Can you see the outside of Pena Palace without a ticket?

All around the Pena Palace you'll find many terraces, all perfect spots to take good pictures and gaze at breathtaking views. NOTE: you cannot access these terraces without a palace and park ticket!



No, you cannot view the actual exterior of the Pena Palace up close or access its famous colorful terraces without purchasing at least a "Park Ticket." While you can see the palace from distant viewpoints in the town of Sintra or from the neighboring Moorish Castle, the palace itself is situated deep within the gated Pena Park. To stand in the courtyard, walk along the bright red and yellow walls, or take those iconic Instagram photos on the terraces, you must pay the entry fee. The "Park Ticket" is a more affordable alternative to the "Palace and Park Ticket"; it grants you access to the entire 200-hectare forest, the exterior architecture, and the battlements, but excludes the interior staterooms. Many visitors actually prefer this option, as the interior often has long, slow-moving lines, whereas the exterior "Park" access allows you to enjoy the most visually stunning parts of the site at your own pace without a timed entry slot for the building itself.

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The only way to enter the palace is via a 'time slot ticket', which provides a 30-minute window for you to enter the palace building. These tickets cost €14 and can be purchased at the ticket office on the day of your trip, or from GetYourGuide.com (click here) prior to your visit.

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Where is the best viewpoint for Pena Palace in Sintra? There are several viewpoints in Sintra that offer great views of Pena Palace, but the most popular ones are the Pena Palace Terraces and the Cruz Alta viewpoint.

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A castle ? Pena Palace ? sits very high up on the hill above Sintra. So high, it's not easily seen from town. Constructed in the 1800s, it's considered one of the world's great examples of Romantic architecture. Up on that same hill, there is an 10th century fortified wall and battlement built by the Moors.

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Standard fare is 5 euros per person. They are slower than taxi but make for a very pleasant, open air ride up to Pena Palace. And no waiting for bus. There are tuk tuks waiting at the train station, at city center/National Palace, at Pena Palace and at Moorish Castle.

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In my experience it's best to visit Pena Palace in the morning as it gets packed, while the other attractions have more manageable crowds. Ensure you book the tickets to Pena Palace online in advance to save significant time. The visit will take you around two hours.

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As Pena Palace is the most visited palace in Portugal, which offers beautiful scenery with changing seasons, it is recommended to visit the place early in the morning after its opening, as it offers you more time to explore all the aspects of the attraction from the palace's interiors to its parks and surroundings.

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Getting to Quinta da Regaleira by Public Transport Catch bus 434 from Sintra Estacao and get down at Estrada Pena N16. Buses depart every 15 minutes for this route. From Estrada Pena N16, the estate is just 1.1 km away. You will have to walk this distance.

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It became the summer residence of the Royal family. Under his explicit command, the monastery was painted in red and the new building in yellow. In 1994 the original colours, which disappeared with time, red for the former monastery and yellow for the new palace were restored.

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Parking & Transportation Changes in Sintra: You are no longer allowed to drive and park private vehicles near the Pena Palace, Moorish Castle, and other attractions in the Sintra Hills. Unfortunately, we found out the hard way that you can no longer self-drive and park at the entrance of the Pena Palace in Sintra.

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If you arrive at the Palace of Pena after the time slot you booked, you will not be able to enter and your ticket cannot be refunded (see the general sales conditions here). Plan your trip ahead, to ensure you do not get late.

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If you take an uber straight to the Pena palace, that would definitely be easiest (We drove from Lisbon and had to find parking in town and a way to get up the mountain because there is not much parking up there). I would get there 45-60 min before your scheduled time. Then you can walk down to the Moorish castle.

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A typical visit to the Castelo dos Mouros lasts 60-90 minutes, and is a surprisingly large complex. The peak hours are the early afternoon (12:00-14:00) just after everyone has had their lunch in Sintra town and then head into the hills, where the Pena Palace and Moors castle are situated.

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Don't be like me—wear sneakers, or at least sturdier sandals. Due to its altitude and location closer to the coast, Sintra is often chillier than Lisbon, which was definitely the case when we visited. I recommend dressing in layers, and bringing a light jacket or sweater.

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I recommend going with the park/palace entry because it's worth the €14 euros. Now bring good comfortable walking shoes because when I tell you that you'll be doing a lot of walking only if you plan to explore more than just the palace.

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Annual passes allow you to visit Sintra's heritage sites as many times as you like throughout the year. Here are the monuments you can visit with this pass: Park and Palae of Pena. Chalet of the Countess of Edla. Park and Palace of Monserrate.

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