Palácio Nacional da Pena, A fairytale castle of vibrant hues and diverse styles

Estrada da Pena, 2710-609 Sintra, Portugal
The most unique castle palace in all of Europe
4.4

Introduction

The Pena Palace is the king's palace, with a unique architectural style that blends various elements such as Gothic, Renaissance, Moorish, and Manueline, presenting a distinctive "wonderland castle" form. The palace is the result of the hard work of Ferdinand, the husband of Queen Maria II of Portugal, in the 19th century and is one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. Located on the top of the hill in the São Pedro district of Sintra, it is a national heritage of Portugal and one of the world's heritages. It is often used for official government events. It is known that this place was only a small chapel in the medieval period, which was later transformed into a monastery by King Manuel I. However, it was destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Designed by German architect Baron von Eschwege, the royal summer palace took almost 13 years to build and was completed in 1885.

Must-go rating

Must go
25%
Worth going
75%

Transportation

100%
Self-driving
Free parking
Cheap parking fees
Address
Estrada da Pena, 2710-609 Sintra, Portugal
Opening hours
Peak season (until October 27, 2018) Palace: 9:45-19:00, last admission at 18:30, Park: 9:30-20:00, last admission at 19:00
Off-peak season Palace: 10:00-18:00, last admission at 17:30, Park: 9:30-19:00, last admission at 18:30.
Transportation
Get off the bus at Palácio da Pena station on Route 434.