The walk from the main entrance of Pena Park (the gate where buses and taxis drop you off) to the actual Pena Palace building takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes. It is an uphill walk of about 600 to 700 meters through lush, shaded forest paths. While the path is paved and well-maintained, it is quite steep, which can be challenging for those with limited mobility or in the summer heat. For those who wish to skip the climb, there is a transfer shuttle (tram) that runs frequently between the park entrance and the palace entrance for a small fee (usually around €3.00). If you are walking from the Sintra historic town center all the way up the mountain to the palace, the journey is much more strenuous, taking about 45 to 60 minutes via the Vila Sassetti or Santa Maria trails. Most visitors find that once they reach the palace itself, there is still a significant amount of walking and stair-climbing involved to explore the terraces and the interior, so saving your energy by taking the shuttle or the 20-minute park walk is generally the most balanced approach.