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 MooreSintra 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.It was one of the best places we visited in Portugal and a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of Lisbon.For starters, I was glad we took an Uber to Sintra instead of a trainI was glad we took an Uber to Sintra instead of a train.Timothy MooreWe wanted to arrive at Sintra's Pena Palace before 9:30 a.m., since we'd booked the earliest access possible. Although Lisbon has a direct train to Sintra that takes about 40 minutes and costs only a few bucks, we'd already had poor luck with trains throughout Portugal and didn't want to risk missing our timed entry.Our Uber ride took less than an hour and was fairly affordable. We spent 26 euros, plus a tip, to get to Pena Palace. Even better, taxis and rideshares can drive right up to the gate alongside tour buses. If you're driving yourself, you'll have to park farther down the hill and hike up or take a bus.Ultimately, if you don't have a rental car and aren't staying in the town of Sintra, I recommend taking an Uber — especially if you're starting your day early and leaving from Lisbon.Booking our tickets early for the major attractions was crucial Tickets for Pena Palace are timed.Timothy MooreDespite feeling worlds away from Lisbon, Sintra remains a popular destination and can get crowded during the summer, prime tourist season. We found the best time to see the town's main attractions, including the red-and-yellow Pena Palace, is first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon, after all the tour groups have left.Tickets for Pena Palace and Manini's Quinta da Regaleira are timed, and the best time slots sell out in advance. As soon as you book your flights and hotels, research tickets for these two sites in Sintra. You can also buy tickets for the Moorish Castle in advance, but these are date-based tickets — no timed entry required.In the end, I'm grateful we'd reserved our tickets weeks before our trip.Touring the inside and outside of Pena Palace was incredible Pena Palace is stunning.Timothy MoorePena Palace was easily the most beautiful European architecture I've seen, even better than Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle.The bright red-and-yellow paint on the exterior is much more imaginative than the typical stone color of cathedrals and castles throughout Europe, and the scenery from the hilltop is impressive. Pena Palace had wonderfully vibrant colors.Timothy MooreOnce the fog lifted for the day, we could see the Atlantic and a 360-degree view of the surrounding villages below.Our ticket also got us inside the palace, where we were able to tour several beautiful rooms with antique furniture, breathtaking artwork, and stunning views of the surroundings.A Pena Palace ticket gets you into more than the structure itself.Timothy MooreWe found that as we finished our 9:30 a.m. tour, the palace was starting to get really busy. Again, going early feels crucial for the best experience.After seeing the palace interior, we spent time exploring the grounds, which are filled with beautiful scenery and various hiking trails. We loved seeing the Valley of Lakes.Timothy MooreWe hiked to the Valley of Lakes in Pena Park and found the most elaborate "birdhouses" or "duck condos" we've ever seen and spotted wildlife enjoying them. One was even designed to look like a castle tower in the middle of a lake.Next, we took a short hike to the Moorish Castle and spent some time in town There's a path from Pena Palace to Moorish Castle.Timothy MooreYou can take public transportation to the nearby Moorish Castle, but there's a path to it from Pena Palace if you're OK with a mild hike. It was paved and felt accessible at about half a mile long.The Moorish Castle is significantly older than Pena Palace, as it was originally constructed several centuries ago. Though it's undergone significant reconstruction over the last millennium, you can still feel the history in every stone.Climbing to the highest rampart is intense, but the views from the top — including a view of Pena Palace on the nearby hilltop — are worth the ascent.After exploring the Moorish Castle, we took a long hike down the hill into the town of Sintra in search of lunch. In my opinion, the hike was not well marked and challenging
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