Palacio de Seteais

How to visit Palacio de Seteais in Sintra, Portugal

Palacio de Seteais is a neoclassical palace and national landmark located in Sintra, Portugal. It is amongst the long list of extravagant mansions and palaces that adorn the hills of Sintra. This stunning historical property has been used as a luxury hotel since 1954 but its architecture and decorations have been well preserved.

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Palacio de Seteais was built for Dutch consol Daniel Gildemeester between 1783 and 1787. After his death, the palace was sold to Diogo José Vito de Menezes Noronha Coutinho, 5th Marquis of Marialva. In fact, the hotel restaurant is named after the Marquis, who was responsible for expanding the palace, adding a second wing connected by the arch. After numerous other owners, the property was eventually acquired by the Portuguese government and later renovated as a hotel and event venue.

Above photos: Soaking in details at Palacio de Seteais

The palace can best be explored as a guest of the hotel. However, unregistered visitors are still able to visit the grounds and take in the views from the magnificent arch. In this post, I will share highlights from my recent stay as a hotel guest and how to incorporate a visit into your Sintra itinerary.

• How to get to Palacio de Seteais
• Visiting Palacio de Seteais as an area visitor
• Visiting Palacio de Seteais as a hotel guest
• Dining at Marialva

Getting to Palacio de Seteais

Palacio de Seteais is located about 1-mile walking distance from the Sintra train station along Rua Barbosa du Bocage. The easiest way to get to the palace is on-foot or tuk-tuk. Alternatively, the Sintra tourist bus #435 runs continuously throughout the day. You can catch it right outside the train station and hop-off at the 5th stop for Seteais Palace. A full day hop-on-hop-off ticket can be purchased in advance here.

If you plan on walking through Sintra town and stopping to visit the National Palace of Sintra, Biester Palace, and/or Quinta da Regaleira then walking from place-to-place will probably be easiest. If you plan on visiting the Palace of Monserrate after Palacio de Seteais, then you might want to have a bus ticket in your pocket for your forward journey and return to town.

Free parking is available for hotel guests. Be advised that the driving distance to the hotel is longer than walking distance due to one-way streets. Also, there is usually quite a bit of traffic congestion during the day, which may result in longer drive times.

Visiting as an area visitor

As a visitor to Sintra, it is possible to incorporate Palacio de Seteais on your itinerary, including a walk through its magnificent arch to take in the expansive views of the Sintra landscape and mountains. During the day, visitors can enjoy a quiet break under the large trees that line the front lawn or snap some photos for the ‘gram under the arch.

Unfortunately, the interior of the palace is reserved for hotel guests only.

Palacio de Seteais is a perfect quick, relaxing stop after visiting Quinta da Regaleria, which is a mere 5-minute walk away. After stopping at the palace, you can hop on the #435 bus out to the Palace of Monserrate or walk back to Sinta town, which is downhill in that direction:)

Above photo: Palacio de Seteais

Above photos: Magnificent Arch, Palacio de Seteais

Visiting as a hotel guest

Palacio de Seteais is slightly removed from the center of Sintra town, but still within walking distance to many attractions including Quinta da Regaleira, Biester Palace, The National Palace of Sintra, restaurants, and shops. If you love the idea of staying in a historical property with luxury amenities and dining, this hotel is a wonderful option.

Check rates & availability for Palácio de Seteais Hotel below:

As a hotel guest, visitors are afforded the opportunity to fully explore the palace interiors, garden, and pool. Our first glimpse of the property was the guest reception area and adjoining common areas. The staff is attentive and certainly knows how to make their guests feel welcome.

Above photos: Palacio de Seteais hotel reception areas

We stayed in the Agatha Christie suite, which was named as such after the author stayed in Seteais in 1968. It was absolutely gorgeous and certainly had the feel of a VIP room. I loved all the antique furnishings, the claw-foot tub, and decorative elements.

Above photos: Agatha Christie’s room at Palacio de Seteais

Once we were settled, we began to find our way through the event spaces, restaurant, and gardens. The hotel’s collection of antiques includes many interesting pieces of furniture, art, and a grand piano that is played in the evening.

Above photo: Antiques and wall frescos at Palacio de Seteais

Above photos: Gardens at Palacio de Seteais

Dining at Marialva

The palace’s main dining room, Marialva, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner seatings with menus featuring traditional Portuguese cuisine and a thoughtful wine list. Reservations are open for all (not exclusive to hotel guests).

Above photos: Marialva Restaurant

Of course, we loved the convenience of having dinner just a floor away from our room. But, Marialva has more going for it than location. The walls are covered in frescos attributed to French painter Jean-Baptiste Pillement. Painted motifs include exotic vegetation and mythological characters. It is easy to see why this is also a favorite wedding venue. It evokes pure romance.

Our dinner was beautiful and delicious. We ordered several courses, along with wine pairings. Since we weren’t driving after, why not? And, honestly, after all the walking we did that day, we totally deserved it.

Above photos: Dinner at Marialva Restaurant, Palacio de Seteais

It would take zero convincing for me to stay here again on a return trip to Sintra. Although, next visit I would make time to use the spa and outdoor pool to fully soak up the tranquility. For more information, visit the Palacio de Seteais website here.

Organized tours

Private Guided Tours in Sintra

Below are a few tour options below that meet in Sintra after you have arrived on your own. These tour options are especially convenient if you are arriving by train and don’t have your own transportation to get around to some of the sites off the tourist bus route. They are also ideal for anyone with limited time, who also wants a tailored experience.

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