Pena Palace exterior view with purple, red, yellow turrets and terraces making it look like a fairytale castle.

Pena Palace parking & other important info for your visit

ByMelissa Kruse Hours Posted on Hours Updated on

Are you planning a visit to Pena Palace and looking for where to park? Read on for some helpful information!

The fairytale facade of Pena Palace makes it a fun sight seeing destination. The palace showcases 19th-century Romanticism and is a fusion of Gothic, Manueline, Moorish, and Renaissance architectural styles, set against the backdrop of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. But I’d advise planning your visit ahead of time because getting to the Palace can be a bit confusing and tickets to see the inside have strict entrance timings.

Is Pena Palace worth visiting?

Honestly, I was a little let down my visit to Pena Palace due to the confusing information online about parking and the scammers taking advantage of tourists.

If you want a hassle free attraction to visit, I’d recommend skipping it and going elsewhere. Shortly after our disappointing experience there, we heard from another couple we met in Duoro Valley that they had such a hard time with parking scammers that they drove away without even visiting the Palace.

That said, once we got up to the Palace it is a very unique and cool structure with great views beyond it.

I bought a park only ticket and am glad I did for several reasons. First, there is no time specific entrance for the park only tickets so you don’t have to stress about getting up to the palace at a specific time. Second, unless you are very interested in the historical and architectural aspects of the palace, then there’s no need to buy tickets to see the interior.

What ticket should I buy for Pena Palace?

There are several important things to know about tickets to Pena Palace:

🔹You can purchase tickets online or at the palace. Buying online is recommended to avoid lines.

🔹There are two tickets you can buy to Pena Palace: the Palace and Park or just the Park. I recommend getting just the Park ticket, for less than half the price of the Palace and Park ticket. This is what I did and all pictures in this post are from areas you can access with a park only ticket. Only buy the ticket to see the inside of the Palace if you have a keen interest in history.

🔹ARRIVE EARLY! If you buy the Palace ticket you’ll need to select a specific entry time that you cannot miss. The entrance to Palace is a 30 minute walk from the entrance to the Park so arrive with lots of time to park and make your way up to the palace.

🔹If you buy a ticket to the Park only you can enter at either entrance. The first entrance you can enjoy a stroll through the natural beauty of the park. The second entrance is a shorter five minute walk up to the Palace.

🔹With just the park ticket you can enter at any time. You can explore all parts around the Palace including terraces and turrets. The only thing you miss out on is the interior rooms. Most of the grandeur of the Palace is outdoors. I have also heard the interior is very narrow and crowded, which makes touring the inside not as enjoyable.

How to get to Pena Palace

From Sintra’s historic center, Pena Palace is a bit of a hike (literally, if you want to walk it).

🚗Driving: If you have a rental car, you can drive to Pena Palace. There’s two parking lots near the entrance, but space is limited. Also, the one-way road around the Palace can get crowded with traffic in the summer months. You can park in the outskirts of town in parking lots like the one near the train station then Uber up to the Palace entrances.

🚌Bus: Bus 434 is a tourist bus that loops from the Sintra train station to Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle. Buses run approximately every 15 minutes, but it’s best to check the current timetable. It’s also costly for a day trip ticket, which will put you out €13.50 per person. Given the less than stellar reviews about the bus on TripAdvisor and the overcrowding, you may want to avoid.

🚗Uber: To avoid the hassle of the bus, you can Uber from the train station. It’s also less costly than the bus, especially if you’re in a group.

🚶Walking: If you’re up for a challenge, you can hike up to Pena Palace from Sintra’s historic center. The walk is steep and takes about an hour from the center of town, but you’ll be rewarded with nice views and Sintra’s natural beauty.

🚐 From Lisbon: If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of driving to and finding parking at Pena Palace, you can take a tour from Lisbon. This takes the pressure off you for logistics so you can just enjoy the day!

➡️ Lisbon: Guided Day Tour of Sintra, Pena, Regaleira & Cascais: This tour starts in Lisbon and you’ll be taken by a bus to Sintra, where you’ll get a guided tour of Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira. After Sintra you’ll be driven another 30 minutes to the picturesque fishing village of Cascais. You’ll have an hour to explore Cascais before returning to Lisbon in the evening.

➡️ Lisbon: Sintra, Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca, & Cascais Tour: This tour starts in Lisbon and you’ll be driven to Pena Palace for a guided tour, then have time for lunch in Sintra afterward. Next you’ll be driven to the beautiful coastline of Cabo da Roca. And finally after another 30 minute drive you’ll have time to explore the seaside town of Cascais.

Where to park at Pena Palace

There are two main entrances to Pena Palace and both have free public parking lots.

The first entrance is located here and is where you’ll want to park to explore the Park before walking 30 minutes up to Pena Palace. It’s near the ticket office to Moorish Castle.

The second entrance is located here. If you enter there you skip most of the Park and it’s shorter 5 minute walk up to the palace.

You can enter the Palace grounds at either entrance with tickets for the Palace and Park or just the Park.

If the free public lots are full then you can utilize the services of people directing you to parking and then get shuttled up the palace. Be aware the roads get busy so if you’re looking to avoid the headache, you can park elsewhere in town and pay a fee to get driven up to the castle by private van, tuk-tuk, or even call yourself an Uber.

The lots were wide open when we went (in the fall, after prime tourist season) but we still hit two spots where people on the street tried to re-direct us to further away parking lots that they would then shuttle you up to Pena Palace with their tuks-tuks or vans for a cost. Do not be fooled by people posing as official workers.

Map of Parking Lots at Pena Palace

Here is a map of where to park in the public parking lots for Pena Palace. I wish I had this map when I was driving there – it would have saved a lot of headache. The two blue P’s both have free public parking lots at them.

How many hours do you need to visit Pena Palace?

I’d budget 2.5 to 3 hours to visit Pena Palace. The the most important time you need to account for is getting to the palace. It takes 30 minutes to walk to the Palace from the Park entrance. If you have a ticket that includes the interior of the Palace be sure to arrive before the entrance time listed on your ticket.

Once you are up to the Palace, you’ll want about 45 minutes to walk around to all the terraces and enjoy the views and capture cool colorful photos.

There’s a cafeteria within the palace grounds, but if the weather is nice you can pack a picnic to enjoy in the surrounding park. If you plan on eating lunch add another 45 minutes to your visit time.

Front view of Pena Palace in Sintra with purple, yellow, and red stone sections and turrets.

Getting to Sintra

If you are not already in Sintra, you’ll need to plan how to get there before you plan your visit to Pena Palace.

By Train

  • From Lisbon: Take a train from Lisbon’s Rossio, Oriente, or Entrecampos stations. Trains to Sintra run frequently, usually every 20 minutes.
  • Duration: The journey takes about 40 minutes.
  • Cost: Expect to pay a few euros for a one-way ticket. It’s advisable to check current prices and schedules before your trip.

By Car

  • Driving: You can rent a car and drive to Sintra. The route takes you through scenic landscapes.
  • Parking: Be aware that parking in Sintra can be challenging, especially during peak tourist season.

By Tour

  • Guided Tours: Various companies offer guided tours to Sintra from Lisbon, which often include transportation and a visit to Pena Palace. Just ensure the tour starts in Lisbon, includes transportation, and tickets to Pena Palace before booking.

History of Pena Palace

Sitting atop the Sintra Mountains in Portugal, the Pena Palace stands as a vibrant testament to 19th-century Romanticism. This architectural marvel, with its eclectic blend of Neo-Gothic, Neo-Manueline, Neo-Islamic, and Neo-Renaissance elements, was commissioned by King Ferdinand II. It’s not just a palace but a canvas that vividly captures the artistic and cultural aspirations of its era.

Originally, a monastery occupied the site, dating back to the Middle Ages. However, the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 left it in ruins. King Ferdinand II, struck by the beauty of the location, decided to transform these ruins into a summer palace for the royal family—a project that began in 1838. The palace was designed by Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege, whose vision was to create a romantic abode that complements its natural surroundings.

Each section of Pena Palace tells a different story, reflecting varied architectural styles. The bright reds and yellows of the exterior, along with the intricate tile work, make it a unique spectacle among European royal residences.

TL;DR: Pena Palace parking & other important info for your visit

Visiting Pena Palace does require some planning. If you just turn up expecting to enjoy your time there, you might find it harder to access than most tourist attractions.

Don’t miss the opportunity to explore other gems in Sintra, like the Moorish Castle, Quinta da Regaleira, and the historic town center.

For other spots worth visiting along the Silver Coast of Portugal, check out these awesome day trips from Nazare.