Parque da Pena (Pena Park)
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PARQUE DA PENA (PENA PARK)

King Ferdinand's magnificent palace stands as a testament to his extraordinary vision, radiating exuberance and fantasy. To complement such a fairy-tale edifice, he envisioned equally enchanting surroundings. Inspired by the German Romanticism movement, the gardens were designed with exaggerated ideals akin to those of the Pena Palace.

Throughout the creation of the park, Sintra's tropical micro-climate and unique topology were expertly harnessed, resulting in a total transformation of the landscape. Spanning over 85 hectares, visitors are led along winding paths that meander through an array of exotic trees and plants sourced from around the world.

The park is divided into multiple gardens and landscaped areas, adorned with pavilions, decorative buildings, and captivating water features, including waterfalls, ponds, lakes, and fountains. Today, visitors continue to be captivated by Ferdinand's visionary landscape, filled with a sense of wonderment at every turn.

A WALK AROUND THE PARK

Parque da Pena (Pena Park)

Pena park pathway

QUEEN AMÉLIA"S GARDEN

Once you pass through the two small gatehouses at the main entrance, the path ascends towards the Pena Palace, flanked by Queen Amélia's Garden on the right-hand side. While Pena Park was primarily the brainchild of one man, King Ferdinand II although Queen Amélia II also played a significant role in its development. She transformed former staff allotments into a French-style formal garden, which underwent several design changes in the 20th century. Recent restoration efforts aim to revive the garden's original late 19th-century layout.

DOVECOTE HOUSE

Nearby, the Dovecote House hosts a multimedia 3D model showcasing the Sintra landscape. This interactive centre allows visitors to access information and project geographic content onto the 3D model of the Cultural Landscape, providing a comprehensive introduction to the park before embarking on your adventure. | 10h00 to 13h00/14h00 to 17h30

Parque da Pena (Pena Park)

Table of the Queen

After rejoining the route, the path diverges at the Manège, an area formerly used as a riding school and tennis court. Opting for the left-hand path offers a recommended route around Pena Park, while the right-hand path leads directly to the Palace. Following the anti-clockwise direction around the Temple of the Columns, you'll encounter the Table of the Queen, a favourite spot of Queen Dona Amélia. Nearby, the Statue of the Warrior stands on a rocky pedestal.

Continuing beyond this point, you'll reach a crossroads. Taking the first left path leads to a long walk up to the Cruz Alta, the highest point of the Sintra hills, offering breathtaking vistas. The other two paths eventually lead to the Camellia Garden, with one passing through Saint Catherine's Heights, a rocky outcrop and viewpoint.


Get Your Lisbon Card

With this entrance ticket, you can gain entry to Pena Palace and Park at your leisure. Buy online before you arrive to avoid queues and have the convenience of the e-ticket on your phone.

CAMELLIA GARDEN

Opposite the Water Wheel once fed the water storage tanks of the Palace of Pena. Here is the Camellia Garden. A collection of camellias was planted on the site of an original 16th-century monastic estate in a series of terraces. They were imported from the very best growers in France, Belgium, Italy and Britain. Portuguese varieties primarily came from Porto and added to the collection later. From October until April, the park is in bloom with the Camellia flowers. Each year there are many competitions and exhibitions of the most beautiful. Seedlings are nurtured in the nearby Hot House whose original plumbing system is still functional.

The Queen's Fern Valley, adjoining the Camellia Garden, contains a collection of tree ferns originating from Australia and New Zealand. Planted after a period of acclimatisation in the Azores.
Downhill from the Queen's Fern Valley, you will come upon the Fountain of the Small Birds, an Arabesque pavilion whose spherical dome contains an Arabic inscription (see below). Following on from the Fountain of the Small Birds, the path leads down into the Valley of the Lakes (Vale dos Lagos). Five small bodies of water are famed for their unusual duck houses (see below). Close by, at the gatekeeper's house, there is a café where you can have a cuppa and rest for a while. West of the lakes is the Chalet of the Countess d'Edla and its gardens.


Grab the Lisbon/Sintra Digital Pass

MAP OF THE PARK

Quinta da Regaleira Sitemap

Map of the Pena Park (Parque de Pena) © Delahay&Co

COMBINATION DEALS

Save even more money with these popular combination tickets. Book with confidence with the FREE CANCELLATION option.

Park and Pena Palace + Castle of the Moors Combi-Ticket
Quinta da Regaleira + Park and Pena Palace Combi-Ticket
Park and Pena Palace + Monserrate Palace Combi Ticket
National Palace, Pena Palace & Castle of the Moors Combi-Ticket
Temple of the Columns

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Temple of the Columns

Northeast of Pena Palace, there is a mound known as the St. Anthony's Heights. On top is the Temple of the Columns. From here, there's a spectacular view over the palace whilst itself being overlooked by the Statue of the Warrior. It was built in 1840 on the site of a former chapel dedicated to St. Anthony as a present to King Fernando II from his father.

Statue of the Warrior (Estatua do Guerreiro)

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Statue of the Warrior (Estatua do Guerreiro)

This bronze sculpture of a fictitious knight standing upon a granite summit. It was sculpted by Ernesto Rusconi in 1848 and is a likeness of King Ferdinand II. The statue forms part of the Pena horizon that can be viewed from various places within the park and beyond.


Cruz Alta

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Cruz Alta

The Cruz Alta is perched on the highest peak in the park at 529 metres above sea level. From here are the best panoramic views over the surrounding countryside and a postcard view of Pena Palace. Accessible via a footpath that does its best to navigate the steep gradient. This current cross replaces a cross first erected by King João III in the 16th century.

Grotto of the Monk

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Grotto of the Monk

The Grotto of the Monk dates back to the period when the area was the garden of a 16th-century monastery. This opening in the living bedrock was used by the Hieronymite monks. It was a refuge for deep meditation and contemplation.

Fountain of the small birds

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Fountain of the small birds

A Neo-Moorish pavilion with a hexagonal footprint topped by a dome inscribed with Arabic writing. Inside, between some benches, is a fountain with clear water. It's believed the pavilion was designed by Baron von Eschwege and built by Master João Henriques in 1840.

Valley of the Lakes (Vale dos Lagos)

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Valley of the Lakes (Vale dos Lagos)

A thin string of five small lakes stretches from the Fountain of the Small Birds pavilion to the Entrance by the Lakes, where the Parks streams congregate. Two unique castle-like duck houses add to the magical ambience of the place. There is a soundtrack of trickling water and the odd plop of feeding fish.

TRAVELLING TO THE PARQUE DA PENA

There are hicking trails signposted between the historic centre and the National Palace of Pena:
• Santa Maria Trail (Centre to Moorish Castle/Pena; 1770 metres, 1 hour)
• Lapa Trail (Centre to Pena; 1450 metres, 45 minutes)
• Seteais Trail (Centre to Seteais, Pena/Moorish Castle; 2410 metres, 1½ hours)
• Vila Sassetti Trail (Centre - Pena/Moorish Castle; 1850 metrres, 45 minutes).

Take the IC19 from Lisbon, IC30 from Mafra or EN9 turning off the A5 motorway to Cascais. Once you have arrived in the town's historic centre it's best to leave the car and take the #434 bus to the Pena Park.

The Scotturb bus #434 leaves from Sintra Train station, stops in the Old Town centre next to the Tourist Office and takes you to the Pena Park.



Contact Details
Estrada da Pena, Parque de Monserrate, Sintra 2710-609, Portugal.
38° 47' 16"N | 09° 23' 15"W | +351 219 237 300
info@parquesdesintra.pt |  Website

AMENITIES

There are cafeterias at the main entrance, gatekeepers house and in the Pena Palace, which also have a restaurant offering more substantial meals.

There are toilets in the cafés and various places around the park and palace.

The are some small car parks situated close to the main entrance to Pena Park and the Chalet of the Countess d'Edla but these will get full very quickly. Unless you have mobility issues it's advised to park in the old town and take the #434 bus from there.

You can book a private tour: info@parquesdesintra.pt | +351 219 237 300.

There's a hop-on hop-off transfer service available between with-in the Pena Park with five stops along the route including the Pena Palace and the Chalet of the Countess d'Edla. Sign language trained staff, manual wheelchairs available on reservation, traction equipment for wheelchairs, ramps are implemented difficult parts of the park and in certain rooms of the Palace and Chalet. Here too you can find adapted WCs. NOTE: The second floor of the Chalet of the Countess d'Edla is not accessible to persons with mobility restrictions.

Opening Times

Park, Daily: 09h30 – 20h00, (last admission 19h00)
Palace, Daily: 09h30 - 19h00, (last admission at 18h30)

CHALET OF THE COUNTESS D'EDLA

Also known as the House of Indulgence (Casa do Regalo), this small attractive chalet was constructed between 1864 and 1869. It was built as a retreat for King Ferdinand II and his second wife and opera singer Elise Hensler, the future Countess of Edla. The construction is deceptive. The external plasterwork has been textured and painted to imitate wooden planks and give the impression of an Alpine chalet. Over two floors its interior sees extensive cork decoration, covering doors and window frames, eaves and verandas. Also inside are many mural paintings, stucco work and glazed decorative tiles.


RESTORATION

Following the end of the Monarchy in 1910 and the chalet suffered subsequent decades of neglect. Additional damage occurred following a fire in 1999 when the roof collapsed. In 2007, plans for a major project to salvage and fully resort to the chalet started by studying original building techniques and original photographs. The painstaking work began in 2010, bringing its original beauty back to life. Since 2011, it is once again open to the public.

Chalet of the Countess d'Edla

Chalet of the Countess d'Edla

THE CHALET GARDENS

The Countess followed the work started by King Ferdinand and Queen Amélia and continued to transform and develop Pena Park. The surrounding gardens have been planted with imported exotic plants and trees, some from as far away as Australia and New Zealand. The grounds features the Countess's Fernery, the Restharrow Garden, a Pergola, several lakes and the Chalet Stones (a collection of granite boulders).

The stunning scenery over the valley is accentuated by the views of the Moorish Castle, Pena Palace, Cruz Alta and the Atlantic Ocean in the far distance. Alongside the gardens are the various structures that make up the Pena Farm, including the stables, which also have been recently restored and now house the horse-drawn carriages used for rides around the park. In 1993, the Chalet of the Countess of Edla and its gardens were classified as a Property of Public Interest.
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Chalet of the Countess d'Edla

Recently restored interior of the Chalet of the Countess d'Edla

NATIONAL PALACE OF PENA

National Palace of Pena

National Palace of Pena

Pena Palace, one of the most iconic buildings in Portugal, is truly a sight to behold up close. Everything about the palace is intended to impress. It's located just below the summit of the Sintra mountain and overlooks the landscape below for tens of miles. The exaggerated architecture, influenced by medieval and Moorish styles, reflects the obsession of the Romanticism movement of the late 19th century. Pena Palace is the brainchild of Ferdinand II of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, King consort and husband of Queen Maria II. The palace is a self-indulgent muddle of vividly painted terraces, domes, towers, decorative battlements, a drawbridge that doesn't draw, and mythological statues. Pena Palace was designed to be visible from any point within the park. On the 7th July 2007, Pena Palace was selected as one of the seven wonders of Portugal. [ More About ► ]

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TOP TOURS

Excellent Sintra and Pena Palace, Small-Group Tour from Lisbon

Excellent Sintra and Pena Palace:
Small-Group Tour from Lisbon

This comprehensive full-day tour from Lisbon gives you the chance to visit one of Europe’s most beautiful romantic palaces. Avoid the stress of making your own way to the widely dispersed highlights of Sintra and Cascais by travelling around the province with ease. Marvel at the UNESCO-listed Pena National Palace; visit Cabo da Roca, Europe’s westernmost point; and discover the charming fishing village of Cascais. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

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Sintra - Through Palaces and Royal Gardens Private Day Tour

Sintra - Through Palaces and Royal Gardens Private Day Tour

Walk the same steps as royalty through palaces and gardens on this full-day private guided tour of Sintra from Lisbon. Discover how aristocrats lived lavishly during the 19th century as you explore the UNESCO-listed town of Sintra and the lush surrounding landscapes. You will marvel at the combination of spectacular Romanticist style architecture and pristine gardens designed for Portuguese kings on this fantastic voyage.

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Sintra, Palace Ticket & Wine Tasting

Sintra, Palace Ticket & Wine Tasting

Departing directly from your accommodation, we will make a pleasant and completely private tour to the Romantic town of Sintra. Via the Cascais and Estoril Coast taking in along the way its culture, history, monuments and places of interest. Included in this tour are the tickets to the Jardim and Palácio da Pena, and regional wine tasting at the Colares Winery. You will be accompanied by an experienced guide and driver who will provide you with the necessary information. The tour takes at least 8 hours.

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