Our booking pick: The Pena Palace and Park ticket, non-refundable. Book this Compare options
Sintra has five big monuments within a few kilometres of each other, and three of them get called "the castle". Four are run by Parques de Sintra, the public company that manages Pena, the Moorish Castle, the National Palace and Monserrate. Quinta da Regaleira belongs to the Sintra municipality and sells its own tickets.
The short version: Pena Palace for the picture everyone knows, the Moorish Castle for real medieval walls and the widest views, the National Palace for royal history in the town centre. Most first-time visitors manage two of them in a day, three with an early start.
The short answer
The main "Sintra castle" is Pena Palace, a romantic palace built from 1842 for King Ferdinand II on the ruins of a 16th-century monastery. The only true castle is the Moorish Castle, founded during Moorish rule and dated by the official site to the 10th century. The National Palace in the town centre is the medieval royal palace. For a first visit, book a timed Pena Palace ticket and walk the Moorish Castle walls before or after it.
What is the main castle in Sintra?
Pena Palace is the building people mean by "Sintra castle". It is a 19th-century palace designed to look like a castle, not a fortress.
The palace stands on the second highest point of the Sintra hills. King consort Ferdinand II bought the ruined Monastery of Our Lady of Pena in 1838, and the main building works ran from 1842 to 1854 under Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege, with decoration continuing into the mid-1860s. The towers, battlements and drawbridge are romantic decoration. Nobody ever defended it.
The colours you see today date from a 1994 restoration: pink for the old monastery wing, ochre for the New Palace. If you want the one image of Sintra that everyone recognises, this is it.
What are the two castles in Sintra?
The Moorish Castle and Pena Palace. Only the Moorish Castle is a real castle; Pena is a palace in castle costume.
The Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros) was founded during Moorish rule. Parques de Sintra dates it to the 10th century. It passed to Christian forces in 1147 after Afonso Henriques took Lisbon, lost its military role from the 14th century and was in ruins when Ferdinand II began restoring it in 1840. Today you walk about 450 metres of walls along the ridge, up to the Royal Tower at the south-west corner.
The two sit on neighbouring peaks and share the same bus stop area, which is why they pair so well. Go to the Moorish Castle first thing, before the Pena crowds build up, then cross to the palace for your timed slot.
Walk the walls of the only real castle in Sintra with the official Moorish Castle ticket.
Book thisAre there two palaces in Sintra?
There are more than two. The big three are Pena Palace on the hill, the National Palace in the town centre and Monserrate to the west, plus the Regaleira estate.
The National Palace of Sintra is the one that looks least like a castle and has the deepest history. Parques de Sintra calls it the oldest palace in Portugal and the only one that spans the entire history of the country. You recognise it by the two huge conical chimneys over the royal kitchen. Inside, the Swan Room and the Magpie Room are the famous ceilings.
Monserrate is a 19th-century palace in a Moorish, Gothic and Indian mix, about 4 km from the centre, inside a 30 hectare park. Quinta da Regaleira is a private estate built between 1904 and about 1910 for the millionaire Carvalho Monteiro, best known for its Initiation Well.
Which castle is best to visit in Sintra?
Pena Palace if you only see one. Add the Moorish Castle for the views and the real history, and Regaleira if you like gardens and grottoes.
Each monument answers a different wish, and the table makes the choice quick. For a full day, a strong order is the Moorish Castle at opening, Pena Palace late morning, lunch in town and Regaleira or the National Palace in the afternoon. Our guide to Sintra tickets and opening hours explains the timed slots and last admissions.
| Monument | What it is | Built | Who runs it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moorish Castle | Medieval fortress walls on a ridge | Founded under Moorish rule, 10th century per the official site; restored from 1840 | Parques de Sintra | Real castle walls and wide views |
| Pena Palace | Romantic royal palace that looks like a castle | 1842 to 1854 on a monastery founded in 1511 | Parques de Sintra | The famous colours, terraces and royal rooms |
| National Palace | Medieval royal palace in the town centre | Medieval, with later additions | Parques de Sintra | Royal history, painted ceilings, no climb |
| Quinta da Regaleira | Private mansion with symbolic gardens | 1904 to about 1910 | Sintra municipality | The Initiation Well, tunnels and grottoes |
| Monserrate | Exotic 19th-century palace in a botanical park | 19th century | Parques de Sintra | Gardens, quiet paths and plants from around the world |
The official Pena Palace and Park ticket: timed palace entry, the park and the Chalet of the Countess of Edla, with an audio guide app.
Book thisIs Sintra castle worth visiting?
Yes. Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle are both part of the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, which UNESCO inscribed in 1995.
The value is in the combination: a romantic palace, real medieval walls and a park of more than 200 hectares with over 500 tree species, all on the same hills. Be ready for steep paths. The listing for the Pena ticket says the walk from the park entrance up to the palace route takes about 30 minutes, and the castle walls are all steps.
Sintra is also known for fog. The hills are more humid than the lowlands and often sit in cloud, so keep a flexible plan and save the terraces for when the view opens up.
What is the most famous castle near Lisbon?
Pena Palace in Sintra is the most photographed, even though it is a palace. For a true castle, the Moorish Castle next door is the one to see.
Lisbon has its own hilltop castle in the city, but the day trip everyone talks about is Sintra. The train from Lisbon takes about 35 to 45 minutes, and bus 434 then climbs to both the Moorish Castle and Pena. Our guide to getting from Lisbon to Sintra covers the train, the buses and the walking routes.
If you want a guide, the half-day Sintra tour from Lisbon visits the Pena terraces and Quinta da Regaleira in a small group, per the listing. Entrance tickets are not included in that tour; you repay them in cash to the guide on the day.
Pena terraces, Regaleira and Sintra village in a small group from Lisbon. Entrance tickets are paid in cash to the guide.
Book thisWho lived in Pena Palace?
King consort Ferdinand II built it as his summer residence, the Countess of Edla inherited it, and the royal family used it until Queen Amelia spent her last night there before going into exile in 1910.
King consort Ferdinand II bought the monastery ruins in 1838 together with the Moorish Castle lands. After his death the palace passed to his second wife, the Countess of Edla, who sold it to King Luis. The State bought it in 1889, and it became a National Monument and museum in 1910. The Chalet of the Countess of Edla, in the western part of the park, is included in the Pena ticket per the listing.
For the longer story of the monastery, the earthquake of 1755 and the end of the monarchy, read our history of Sintra and its palaces.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pena Palace a real castle?
No. It is a 19th-century royal palace built to look like a castle. The real castle in Sintra is the Moorish Castle on the neighbouring ridge.
Can I visit Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle on the same day?
Yes. They sit on neighbouring hills and bus 434 stops at both. Start at the Moorish Castle early, then use your timed Pena slot.
Is Quinta da Regaleira a castle?
No. It is a mansion and garden estate built between 1904 and about 1910. It is owned by the Sintra municipality and sells its own tickets.
Which Sintra palace is in the town centre?
The National Palace of Sintra, with its two conical kitchen chimneys. It is a 10 to 15 minute ride from the station on bus 434 or 435.
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Booked through GetYourGuide. Check the cancellation terms of each option before you choose a date.
Pena Palace & Park Entrance Ticket
- Entrance to the Park of Pena and, depending on the option, the palace interior
- Entrance to the Chalet of the Countess of Edla
- Audio guide on the Zoomguide app in Portuguese, English, Spanish or French
Castle of the Moors Ticket
- Official fast-track ticket to the Moorish Castle
- Audio guide on the Zoomguide app in Portuguese, English, Spanish or French
- Bus 434 from Sintra station stops at the castle; transport is not included
Half-Day Sintra Tour: Pena & Regaleira
- Local guide in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian or French; small group of up to 8
- Air-conditioned minivan from Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon and back
- Guided visit of the Pena Palace terraces (outside), then Quinta da Regaleira
