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Biester Palace Sintra, a beautiful hidden gem
I am always looking for hidden gems, and when Biester Palace in Sintra opened in 2022, I knew I wanted to visit! I saw the palace in The Ninth Gate with Johnny Depp and was super excited to visit!
The palace and park are amazing places to visit, and you can easily spend one to two hours on the property. It’s next to Quinta da Regaleira and within walking distance from Sintra town. That makes it easy to combine with the other palaces in Sintra.
Biester Palace soon became one of my favourite Sintra palaces. In this guide, I will explain what you can expect during your visit, which tours are available, and how to get tickets. Many tourists don’t know the palace exists in Sintra, so you can expect fewer crowds, but with all the Sintra magic!
Biester Palace Sintra Portugal overview
What is Biester Palace?
Biester Palace is a stunning Palace in Sintra, about one hour from the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. It’s also known as Chalet Biester, a historical monument surrounded by Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. Like most places in Sintra, Biester Palace has a surrounding park with stunning plants and flowers. Biester Palace Gardens also contains several greenhouses and a cafe.
It was built in 1880 by Portuguese architect José Luiz Monteiro (the first Portuguese architect who completed his studies abroad in Italy and France) as a residence for Ernesto Biester, a wealthy merchant and playwright who owns more mansions nearby. The style was late-century modernity and includes early art nouveau styles.
The Italian architect Luigi Manini, who was also a set designer, and the Portuguese Leandro Braga (and some of the best artists) were responsible for the decoration, and wow, they did a fantastic job! You’ll notice the Romantic Architecture really compliments the surrounding landscape.
The palace and Biester Garden lie in the heart of Sintra, and French landscapist François Nogré was responsible for the lush greenery. From here, you enjoy views over Castelo dos Mouros, Pena Palace and Sintra Town.
Biester Palace has a mysterious history, and you’ll discover many secrets. It’s a place where mysticism, art and religion come together. That includes a unique harmony between the palace and gardens.
Does Biester Palace look familiar?
If you’ve seen the movie The Ninth Gate, directed by Roman Polanski, you might recognise Biester Palace. Leading movie star Johnny Depp played the role of Dean Corso, who was a rare book dealer. He’s hired by collector Boris Balkan, who bought a copy of the 17th-century book The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, a book written by author Aristide Torchia.
Torchia allegedly wrote the book in collaboration with the Devil, and only three books survived. According to Balkan, only one is authentic, and Corso is hired to determine which one it is. The 1999 neo-noir horror thriller film was partially filmed in Sintra, as well as locations in France and Spain.
Tip!
In front of Chalet Biester, you can see the gate where Johnny Depp entered the gardens, and there is even a cut out of the actor.
What to see inside Biester Palace?
There are three floors to discover during your visit. The first two floors have beautiful rooms with furniture, and the chamber has a space for temporary exhibitions. Please note you’ll receive some shoe covers to protect the floors. You can take these off again when reaching the lowest floor.
Biester Palace Sintra is a private property, and after a stunning and careful renovation project, the 19th-century neo-gothic monument is finally open to visitors. The incredible interior is just like it was in the 19th century. You’ll enjoy frescoes, paintings, and theatrical decor.
The middle floor
Let’s start from the entrance on the middle floor. When you arrive, you can see some panels that provide a short history of Biester Palace and more information about the work done by José Luiz Monteiro, Luigi Manini and Leandro de Souza Braga.
To the right, you can already get a glimpse of the library, followed by the Music Room. You’ll notice that this palace is fully furnished, unlike the Monserrate Palace.
The Music Hall was used for entertainment and includes some naturalist pieces by Luigi Manini. He also worked on the design at Quinta da Regaleira. Amélia Biester hosted many events in this room, and it has an intimate feel to it.
The Drawing Room was used for receptions and a dining room, and here we see neo-gothic doors and historic furniture. The neo-gothic doors give access to the terrace and beautiful views over the gardens.
The Ballroom has a stunning fireplace with tiles made by Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro. The dining room was used to host balls and celebrations, and visitors could stay warm in front of the fireplace. From the Ballroom, you can make your way up the stairs to the second floor.
Next to the staircase, you will also spot an elevator. This was designed by Raúl Mesnier de Ponsard, who also created the Santa Justa Lift in Lisbon.
The top floor
Time to explore the nest floor! The staircase is simply stunning and entirely made from wood. It leads you towards the balcony, from which you can see the fountain in front of Chalet Biester and walk towards the Chapel.
The Chapel is one of the most beautiful rooms in the palace! The ceilings were painted by Paul Baudry, who also painted the foyer of the Paris Opera.
The Templar Chapel is full of mysticism with links to the Knights Templar, Rome and Christianity. It’s unique as the Chapel is located on the master chamber’s floor.
It has two entrances, one private and one for visitors. Four impressive stained-glass windows ordered from Hubert of Paris offer views of the Moorish Castle.
The rest of the floor contains mostly bathrooms, dressing rooms and bedrooms. The Master Bedroom offers stunning views over the village and the Sintra Mountains. The room is bright and full of colour! This is where Amélia and Frederico rested overnight.
Paul Baudry also painted the angels in this room, and Manini made the organic elements. After discovering all the rooms, you can take another staircase to the Chamber level.
The lowest level
In the downstairs rooms, you can visit the kitchen, the elevator mechanism and the Initiatory Chamber. This last place is linked with the ideology of the whole Biester Palace’s conception, given that, together with the chapel, it connects with the practice of initiating an individual to a secret Templar Order.
The Initiatory Chamber compartment is entirely made of stone and has a vaulted ceiling. The kitchen is stunning, and the interior features ceramic tiles on all walls.
Biester Park
The surrounding green area is an oasis of peace and one of the natural attractions to explore at Biester Palace. Once ruins, the gardens have been restored to its former glory. Just like inside, the garden has easy-to-follow routes, which are well-signposted.
Head over to the Discovery Viewpoint overlooking Sintra. From here, everything is discovered. The panoramic view includes Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, and the palace in town, Sintra Palace. You’re surrounded by trees in Pena Park, but with clear weather, you can see as far as the Atlantic Ocean and Mafra.
Take a break
In between the greenhouses, you can join a hot or cold drink at the tea house. They have nice cakes and some sandwiches too. You can sit inside, but with nice weather, the terrace is a great place to rest.
The greenhouse also has some tables and chairs for guests. Enjoy a coffee, fresh fruit juice, or the local Queijadas de Sintra.
Other curiosities in the gardens
After a well-deserved break, you can check out the Pena Cave. It’s a natural rock formation placed on a rocky recess of Biester Park. The large rocks overhang the entrance and some benches to sit on.
Bordalo Pinheiro also created some benches in the garden. Or head over to the Australian Ferns Bridge and the Camellia Waterfall. At this point, you’ve reached the entrance/exit on the N375.
Tickets for Biester Palace and Park
Biester Palace tickets cost €16.00 per adult, and children between 6 and 17 years of age pay €12.00. Children under five can enter for free.
There is also a special family ticket for €45.00, which provides entrance for two adults and up to 4 children. Reserve your online tickets below to save money and time!
Opening hours of Chalet Biester
Visitors are welcome daily at Biester Palace. The opening times depend on the season. In summer, from April until September, Biester Palace is open from 10 AM until 8 PM. The last entry is at 7 PM.
Off-season, from October to March, the doors are open from 10 AM until 6.30 PM, and the last entry is at 5.30 PM.
How to get to Biester Palace?
There are two ways to enter Biester Palace. One is from the main road on the N375, which is located at the lower end of the hill the palace stands on. When you arrive at the N375 entrance, you can buy tickets next to the small waterfall Cascata de Pisões. If you start from the bottom, you’ll need to walk uphill through the garden to reach Biester Palace.
The other entrance is located higher up. Estrada da Pena is the road towards the Moorish Castle and Palácio da Pena. In this case, you’ll walk uphill first, but you can enjoy a relaxing visit to this Sintra Palace. Starting at the top entrance on Estrada da Pena, you can visit Biester Palace first before moving downhill to enjoy the park and gardens.
Transport to Biester Palace
There are several ways to reach Biester Palace. First of all, a car is not needed. There is no car park, and it is not allowed to drive up Estrada da Pena (this is for taxis, tuk-tuks and local buses only). You can drive the N375, but there is no place to park your car nearby.
The easiest way to reach Chalet Biester is to walk from the town centre. From Sintra Train Station to both entrances takes around 20 minutes by foot. At Largo Ferreira Castro, you can decide if you walk uphill or keep walking on the same level. Check this guide for travelling from Lisbon to Sintra by train.
If you can’t walk long distances, taking a tuk-tuk or taxi is best. It will be the most convenient but also the most expensive. Public transport is another option. Bus 1253 stops at the entrance on the N375, and it also takes 20 minutes to reach. Bus 747 drives by Biester Palace (to Pena Palace) but does not stop here!
Organised tours to Biester Palace
Currently, there are not many group tours offering visits to Biester Palace. The site is easy to explore by yourself, but with a guide you will learn more about it’s history. You can also book a combined tour including Palácio da Pena, Cabo da Roca and Cascais. Another option is to book a private tour and add Biester Palace to your itinerary.
Other things to see in Sintra
You might already know that this area has many palaces and sights to offer! If you have time to explore another palace in Sintra, you can visit Quinta da Regaleira next door. Here, you can see the mansion and the famous Initiation Well.
Further uphill, you’ll discover the Moorish Castle and Pena Palace. Or, if you prefer to head back to town, Sintra National Palace is worth it!
Do you want to see another hidden gem in the mountains? Head to the Convent of the Capuchos, a former convent entity made from natural materials such as cork! Or explore Monserrate Palace, one of the most beautiful palaces!
Staying overnight
Staying the night is a great idea to enjoy your trip even more. You can stay in stunning and affordable B&Bs or go all out and stay in fairytale palaces yourself! Tivoli Palácio de Seteais is a mesmerising place to stay. Or how about romantic Quinta Das Murtas? Check the map below to discover your perfect room for the night.
FAQ
How long do I need to visit Biester Palace in Sintra?
If you’re in a rush, you can do it in an hour, but if you’d like to enjoy the gardens and take your time, two hours is advisable.
Is Biester Palace worth a visit?
It is a stunning place and less busy than the others in Sintra. If you have time, you should definitely see Biester Palace.
Are you ready to see this hidden gem in Sintra?
Be sure to add Biester Palace to your must-visit list when visiting Sintra! The 19th-century Chalet Biester has a captivating history with beautiful interior decoration. Parque Biester offers exotic vegetation within the Sintra Mountains. It is a great place to explore and one with breathtaking views!
If you like a quiet place to see amongst the busy palaces in the area, Biester Palace is impressive! Most palaces can be full of visitors, and Biester Palace is still a hidden gem! You reach the palace after a short walk from the town centre.
More things to do in Sintra
- How to get to Palácio da Pena in Sintra
- Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, a guide to visit this magical UNESCO site
- Complete Guide to Park and Palace of Monserrate Sintra
- Sintra day trips from Lisbon; discover the best excursions
- The hidden gem in Sintra; Discover the ancient Convent of the Capuchos
- Beautiful Cabo da Roca Portugal; most westernmost point of Europe
- Biester Palace, a beautiful hidden gem in Sintra
- Sintra National Palace: Discover the beautiful palace close to Lisbon
- Lisbon Sintra by train Travel Guide + 8 top sights to visit
- Discover the picturesque coastal town Azenhas do Mar near Sintra
- Visit the beautiful Castle of the Moors (Castelo dos Mouros) in Sintra
- 8 irresistible beaches in Sintra to visit during your holiday
- How to get to stunning Praia da Ursa
- Beautiful Queluz National Palace, a hidden gem in Sintra
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