Pena Palace is only about 40 minutes by train from Lisbon to Sintra. From there, it’s a short bus ride, taxi, or a scenic hike uphill to the palace. Easy to fit into a day.
Book Lisbon to Pena Palace tour
Thinking of visiting the iconic Pena Palace from Lisbon? You’re on the right track. Set high in the misty hills of Sintra, this bold and colorful palace looks like something out of a dream with it's vivid reds, yellows, and domes peeking through the pines. The best part? It’s just a quick ride from Lisbon, and you can easily pair it with the Moorish Castle or Quinta da Regaleira for a full day of storybook scenery.
As you enter the palace, you’re greeted by a surreal archway adorned with a mythological Triton figure symbolizing the transition between land and sea. Step onto the terrace for sweeping views of Sintra’s lush hills and, on a clear day, Lisbon’s skyline in the distance.
Wander through the vividly painted inner courtyards known for its romantic appeal and architectural flair. The contrast of reds, yellows, and azulejo tiles creates photo-perfect moments at every turn. The Manueline Cloister courtyard is especially beautiful, with its ornate columns and tranquil ambiance.
Inside the palace, the former royal residence has been preserved with 19th-century furnishings, intricate ceilings, and regal décor. You’ll walk through the Great Hall, Queen’s Bedroom, and Chapel. Visiting Pena Palace will give you a glimpse into the Portuguese royal life during the Romantic period.
Climb to the top of the Clock Tower or follow the battlements circling the palace. Both offer postcard-worthy vantage points and a close-up look at the eclectic details that make Pena so visually striking, especially the neo-Gothic turrets and Moorish domes.
Don’t skip the grounds! The surrounding park is a sprawling forest-garden with winding trails, secret pavilions, exotic plant species, and serene lakes. Highlights include the Valley of the Lakes and the Cruz Alta viewpoint.
Getting to Pena Palace is a two-step journey: first, travel from Lisbon to Sintra; then, make your way uphill to the palace. Here’s a breakdown of the best ways to do it, with tips for each route.
Once you arrive at Sintra Station, the easiest and most popular way to reach Pena Palace is via the Bus 434 – Circuito da Pena. This loop service is tailored for tourists and connects the train station with Sintra’s top sights, including the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace.
If you’d rather not worry about transport, tickets, or timings, a full-day guided tour is the easiest way to visit Pena Palace without the stress of planning every detail yourself.
About 40 minutes from Rossio Station and 47 minutes from Oriente. Trains are regular, scenic, and often the fastest way to reach Sintra from Lisbon.
You can, but it’s a steep 45–50 minute uphill hike (3 km) along narrow roads. It’s safer and easier to take Bus 434 or a quick Uber.
Around €7 for a hop-on hop-off loop or €3.90–€6 one-way. Buses run every 15 minutes from Sintra Station, with longer waits during peak hours.
Very limited. It’s best to park in designated lots like P1 or P2 near Sintra station and take the 434 bus up to the palace.
Yes. Within Sintra, a ride to the palace usually costs €6–€10. It’s a quick and comfortable alternative to crowded tourist buses.
Yes. Timed-entry is required for the interior. Booking in advance is highly recommended—especially in summer and weekends.
Definitely. Many travelers visit Moorish Castle, Quinta da Regaleira, or Cabo da Roca on the same day. Guided tours are especially efficient for this.
If you are travelling on your own then it makes sense to get the card. It saves money on Lisbon trains, metro, and the 434 bus in Sintra. Just load it with zapping credit or passes and tap in/out as needed.
Hugo was an incredible tour guide with tons of knowledge to share! Really learnt a lot about Sintra and the surround areas.
we were somewhat disppointed because the cstle Pena and the Quinta de Regaleiro was not open for reasons of security (danger fires). But we got acceptable substitues with the Queluz Palace and the National Palace of Sintra. The timing was correct, the guides ere very gentle, the busses confortable and no annoying waiting qeues. After all we got value for the price.
Unfortunately, we couldn't visit the palaces as planned. There was a fire hazard on the mountain due to the drought. We visited other palaces. It was also beautiful but also a bit disappointing.
Our tour guide Susan is considerate and responsible. She detailed all information for tourist. And controled schedule well. We accidenatally lost our cell phone in during the trip, but she managed to resolve that issue for us in a short time. We appreicate her dedication.
Great experience, awesome guide, Catarina is so much fun, told us a lot of about the places we visited, made us feel really welcome and was super helpful.
We had an excellent day trip! Everything was very well organized, and the experience exceeded our expectations. Our tour guide was truly outstanding—knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate. Unfortunately, I don’t remember his name, but he had blue eyes and short, darkish hair. He made the day not only informative but also really enjoyable. The places we visited were absolutely incredible, and thanks to his recommendations, we were able to discover some hidden gems we wouldn’t have found on our own. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a memorable and enriching experience.
The guide was great... enjoyed his humour. The palace is just so average... I can't believe people pay all that money for that.
I had not written details of my trip and called cs for help. They were professional and resolved my issue. Guides were informed and fun!
Our guided tour with Headout to Sintra, Cascais, and other stunning spots was fantastic. Mario, our guide, was incredibly informative, had a great sense of humor, and drove expertly. His knowledge and personality made the experience memorable. Highly recommend this tour for a fun and insightful day trip from Lisbon!
Nelson was awesome guide. He managed to get us through all the places, gave us free time and recommendations of local specialities. Thanks a lot!
I thought the booked tour was more guided and the two speech tour was also a little bit boring. Sorry I would not recommend this tour
The honesty and efficiency of the company contracted for the tourist activity.
The tour in itself was good. Howeer the guide was a bit rude
There was no indication of the final march to the Pena castle. Way too far & steep to walk for seniors. It would have been good to know how far & steep that final climb was going to be round trip. Guide was very good but focused on the front of the bus. We ended up sitting near the back & 2 women continually talked the whole time. It was difficult to hear the guide.
I have nothing positive to say except the tour guide Gui was lovely and tried his best to make us happy but honestly this was the biggest scam and rip off I ever experienced. You knew 90% of the chance that the Pena Palace and Quinta Regaleira will be shut due to the fire hazzards and you still sold the tour without being able to get refund and instead replaced those 2 most popular touristic spots with another boring two palaces, also the entry fee to those two palaces are half price than what I have paid for Pena palace and Quinta Regalaria and apparently I am not getting the difference in price back ? Honestly- very disspointing experience. I would not recommend to anyone buying anything through Headout
We couldn't go as I was sick. We reached out to see if any refund would apply but no reply. So thanks.
I liked the organization and especially the guides Maira and Marta! They are excellent people who helped me a lot to find a group where I could understand the language better! One point for improvement is to make it more visible on the ticket that the tour is run by Buendia, because I got lost at the meeting waiting for people from Headout! Maira was sensational in explaining the history of the place and was also concerned about our safety during the tour! Buying the tour from Headout was easy and practical!
Sintra, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais: The best of Portugal packed into one hassle-free day-trip.
Inclusions
Day trip to Sintra, Cascais, and Cabo da Roca
Round-trip AC transfers
Pick-up from Lisbon
Guided walking tour of: Pena Palace, Pena Park, and Quinta da Regaleira (as per option selected)
Tickets to: Pena Palace, Pena Park, and Quinta da Regaleira (as per option selected)
Expert Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and English-speaking guide (as per option selected)
Headsets for clear guide audio
Exclusions
Monica
Boudewijn
Hsu
Hugo was an incredible tour guide with tons of knowledge to share! Really learnt a lot about Sintra and the surround areas.
Our tour guide Susan is considerate and responsible. She detailed all information for tourist. And controled schedule well. We accidenatally lost our cell phone in during the trip, but she managed to resolve that issue for us in a short time. We appreicate her dedication.
Great experience, awesome guide, Catarina is so much fun, told us a lot of about the places we visited, made us feel really welcome and was super helpful.
We had an excellent day trip! Everything was very well organized, and the experience exceeded our expectations. Our tour guide was truly outstanding—knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate. Unfortunately, I don’t remember his name, but he had blue eyes and short, darkish hair. He made the day not only informative but also really enjoyable. The places we visited were absolutely incredible, and thanks to his recommendations, we were able to discover some hidden gems we wouldn’t have found on our own. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a memorable and enriching experience.
The guide was great... enjoyed his humour. The palace is just so average... I can't believe people pay all that money for that.
Our guided tour with Headout to Sintra, Cascais, and other stunning spots was fantastic. Mario, our guide, was incredibly informative, had a great sense of humor, and drove expertly. His knowledge and personality made the experience memorable. Highly recommend this tour for a fun and insightful day trip from Lisbon!
Our guide Hugo was the best! He was charismatic and very knowledgeable, giving us plenty of history to understand more about the places we were going. I would highly recommend this tour. It was a small group and the van was very comfortable. The locations we went to were stunning.
I thought the booked tour was more guided and the two speech tour was also a little bit boring. Sorry I would not recommend this tour
Everything was great, guide Ivo was awesome !
There was no indication of the final march to the Pena castle. Way too far & steep to walk for seniors. It would have been good to know how far & steep that final climb was going to be round trip. Guide was very good but focused on the front of the bus. We ended up sitting near the back & 2 women continually talked the whole time. It was difficult to hear the guide.
We couldn't go as I was sick. We reached out to see if any refund would apply but no reply. So thanks.
We didn't once feel rushed. When I told the guide I couldn't hear as we were at the back he put the microphone on.
A full-day tour of Sintra, along with breathtaking views from Europe's westernmost point.
Inclusions
Full-day trip to Pena Palace, Sintra, Cabo da Roca, and Cascais
Experienced local guide in a language of your choice
Guided tour of Sintra and Guincho Beach
Free time in Sintra and Cascais
Round-trip transfers from Lisbon in an AC coach
Entry to Pena Palace & Park (based on option selected)
Exclusions
Food & drinks
Tips
Monica
Hsu
Mr
Enjoy views of Sintra's hills from the Moorish Castle & explore two of its unique UNESCO Sites.
Inclusions
Exclusions
Small group, we were 5. Friendly guide, Sofia, accommodating up to 4 languages.
Tour guide was awesome. Very professional and a great driver.
A blend of history, spirituality, and charm—all combined in a single, convenient day tour.
Inclusions
Full-day trip to Sintra, Pena Park, Nazaré & Fátima
Expert guide in a language of your choice
Entry to the Pena Park
Guided tour of Pena Park, Nazaré & Fátima
Free time at the Pena Park, Nazaré & Fátima
Round-trip transfers from Lisbon in an AC coach
Exclusions
Food & drinks
Tips
The tour came as advertised. It was well organized, people assembled at the location and were divided into groups by language. The tour guide gave out information at both sites ( could have added more while we were driving to the site). We had 90 minutes on our own at lunch time, which was good.
It was all good, the guide was friendly and solved all our doubts. He was with us the whole time. We really liked his explanations. The trip was good too.
The guide was very attentive and friendly. He let us enjoy the tour without overwhelming us.
Experience the best of Sintra with a guided walking tour and AC transfers from Lisbon.
Inclusions
Full-day trip to Sintra
Round-trip AC transfers
Pick-up from Lisbon
Guided walking tour of Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira with tickets (as per option selected)
Expert Portuguese, Spanish, French, and English-speaking guide (as per option selected)
Headsets for clear guide audio
Exclusions
It was beautiful to see Sintra and surrounding areas. Especially around Lisbon Belem etc If I were to go back I would visit some more sights which I didnt get too but at least I could see with the guide. It was a lovely small group too which made it even nicer. I loved the custard tarts everyone of them delicious. The guide was chatty, funny and nice taste in music for the tour.
The tour guide was awesome!!! Very informative and friendly.
The only tour covering both Sintra and Lisbon and the Belém Tower & Pena Palace.
Inclusions
Full-day trip to Sintra, Pena Palace, Belém Tower, Cascais & Lisbon
Ticket and guided tour of the exterior of Pena Palace & Pena Park
Expert guide in a language of your choice
Belém Cake Tasting
Round-trip transfers from Lisbon in an AC coach
Exclusions
Food & drinks
Tips
Inclusions
Guide available in English, French, Spanish & Portuguese
Admission to Cathedral
Admission to Chapel of Bones
Wine tasting
Exclusions
Hotel transfers
Lunch (if no lunch option is selected)
Inclusions
Guided experience
Transfers from Lisbon, Setúbal, and Sesimbra
Support boat
Harness
Helmet
Life jacket
Wetsuit
Personal accident insurance
This ticket has the following options that you can choose from:
Inclusions
Multilingual local guide
Transfers (optional)
Personal accident insurance
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.
Inclusions
Guided tour
Electric tuk-tuk tour
Exclusions
Entrance fees to the attractions
Gratuities
Personal expenses
