Sintra: A Hidden Gem

Just a 30 minute train ride out of Lisbon, Sintra is absolutely a must-see. I could have stayed there for 5 days, considering the amount of castles and nearby beach. Tonight I'm staying at "Nice" Hostel, which I highly recommend. Today I saw 2 castles after hiking for about an hour uphill... quite a trek, but enjoyable if you like to hike. Castle of the Moors makes you feel like you're King Arthur protecting a kingdom, while Pena Palace can be best described as 3 lego kits mashed together in the creative mind of a 10 year old, who mixed colors and architectural styles to make an impressive color-by-number sight to see. Both are absolutely worth going to, especially if you take advantage of the gardens. I'll organize these pictures better when I have more time (aka when I'm not exploring Portugal), but for now, this handful should give you an idea of my beautiful jam-packed day. I'm very glad I didn't do this little town in a day trip like a lot of people do!