enjoyed this tour because our tour guide was enthusiastic and shared many significant facts about the young king..his queen and the history of Portugal! read more

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Really awesome experience. The tile was really gorgeous and there's lots to explore. Worth the wait and climb. read more

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We booked our visit through Trip Advisor and paid for a private tour with hotel pickup and entire day of personal service. It included the Skip the Line ticket. The entrance gate opens at 10am. We arrived at 9:30am and the line already had approximately 100 people. By 10am several large tour buses arrived and the line grew to several hundreds. We recommend to arrive early and pay for the Skip the Line ticket. The weather was perfect today, January 5th Sunday for our visit. It was 62 and bright and sunny. This attraction is very hilly. We were grateful for the cool but sunny weather because this place would be potentially hot and miserable during summer. Despite our visit today technically being low season we were in shock at the thousands of people arriving. It was quite crowded in all areas of the castle complex however it was not miserable. I recommend to visit during low season. Many of the designated walkways both indoor and outdoors are very very narrow and we encountered multiple traffic jams of adults and children in strollers. More reason to visit off season as this would be a nightmare with high season crowds. The palace and grounds are well maintained and absolutely stunning!! Our private car service and guide allowed us to enjoy the complex at leisure without being rushed. To best experience indoors and the various walking paths you need to budget approximately four hours. The views are stunning. Check the weather and book this place for a sunny day. Bathrooms were small but clean. Men's bathrooms all had waits of approximately five minutes. Women's bathrooms had long lines at all locations. Guards were enforcing gender for the bathrooms and not allowing women to use the stalls in the men's room so monitor your water intake and plan bathroom stops carefully. The complete experience was incredible!!!! We highly recommend this historic landmark !! read more

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Pena Palace is at the top of any Sintra itinerary, and for good reason. It's a Disneyland-esque absurdly colored and decorated getaway palace for the old Portuguese royals. It's situated on the highest hill and offers vast views stretching from the Atlantic (to the west) to the outskirts of Lisbon (to the east). The palace gardens themselves are ginormous and worth visiting even if you don't go inside the palace. You can go on lots of hikes (if you're ready for lots of steep inclines) and enjoy being in the woods. That said, it's extremely touristy and busy. Your whole palace experience will be waiting in lines. You need to arrive at least 30 minutes before your ticket time in order to ensure you'll enter on time. And even once you're inside, it's just one massive queue throughout the palace (like being on a moving walkway from which you just see the sights as you go along). It was still fun for me, but definitely takes a lot of time and can be frustrating for some. read more

Parque e Palácio Nacional da Pena - View from one of the courtyards - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Sintra, 11

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When you've been to Europe too many times, a lot of the architectures (cathedrals, palaces, castles, etc) start to look the same. They start to merge together in your mind in a big glop of memory such that it's hard to recall certain places. This Pena Palace is no such place. The palace is high up in a hill. If you read blogs and travel websites, they all recommend you to take the bus up. I, on the contrary, recommend that you take Uber right from when you get out of the Sintra train station. So much faster. If you buy 2 Sintra attractions or more online, you can save 5% off each ticket. However, as mentioned above, I wasn't interested in seeing a lot of architectures, unless they were super famous... Therefore, I went to Sintra only to see Pena Palace. When the driver dropped us off, you'd have to hike up a tiny little hill to get to the palace. As the Palace came into our view, I was taken aback. It was so colorful and picturesque. It definitely did not resemble anything I've seen before. There were many photo ops. However, I must say there were also tons of inconsiderate people who hogged the same spot for so long even though they were aware there was a queue waiting to take the same photos. Tips: 1) I'd recommend just buying the Park ticket instead of the Park + Palace. If you've been to other palaces such as the Versailles, then this palace would probably be a "meh" to you. 2) go to the Park as early as you can to avoid tourists. We were there by 10 am and there were a lot of people already. By the time we left 2 hours later, the queue to get in the Palace was even longer, not to mention how much larger the crowd had become in the park. read more

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It is very disappointing to buy your tickets ahead of time for a time slot, get there 30 minutes early, and still be told there will be a 3 hour wait, that they are that far behind. Clearly they oversell in the extreme and it isn't an appropriate business practice and makes for a lousy day when you plan to see things. We did still see beautiful things at this site but waited in line for everything and decided not to go inside due to the very long wait. They need to stop overselling and find a way to honor entrance times. The history and architecture here is amazing. It is a shame that they run it so poorly. It is worth going to just to see the outside and don't waste your time trying to go in unless you want this to be your entire day. We did stand in the line to see the well (Actually our private driver for the day stood in line while we explored and then he texted us when he was getting close). This was still annoying despite having this luxury. The well if worth climbing down and having a tour guide to explain all the history and imagery at this site is a must. There is so much you would miss or not understand without one. The caves are fascinating, all made, not natural, and the stories behind the eccentric owner are amazing. Go, it is worth going, but temper your expectations and decide what you want to wait in for and what you don't. For us, waiting 3 hours to go in despite having a time slot was not worth it but waiting for the well was. read more

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