A day trip to the fairytale palaces of Sintra

Just a short train ride from the city, Sintra is pure fantasy: a green hillside studded with extravagant palaces, the candy-coloured Pena Palace, the mysterious Quinta da Regaleira with its initiation well, and misty forest gardens. It's one of the most magical day trips in Europe, and easily done independently by cheap train, or as an organised tour if you'd rather have the logistics and the hilltop transport sorted for you. Go on a weekday morning to beat the queues, which stretch long by midday in summer. We'll help you decide between the DIY train trip and a guided day tour.