Under $100: Sintra, Portugal

Located approximately 20 miles west of Lisbon, the town of Sintra is a popular daytrip or multi-daytrip destination for visitors to Portugal’s capital city. With no shortage of forests to explore, castles to admire and excellent Portuguese cuisine to devour, a quick jaunt to Sintra is well worth the 40-minute train ride.

Pena Palace © Europhotos | Dreamstime

Arriving in Sintra early in the morning warrants a stop at charming Café Saudade for pastry and a cup of coffee for less than $5. Continue walking toward the Palacio Nacional de Sintra, snapping photos of the lush forests and quaint architecture along the way. As part of the town’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the National Palace served as a royal residence for four centuries and is now available to the public as a museum. Admission costs approximately $9.

Outside the palace is a strip of touristy shops and restaurants where you can browse souvenirs or fill up on a platter of Portuguese tapas at Cantinho Lord Byron. Keep walking up the path to the Quinta de Regaleira, an expansive retreat for the royals comprised of gardens, fountains and caves that lead to magical wells visitors can ascend via spiral staircases. Entrance to the property is less than $7.

© Daniel M. Cisilino | Dreamstime

A final stop on a tour of Sintra should be the Castelo de Mouros, or Castle of the Moors. Hike the hill for 40 minutes or travel by bus to the top for exhilarating views of the surrounding land and a peek into the castle’s fairy-tale past. Entry fees to enter the castle walls are approximately $6.80.

Sintra’s other-world attractions and both natural and man-made wonders are ideal for any traveler eager to escape the bustle of Lisbon and return with a clear head.