Fronteira Palace Visitor Guide 2026

Your Visit, Step by Step

What You'll See and in What Order

The palace tour follows a fixed route through the house and out to the chapel; the garden is yours afterwards. This is the order most visits follow.

Front garden and reflecting pool While you wait for your tour, walk the front of the garden. The tiled walls here are the first taste of what's to come. Your guide collects the group at the house.
The Battle Room The highlight of the house. Blue and white panels made around 1669–1673 show eight battles of the Restoration War, with infantry, cavalry and artillery in remarkable detail. Find the 1st Marquis fighting a Spanish general.
Panel Room, Four Seasons Room and Juno Room Smaller reception rooms with more tiles, stucco and family portraits, some by Domingos António de Sequeira. The dining room has Dutch tiles alongside Portuguese ones.
The library Still a working family library, with the archive of the Fronteira and Alorna houses. The foundation lends it to researchers.
The Liberal Arts Terrace Out in the open air: a long terrace of tiled niches with the seven liberal arts, the Muses, and the gods of the planets from Diana (the Moon) to Saturn.
The chapel The oldest part of the house, from the late 16th century, with a façade of shells, stones, glass and broken porcelain. The tour ends here.
Formal garden, Knights' Lake and Gallery of Kings Now on your own: the boxwood parterre with its five fountains and tiles of the seasons, then the Knights' Lake and the stairs up to the Gallery of Kings. Finish at the Casa do Fresco and the Venus garden.

When to Visit

Opening Hours & Best Time to Go

What	When
Palace tours	Mon–Sat & holidays, fixed times
English tours	10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30, 16:00
Gardens	10:00 – 18:00
Closed	Sundays, 25 Dec, 1 Jan, Easter

Check the foundation's site for gardens-only days and current times.

Best time to arrive

The 10:00 or 11:30 English tour leaves you the late morning in the garden, when the Knights' Lake is in good light.

Spring (April–June) is the garden's best season, with the parterre fresh and the trees in flower. Summer afternoons are hot and there is little shade in the formal garden.

Weekdays are quieter than Saturdays, when locals visit the garden too.

Before You Go

Practical Tips

Photography

Fine in the gardens. Inside, the palace is a private home and photography in the rooms is restricted; your guide will tell you what is allowed.

Shoes & Weather

Gravel paths and stone steps in the garden. Wear flat shoes, and bring a hat and water in summer; the formal garden has little shade.

Arrive Early

Be at the gate 15 minutes before your tour. Children up to 12 enter free but still need a ticket from the gatehouse.

Gardens-Only Days

The foundation sometimes closes the house for events and runs gardens-only visits. It posts these on its website, so check the day before.

Not on the Lisboa Card

The palace is private, so the Lisboa Card does not cover entry. It does cover the metro and bus 770.

Getting There

Metro Jardim Zoológico (blue line), then follow the green line on the pavement, or bus 770. Free parking for 30 cars opposite. Full directions →

Common Questions

Visitor Guide FAQ

How long should I allow for the Fronteira Palace?

About two hours on site: one hour for the guided palace tour and 30 to 60 minutes in the gardens. Add the journey from central Lisbon, 25 to 40 minutes each way by metro and on foot.

Is there a café?

There is no café inside. The nearest options are around the Jardim Zoológico metro station and in the streets of São Domingos de Benfica. Bring water in summer.

Can children visit?

Yes, and children up to 12 enter free according to the foundation's ticket shop. Kids tend to enjoy the garden, the monkey tiles and the knights in the lake more than the indoor tour.

Is the palace accessible?

Partly. The formal garden is on one level with gravel paths. The house has stairs, and the Gallery of Kings and upper garden are reached by stone steps. Contact the foundation before visiting if you need step-free access.

Are there special tours?

Twice a month the foundation runs themed tours, for example on the azulejo collection or on the writers who lived in the palace. It also hosts concerts, talks and exhibitions in the Battle Room. Dates are on its website.