Can you walk to Pena Palace from Sintra?

An alternative option is to follow the Caminho de Santa Maria footpath, which leads uphill from the historic centre of Sintra to the Castelo dos Mouros and Pena Palace. Be warned, this is a very steep hill and a demanding 55-minute hike, which can be very tiring in the heat of summer.



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How to Get to Pena Palace
  1. STEP 1: TAKE THE TRAIN. There's a direct train that connects Lisbon to Sintra's central hub so head to Rossio Train Station, located downtown just off of the famed Plaza Rossio (AKA King Pedro IV Square). ...
  2. STEP 2A: TAKE THE BUS. ...
  3. STEP 2B: TAKE A TAXI. ...
  4. STEP 2C: TAKE A TUK-TUK. ...
  5. STEP 3: BUY YOUR TICKETS.


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The 434 bus route is the best way to travel up the Pena Palace from Sintra train station. The bus follows a one-directional loop that departs from the Sintra train station and heads up the hill to the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace, before returning to the train station via the historic centre of Sintra.

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Once inside, it takes about 45 minutes to an hour to walk through the interior of the palace. If you have less than 2 hours to spend at Pena Palace, I'd honestly skip the interior and use that time exploring the outside terraces, watchtowers, and gardens.

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In Sintra, you can get around by walking, by bus, or by taxi. If you're just in Sintra for 24 hours, walking will take up too much time. With that amount of time, it's best to take the train from Lisbon to Sintra, and then use Sintra's bus lines or taxis to get around.

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To reach the Palace of Pena, follow the signposted footpath as far as the main entrance to the Park of Pena and then climb to the Palace. This walk takes around 30 minutes.

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The best time to visit the Pena Palace is in the early morning (9 am) or late afternoon (after 4 pm), when it has fewer visitors. This is perfect if you want to avoid crowds and tours which usually arrive between 10 am to 3pm.

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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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A paid transfer service (which you can choose when buying your ticket), that brings guests from the Park Entrance to the Palace. The service runs every 15 minutes and is wheelchair accessible. A free hop-on hop-off transfer service that runs between the Palace and the Chalet of the Countess of Edla.

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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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24-hour unlimited Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with 360-degree panoramic views of Sintra. Access to 2 bus routes around Sintra, with stops near palaces, parks, and beaches. Create your own itinerary to explore the city and its popular attractions.

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We took the Uber to Pena Palace last month, it is the best option if you have 2 or more people. The uber ride costed around 7 Euro. The bus driver charged you $4 per person for one way ticket. The Uber will send you to the ticket booth at the Palace entrance ( exactly the same place where the bus will drop you).

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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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If visiting the Sintra region during the summer plan to head to Sintra either early or late in the day to avoid the crowds and the intense sun. Weekends tend to be busier than weekdays and all of the main sights of Sintra are open every day during the high season.

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Starting your day before 9 a.m. is ideal! (The buses in Sintra start running between 9:15 and 9:30 a.m., so if you can be there around that time, it will be less crowded than later in the day.)

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The Villa Sassetti Trail is the main hiking trail connecting the Pena Palace and Moorish Castles to the Old Town of Sintra. The mostly shaded hike starts near the top of the old town and winds through beautiful gardens on a cobblestone walking path and past Villa Sassetti (which isn't yet open to the public).

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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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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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Exploring Sintra town centre – As obvious as it sounds, but exploring the historic centre of Sintra is free.

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