Do you have to buy a ticket for Pena Palace?

Yes, you can enter inside the Pena Palace by buying a ticket online or on site for €14, or joining this guided tour from Lisbon, combining a visit to other important attractions in Lisbon.



Yes, you must purchase a ticket to enter the National Palace of Pena in Sintra, Portugal, and since 2024, the system has become quite rigid to manage overcrowding. There are two main types of tickets: a "Park" ticket and a "Palace + Park" ticket. The Park-only ticket allows you to wander the 200 hectares of forest, gardens, and the exterior terraces where you can see the famous colorful facades of the castle. However, if you want to see the royal dining rooms, bedrooms, and private quarters, you must have a Palace ticket, which requires a specific date and time slot. These slots sell out weeks in advance during the peak summer season, so booking online ahead of time is essential. If you arrive late for your designated 30-minute entry window, you will likely be denied entry to the interior. As of 2026, many visitors opt for the Park ticket alone to avoid the interior crowds while still capturing the iconic photos of the vibrant yellow and red towers from the outer battlements.

People Also Ask

The standard ticket to the Palace and Park costs €14, while the ticket only to Pena Park is €7.5. And if you book your tickets online, you'll also have access to a 5% discount!

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

The 434 bus service is designed for tourists, and the fares reflect this. The highly promoted 24-hour ticket costs €15, a single fare costs € 4.10, and the Pena Circuit Round Trip €7.60.

MORE DETAILS

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.


MORE DETAILS

The best way to get from Sintra (Station) to Pena National Palace without a car is to line 434 bus which takes 25 min and costs €3 - €5.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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 (you must have purchased a ticket for this transport in advance).

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

How long to spend in the Palacio da Pena? A visit to the Palacio da Pena will take at least two and half hours, and could be much longer. The staterooms and interior of the palace take 40 minutes to fully appreciate, while the terraces need another 30 minutes.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS