We have this tentative tour next week for Pena Palace, Moorish castle and sintra Village-5 hours. 2 hours allotted for Pena. We are not interested in the insides. Is the park separate from the palace? We have a driver…knowing we just wish to see exteriors…plus village is five hours too much or can we add something else?
Posted by
123 posts
If Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle are all you're going to visit , then 5 hours is enough time. When we went to Sintra, we hired a private guide/driver. We left Lisbon at 9 am and didn't get back until after 7 pm. We went to the National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace.We could have used more time at Quinta da Regaleira.
Quite a few posters on this site have expressed their opinion that the interior of Pena Palace can be skipped but we thought it was worthwhile. Also the attraction for Quinta Regaleira is the exterior grounds . Most of the Moorish Castle centers around its exterior.
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
1417 posts
annemarie.
I also agree with darkmist that the interior of the Pena Palice is worth seeing. The problem is that most people get stuck in the long lineup to enter the palace and the big crowd which builds during the day.
If you are going to pay for the benefit of a private driver, you can take advantage by booking the earliest admission time and be one of the first to enter the palace. You avoid the long lineup and you stay ahead of the later crowd.