Fairytale palaces in the misty hills
Sintra's wooded hills are dotted with palaces that look invented for a storybook, and the whole cultural landscape is a UNESCO site. Pena Palace is a riot of yellow and red on a peak, Quinta da Regaleira hides grottoes and a spiralling well, and the Moorish Castle's walls snake along the ridge. It's under an hour by train from Lisbon; go early, as it gets busy.