Sintra lights up: the Palace of Pena presents a new Christmas illumination trail

02 Dec 2025

This Christmas, Parques de Sintra invites visitors to experience the hills in a new way with a special scenic illumination at the National Palace of Pena. Integrated into the 2025 edition of the initiative ‘Magical Sintra – Once Upon a Magical Christmas,’ the Palace’s night-time opening offers the public a unique experience that transforms the landscape into a truly immersive setting.

This experience invites visitors to discover the Palace of Pena from a new perspective: an intervention created exclusively for this edition, highlighting the Palace’s romantic silhouette and its visual connection with the hills and with Sintra town. The result is a luminous trail that links four of Sintra’s most emblematic monuments.

‘This magical moment at the Palace of Pena brings back a renewed sense of wonder to the Sintra hills. This moment reveals the true spirit of Parques de Sintra: turning every experience into a shared moment capable of uniting geographies, heritage, and people. We want each visitor to leave with a feeling of enchantment, rediscovery, and belonging at the Palace of Pena.’ notes João Sousa Rego, Chair of the Board of Directors of Parques de Sintra.

At the Riding Ring of the Park of Pena, just a few metres from the Palace, the festive atmosphere extends the experience, with a traditional carousel, street food options, background music, and entertainment moments for all ages. The space was designed to complement the night-time experience, offering a welcoming environment that invites visitors to celebrate the season.

This initiative forms part of the programme for ‘Magical Sintra – Once Upon a Magical Christmas,’ organised by Sintra Municipal Council, Parques de Sintra, and Cultursintra Foundation, with the support of SMAS Sintra, EMES, and MEO.

The night-time visits will take place throughout December, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with free entry to the Park of Pena on 4^th and 5^th, 11^th and 12^th, 13^th, 18^th and 19^th and also on 20^th, 26^th and 27^th. To facilitate access and ensure a comfortable and sustainable experience, a bus service will be available between Sintra town and the Park of Pena, with the last journey departing from the Park at 10:30 p.m. More information here.