Visiting the Sintra National Palace

With its two giant white conical chimneys, the Sintra National Palace is the landmark of Sintra’s old town. It’s the best-preserved medieval royal palace in Portugal, famous for painted ceilings and some of the oldest tiles in the country. It’s right in the centre, so it’s the easiest palace to visit. Here’s what to know.

Quick answer: the palace is in the old town square, a 10 to 15 minute walk from Sintra station, with no bus or hill climb needed. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours. Highlights are the Swan Room, the Magpie Room, the Coat of Arms Room and the huge kitchen chimneys. It’s usually quieter than Pena. See Sintra National Palace tickets.

About the palace

Portuguese kings used the palace from the 15th to the 19th century. It grew over centuries, mixing Gothic, Manueline and Moorish-inspired styles, and its walls hold one of the richest collections of early tiles in Portugal. It’s part of the Sintra UNESCO World Heritage site.

What to see

• The Swan Room: a ceiling painted with swans, each in a different pose.
• The Magpie Room: a ceiling covered in magpies holding the motto “Por bem”. Legend says King João I painted them to silence gossip after he was caught kissing a lady-in-waiting.
• The Coat of Arms Room: a domed gilded ceiling with the arms of Portugal’s noble families, above walls of blue-and-white tiles.
• The kitchens: step inside the giant conical chimneys.
• The Arab Room and courtyards with early geometric tiles.

Tips

• Visit first or last: it’s a good choice for late afternoon after the hilltop sights, or on a misty day when Pena is in cloud.
• Combine with Quinta da Regaleira, a short walk away. See the Regaleira guide.
• Snack: try a travesseiro pastry nearby.
• Accessibility: it’s more accessible than the hilltop palaces.

More: the Pena Palace guide, palaces in Portugal and visiting Sintra.

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