We made an early morning dash from Lisbon to Sintra, hoping to beat the crowds and thank goodness we did. On our way back, traffic was crawling slower than a tuk-tuk on Lisbon’s steepest hill..

Nothing prepares you for the riot of colours that is the National Palace of Pena. Perched high on a hilltop, this whimsical 19th-century Romantic palace looks like it was pulled out of a fairy tale and dipped in mustard, plum, and cobalt hues. Moorish arches, Manueline motifs, and Gothic towers all coexist in glorious architectural chaos.

The weather was perfect with clear blue skies, sunshine and just enough breeze to keep the climb cool. We wandered through the tiled courtyards, peered out at the sprawling views of Sintra’s lush hills, and admired the palace’s dramatic domes and towers that seem to pop up at every turn.

If Disney built a castle in Portugal, it would probably look something like this. And yes, totally worth the early wake-up call.