Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Ajuda National Palace in Lisbon, Portugal

Article updated May 2025. This post includes affiliate links.

One of my all time favourite attractions in Lisbon is Ajuda National Palace. It’s a place that I decided to visit mostly because of the convenience and proximity to other attractions in the area, however the beauty of it pleasantly surprised me! Read on to learn everything there is to know about visiting this wonderful Lisbon jewel.

Table of Contents hide

1. What is Ajuda National Palace?

2. Why should you visit Ajuda National Palace?

3. How to get to Ajuda National Palace?

4. What is the cost of Ajuda National Palace?

5. How long do you need to visit Ajuda National Palace?

6. Is visiting Ajuda National Palace worth it?

7. Book hotels, rent a car, purchase travel insurance & more!

What is Ajuda National Palace?

Ajuda National Palace, known in Portuguese as Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, is a former royal palace built in the 19^th century. It proudly preserves the original decor of the rooms, as well as showcases valuable art collections, such as paintings, sculptures, jewellery, silverware, textiles and more.

Why should you visit Ajuda National Palace?

Plainly said – this will be one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever see! Throughout your tour you will be entering from one room to the other, moving in one direction on two floors.

There are many rooms in the palace. Each time I thought I’ve seen something amazing I would walk into the next room and see something even more spectacular. It was a never-ending excitement and surprise, and I totally lost count of how many beautiful rooms I’ve got a chance to see.

Aside from the beauty of it, the feel of the fully original arrangement preserved here is hard to explain. It definitely makes you feel a certain way knowing that everything you’re looking at had stood in the same spot for over 100 years without major alterations. This place definitely has a soul.

Some of the highlights you’ll see at the palace are the Audience Room, the Throne Room and the Banquet Room. As much as I loved these grand rooms, I also appreciated the smaller themed rooms, such as the Green Room or the Pink Room – all so well curated and interesting.

Ajuda National Palace is not the greatest place to take photos. There’s not much room in the aisles and it’s quite dark inside. However, there are a few spots that will make for pretty pictures – outside in front of the palace, as well as on the beautiful stairs that take you to the second floor and back.

How to get to Ajuda National Palace?

Ajuda National Palace is located in a picturesque area of Ajuda, right on the border with Belem. Getting there is very simple through public transport.

1. Starting at Praça do Comércio: get on route 760 that will drop you off right at the palace (Lg. Ajuda (Palacio) stop). This trip will take about 30 minutes.

2. Starting from Jeronimos Monastery: walk 2 minutes to a bus stop across the street from Pasteis de Belem, then get on route 729 that will drop you off right at the palace (Palacio Nacional Ajuda stop). This trip will take about 10 minutes.

Hours of operation are 10 AM to 6 PM from Thursday to Tuesday. Last entry is at 5:15 PM.

What is the cost of Ajuda National Palace?

Tickets for adults cost 15 Euro and for seniors 7.50 Euro. Children below the age of 12 receive free entry. There is free admission included in the purchase of Lisboa Card.

Purchase through: Viator | Tiqets | Get Your Guide

How long do you need to visit Ajuda National Palace?

I recommend allocating about 1-1.5 hours to visit the palace. There is so much to see, but the layout is really well-thought-out. It moves in one direction, so you will see everything efficiently without getting lost or missing anything important.

Is visiting Ajuda National Palace worth it?

I can’t recommend this place enough! It was one of my favourite places in Lisbon. I’ve seen many palaces, castles and grand homes in my life, but this one definitely makes it to my top 3.

The details you’ll see here are spectacular. What makes it even better is that everything is real and preserved in its original arrangement. The moment you walk in you feel like you’ve been transformed to Bridgerton – Netflix’s TV Series set in 19^th century England.

I visited the palace as my last stop of the day, around 3-4pm, and there were barely any people. It was a huge difference from Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery that were overfilled with crowds. I truly feel that most people stick to the top 3 attractions found on TripAdvisor, and unfortunately miss this wonderful spot located just a few minutes away from the touristy hustle and bustle.

If you decide to make your way here, do not forget to check out the Royal Treasure Museum located on the side of the palace. Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery and National Coach Museum are also in close proximity to Ajuda National Palace – all of these attractions together would make a great one-day itinerary.