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Confusion with Lisbon Card and Pena Palace

Posted by (USA) on

So I'm finding the Lisbon Card a little confusing when considering there are some sites/sights that is recommended you purchase tickets ahead of time. For example, RS says to purchase Pena Palace tickets ahead of time because lines can be long. I'm about two weeks from my holiday to Portugal and I'm trying to buy all tickets that are advisable to purchase ahead of time. However, I don't see how I can apply the Lisbon Card discount to buy the Pena Palace tickets. To be clear, I haven't bought either the Lisbon Card nor Pena Palace tickets yet. I'm just trying to see how to do. I'm also calculating cost of things I would do to see if it's worth buying the Lisbon Card.

From the Lisbon Card FAQ, this is what it says re: Pena Palace:

How can I use Lisboa Card to buy tickets for Pena Palace in Sintra? For the Parks/Palaces of Sintra such as the Pena Palace, the
National Palace of Sintra, the Castle of the Moors, the Park of
Monserrate and the Convent of the Capuchos, it is necessary to present
the Lisboa Card at the ticket office, so that the discount is applied
(see each attraction % discount here).

However, you can buy tickets for all these attractions in the same
place/attraction for time and money convenience: if you buy a combined
ticket at the ticket office (for example, Pena Palace + Castle of the
Moors), you get the discount of Lisboa Card in each, PLUS a discount
for the purchase of a combination of Sintra attractions.

So, if I'm supposed to show up at the ticket office in Sintra in order to apply my Lisbon Card discount, then it means I can't actually buy the tickets ahead of time and I'll be wasting time queuing up and even hoping I get the time slot I want to. This sounds really messy.

Am I misunderstanding something?

Posted by
1109 posts

I haven't used the Lisbon Card before, but I'm reading it the same way you are.

Have you looked into if the card will actually save you money? Transportation is very cheap in Lisbon. The train from Lisbon to Sintra is €2.30 each way. Could always pick up a Viva Viagem Card which is €.50 and can add some funds to it to start. Then just tap and go for your transportation needs, adding additional funds as needed. Then you can just buy that Pena Palace ticket the night before for the time slot you want. Seems to be the less hassle route, at least in my opinion.

Posted by
336 posts

I am in the same boat. Leave tomorrow (Sunday). Just purchased my Lisbon card, then bought Pena Palace (official site) tickets but had no way to get any discount. We got the 9:30 time slot. When I was buying the Lisbon card, it did offer me Pena tickets but only starting at 11:30. I don't know if they were discounted but I did not want the 11:30 time slot. I'll try to get my discount to the Moorish Castle when I am there, we'll see how that goes!!!

Posted by
350 posts

@Gail, I'm calculating the cost to see if the Lisbon Card is really worth it for me. It may end up not worth the bother (if not the cost!). :)

@Jimmy666, interesting technique! I was thinking the same: purchase Pena Palace ticket on my own ahead of time, and if I do get the Lisboa Card, get the Moorish Castle and other tickets in person. I definitely don't want the 11:30am time slot either. That's way too late for me.

Posted by
362 posts

Used Lisboa card once, so not worth the hassle, extra time, extra lines to get your entry ticket. You can purchase online now for many venues.
No senior discounts.
Next visit used Via Viagem load up card, works much better.

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