Combo: Pena Palace + Moorish Castle Tickets

Pena Palace

Sign on for a day at the marvelous Pena Palace, an instantly recognizable tourist attraction in Portugal. Exemplified by the 19th-century architectural style of Romanticism, this palace stands atop a rocky peak, offering quite a view to visitors. Stand at the second-highest vantage point on the Sintra Hills for a rather ravishing view.

Use your timed-entry ticket to head right into this picturesque palace and delve into the beauty of it all. The court is comprised of two wings, each ringed with an architectural structure of a castle, decked with battlements, watchtowers, and a drawbridge. Before moving on, pull out your cameras and snap away! End your tour at the magnificent park of Pena, embellished with winding paths, pavilions, and stone benches, offering quite the view.

Tip: Upgrade your ticket to get round-trip transportation between the Park's main entrance and the Palace.

Moorish Castle

In the days of yore when the Moors occupied large swathes of Portugal, a fortress was built to serve the purpose of a watchtower and an observation post. Over time, its allegiance changed from the Moors to the Vikings to the Moors before finally perishing at the hands of Christian rule. As Sintra's strategic importance dwindled, the castle was eventually abandoned. However, the mid-19th century saw a restoration project influenced by the Romantic tastes of the era and undertaken by Ferdinand II.

The views from the walls of the castle are truly spectacular. To the south, you can see beyond the river Tejo to Arrabida, and to the west, Cabo da Roca, and to the north, Peniche. From up here, you can also admire the Pena Palace and the hills of Sintra, covered in green and dotted with beautiful homesteads and romantic chalets. Archeological excavations continue to this day, and so far it has led to the discovery of a Christian graveyard and many artifacts that are now on display in the castle. Today, the remarkable Moorish Castle is a National Monument, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and open to visitors from all walks of life.