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Most visitors aim for four sights: Monserrate, the town palace, the Moorish Castle and, above all, Pena. The company that runs them keeps them open every day of the year, apart from Christmas, on 24 and 25 December, and New Year, on 31 December and 1 January.
Closures can also happen at short notice, because of State events, restricted access to the Sintra Mountains forest in times of fire risk, or extreme weather, so look at the Parques de Sintra page on opening times on the morning you go.
Every ticket is for a specific date, and for the Pena Palace you also choose a time slot from those available. Buying online in advance saves the queue at the ticket office: you go straight to the entrance and show the ticket, printed or on your phone.
If the palace has to close in an extraordinary way, or an event is cancelled, a refund can be requested, and more answers on changes and conditions are on the Parques de Sintra FAQ page.
Plan the climb before you leave the town. Private vehicles are not allowed up to the Pena Palace or the Moorish Castle, and driving in the historic centre is limited to residents, so traffic restrictions apply across the Sintra mountains.
Inside the Pena estate, a shuttle links the park entrance with the palace, running every 15 minutes through the day, which is welcome on the steep paths. Dogs are welcome at the Moorish Castle and at Monserrate, but not at the other parks and monuments, Pena included. the official page of the Pena Park and Palace has the details of the visit options.
Many visitors let someone else handle the hill. The Private Full-Day Tour in Sintra with Pena Palace Tickets is a private full-day tour, and its operator says pre-booked Pena Palace tickets are included. The Small-Group Tour: Sintra, Pena Palace & Cascais Day Trip is a small-group day trip with a guided visit at the palace, and its operator says the entrance ticket is included.
For something shorter, the Sintra Half-Day Guided Tour from Lisbon: Palaces & Old Town is a private four-hour morning in town, according to its operator. If you prefer to add a second garden, the Private Tour in Sintra: Pena Palace & Regaleira Gardens pairs Pena with Quinta da Regaleira in one private day, as its operator describes. On any of these, check what the booking covers before you go.
Nearly: the parks and monuments close only on a few days around Christmas and New Year.
Yes. Besides the date, the palace ticket needs a time slot.
No. The final climb is by shuttle, on foot or with a tour that handles the transport.
Check the rule for each monument above, because only two of them take dogs.
