Hotels near Pena Palace

Pena Palace (Palacio Nacional da Pena) crowns the highest ridge above Sintra at 480 metres, painted in the yellow and terracotta red that turns up in every photograph of the town. King Ferdinand II commissioned it in 1838 on the ruins of a Hieronymite monastery, and the result mixes Neo-Gothic, Neo-Manueline and Neo-Moorish detail into a single building. The restored royal apartments inside preserve the interiors much as the royal family left them when they fled in 1910.

Be realistic about the crowds. From about 10:30 until mid-afternoon the terraces and the narrow interior corridors are extremely crowded, and the timed-entry system controls the flow into the palace but not onto the viewing platforms. Admission including the surrounding park costs around 20 EUR for an adult in 2026. Allow two hours.

Pro Tip: Book the earliest available slot, catch the 07:41 train from Lisbon Rossio, and walk the last stretch up from the park gate rather than queueing for the shuttle bus. You will have the terraces close to yourself for perhaps 20 minutes.