Swap the mosaic-tiled streets of Lisbon for something more rugged, the wild beauty of Serra de Sintra.

Happily only a mere 40-minute train ride away, you’ll head here with one of our local Lisbon hosts and explore Sintra together, at a pace that suits you.

But you can barely move an inch in this mountainous, pine tree-covered region without bumping into gothic palaces, imposing Moorish castles, charming squares, and colorful mansions (a slight exaggeration but it does feel a lot like stepping into a fairytale).

It’s really no surprise that the town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take your pick from the fairytale Palacio Nacional de Sintra, the extravagant Pena Palace, and the imposing Castelo dos Mouros, which was built in the 9th century - or see them all!

Feast on authentic local cuisine at a spot recommended by your host, grab some travesseiro pastries to go (Sintra is the birthplace of these famous sweet treats, whose name means ‘pillows’) then head to the dramatic Atlantic coastline for cliffs plunging into tempestuous waters.

You might just discover an abandoned convent carved into the rock, but if that sounds a bit too eerie, you could enjoy a few hours relaxing on a secluded beach - after all, exploring can be tiring work.