Palácio Nacional da Pena

About the museum

Since the reign of D. João II, a small chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Pena has stood on top of the Sintra hills. In the 16th century D. Manuel I had it rebuilt and handed the site to the Order of Saint Jerome, which kept a convent there with accommodation for about 18 monks. A lightning strike and the earthquake of 1755 left the building in ruins; only the high altar area, with a marble and alabaster altarpiece attributed to Nicolau Chanterene, remained intact.

In 1838 the King-consort D. Fernando II acquired the former convent, the surrounding grounds, the Castelo dos Mouros and the neighbouring estates and woodlands. He wanted to turn the ruins into a summer residence and entrusted the project to Baron von Eschwege, a German mineralogist who worked as an amateur architect. The works progressed quickly and were nearly complete by 1847, but the decorative and symbolic details owe much to the king's own decisions.

The palace is one of the main expressions of 19th-century architectural Romanticism in Europe and the first palace of this style in Portugal. It has been listed as a National Monument since 1910 and is part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The surrounding park can be visited together with the palace or separately.

Highlights

• Romantic palace with coloured façades and the Porta Monumental
• Manueline cloister of the former convent
• Private apartments, Sala dos Veados and the palace kitchen
• Terraces with views over the hills, the sea and Lisbon
• Pena Park with trails, the Jardim das Camélias and the Chalet da Condessa d’Edla

Operated by

Parques de Sintra – Monte da Lua

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Residents of Portugal enter free on Sundays and national public holidays, on presentation of the Cartão de Cidadão or an identity document and proof of residence at a staffed ticket office.

Essential visit prices: adult (18–64 years) €20, young person (6–17 years) €18, senior (over 65) €18. Children under 6 do not pay. Buying tickets for more than one site in the same purchase gives a discount (5% for 2 sites, 6% for 3, 7% for 4, 8% for 5 and 10% for 6). The Amigo dos Parques de Sintra card allows visits to the monuments as often as you like for one year. The ticket is valid only for the chosen date; the date can be changed until 18:00 the day before.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The palace interior is not accessible to people with reduced mobility because of the steps along the entire route; there is a tactile three-dimensional model in the Sala dos Veados. The palace shop, restaurant and café are accessible, with an adapted toilet and a lift. In the park there are manual wheelchairs and tow equipment available by reservation, and two reserved parking spaces at the main entrance. The climb from the base of the palace to the entrance is about 90 m, with gradients of up to 18%.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

Parques de Sintra organises family activities for children aged 3 to 12, for example a treasure hunt in the park and “Uma Aventura no Palácio da Pena”, as well as birthday parties.

Getting there & parking

The park has two entrances: the main one (38°47′16.45″ N, 9°23′15.35″ W) and the Lagos entrance (38°47′21.4″ N, 9°23′31.9″ W). There are signposted walking routes from Sintra (Santa Maria, Seteais and Vila Sassetti).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Palace restaurant (10:30–17:30), palace café (10:00–18:00), Picadeiro kiosk and the palace and Lagos shops.

Events & venue rental

Parques de Sintra makes 24 spaces in various monuments available for events; the conditions are set out in the brochure and regulations on the company's website.

Plan your visit