Pena Palace in Sintra, Portugal, is something you gotta see for yourself. No photo will ever be able to capture the stunning reality. I can’t remember the last time I looked at something with that wow feeling. Surprised I was so floored, considering all the pictures I had seen prior. Unless you go inside or explore the huge park surrounding it, this can actually be done in a fairly short amount of time, as the castle is not as big as it looks. More correctly, the outside areas you are allowed to access is not many. It just depends on how long you need to take in the beautiful exterior. You can keep studying it, and snapping shots, from different angles, all day. All pics will be gorgeous, however not undisturbed. There are people everywhere. Can’t imagine what it is like in high season. At one point I gave up trying not to have someone in my photos 🙂 I loved the morning fog. Gives it all another dimension. If you, like me, decide to skip on the Castle of the Moors, you get a stunning view of it from the back balcony as the heavy mist disappears. I did not go inside the palace, as a fellow traveller had said it was not worth it. At least not with the long line she had experienced. I didn’t see anyone waiting to enter, so maybe no line this day… I did not go walk in the park either, except for getting between the entrance and the castle. I just didn’t have time, on a day trip, which isn’t the way to visit Sintra in my opinion. I hear there are great view to be had, so wish I had had the time. But I am glad I decided to walk up the hill from the gate, and not go on the shuttle. In this way at least I got to experience a small part of the park, and it was very enjoyable. It’s not a very long walk, not very hard, but uphill, so maybe not for all. The bright colours of the castle peeking through the haze, as you get closer to the top, is striking. Anticipation building 🙂
I got on the bus, which was waiting for us at the train station, when we arrived from Lisbon. Upon arrival everyone rushed out the door towards the bus. Probably not room for everyone, so I assume some had to wait for the next one. Beware, you are given a hop-on hop-off ticket “automatically”. I asked for a one way ticket, and, in the “chaos”, realised too late that I had gotten the wrong kind. Once onboard we were taken straight up the hill. First stop was Castle of the Moors, Pena Palace second. Got dropped off at the entrance, and ticket office. There is a shuttle going between the gate and the palace. I didn’t know, so I walked both ways. On my way down I noticed the shuttle runs on a timetable, so I didn’t bother to wait. It’s not a long walk. Getting back to town turned into being a nuisance. The bus timetable I found incomprehensible, maybe it was just me, and people working the palace gate had no idea. So there I was with an already paid for ticket, with no idea of when the next bus would come, watching taxis and mototaxis passing by. Don’t get a 24H ticket unless you are planning to see many sights in Sintra. Quinta de Regeleria, for example, you can walk to from town.
If you have been inside Pena Palace, explored the park, or visited the Castle of the Moors, let me know in the comments how it was 🙂 Did I miss out?
Website: parquesdesintra.pt/en/parks-monuments/park-and-national-palace-of-pena
