One of the best day trips from Lisbon is to the Pena Palace. It has to be the most colourful Palace in Portugal and almost seems like it has come straight out of a Disney film. The Palace is easily one of the most iconic structures in the country and is worth a visit during your time exploring the capital.
This quick guide covers everything you need to know for your day trip. I hope that you enjoy it!
Day Trip to Pena Palace from Lisbon | Your Quick Guide
Getting from Lisbon to Pena Palace
From my experiences in Lisbon, I would recommend taking the train to the Pena Palace. You’ll need to head to Sintra, which is a 40 minute journey away. Trains regularly run to the Palace from the Rossio Station, found in the centre of the city. As with all European train travel, the price is cheaper than in the UK and a return will cost in the region of €5.00 or so depending on the time.
When you get into Sintra, you will then need to catch the bus. We caught the bus 434 which took us directly up to the gates of the Palace. A round trip ticket costs €7.60, or you can buy a 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Pass for €15.20 which will also take you other local attractions. These can be bought onboard the bus.
Another alternative is to drive to the Pena Palace from Lisbon for your day trip. Car rental is surprisingly cheap and gives you much greater flexibility if you want to explore afar. My one concern would be that there is somewhat limited parking around the Palace. You can certainly find places to park around Sintra, but you might need to walk here.
Pena Palace Prices and Booking
The Pena Palace has to be one of the greatest landmarks of Portugal. In fact, it attracts around 2 million people every year! Because of this, there is quite a hefty price tag that goes with it, especially for families.
Adults can expect to pay €20 per person and children (6-17) / seniors (65+) can expect €18. Children under the age of 6 go in for free.
The Palace also does family passes for €65, which includes 2 adults and 2 children. This is probably the best value option for larger groups and will save you a bit of cash.
To buy your tickets, you can either wait on the day or book it through the Parques de Sintra website. If you are going as a family and/ or during the school holidays, I would definitely recommend booking in advance (you will get a set 30-minute entrance time). The Palace gets extremely busy during peak seasons. I would also suggest arriving as early as you can to avoid the crowds; the Palace opens at 09:00am.
Alternative Option: If you are not interested in the state rooms, you can buy a Park Ticket for half the price. This gives you access to the grounds.
Exploring Inside the Pena Palace
The Palace actually began its life as a monastery and then became a summer residence for the Portuguese Royal family in the 19th century. It isn’t hard to see why it was chosen for this; the location and views are simply jaw-dropping.
First up, I would suggest exploring the inside of the Palace itself. Arguably the most impressive room is the Great Hall. Like all major palaces, this was used for banquets hosted by the Royal Family and has an extremely lavish decor.
There are also a few quirky rooms to see which you would not find anywhere else. These have influence from either faraway lands or interests of the family. The Arab Room for instance is inspired by a Moorish design and features plenty of intricate patterns and details which resemble architecture from the Middle East. Another room that I would recommend seeing is the Stag Room. This was actually designed as a banquet hall, and features a unique, circular table around a large central pillar. I love the colours of this room and just the architecture in general. There are also many stag heads around the sides, giving the room its name.
Lastly, don’t miss the Chapel of Our Lade of Pena. As I said above, the Palace used to be a Chapel and this reflects the site’s original roots.
Top Tip: For the best views in Sintra, don’t miss the famous Wall Walk.
Exploring Pena Park
Another highlight of Sintra is Pena Park. This spans a whopping 200 hectares and has plenty of different plants to see, as well as offering some of the best views of the Pena Palace. On that latter note, I would 100% recommend going to Alto do Cha (tea hill). This is a large, rocky hill which is usually quiet given how far from the Palace it is. However, you get some of the best views of the incredible royal residence here and is perfect for an early morning photograph.
Other highlights include the Valley of the Lakes, the Little Birds Fountain, Pena Farm, the Queen’s Fern Valley, and the High Cross. You can easily cover most of these in a single afternoon of exploring.
There are also some old buildings to spot around the park. Perhaps the most famous of all is the Chalet of the Countess of Edla. Unlike the rest of the Palace, this is a building built in the style of an Alpine chalet and has some truly gorgeous gardens surrounding it. In the Park there are also more ties to the monastery roots of the site, including the Grotto of the Monk – a former retreat for religious reflection back in the day – and the Temple of Columns. Near the Temple, look out for the statue of a warrior said to guard the Palace.
Top Tip: The Park Ticket covers all of the above and, since 2023, also includes some of the terraces of the Palace. If you have no interest in the state rooms, but want the best views from the Palace, this could be an ideal option.
Looking to Get More out of Lisbon?
A day trip to the Pena Palace from Lisbon will undoubtedly be a highlight for any traveller. However, this city has so much to offer and there is plenty more to see.
As a lover of this city, I’ve written a truly comprehensive guide on what to do in Lisbon, including recommendations of places to stay. Have a read through and get planning your trip.
Final Thoughts | Day Trip to Pena Palace from Lisbon
A day trip to Pena Palace from Lisbon is an unforgettable experience for any traveller. We loved our adventure here and it had to be a highlight of our time. I hope that you found this quick guide helpful and, if you have any questions, just let me know.
