Pena Palace Tickets: Which One to Buy (2026)

For most visitors the right Pena Palace ticket is the Essential Visit at €20 (adults 18–64): it covers the New Palace wing of the palace (self-guided, at a booked time) and the whole Park of Pena, including the Chalet of the Countess of Edla. Buy it on the official Parques de Sintra ticket office and choose your entry time carefully, because the palace does not let latecomers in.

In short

• Essential Visit: €20 adult, €18 youth (6–17) or senior (65+); children under 6 enter free.
• Complete Visit, with the Private Apartments: €45.
• Park only, no palace rooms: €12.
• Palace tickets are for one date and entry time, with no tolerance for delays (Parques de Sintra, 2026).

Quick facts

Opening hours

Park 9:00–19:00 · Palace 9:30–18:30

Palace + park (adult)

€20

Park only (adult): €12

Location

Park of Pena, Sintra, Portugal (main entrance)

Time needed

about 1.5–2 hours for the terraces and the outside, 2.5–3 hours with the palace rooms, longer to explore the park

Prices and hours change. Always confirm on the Official ticket website ↗ . Last checked 27 October 2026.

Which Pena Palace ticket should you buy?

In 2026 Parques de Sintra sells five tickets for Pena. They differ in which parts of the palace you see and whether someone guides you (official Pena page).

Ticket	Adult (18–64)	What you see
Visit to the Park	€12	The park and the chalet, no palace rooms
Essential Visit	€20	New Palace wing + the whole park
Complete Visit	€45	Adds the Private Apartments, fixed times
Guided Visit	€75	90 minutes with a cultural mediator
Theatrical Visit	€95	Private Apartments, with actors

Pick the Essential Visit if you want the palace rooms and the park at the lowest price. Pick the Complete Visit if the royal bedrooms matter to you: it adds the Private Apartments, at 11:15, 14:15, 15:00, 15:45, 16:15 and 17:00, maximum 20 people, with a Parques de Sintra visitor assistant (Complete Visit page). The park-only ticket is only worth it if you have already seen the palace or are short of money.

How does the timed entry work?

Every palace ticket carries a date and an entry time. The official conditions are strict: palace tickets are for one date and entry time; there is no tolerance for delays, you cannot go in early, and a missed slot is not refunded (ticket conditions).

The time is checked at the palace door, not at the park gate. The palace sits on the hilltop, about 30 minutes uphill from the park entrance. Arrive at the park entrance with at least 45 minutes to spare, or add the park shuttle (€4.50 return) when you book.

Do you need to book ahead?

If the palace rooms are part of your plan, yes. Visitor reports repeatedly warn that interior tickets can sell out in high season, while the park-only option is more flexible. Visitors and some tour listings also say the park ticket lets you onto the palace terraces; the official description of the park ticket does not list them, so check the inclusions when you buy.

Not sure the rooms are worth it for you? Our honest answer is in is Pena Palace worth it?.

Where do you buy official tickets?

The official seller is the Parques de Sintra ticket office online, linked as “Buy ticket” from the official Pena page. Automatic ticket machines also stand at the site (opening times and prices).

Buying online ahead has one clear advantage: tickets bought online in advance can be rescheduled on the Parques de Sintra website within one year. That protects you if a train is late or the weather turns.

Resellers such as Viator also sell Pena tickets, but at a mark-up: the one we list costs more than the official €20 and is non-refundable. A reseller only makes sense as part of a tour that adds transport or a guide.

Are there discounts?

Youths aged 6–17 and seniors over 65 pay €18 for the Essential Visit, and children under 6 enter free. A family ticket for 2 adults and 2 youths costs €65.

Visitors with a disability get 50% off for visitors with a disability, with proof; a companion enters free (accessibility page). Details are in our accessibility guide.

Is a tour better than a ticket?

A tour costs more but solves the two hard parts: getting from Lisbon to the hilltop and booking a palace slot. Check one thing before you book: whether the palace interior is included. Several cheap tours only enter the park and terraces. We mark every offer below.

See all options side by side in our Pena tours comparison, or plan the trip yourself with our Lisbon to Pena guide.