Sintra, Fast Track Entry to Pena Palace & Park + Audioguide

Visitors can enjoy an exclusive VIP entry ticket and audio guide at the stunning Pena Palace and Park, located on the second-highest point in the Sintra Hills. This architectural masterpiece embodies the romanticist style, offering visitors a unique glimpse into this enchanting region.

The Pena Palace, located in the eastern part of the Park of Pena, requires travelers to traverse a steep ramp constructed by the Baron von Eschwege before reaching the castle-like structure. This imposing edifice is comprised of two wings: the former Manueline monastery of the Order of St. Jerome and the wing designed in the 19th century by King Ferdinand II. These wings are encircled by a third architectural element—a fantastical interpretation of an imaginary castle—that allows visitors to stroll around its walls, featuring battlements, watchtowers, an entrance tunnel, and even a drawbridge.

King Ferdinand II acquired the former Hieronymite monastery of Our Lady of Pena in 1838, a site originally established by King Manuel I in 1511 atop the hill overlooking Sintra. Today, the monastery constitutes the northern portion of the Palace of Pena, also known as the Old Palace. King Ferdinand initiated extensive renovations to the existing structure, restoring the upper floors and converting the fourteen monastic cells into larger rooms adorned with vaulted ceilings, which remain visible today.

The expansion project was completed in 1843 when King Ferdinand commissioned the construction of a new wing, known as the New Palace, featuring larger rooms, including the Great Hall. This renovation project was overseen by the Baron von Eschwege.

Since 1994, the restoration efforts have reestablished the original color schemes of the Palace's exterior, with pink representing the former monastery and ochre signifying the New Palace. Inspired by German Romanticism, King Ferdinand incorporated elements reminiscent of the Stolzenfels and Rheinstein castles near the Rhine, as well as Babelsberg Palace in Potsdam, into the design of the Pena Palace.

Further embellishments to the interior of the Palace occurred during subsequent periods, including the planting of the expansive Park of Pena, characterized by winding paths, pavilions, and stone benches strategically positioned throughout the landscape. Trees and various plant species native to diverse regions were introduced to enhance the park’s diversity, creating an exotic and temperate environment suitable for cultivation within the Sintra Hills.

The Pena Palace was declared a National Monument in 1910 and is integral to the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, which has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1995.