1. Sintra: Jeep Tour with Visit to Pena Palace
Imagine kings and queens in mountain-top palaces, a kaleidoscope of bright colors. Magical forests filled with fairies, hidden treasure, or even ghosts. Sintra is a region filled with real-life castles and mysterious legends. Explore this UNESCO World Heritage town known for its romantic architecture and landscaping. Start the day with a visit to the magical Pena Palace, the red-and-yellow Disney-like castle that sits atop Sintra’s second-highest peak. Walk around the external areas of Pena Palace. The next stop is lunch at a traditional Portuguese restaurant in a small village. Enjoy fresh fish or tasty meat on the wood-fired grill and plenty of wine. After lunch, visit the 12th-century Peninha Sanctuary, built 500m above sea level. From here take in 360-degree views of the forest, the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon, Sintra, and Cascais, on a stunning hike through one of the most amazing and mystical forests in the world. Finish with a visit to the hilltop megalithic structure that is essentially Portugal’s Stonehenge. As you cruise around in one of the convertible jeeps go off-road to epic lookouts and secret spots other visitors can’t reach.