Sintra National Palace
Sintra National Palace
4
09:30 - 18:00
Monday
09:30 - 18:00
Tuesday
09:30 - 18:00
Wednesday
09:30 - 18:00
Thursday
09:30 - 18:00
Friday
09:30 - 18:00
Saturday
09:30 - 18:00
Sunday
09:30 - 18:00
About
The National Palace of Sintra, located in the historic town centre, was inhabited for nearly eight centuries by the Portuguese monarchy and its court. It was much used, particularly during the Middle Ages, as a hunting retreat and as a refuge from outbreaks of disease in the capital, or as a summer resort, thanks to the town's more agreeable climate.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- Dugan StailerIreland60 contributionsA Very Interesting Old PalaceFor a small fee (with family discount) the Sintra National Palace is yours to explore, with tours optional and many rooms, there’s lots to do, one of the most interesting parts was the huge kitchen that had two large chimneys for ventilation. All in all, It was a very cool palace. If you’re in Sintra than it’s definitely worth a visit.Visited April 2023Written 9 April 2023
- S MNorwich, United Kingdom20 contributionsBeautifully preserved palaceBeautifully, preserved palace in Sintra, where every room tells a story. Signage good at explaining the history. The tiles and ceilings are stunning. Well worth a visit and excellent value for money.Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 13 April 2023
- Laura DHerndon, Virginia47 contributionsBeautiful palace!Beautiful palace in the center of Sintra. Nice place to walk threw. The weather during this time of year I very nice the palace has many rooms open to look threw. It’s worth the visit.Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 April 2023
- Byron RLaguna Beach, California716 contributionsEnjoyable visit to the pastWe hired a private tour guide who was able to point to the different stages of the palace as it was developed over time. Enjoyable for an hour or two. He pointed out that there was a room for gossip adorned with mag pies. The various tiles. By noon the crowds come!Visited May 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 6 June 2023
- Michael K995 contributionsInteresting palace worth visitingThe exterior of this palace is very plain, but the interior is more interesting than the Pena Palace. The memorable rooms include the self evident Swan Room and the Magpie Room, and the awe inspiring Coat of Arms Room. In the kitchen, the two holes at the end of a long tunnel as you look up are the chimneys that give this palace its landmark look.Visited May 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 June 2023
- mshapiro99Sterling, Virginia1,137 contributionsMountaintop Views Above the Charming Town of SintraEnjoyed our visit to explore the beautiful parklands and palace high above Sintra. Lots of great furnishings and traditional artwork to see to help understand more of the history of Portugal. Worth a visit!Visited November 2022Written 8 July 2023
- calgaryguyKelowna, Canada474 contributionsMusr See PalaceAnother amazing place to visit. Not as jampacked as the palace at Queluz, but an interesting stop nonetheless. Lots of history, as told by an excellent guide. A sprawling place, it seemed to go on forever. Make a point of stopping by.Visited May 2023Written 12 July 2023
- George PMinneapolis, Minnesota16 contributions3rd on the listThis palace is not as ornate as Peña or Regaleria, but still interesting. I would do the other two before doing Sintra Palace. We got there at 5 pm and it was MUCH less crowded than Peña and Regaleria were earlier in the day. This allowed us to go at a slow pace and read the information in each room, unlike Peña and Regaleria where we were rushed thru due to huge crowds. The gardens were underwhelming, but we were there in a drought.Visited August 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 14 August 2023
- Patty BNashville, Tennessee1,472 contributionsInteresting TownOur guide took us here after the National Palace of Pena. We may have enjoyed it more if we had not just been to the Pena palace. The structure was nice, gardens not so great, but OK. At least it was not as busy as the Pena Palace which wasso crowded. We did walk around the village, some streets very steep. It certainly is a nice town to visit.Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 17 August 2023
- Sintra ExplorersLisbon, Portugal166 contributionsMust visit if SintraA must visit of Sintra. This place is full of history. you can see symbols of different religions on the palace showing religions were respected and also shows the transitions from one era to another. You can see Islamic architecture along with crosses in the building.Visited July 2023Travelled on businessWritten 12 September 2023
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4.0
5,246 reviews
Excellent
2,279
Very good
1,955
Average
770
Poor
151
Terrible
91
Emily
London, UK395 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
Wonderful and extensive palace, a lot to see taking you through different time periods in its history,
Some great examples of titles, furniture, paintings so certainly worth a visit.
Staff were friendly, helpful and patient for us being last to leave.
Some great examples of titles, furniture, paintings so certainly worth a visit.
Staff were friendly, helpful and patient for us being last to leave.
Written 17 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GuyE
25 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
My wife and I really enjoyed visiting this palace. There's some interesting interiors - the ceilings of the Sawn Room and Magpie Rooms for example, and both my wife and I separately went 'wow' when entering the Coat of Arms room. The rooms are furnished to give a good feel and have information plaques with information about the each room and a bit of the history of the people and places. You walk at your own pace, so you could complete the tour in 20 minutes at a push or amble for an hour and a half and visit the small gardens outside.
Written 8 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nancy F
San Diego, CA147 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
The palace has interesting architecture, but that is about it. There are a few interesting rooms, but not many. It is a self paced tour, so at least you aren't bored for too long. The interior is ho-hum at best. With three spectacular venues within a few minutes drive or walk, this building simply isn't very interesting. Spend your day at Pena Palace, Moor Castle ,and Quinta da Regaleira. These three are spectacular and definitely won't disappoint!
Written 27 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chickennuggets88
Stirlingshire, UK42 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Absolutely stunning and so different to other palaces we have visited in Europe. The views are a definite highlight and the interesting chimneys. We were recommend to visit this place when visiting Sintra rather than Pena by a Lisboa local and we’re glad we followed this advice.
Written 27 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James S
Toronto, Canada623 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
The National Palace of Sintra (Palacio de Sintra) also known as the Town Palace (Palacio da Villa) to distinguish it from the National Palace of Pena the town’s other Palace is located in Sintra a small mountain top town a short distance from Lisbon.
The Palace was in use by the Portuguese Royal families almost continually for 400 years from its initial construction commencing in the 15th Century until the 19th Century. It was used primarily as a hunting retreat and also as a summer residence to allow a respite from the heat and potential diseases in Lisbon.
These days it as one of two palaces in the mountain town of Sintra is a major tourist attraction and was designated a UNESCO Heritage site in 1995.
As we were part of an organized group tour, admission was included and there was a minimal wait to enter. Normal admission runs about 18 Euros. Entrance is controlled to ensure that the place is not overcrowded and that there is sufficient time and distance between groups.
Our group was given head sets to listen to our guide (English and Portuguese) but we knew from an earlier tour that they weren’t reliable and to be honest not even needed. Staying close to the guide we could easily hear her as she spoke into her microphone. Besides most rooms and artifacts have signage describing what they were in Portuguese and English.
The tour follows a rambling route through various halls, throne rooms, courtyards, kitchens, bedrooms, and even a privy. There is ample time to fully exam the ornate furniture and painted ceilings and even glance out of the numerous windows to view the gardens, the town, and the surrounding countryside.
As the tour does include numerous narrow staircases both going up and down it may not be appropriate for those that are mobility challenged.
Once one exits the Palace take some time to explore the Historic Centre of Sintra. Buy some fresh roasted chess nuts from the vendors in the square of visit one of the many cafes that line its sides.
As noted, we visited as part of a group tour and there are several options that can be arranged in Lisbon. Alternatively, one can easily reach Sintra from Lisbon by train of which there are several a day and then use a taxi or local bus to reach the palace from the station. It is possible to visit the Palace and some of the other attractions in a single day, however if one wants to take their time and visit both Palaces as well as some of the other attractions an overnight visit is suggested. Again, there are plenty of local accommodations available.
The Palace was in use by the Portuguese Royal families almost continually for 400 years from its initial construction commencing in the 15th Century until the 19th Century. It was used primarily as a hunting retreat and also as a summer residence to allow a respite from the heat and potential diseases in Lisbon.
These days it as one of two palaces in the mountain town of Sintra is a major tourist attraction and was designated a UNESCO Heritage site in 1995.
As we were part of an organized group tour, admission was included and there was a minimal wait to enter. Normal admission runs about 18 Euros. Entrance is controlled to ensure that the place is not overcrowded and that there is sufficient time and distance between groups.
Our group was given head sets to listen to our guide (English and Portuguese) but we knew from an earlier tour that they weren’t reliable and to be honest not even needed. Staying close to the guide we could easily hear her as she spoke into her microphone. Besides most rooms and artifacts have signage describing what they were in Portuguese and English.
The tour follows a rambling route through various halls, throne rooms, courtyards, kitchens, bedrooms, and even a privy. There is ample time to fully exam the ornate furniture and painted ceilings and even glance out of the numerous windows to view the gardens, the town, and the surrounding countryside.
As the tour does include numerous narrow staircases both going up and down it may not be appropriate for those that are mobility challenged.
Once one exits the Palace take some time to explore the Historic Centre of Sintra. Buy some fresh roasted chess nuts from the vendors in the square of visit one of the many cafes that line its sides.
As noted, we visited as part of a group tour and there are several options that can be arranged in Lisbon. Alternatively, one can easily reach Sintra from Lisbon by train of which there are several a day and then use a taxi or local bus to reach the palace from the station. It is possible to visit the Palace and some of the other attractions in a single day, however if one wants to take their time and visit both Palaces as well as some of the other attractions an overnight visit is suggested. Again, there are plenty of local accommodations available.
Written 24 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin H
3 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Really interesting tour of palace in the most amazing location. Great way to learn about Portugese history. Well worth doing
Written 9 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lainie L
New York City, NY199 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
Sintra and Pena Palace was part of the day trip I took with Buendia Tours.
My guide, Robinson, was fantastic! He was knowledgeable, warm, and friendly, pointing out the gardens as we made our way up to the palace.
Robinson had high energy, enthusiasm, and passion for his work, and regaled our group with history, fun facts, and more!
There's a lot of walking so be prepared; wear comfy shoes, bring a bottle of water, and a hat and sunglasses.
We had beautiful weather so it was bright and sunny, not a cloud in the sky!
My guide, Robinson, was fantastic! He was knowledgeable, warm, and friendly, pointing out the gardens as we made our way up to the palace.
Robinson had high energy, enthusiasm, and passion for his work, and regaled our group with history, fun facts, and more!
There's a lot of walking so be prepared; wear comfy shoes, bring a bottle of water, and a hat and sunglasses.
We had beautiful weather so it was bright and sunny, not a cloud in the sky!
Written 7 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MarcusHurley
Calne, UK9,562 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
This was the first place we visited in Sintra and was a fabulous start to the day. Originally a Moorish castle, Sintra was reconquered in the 12th century and constantly remodelled until the 19th, most of what we can see now dating from the 15th and 16th centuries.
A lot of the style is Portugese Gothic and the English connections are particularly fascinating, for me, with Phillipa of Lancaster featuring prominently. As expected there are lots of fabulous tiled rooms and also lots of heraldic rooms as the court seemed obsessed with lineage and ancestry.
Walking round the castle, the route is well laid out and linear so you can't miss anything. There are information boards in each room which just adds so much to the experience.
The gardens and terraces were fabulous as well and gave views over Sintra and also up to the Moorish castle. Excellent value at €10 and a great insight into Portugese history and character.
A lot of the style is Portugese Gothic and the English connections are particularly fascinating, for me, with Phillipa of Lancaster featuring prominently. As expected there are lots of fabulous tiled rooms and also lots of heraldic rooms as the court seemed obsessed with lineage and ancestry.
Walking round the castle, the route is well laid out and linear so you can't miss anything. There are information boards in each room which just adds so much to the experience.
The gardens and terraces were fabulous as well and gave views over Sintra and also up to the Moorish castle. Excellent value at €10 and a great insight into Portugese history and character.
Written 30 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helene G
Iroquois, Canada193 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
I would recommend going somewhere else. It cost 16€ each to get in. 10€ each to take a small taxi to the top and 5€ each to come back down, the ride takes approximately 15 minutes so walking to the castle uphill would take a lengthy period of time, we were told to walk back down would take 45 minutes. Then you need to take a bus at 3€ each to get to the admission gate (that’s for both ways) or walk an additional 1/2 hr. You buy your tickets for an allotted time so better to book in advance online. There are lineups for everything, you are herded like cattle, you take mini steps throughout the whole castle. I hated all of it. So in total it cost for a couple 68€, that’s approximately $100 Canadian. You can only park at the bottom, you can’t go to the top with your own car, only buses and taxis can.
Written 31 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colette the traveller
Twin Waters, Australia8 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
I want to make it clear that the gardens, Penna Palace and its surroundings are beautiful and interesting.
However the public transport system and crowd control measures are woefully inadequate. We bought the combo package that included gardens, palace and bus trip between the two sites.
We left our accommodation in Lisbon at 0930 and arrived at the Palace gates at 1.30 pm. The train trip was 40 minutes and the transport from Sintra station to Palace gates was 30 minutes. The rest of the time was spent trying to secure train tickets (90 minutes), wait time for train 20 minutes and the rest of the time was spent shuffling in endless queues towards our destination.
We made it to the palace 1 minute before our allocated time slot of 1.30. We entered the palace proper at 2 pm.
We missed the park because by the time we emerged from the palace at 3.30 pm we were too exhausted to bother with the gardens.
We did this on the last day of October so I would hate to think how hot and hectic this would be in high summer.
My advice is to go at 0900 hours or don’t bother.
However the public transport system and crowd control measures are woefully inadequate. We bought the combo package that included gardens, palace and bus trip between the two sites.
We left our accommodation in Lisbon at 0930 and arrived at the Palace gates at 1.30 pm. The train trip was 40 minutes and the transport from Sintra station to Palace gates was 30 minutes. The rest of the time was spent trying to secure train tickets (90 minutes), wait time for train 20 minutes and the rest of the time was spent shuffling in endless queues towards our destination.
We made it to the palace 1 minute before our allocated time slot of 1.30. We entered the palace proper at 2 pm.
We missed the park because by the time we emerged from the palace at 3.30 pm we were too exhausted to bother with the gardens.
We did this on the last day of October so I would hate to think how hot and hectic this would be in high summer.
My advice is to go at 0900 hours or don’t bother.
Written 30 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nicole l
liège376 contributions
bonjour, je pars bientôt pour Sintra. Dans votre avis, vous dites que vous avez seulement visité les jardins, et c'est aussi ce qui m'intéresse. Peut on acheter un billet seulement pour ceux-ci ? merci
Said S
Algiers, Algeria63 contributions
Bonjour. Oui il y a la possibilité de choisir et je pense que c’est le meilleur choix.
menkova585
Moscow, Russia26 contributions
Когда в этом музее выходной день
Игорь С
Ukraine83 contributions
Добрый день!
Расписание и цены на билеты
Время работы достопримечательностей Синтры и цены на билеты в высокий сезон:
Palácio Nacional de Sintra [10 евро] все дни 9:30 - 19:00
Castelo dos Mouros [8 евро] все дни 9:30 - 20:00
Palácio da Pena [14 евро дворец и парк, 7.5 евро только парк] все дни 9:30 - 19:00 (парк до 20:00)
Quinta da Regaleira [10 евро] 10:00 - 20:00
В низкий сезон всё закрывается на час-полтора раньше. Кассы закрываются за полчаса-час до закрытия объектов. В воскресенье до обеда оба замка и крепость бесплатные, но очень большие толпы.
Детям с 6 до 17 лет, пенсионерам старше 65 лет и студентам скидки. Также есть семейные билеты (2 взрослых + 2 детей) со скидками.
Natalie
London, UK42 contributions
I see on the website it says that there are disruptions due to works on the building. Especially on the Manueline facade, the chapel, the Jardim da Preta and upper area of gardens; Has anyone experienced this during the month of February 2019 and how bad is it. Many thanks.
guptaratika
New Delhi, India691 contributions
main feature is the palace and its huge.
valmirdonega
Sao Paulo, SP
Boa noite!
Gostaria de saber se consigo comprar os ingressos combinados na bilheteria do Palácio....para visitar o Castelo dos mouros e Palácio da pena....
Neiva M
Florianopolis, SC144 contributions
Sim!
559kristenn
70 contributions
parquesdesintra pt / en - problem entering US phone # on this website to buy tickets (can't put the real link in this question but that is the site). Anyone else have this problem? It's a required field on the site. Thanks.
Neiva M
Florianopolis, SC144 contributions
Unfortunately I can't help you. Get help from a travel agency, will make. (Infelizmente não posso lhe ajudar. Procure ajuda de uma agência de viagens, vai lhe facilitar.)
MS1
Chingford, UK58 contributions
We are planning to visit with our 18th old toddler. How easy is it to get to castle with the little one with his stroller? Thanks
Neiva M
Florianopolis, SC144 contributions
There are buses available to take them to the Castle. Will hinder a little because there are a lot of stairs. But it's worth the sacrifice! (Há ônibus disponível para levá-los até o castelo. Vai dificultar um pouco porque há muitas escadas. Mas vale o sacrifício!
LoHing
Fremont, CA120 contributions
Plan to visit the palace this Friday. Question is how long it takes if I book the online ticket in their website? 1 day ahead? Also, after I book online, they send the PDF of version to my email? Or i need to collect my ticket somewhere?
Dianne R
Caloundra, Australia545 contributions
We visited this place in the afternoon, just walked up to the ticket desk and bought tickets. No queue there or anywhere. Very pleasant experience.
GiusySmiley
Naples, Italy5 contributions
On sundays free entry? Even during summer?
Srg07
Bollate, Italy271 contributions
not during first days of the year. I don't know if it is a general rule or not
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Claim your listingSINTRA NATIONAL PALACE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Sintra National Palace
- Sintra National Palace admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost €17.92, while a popular guided tour starts around €3.06 per person.
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Sintra National Palace:
- Sintra National Palace Ticket (From €17.92)
- Secrets of Sintra/Cascais Natural Park – Fairytale Tour (From €211.93)
- Small group tour through the romantic Sintra & amazing Cabo da Roca & Cascais (From €87.02)
- The Essential Sintra Experience - Private Tour (From €184.29)
- Sintra Private Tour with Pena Palace Admission Ticket (From €230.36)
- Hotels near Sintra National Palace:
- (0.06 km) Apartamento Sintra Postal
- (0.11 km) Sintra Boutique Hotel
- (0.18 km) Sintra 1012 Boutique Guest House
- (0.12 km) Casa da Pendoa
- (0.12 km) NH Sintra Centro
- Restaurants near Sintra National Palace:
- (0.01 km) Villa Cafe
- (0.01 km) Cafe Da Vila
- (0.02 km) Wine Bar Bistro Da Praca
- (0.03 km) Tasca Saloia
- (0.04 km) Miranda Restaurant & Terrace Bar