We spent 2 weeks in Portugal. The best stop on our whole trip was a fairy-tale-like town just outside of Lisbon.

Sintra and its landmarks felt worlds away from the bustling streets of Lisbon, and this day trip was a perfect break from the city's fast pace. Timothy Moore Sintra is a popular day-trip destination from Lisbon, Portugal, and it was easy for us to see why. In just one day, we were able to explore a palace, an old castle, and a fairy-tale-like estate. The town felt like a dreamy, perfect escape from the fast-paced streets of Lisbon. On our two-week vacation to Portugal , my husband and I planned a fairy-tale day trip to the town of Sintra, less than an hour northwest of Lisbon. Known as the first center of European Romantic architecture, Sintra is home to a stunning palace, the remnants of an ancient castle wall, and a sprawling estate designed by Italian architect and scenographer Luigi Manini.