On this guided tour of the Pena Palace, you'll discover the royal halls and rooms of the greatest expression of Romantic architecture in Portugal. You'll feel like you're in a fairy tale!
Pena Palace Guided Tour
We'll meet at the entrance of Pena Palace to enter the grounds and begin our guided tour of one of the most representative monuments of European Romanticism.
Once inside the palace, we'll analyze its unique historicist architecture, which perfectly combines Neo-Gothic, Neo-Islamic, and Neo-Renaissance elements in a theatrical composition typical of the 19th century.
As we observe the walls, towers, and galleries decorated with tiles and ornamental reliefs, you'll discover the project commissioned by King Ferdinand II of Portugal, who transformed a former Hieronymite monastery into a royal summer residence. Did you know that this monarch was one of the great promoters of architectural Romanticism in the Iberian Peninsula?
We'll enter the New Palace wing, where we'll explore rooms that retain the original layout of the Portuguese court. During the tour, we'll interpret decorative elements such as coffered ceilings, ceramic tiles, period furniture, and medieval-inspired ornaments. These rooms will allow us to understand how palace life was conceived back then.
We'll also visit the private rooms, more intimate spaces that reveal the daily life of the Portuguese royal family. Here, we'll see bedrooms, living rooms, and other rooms used for everyday purposes, which preserve original objects and carefully restored decorations. Many of these rooms remained virtually untouched after the end of the Portuguese monarchy in 1910.
Finally, we'll say our goodbyes after a total of 1.5 hours, but you're welcome to continue exploring the palace for as long as you like.
How to Get from Sintra to the Palace?
If you don't have a car, the best way to reach the entrance of the Pena Palace from the center of Sintra is by bus. We recommend taking the line 434, which will take you there in just 25 minutes. The ticket costs between 3EUR and 13EUR.
You can also hike up to the Pena Palace, but please note that the climb is steep and is only recommended if you're in good physical shape.
Tour Schedule
Depending on the time you have selected, the tour will be conducted in the following languages:
- 9 am tour: the tour will be in English
- 10:30 am tour: the tour will be in English
- 12 pm tour: the tour will be in Portuguese
- 1:30 pm tour: the tour will be in English
- 4 pm tour: the tour will be in Portuguese