Is National Palace of Sintra worth visiting?

Do not make the common mistake of missing Sintra National Palace while visiting Sintra. It is the best but the least-known palace there. Learn here why it is worth the visit. Just one day to visit Sintra, Portugal is not enough to explore all the wonders this town offers.



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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.

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Visit Pena Palace One of the most popular attractions in Sintra, the Pena Palace is a stunning 19th-century Romantic palace that sits atop a hill overlooking the town. The lavish palace was commissioned by King Ferdinand II and stands proudly over the landscape.

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The Monserrate Palace is a palatial villa located near Sintra, the traditional summer resort of the Portuguese court in the foothills overlooking the Atlantic Ocean north of the capital, Lisbon.

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In short: Pena Palace is more famous, but Sintra National Palace is more impressive inside. You still need to check out the Pena Palace from outside. The majority of the tourists arrive on a day trip and don't have enough time to visit all the palaces in Sintra.

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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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Sintra in half a day No matter what you've seen or read, half a day is not long enough to fully appreciate Sintra. Three hours is only just enough time to see the historic centre and the Quinta da Regaleira (or Palácio Nacional de Sintra).

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I advise starting your day in Sintra with a taxi ride to Pena Palace. This colorful castle is located on top of the hill, so it's best to start here and walk your way downwards towards the town center. You should know that the walk from the entrance to the palace is quite steep, so wear good shoes.

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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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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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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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Many people head to Sintra, Portugal to see famous sites like Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle. But another site well worth seeing is Quinta da Regaleira. Included under Sintra's UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, this 4-hectare estate is absolutely magical.

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The stunning Palacio Nacional da Pena is one of the finest tourist attractions in Portugal. This beautiful palace is an outstanding example of the 19th-century Romanticism style of architecture, with its vividly painted terraces, ornamental battlements and statues of mythological creatures.

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