We are arriving in Lisbon 2 days before the tour begins. Is it worth it to take the train to Sintra to visit the Pena Palace? I am thinking the day after we arrive - don't know if we could cover it on the day the tour begins. Or is there a lot of stuff to see in Lisbon? We have been to Versailles, Blenheim Palace, and a lot of the chateaus in France. I wasn't sure if the Pena Palace is a lot different, not to be missed, etc.
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Cascais, Portugal
2031 posts
Pena is quite different and IMO, not in a good way. It’s not really historic like the ones you mention. The inside was quite disappointing to me. It’s a bit gaudy, painted in very bright colors. But, it is very unique and some people love it.
I much prefer Montserrat to Pena. It’s quite Morrish and very lovely. And, the big draw is fewer crowds. Pena is quite a challenge because of the huge numbers of tourists. Monserrat is a bit out of town and much quieter.
I’m pretty certain you will get responses that are the opposite of mine. I’m not a huge fan of Sintra, and mostly due to the crowds.