Queluz Palace

Queluz Palace, located just outside Lisbon, is a stunning 18th-century royal residence known for its lavish Rococo, Baroque, and Neoclassical architecture. Often called the “Portuguese Versailles,” this palace served as a summer retreat for the Portuguese royal family and later became their official residence.

Built between 1747 and 1794, the palace features ornate façades, grand ballrooms, and exquisite interiors adorned with gilded carvings, intricate stucco work, crystal chandeliers, and elaborate tile panels (azulejos). The Throne Room and the Music Room are particularly breathtaking, showcasing rich decorative details and grandiose design meant to impress visiting dignitaries and guests.

Surrounding the palace are extensive formal gardens designed in the French style, filled with geometric hedges, fountains, sculptures, and reflecting pools. The Canal dos Azulejos is a unique highlight—a long ornamental canal lined with traditional Portuguese tile panels depicting scenes of hunting and other pastoral activities.

The palace also has a fascinating history, including being the birthplace of Dom Pedro IV of Portugal (who became Pedro I of Brazil). It later served as a residence for the royal family until the early 19th century, when they fled to Brazil during the Napoleonic invasions.

Today, visitors can explore the opulent rooms, wander through the manicured gardens, and even catch performances of classical music or equestrian shows. It’s an easy day trip from Lisbon, accessible by train or car, and offers a rich, immersive experience into Portugal’s regal past.

Visit Notes

This is possibly my favorite palace from my entire seven week trip across Portugal and Spain. The interior rooms were beautiful and interesting to walk through, and pictures are allowed. Be sure to leave enough time to explore the gardens surrounding the palace as there is a lot to explore. It’s not often I get to see pineapples growing. While we were walking around there was a gentleman riding a gorgeous horse around, which just added to the overall ambiance. If I win the lottery I’m coming back to the buy the place.

Getting to Queluz Palace

Take the Sintra train from Rossio. The palace is a 12-15 minute walk from the Queluz-Belas train station. Trains run every 30 minutes from Lisbon and Sintra.